Orthodontics
Orthodontics

Orthodontic Care for Residents of Freeport, NY

As our bodies grow and change, our teeth can move around and slide from one place to the next, causing improper bites and irregularity even in old age, and especially with the growth of wisdom teeth. Orthodontics help to keep them in place, providing you with a neat, presentable smile that you can be proud of.

Teeth Braces

Orthodontics is a type of dentistry that focuses on the correction of improper bites and tooth irregularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, orthodontists compose the largest group of dental specialists. These dental professionals can help patients of any age improve problems with the tooth and jaw and can also assist those who desire merely cosmetic improvements.

History
According to the American Association of Orthodontists [AAO], archaeologists have discovered dental appliances from the Greek and Etruscan civilizations that indicate humans began practicing orthodontics as early as 1000 B.C. The Smithsonian Institute cites Edward Angle, founder the Angle School of Orthodontia in 1900, as the father of modern orthodontics. This American dentist's work included establishing orthodontics as a dental specialty and classifying many teeth and jaw abnormalities. Angle also innovated the procedures and devices used to help correct such issues.

Types
Orthodontists specialize in correcting a variety of dental problems. Some of the issues revised by orthodontic procedures include: difficulty chewing, crowding of teeth, missing teeth, speech difficulties, protruding teeth, irregular bite and facial imbalances.

Methods
The most common form of orthodontic treatment is the installation of dental braces that help straighten teeth, remove gaps, and correct overbites. Braces are often used in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances such as headgear and expansion appliances to influence the growth of teeth in younger patients. Retainers are often worn to help ensure teeth remain in their new position after braces have been removed. The American Dental Association states that in some cases, orthodontists may choose to use surgery to modify the teeth and jaw.

Time Frame
We suggest that children have their first orthodontic consultation no later than 7 years of age. While many people have corrective orthodontic procedures done early in their lives, it is not uncommon for adults and even seniors to undergo orthodontic treatments. Depending on the specific problems of the patient and the methods used to correct them, orthodontic treatments can last as few as six months but may take three years or more to complete in severe cases.

Considerations
Straight teeth are easier to keep clean and are more effective in biting, chewing, and speaking than teeth with abnormalities. People who have had orthodontic treatments also report having fewer dental complications later in life.
Invisalign
Invisalign straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It's virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you're straightening your teeth.

The Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with the 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by your orthodontist. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan. Your first step is to visit our office to determine if Invisalign is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners - as few as 12 or as many as 48. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually - week by week - until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you'll be smiling like you never have before!

For An Orthodontics Appointment, Call 516-378-3200 Today!

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