It depends on your specific case. When we are young and our jaws are still growing, dentists/orthodontists can work with our growth to straighten the teeth without extraction. But once we are adults, dentists are limited to what is already in place. If your orthodontist recommends extraction, it may be wise to get at least one more (if not two more) opinions before going through with the procedure -- once the teeth are gone, they're gone! Your teeth and jaw help to shape your face.

After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization and are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

orthodontic retainer is a removable appliance, which fits comfortably around the teeth to hold them straight for the long term. These retainers are custom made to a precise impression of your jaws after the braces have been removed. You normally wear retainers full time for some months after your braces have been removed and then part time at nights to keep your smile beautiful.

Almost all types of crooked teeth are fixed by orthodontic treatment. Depending upon jaw and bone conditions spacing and crowding of teeth are also corrected by orthodontics. Crowded teeth if left untreated can cause poor oral hygiene, gingivitis and periodontitis. Spacing can cause food accumulation and weakens the strength of teeth also. Sometimes incorrect bite can cause headaches and TMJ problems so these are also corrected by orthodontic treatment.

Over the course of a lifetime, many patients will spend thousands to improve their dental health and appearance. Orthodontic treatment, especially early in life, may eliminate or reduce the need for those expensive future dental treatments. At the office of Dr. Wooten, we offer affordable payment options to make orthodontic treatment available to almost everyone.

Most dentists are trained to treat some minor orthodontic problems. If the dentist thinks the patient should see a specialist for treatment, he or she will provide a referral to an orthodontist. Orthodontics is a specialty area of dentistry that is officially known as Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/specialties/definitions.asp .

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age 7 or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician.

Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention. This is called Phase One or early treatment. If Dr. Meehan considers the problem not severe enough to warrant an early intervention, we will place your child in our recall system. Our recall or observation system sends out appointment reminders every 6-12 months. This allows the doctor to closely monitor your child's dental development. There is no charge for these recall visits.

Again, this depends on your individual case. In cases of moderate to severe crowding, it is necessary to remove permanent teeth in order to align the teeth. Removal of teeth in such circumstances provides the best longterm result. Removal of permanent teeth is also recommended for certain bites.

Any orthodontic problem may be classified as a malocclusion, or "bad bite." The following problems may be helped or minimized with proper orthodontic treatment: misaligned, crooked, or crowed teeth, missing teeth, extra teeth, an overbite, an openbite and misaligned or incorrect jaw position.

Preventive orthodontic treatment is intended to keep a malocclusion ("bad bite" or crooked teeth) from developing in an otherwise normal mouth. The goal is to provide adequate space for permanent teeth to come in. Treatment may require a space maintainer to hold space for a primary (baby) tooth lost too early, or removal of primary teeth that do not come out on their own to create room for permanent teeth.

Interceptive orthodontic treatment is performed for problems that, if left untreated, could lead to the development of more serious dental problems over time. The goal is to reduce the severity of a developing problem and eliminate the cause. The length of later comprehensive orthodontic treatment may be reduced.

Comprehensive orthodontic treatment is undertaken for problems that involve alignment of the teeth, how the jaws function and how the top and bottom teeth fit together. The goal of comprehensive orthodontic treatment is to correct the identified problem and restore the occlusion (the bite) to its optimum. Treatment can begin while patients have primary teeth, when they have a mix of primary and permanent teeth, or when all permanent teeth are in.

Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of the teeth and how they work. It can also help to look after the long-term health of the teeth, gums and jaw joints, by spreading the biting pressure over all the teeth.