Patients of all ages are candidates for orthodontic treatment, provided they have relatively healthy jawbone density and gum tissue. From young children to middle-aged adults, orthodontics can increase oral function, improve appearance, and assist in preventing disease.
As well as the aesthetic benefits of having a straighter smile, there are oral health benefits too. Straight, properly aligned teeth are easier to floss and brush, making oral hygiene regimens more efficient, helping prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Properly positioned teeth improve ‘bite’ – the way teeth make contact when the mouth is closed and during oral function. If teeth make improper contact, it can lead to tooth wear and TMJ disorder.
Dental Depot offers an array of teeth straightening options for children, teenagers, and adults. Children most often benefit from conventional orthodontia including metal braces and other appliances that can expand the palate and assist with the emergence of permanent teeth.
While conventional braces are still beneficial to our older patients, teenagers and adults who desire more discreet methods of treatment might benefit from lingual braces and Invisalign®.
There are distinct differences in traditional braces and Invisalign®. While these two methods of teeth straightening can produce similar results, each method utilizes different materials to gradually shift teeth. Traditional metal brackets and wires are fixed to the teeth. Bonded by a cement-like compound, brackets are placed over the front sides of teeth and attach to wires, which can be tightened over time to create gentle yet consistent pressure. Force and pressure, when applied to teeth in appropriate intervals, is the principle behind all forms of orthodontic treatment.
Like conventional braces, Invisalign® facilitates tooth movement with force and pressure but it does so by utilizing form fitting, custom appliances made of plastic. Patients receiving Invisalign® treatment will wear sets of aligners, with each set fitting slightly tighter than the previous set. Unlike conventional braces, Invisalign® is removable for meals and oral hygiene.
The positioning of everyone’s teeth varies. This, along with the type of treatment necessary can affect treatment times. Some people can complete orthodontic treatment in as little as nine months while others might require longer treatment.
Costs for orthodontic treatment vary. The type of treatment you receive as well as the duration of treatment affects cost. After consulting with our doctors, our staff at Dental Depot will be able to give you an estimate of your treatment’s cost so that you can arrange for payment.
Orthodontic treatment should only be performed by a trained, certified orthodontist. Orthodontists are professionals who specialize in dentofacial orthopedics and orthodontic treatment, which are focused on guiding facial development and jaw alignment. Orthodontists who are board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics and/or are members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have both completed a dental program and advanced study in orthodontics from an accredited two- or three-year orthodontic residency program. They are also specifically trained in the proper approach to correcting misalignment or structural issues and are required to renew their certifications every 10 years.
You’ll be seeing your orthodontist often during your treatment, so be sure to choose one you are comfortable with and enjoy visiting. This will increase the likelihood that you adhere to your treatment plan for its duration. Friends and family can be a great source for referrals or recommendations, or you can browse reviews of orthodontists in your area for good practices to call.
Finally, orthodontic treatment can be expensive. To save costs, you will want to call several offices to compare average treatment prices and find out if they accept your dental insurance.
Orthodontic treatment consists of repositioning the facial bones—including the jaws and teeth—and guiding them into proper alignment. Safe and effective treatment requires precise planning, application, and monitoring by a trained orthodontic specialist.
Orthodontic treatment is unique to each patient. The length of treatment will depend on factors like the severity of the problems needing correction and the patient age. The type of appliance used as well as patient participation and adherence to guidance will also affect treatment duration time.
However, most orthodontic treatment plans will follow the same process of a planning phase, active phase, and retention phase.
During the planning phase, the orthodontist evaluates your dental and medical health and takes several images of your mouth and jaws—digital, x-ray, or computer-generated, or a combination of all three—to determine the exact issues that need to be addressed and the best way forward for treatment. This is also when the orthodontist will decide on the best appliance for your situation as well as if you will need teeth extractions or additional corrections for spacing.
The majority of orthodontic treatment—anywhere between six and 30 months—takes place during the active phase. This phase includes the actual application of the orthodontic devices and the subsequent routine appointments during which the orthodontist will make necessary adjustments and evaluate your progress.
The retention phase begins once the teeth have been correctly aligned. Permanent devices like braces are removed and replaced with a custom retainer that will help support the teeth as they reform around the newly-realigned bone. These retainers must be worn for specified periods during the next few months or years to ensure the teeth do not shift back into their previous positions.
Anyone can benefit from orthodontic treatment, no matter their age. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends children visit the orthodontist by age 7 for at least an initial consultation and to identify early any potential development problems. Most pediatric patients, however, will not start treatment until they are between 8 and 14 years old, when the jaw and other facial bones are still forming and are more easily guided into proper alignment.
Although the majority of orthodontic patients are children or teens, adults now make up almost 25% of orthodontic patients in the U.S., and adults with severely misaligned bites, shifting teeth, or cosmetic imperfections can benefit greatly from braces and other orthodontic treatment. The fully adult jaw structure is denser and less malleable than a child’s or teen’s, so treatment may take slightly longer, but adult braces are very successful and produce a healthy smile you can enjoy for the rest of your life.
And, with virtually invisible options like lingual or clear braces and clear aligners, adults can now have that perfect smile without the embarrassment of bulky, old-fashioned metal appliances.
No matter the age at which orthodontic patients experience improper alignment of the teeth and jaws, the desired outcome is generally the same—a straight, healthy smile with the proper occlusion, or bite. And, when safely performed and monitored by a certified orthodontist, orthodontic treatment can be just as effective in adults as in children, with the same range of dental and medical benefits.
Adult orthodontic treatment will be approached much the same way as a child or teen, with the same evaluations, the same overarching plan of an appropriate appliance with routine checkups and adjustments, and a follow-up retention period. Adult treatment will differ slightly in the time and strategy the orthodontist deems necessary to make the corrections; fully developed adult facial structures are denser and less malleable, making them more difficult to move and requiring slightly longer treatment times.
Orthodontic treatment consists of repositioning the facial bones—including the jaws and teeth—and guiding them into proper alignment. Safe and effective treatment requires precise planning, application, and monitoring by a trained orthodontic specialist.
Orthodontic treatment is unique to each patient. The length of treatment will depend on factors like the severity of the problems needing correction and the patient age. The type of appliance used as well as patient participation and adherence to guidance will also affect treatment duration time.
However, most orthodontic treatment plans will follow the same process of a planning phase, active phase, and retention phase.
During the planning phase, the orthodontist evaluates your dental and medical health and takes several images of your mouth and jaws—digital, x-ray, or computer-generated, or a combination of all three—to determine the exact issues that need to be addressed and the best way forward for treatment. This is also when the orthodontist will decide on the best appliance for your situation as well as if you will need teeth extractions or additional corrections for spacing.
The majority of orthodontic treatment—anywhere between six and 30 months—takes place during the active phase. This phase includes the actual application of the orthodontic devices and the subsequent routine appointments during which the orthodontist will make necessary adjustments and evaluate your progress.
The retention phase begins once the teeth have been correctly aligned. Permanent devices like braces are removed and replaced with a custom retainer that will help support the teeth as they reform around the newly-realigned bone. These retainers must be worn for specified periods during the next few months or years to ensure the teeth do not shift back into their previous positions.
Your bite function, jaw alignment, and smile all play important roles in your dental health and in basic functions like breathing, speaking, and chewing, but even slight misalignment can be an indication of more serious problems with your facial structure that can cause complications down the road. As such, any time you notice any irregularities in your or your child’s smile or alignment is a good time to see an orthodontist.
You may want to schedule a consultation with an orthodontist if you or your child are experiencing:
Although the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children visit an orthodontic specialist by age 7, and most orthodontic patients will begin treatment between ages 8 and 14, anyone of any age can seek and receive orthodontic treatment.
Anyone of any age can benefit from orthodontic treatment. The American Academy of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends children visit the orthodontist by age 7 for at least an initial consultation and to identify early any potential development problems. Most pediatric patients, however, will not start treatment until they are between 8 and 14 years old, when the jaw and other facial bones are still forming and are more easily guided into proper alignment.
Although the majority of orthodontic patients are children or teens, adults now make up almost a quarter of the millions of orthodontic patients in the U.S., and adults with severely misaligned bites, shifting teeth, or cosmetic imperfections can benefit greatly from braces and other orthodontic treatment. The fully adult jaw structure is denser and less malleable than a child’s or teen’s, so treatment may take slightly longer, but adult braces are very successful and produce a healthy smile you can enjoy for the rest of your life.
And, with virtually invisible options like lingual or clear braces and clear aligners, adults can now have that perfect smile without the embarrassment of bulky, old-fashioned metal appliances.
No matter at what age orthodontic patients experience improper alignment of the teeth and jaws, the desired outcome is generally the same—a straight, healthy smile with the proper occlusion, or bite. And, when safely performed and monitored by a certified orthodontist, orthodontic treatment can be just as effective in adults as in children, with the same range of dental and medical benefits.
Adult orthodontic treatment will be approached much the same way as a child or teen, with the same evaluations, the same overarching plan of an appropriate appliance with routine checkups and adjustments, and a follow-up retention period. Adult treatment will differ slightly in the time and strategy the orthodontist deems necessary to make the corrections; fully developed adult facial structures are denser and less malleable, making them more difficult to move and requiring slightly longer treatment times.
Most orthodontists will highly discourage pausing or discontinuing orthodontic treatment that is already in progress. Orthodontic treatment plans take time and gradual pressure to meet your unique needs safely and effectively, and stopping your individual plan early can cause your teeth to shift back to their original position. It may also result in permanent damage to your teeth, gums, or bone because new bone tissue has not yet formed to support the recently-shifted teeth, nor has your bone structure had the time to reshape.
However, an orthodontist may decide to end your treatment due to extenuating circumstances, such as poor dental hygiene during the treatment—which can compromise the strength and integrity of your teeth—or an inability to continue paying for treatment. Regardless of the reason, prematurely discontinuing your treatment will most likely incur an early termination fee from the orthodontist.
Orthodontic treatment can seem to take forever, but ending it early is never recommended. However, but there are good habits you can practice to help make sure your treatment doesn’t take longer than it should, such as:
When conducted by a professional orthodontist, orthodontic treatment itself is not harmful to your teeth. Patient behaviors during treatment, however, can cause harm or damage. Poor dental hygiene—like not brushing or flossing regularly—a diet heavy in sugary, chewy, or crunchy foods or beverages that can damage the orthodontic appliance, and avoiding dental cleanings or orthodontic treatment appointments and adjustments can cause long-term damage to your teeth. Your unique orthodontic treatment has been carefully designed to guide your jaw into its proper alignment; without proper care or timely and necessary adjustments, your mouth and teeth are at risk for developing cavities and will not function the way they should.
To further ensure your orthodontic treatment does not harm your teeth, be sure to choose an orthodontist who has been certified by the American Board of Orthodontics and/or is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Certified orthodontists have extensive experience in planning, administering, and monitoring orthodontic treatments, including the safe application and removal of devices as well as the physiological movements needed for proper alignment.
Extractions are not always necessary to conduct orthodontic treatment. Extractions are more common before orthodontic treatment in children, who may have baby teeth that are late to fall out and need to be removed to allow adult teeth to erupt properly. Occasionally, teeth may also need to be pulled to correct overcrowding. Your orthodontist will do everything possible to correct your alignment without extracting teeth.
An extraction may be recommended in preparation for orthodontic treatment if teeth are:
In most cases when extractions are necessary, the teeth extracted prior to orthodontic treatment are usually your premolars, which are the fourth and/or fifth teeth from the front.
With both a price and time commitment—$3,000 to $8,000 and 12 to 36 months for most patients—orthodontic treatment can seem daunting. However, both are well worth it for a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. Straight, properly-aligned teeth are more than just pretty to look at; they are essential for the continued health and function of your mouth and jaws.
You can reduce some of the anxiety surrounding a commitment to braces or orthodontic treatment by being prepared for what to expect. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
The highly personalized nature of orthodontic treatment means the cost of braces can vary greatly as a result of several factors, such as the length and extent of treatment necessary, your age, your insurance plan, and the type of appliance used. For example, lingual braces—which are applied to the back of the teeth—can cost nearly twice as much as metal, ceramic, invisible, or self-ligating braces.
Typical orthodontic treatment costs range from $3,000 to $10,000, but many orthodontists offer some kind of installment plan so you do not have to pay for all of it upfront. You may also be able to finance orthodontic treatment using a Flexible Savings Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HAS) with your health insurance plan.
Orthodontic treatment, including braces, is individualized care that is unique to each patient. Factors such as your age, your specific condition, how well you care for your teeth, and how closely you follow your orthodontist’s instructions can all affect the length of your specific treatment plan.
Relying on constant, gradual, and strategically-placed pressure, orthodontic treatment plans take time—anywhere from six to 30 months—to implement safely. While many patients begin to see improvements in their teeth within the first month of treatment, seeing your plan through to the end is critical. Pausing or ending a treatment plan too soon can cause your teeth to shift back into their previous, misaligned position or cause even more problems than you had before you began treatment.
The extra time and effort it takes to clean and care for your braces is worth it to make sure your teeth stay healthy during and after your treatment. More importantly, the length and effectiveness of your treatment can be impacted by how well you care for your braces and your teeth.
Braces and other orthodontic appliances can trap food and other debris that, if not removed, can lead to appliance damage, cavities, or plaque buildup.
To protect your braces—and your teeth—there are three simple actions you can take:
You don’t know what’s possible until you ask. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at any one of our Phoenix area locations and find out if orthodontic treatment is right for you. Our orthodontic team will be happy to conduct an initial assessment and discuss treatment options, time, and approximate cost with you.
