Your dentist may have discussed potential orthodontic treatment with you for yourself or your child. Orthodontic treatment can help you to have straighter teeth, prevent tooth decay, and improve the alignment of your jaw. Of course, the most obvious benefit that you can imagine is having a straight, beautiful smile – but there are many other benefits to getting orthodontic treatment.
When your teeth are misaligned, it can cause a number of problems such as:
- Tooth decay.
- Difficulty brushing and flossing.
- Difficulty chewing.
- Speech impediments.
- Overbite.
- Underbite.
- Cross bite.
- Open bite.
- Jaw joint problems.
An orthodontist can help with all of these iisues once they present themselves, but also prevent them from developing in the first place through interceptive (early) treatment options.
If you’re seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, you may be wondering when you should bring him or her in for a New Patient Evaluation. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child be seen as early as age 7 to determine whether they’re at risk for any kind of misalignment and help prevent it from occurring.
How long does orthodontic treatment typically take?
Depending on the severity of your case and what your orthodontic needs are, treatment usually takes between 12 months to three years. If you choose to utilize some of our more advanced technology, your smile transformation journey could be sped up by 30% to 50%. In cases where early treatment is performed, it may only take six months to complete the process. It all depends on your unique needs and situation.
What kinds of braces are there?
Braces come in all sorts of different styles and are made of various materials. Typically, they’re made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. Some orthodontic appliances are removable, some are completely clear, some are very subtle, and still others are quite obvious. Your ideal type of braces and treatment will depend on your orthodontic needs, or the orthodontic needs of your child.
Orthodontic treatment doesn’t just transform your smile aesthetically, although that’s a wonderful aspect of having braces. Orthodontic treatment can also help you in many other ways by correcting the alignment of your teeth. By the end of your treatment, you should be able to keep your teeth clean more easily and effectively, improve speech, improve jaw alignment, and prevent tooth decay. In more extreme cases in which an overbite or underbite is surgically corrected, your facial structure may appear more natural.
If you or your child are ready to find out whether you need orthodontic treatment or not, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 914.221.0470 or request your New Patient Evaluation online. If you have additional questions, concerns, or comments, you may want to call us or fill out our online contact form. No matter where you are on your orthodontic journey, we’re here for you, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more information. If you’re ready to get started, great! We look forward to meeting you and guiding you on your journey to a healthier, more beautiful smile.
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