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When is the best time to begin orthodontics?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children see an orthodontist by age seven and sooner if something is obviously wrong before then. Fortunately, many young patients don't need anything more than observation while their permanent teeth grow into place. However, some young patients may have problems that will not, or should not wait. Did you know that most orthodontic problems are inherited and cannot be totally prevented? Luckily, treatment can usually be performed before the problems get too difficult. Dr. Kammerman recommends that parents consult with an orthodontist prior to having a dentist remove any baby or permanent teeth. To ensure the best overall dental and facial development, all patients should have an orthodontic consultation by age seven. By age 7, the first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in and crossbites, crowding and protrusions can be evaluated. Dr. Kammerman can identify current or anticipated dental problems and determine the best time for treatment. This is also the time to evaluate any ongoing oral habits such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing, or finger sucking.

What are the benefits of early treatment?

If obvious problems exist that can be intercepted or prevented from getting worse, Dr. Kammerman may advise you to have your child undergo a First stage-Orthopedic Treatment. This treatment can be initiated based on many types of bite problems before all of the permanent teeth are present. Orthopedic treatment is necessary in many cases when the child's teeth, lips or jaws don't look normal for their age. Some reasons from considering orthopedic treatment include:

• Minimizing severe malocclusions (bad bites)
• Improving facial appearance and self-esteem
• Correcting functional problems
• Minimizing the effects of abnormal growth patterns
• Reducing protrusion so that front teeth are less susceptible to injury
• Reducing the need for or minimizing the number of permanent teeth that may need to be extracted
• Reducing a serious mismatch in the growth of the upper and lower jaws
• Eliminating adverse habits such as thumb and/or finger sucking
• Making the treatment with braces easier and shorter
  What are some of the orthodontic appliances used in growth guidance?

Orthopedic treatment may involve expanding appliances or jaw repositioning appliances. Dr. Kammerman will use whatever is best to help shape and widen the dental arches. A larger, more appropriately shaped dental arch can mean more room for adult teeth coming into the mouth, as well as a more natural smile. Here are a few of the common appliances used today:

Herbst: The Herbst appliance can help correct severe protrusion of the upper teeth and correct an underdeveloped lower jaw. The goal is to advance and reposition the lower jaw in a more forward position. The result is a better bite and profile. This appliance is affixed to the upper and lower molar teeth by Dr. Kammerman.

Palatal Expansion Appliance: This appliance can widen the upper jaw to allow more room for the upper teeth and create a broader smile. This is usually used on patients with a crossbite that occurs when the upper jaw is too narrow for the upper teeth to fit properly with the lower teeth. It is also used to eliminate mild to moderate crowding.

Mini Expander: This appliance is used in the lower jaw to allow for more room for the bottom teeth to grow in and is often used in conjunction with a palatal expansion appliance.

What is an orthodontic specialist?

An orthodontist like Dr. Kammerman is a specialist in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The practice of orthodontics involves the design, application and control of corrective appliances and braces that are used to treat and correct these problems so that optimum dental function, stability and facial esthetics are achieved. An orthodontist is required to first attend college, then complete a four-year graduate dental program and finally complete an additional two- to three-year orthodontic residency program. Only about 6% of dentists hold these qualifications, including Dr. Kammerman.

What's new in orthodontics?

The practice of orthodontics has changed a lot in the past years. New technology is allowing orthodontists like Dr. Kammerman to produce better results with fewer visits and shorter overall treatment times. Technology such as self-ligating brackets and nickel-titanium-alloy archwires, developed by NASA, have replaced the traditional stainless steel wires of the past, providing patients with a temperature-sensitive wire that allows for continuous movement of the teeth over longer periods of time. Patients benefit from the enhanced comfort, decreased treatment time and fewer trips to Dr. Kammerman’s office.

Cosmetic advances are also being made in orthodontics making braces less visible and more comfortable than in the past. The brackets used in orthodontics today bond directly to the teeth and are much smaller and more comfortable than those of old. If you are looking for braces that don’t show, you may want to consider Lingual orthodontics. Lingual orthodontists like Dr. Kammerman use brackets that are custom-made and fit behind each tooth. You may also want to ask about the new tooth colored ceramic brackets now available.

So, with all this new technology, isn’t there something available that isn’t so obvious? Yes -it is called Invisalign®. For decades, traditional braces had been the only option for adults and mature teens that wanted straighter teeth. The Invisalign System™ offers the first real alternative by utilizing advances in 3-D imaging technology to create a series of customized plastic aligners. First, Dr. Kammerman will help you determine what you'd like to correct. Next, he will send InvisAlign™ your precise treatment instructions. InvisAlign™ uses its proprietary computer technology to create a sequence of finely calibrated clear plastic aligners-as few as 12 or as many as 48, depending on your particular case. You'll wear each aligner for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will move-little by little, week by week-until they reach the final alignment Dr. Kammerman has prescribed.

Invisalign® is used primarily on adults and mature teens for minor alignment procedures and is not yet effective for more severe cases requiring extensive jaw movement. To find out more about this procedure, ask Dr. Kammerman or visit the Invisalign® web site.

The orthodontic community is constantly looking for ways to improve the process of straightening teeth and correcting other orthodontic problems. As new technology evolves and becomes available, we will keep you informed. We want to make your treatment time with Kammerman Orthodontics the best experience possible.