It ’ s Your Smile
Why
Orthodontics ?
By
Dr . Jernell Escobar
Dr . Escobar has been practicing dentistry in the Bay Area since 2006 . She took over Dr . Palmerlee ’ s practice when he retired in 2012 . She is passionate about providing exceptional oral health care in a patient centered environment . Dr . Escobar participates in continuing education seminars with other leading clinicians in exploring new and innovative methods and materials for restoring smiles .
One discipline of dentistry that I find myself constantly extolling the benefits to patients is orthodontics . I am constantly reminded that the public assumes that orthodontics is principally a cosmetic election and therefore often put “ on the back-burner ” when making decisions about dental treatment . In this article , I intend to focus on the major benefits of orthodontic treatment as well as touch on why a delay in treatment could be costly .
When the adult teeth eventually make their appearance into the mouth , greater than 96 % of the population will develop “ crooked teeth .” The descriptor “ crooked teeth ” is a blanket term that can describe many conditions . The “ obvious ” condition and the reason most people seek out orthodontic treatment is the appearance of misaligned teeth . Most people enjoy having a beautiful smile and orthodontics is typically the method of choice to achieve these goals . Some people who do not have the patience or the inclination to pursue orthodontics often undergo cosmetic procedures such as crowns and veneers to attempt to achieve their esthetic goals . However , this can sometimes be an inappropriate approach .
The “ not-so-obvious ” conditions are the ones that have the potential to be costly down the road and require early intervention for the patient to receive the maximum benefit . One question that is asked most often is ” why are you sending my 7 year old to the orthodontist ?” The American Association of Orthodontics recommends a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7 . When your child comes for their biannual exam , we are not just looking for cavities . We examine how the jaw is developing , whether we anticipate there is going to be enough space for the incoming adult teeth , if the upper or lower jaw is growing too large or small relative to the other , are the teeth functioning properly with one another and the list continues . When children are young , prompt identification of these conditions and a timely referral means that we can intervene and influence the growth of your child ’ s jaw as well as the final position of the teeth . This can prevent your child from requiring permanent teeth being removed as well as costly orthognathic surgery later in life .
Proper alignment of the teeth is important for a great smile but is even more important for the function and long term wear and stability of the teeth . Sixty years ago , most people did not make it into their senior years with a full set of teeth . Now , people are living longer and keeping their teeth . If you look at each tooth and its intended position in the mouth each one is slightly different . This is because each tooth was designed to function optimally in a certain way . Any deviation from this ideal begins to put excess wear and tear on teeth and can even translate into the surrounding support apparatus , i . e .: bone . Excessive forces on a tooth can actually contribute to periodontal disease , which is inflammation and bone loss around a tooth .
Many people who suffer from headaches and jaw pain may have never thought that misalignment of their teeth could be a contributing factor . However , improper function of the teeth can do damage to the Temporomandibular Joint ( TMJ ) which can lead to excessive wear on the joint and chronic headaches . This condition is typically exacerbated in people who clench or grind their teeth . Orthodontics is routinely a critical component of the recommended therapy for people who suffer chronic TMJ pain .
In addition to everything we have mentioned , orthodontics is routinely utilized for a variety of other treatments . Often , we need to make room for restorations , implants and other procedures where the current position of the teeth makes restoration impossible . Orthodontics gives us the ability to change the position of the teeth and roots in order facilitate our treatment goals .
In conclusion , a referral to the orthodontist is not just about straightening teeth . It is about quality of life . Our goal is to make your smile the best it can be now and in the future .
This is the second , in a series of articles , which will attempt to address some of the most common questions that are regularly posed to dental practitioners . We hope that the reader will find this to be useful and perhaps find answers to questions they might have regarding dental procedures . We will preface all of these articles by reminding the reader that no armchair diagnosis or advice is a substitute for a trip to a dental professional . Every person ’ s case is unique and proper diagnosis and treatment planning with a dental professional is essential for optimal case outcome .
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