Braces

Springfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow, and Wilbraham, MA Orthodontist

Orthodontics is the area of dentistry that involves the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of tooth misalignment. When teeth are in wrong positions, you have a “bad bite” (malocclusion), meaning that your teeth meet incorrectly and cause discomfort as well as premature wear and tear.

You may or may not also have TMD – Temporomandibular Joint Disorder – where the jaw joints are moving the lower jaw incorrectly and possibly pushing your teeth out of alignment. This can be addressed by neuromuscular dentistry.

Our Baystate Dental professionals have received extensive training in these areas of dentistry and can provide treatment options and answers for your individual situation.

Orthodontic Options

Metal braces are the best-known option for gradually shifting your teeth into proper positions. They use metal brackets attached to the teeth and a metal wire connecting them. This arrangement provides gentle pressure to gradually move the teeth.

There are also other options available depending on the severity of your dental problems:

• Headgear
• Retainers
• Invisalign© “invisible” braces
• Clear braces

Metal braces have been used for years with great success. Some teenagers enjoy the option of having different colored brackets to make them decorative. There are also clear braces that are fairly unobtrusive.

Braces Treatment Plan

Identifying the cause of your orthodontic problem is the first step. During an evaluation, the dentist examines your teeth and mouth and reviews dental and medical history. Proper diagnosis may require:

• Growth evaluations
• Facial measurements
• Photographs and X-rays of the head, jaw and teeth

From the results of this orthodontic evaluation, an individualized treatment plan can be developed using both fixed and removable appliances to gently move the teeth into proper positions.

We concentrate on correcting problems in the upper jaw first. Often the problems in the lower jaw will correct themselves as the lower teeth conform to changes in the upper jaw. If proper diagnosis and treatment is performed early on, this will allow good spacing and positioning for permanent teeth, reducing the need for orthodontic care in the future.

Reasons for a Bad Bite

Orthodontic problems can occur at any age. Most cases are caused by inherited factors or as a result of poor habits. Malocclusion that results from the relationship between the size of the teeth and the size of the jaw cannot be prevented, but can be corrected.

Habits and factors that can contribute to malocclusion include:

• Mouth breathing
• Finger or thumb sucking
• Tongue thrusting
• Lip biting
• Small mouth
• Too many teeth
• Not enough teeth
• Jaw joint misalignment

Certain habits exert pressure on the teeth and can affect their development. An example is abnormal breathing habits, often associated with enlarged tonsils and adenoids. This can cause a child to breathe through his or her mouth rather than the nose, which affects growth and development of the upper and lower jaws.

You can read more at Questions For Your Orthodontist.

The end result of an orthodontic treatment, whether it is through metal braces, Invisalign, retainers or some other method, is a beautiful straight smile.

If you would like to have your teeth evaluated for braces, please contact the orthodontists at Baystate Dental in Springfield, Longmeadow or Wilbraham, Massachusetts today for an initial braces consultation.