When people hear the words “orthodontics”, they tend to immediately think of braces. While braces are definitely a major aspect of orthodontics, that is not the only treatment orthodontists offer. Orthodontists specialize in the alignment of teeth or jaw repositioning and occasionally, braces alone will not give the patient a perfect smile. Learn what other services our orthodontist offers at Parkcrest Dental Group below.
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Orthodontic Services
- Space Maintainers – Space maintainers are used when a child loses a baby tooth before the adult tooth is ready to take the place. Without space maintainers, the other teeth will sometimes shift into the space left by the lost baby tooth. These devices will keep the space open until more baby teeth fall out or the adult tooth surfaces.
- Aligners – Aligners are similar to braces and are also used to – as the name suggests – align the teeth. Often these are removable clear trays, like Invisalign, which are designed specifically for your teeth to create your perfect smile. These have the benefit of being less noticeable than your standard metal braces.
- Lip and Cheek Bumpers – When a patient’s lips or cheeks put pressure on the teeth and force misalignment, pain, and discomfort lip and cheek bumpers are recommended. These are designed to essentially remove the pressure from your teeth and stretch or widen the arch of the lower jaw, and prevents the permanent molars from sliding forward as baby teeth are lost.
- Palatal Expanders – The palatal expander prevents, reduces, or corrects the severity of some jaw or teeth problems and creates space to allow for more room for the growth of teeth. This device gently expands the roof of the mouth and upper jaw and is best used while the permanent teeth are still growing in.
- Headgear – Finally, maybe the most infamous orthodontics appliance is the headgear. These come in different forms and are essentially wires that are connected to the head, neck, or chin. Headgear devices provide anchorage needed to move the teeth into a better position. If a very large space is being closed, the back teeth may move forward out of position as the front teeth move backward, causing misaligned teeth and a poorly-positioned bite. Headgear allows for the slow adjustment of teeth when braces alone would not fix the issue. While they may look a little silly, headgear can be incredibly effective at alignment and can even change the facial shape of the patient.
Contact Parkcrest Dentistry Group Today
If you think you could use adjustment from our orthodontics specialist, contact Parkcrest Dental Group today. Call us at 417-887-1220 to schedule a consultation with our orthodontist to find out if one of our devices can help you achieve the brilliant smile you have always wanted.
