We offer pediatric treatment for kids of all ages, and also orthodontic care for children too. But when it comes to orthodontics, we also offer adult orthodontics too. In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist talks about the options we have for addressing dental misalignment.
Misalignment and Adulthood
Often, adults with misalignment have uneven teeth due to complications in childhood, such as issues with the size of your jaw and the eruption of their primary teeth. Premature loss of primary teeth upsetting the arrival of permanent teeth could be a factor too, and tongue thrusting or thumb sucking could complicate matters as well. Even as we grow older, concerns that lead to missing teeth, such as injury or even gum disease, could impact the overall alignment of our smiles. But our team is ready to help smiles of all ages, including adults, with our personalized approach to orthodontics.
Braces
The most common form of adult orthodontics is braces. These are very effective at addressing more severe stages, and could provide an even smile. The procedure involves our team attaching metal brackets to the front facing sides of each tooth, and then connecting a portion of a thin arch wire to them with clear or colorful bands. We then adjust tension in the arch wire to gently reposition the teeth, usually over a period of about two years. Our team could make them less visible with ceramic brackets, which can be shaded to blend with your smile and offer a more lifelike appearance. As a result, only your thin arch wires are metal. We typically reserve these for the upper set of orthodontics.
Invisalign®
Adult orthodontics also include more cosmetic approaches. For example, we could help adults with more minor cases using the Invisalign® system. Instead of brackets and wires, we take detailed digital impressions to design and fabricate a series of plastic aligners, each one custom made for your smile to ensure a comfortable fit and treatment with precision. Each set is worn for about 20 to 22 hours a day, over a period of about two weeks. The process is repeated as your smile is gradually and gently repositioned. For many, optimal results are available in as little as a year!
Retainers
If you have very minor misalignment concerns, or if you’ve worn braces or aligners in the past and your teeth have since shifted, then we could offer treatment with a set of retainers.
Your Shirley, NY, Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist Provides Care for Adults
We can help every member of your family to enjoy straighter smiles and improved oral health. To learn more about treating uneven teeth in adulthood, then contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.
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