• Why Braces
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• Early Prevention
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• Two-Phase Treatment
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• For Children, Teens and Adults
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• Orthodontic FAQ

For Children, Teens and Adults

Treatment for Children

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age seven. Most children have a combination of both primary teeth and adult teeth by this age. The orthodontist will be able to monitor growth, diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.

Early orthodontic treatment may allow your orthodontist to the following:

• Encourage and direct the growth of your child's jaw which will help the adult teeth to grow into the mouth correctly
• Ensure and regulate the width of the upper and lower jaws
• Create a path for adult teeth to be able to grow into the mouth properly
• Provide great looking teeth during difficult years
• Decreased incidence of trauma to teeth that protrude “stick” out
• Correct habits early on such as thumb-sucking and help improve some problems with speech

Identifying factors that may indicate that your child needs to visit an orthodontist:

• Early or delayed loss of primary teeth (Age 5 is when your child should typically start losing their primary teeth, and should have all of their adult teeth around age 13)
• Trouble incising and/or chewing
• Mouth breathing
• Thumb sucking after the age of five
• Teeth that don't come together at all or in a normal manner
• Speech impediments
• Front teeth that are crowded around age seven or eight
• Protruding teeth (the top teeth and the bottom teeth extend away from each other)
• Presence of cross bites (jaw shifting when your child’s mouth opens and closes)

Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. The orthodontist can evaluate your child’s mouth and determine if early treatment is necessary.

Orthodontics for Teens

Braces, orthodontic appliances, retainers, and everything else that you want to learn about orthodontic treatment! Your dentist uttered the three words that every teen dreads: “YOUR CHILD NEEDS BRACES!”

How long will I wear braces?

Three key factors determine the length of time it will take to treat your smile:

Early treatment — Phase one treatment gives the orthodontist the opportunity to monitor jaw growth and ensure that your child is growing normally for his or her age. Early treatment is not always necessary for every child. In many cases the orthodontist may recommend to wait until the patient is older to have treatment.

What will need correction? — The length of time it will take to complete treatment depends on the severity of the problem. Patients respond variously to different types of treatment. It may take only 16 months to complete treatment in one patient, but may take 24 months to complete the same treatment in a different patient. The length of treatment time fluctuates on how much work is needed to be completed and how your body reacts to the orthodontic appliance.

How can you help reduce your treatment time? — Your compliance in wearing prescribed elastics or orthodontic appliance is directly related to the length of time it will take to complete your treatment. Taking good care of your appliances and braces will truly help shorten your treatment time.

Braces Your Way!

Rollins & Petersen Orthodontics offer a variety of appliances to choose from. There are many different types and styles of braces. Some common options include:

- Ceramic “Clear” braces
- Invisalign Trays
- Traditional metal braces
- Gold braces
- Self-ligating braces

What am I able to eat while wearing braces?

Your family and friends have probably told you some of the foods and beverages that you need to avoid eating while wearing braces. While it may feel like it’s a lot to sacrifice, it is crucial to avoid eating certain types of foods that can harm your braces and teeth. Below is a quick and easy guide to help you make good choices on what foods you need to avoid during your treatment.

Foods to avoid while having braces:

- Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
- Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice cubes
- Sticky foods — gummies, caramel, chewing gum that has sugar
- Hard foods — hard candies, whole apples, whole carrots
- Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, whole apples, whole carrots

Foods you CAN enjoy while having braces:

- Breads —pancakes, soft tortillas muffins without nuts
- Dairy —pudding, soft cheese, milk-based drinks
- Grains —soft cooked rice, pasta
- Meats/poultry —meatballs, soft cooked chicken, lunch meats
- Vegetables —steamed spinach, mashed potatoes, beans
- Seafood —crab cakes, tuna, salmon
- Treats —milkshakes, ice cream without nuts, Jell-O, soft cake
- Fruits —bananas, fruit juice, applesauce

Wearing orthodontic braces can be a big adjustment and can change how you eat and brush. While braces in the past may have had a poor reputation, today’s braces make it easy to feel and look great!

Treatment for Adults

Braces are no longer just for children and teens. At Rollins & Petersen Orthodontics, approximately 30% of our patient base consists of adult patients! The American Association of Orthodontists cites that one in five orthodontic patients are age 21 or older. Many adults decide to undergo orthodontic treatment because they understand the value in maintaining the health of their teeth and want to feel more confident in their appearance.

Top reasons why adults consider orthodontic treatment:

- Teeth fit together incorrectly due to a bad bite or malocclusion
- Teeth are spaced apart or crowded together, increasing risk tooth decay or gum disease
- Desire for a more confident smile and an overall healthier mouth
- To have a beautiful smile and increased confidence for years to come!

Orthodontic treatment options for adult patients

Many adults cringe and the thought of wearing metal braces. However, orthodontics have come a long way in terms of technology. Now, there are various types of braces and appliances that are aesthetic, comfortable, and customized to meet your specific wants and needs! The types of braces include:

- Ceramic “Clear” braces
- Invisalign Trays
- Traditional metal braces
- Gold braces
- Self-ligating braces

What are the differences between treatment for adults and treatment for children and teens:

The primary difference when treating patients of various ages is that younger patient’s jawbones are still developing. Braces can often help focus and direct the growth of the jaw that is still developing. Jaw bones in adults have stopped growing which in some cases, may mean the possibility of needing to align the jawbones with orthognathic surgery. Other differences include:

Periodontal disease (Bone and gum loss) — Teeth that are aligned are less likely to develop gum disease. Adults are more at risk than children to develop gum recession or even bone loss due to advanced periodontal disease or gingivitis.

Wear on teeth or missing teeth — Teeth that hit on each other incorrectly can become worn down and begin to shift into different positions that only orthodontic care can correct. Missing teeth can cause remaining teeth to move and tip, creating a misaligned bite. This can increase the risk of gum disease.

Unfinished orthodontic care as a teen — Several adults received some orthodontic care in the past, but never fully finished their treatment. As an adult, they selected to undergo braces in order to complete their orthodontic care and achieve the beautiful and healthy smile they always wanted.

Rollins & Petersen Orthodontics understands that adults and children have different desires and concerns when it comes to their orthodontic treatment. We will work with you to customize the appropriate treatment plan to meet your specific needs.

Reasons you should you consider seeking orthodontic treatment?

Aligned teeth have a tendency to be healthy teeth — Straight teeth are easier to floss and brush, which may help reduce the risk other dental problems.

A beautiful smile with straight teeth builds self confidence —A beautiful, straight smile can help increase self-confidence and give you the ability to smile without holding back!

Orthodontic problems left untreated tend to worsen over time — Opting to not undergo needed orthodontic treatment can produce long-term health problems.

To learn more about the benefits of adult orthodontics please contact our practice to schedule an appointment. We understand that you have a busy schedule, and we will work with you to make sure each office visit is as convenient as possible.

Please contact our offices to schedule a appointment to learn more about the benefits from adult orthodontics. We will work to find a convenient time that fits into your busy schedule!