Facial
and jaw growth orthopedics, also called dentofacial orthopedics,
works to guide facial development during childhood by reestablishing
nasal breathing with growth guidance appliances. Children are seen as
the best candidates for dentofacial orthopedic therapy because facial
growth and development occur most during childhood. When combined
with orthodontic treatment, it’s commonly referred to as Phase-One
treatment. Dentofacial orthopedics can also treat adults, but the
process will involve surgical procedures to adjust the bite alignment
and jaw bone before applying the appliances.
With
our specialty orthodontists at Burns Orthodontics, we’ll outline
our initial steps towards a proper jaw alignment, so you can become
more educated about our services and what we can do for you and your
family.
Step
1: Evaluating Nasal Breathing
Oral
positions, such as the lips, tongue, and palate, are responsible for
the growth and development of the jaw and face. When the tongue and
jaw don’t rest in the right position, the mid-face will not grow
properly and will cause symptoms such as:
mouth
breathing
open
mouth posture
sloping
forehead
retracted
lower jaw
thin
limps
a
large-appearing nose
sunken
cheeks
elongated,
flat, or narrow face
These oral symptoms can lead to long-term health issues, such as TMJ issues, obstructive sleep apnea, and poor head posture.
Step
2: Our Jaw Growth Appliances
To
reestablish proper oral proper, our orthodontists will focus on steps
that working with growth guidance appliances, an orthopedic appliance
that stimulates bone growth and corrects facial anomalies. Our growth
appliances focus on scaffolding the effects of the tongue resting on
the palette and stimulates the palate to produce more bone in wider
dimensions. Some of the appliances we offer for such purposes
include:
Headgears – As the most common appliance used, headgear works by applying pressure to the upper teeth and jawbones to guide, form, and correct upper jaw growth. It also aligns upper teeth and is worn between eight and 12 hours. We also offer removable headgear, with devices affixed to the molars to hold the lower jaw forward.
Bionators – A bionator holds the jaw forward and guides the teeth to perfect alignment. It’s removable and enables the upper and lower jaws to grow proportionally.
Palate expanders – These devices push the cartilage in the upper jaw to widen the maxilla, allowing the upper jaw to hold the teeth.
Frequently
Asked Questions:
Do
I need to get a referral from a dentist first before seeing an
orthodontist?
No,
but your dentist will be able to determine how healthy your gums,
teeth, and jawbones are for orthodontic treatment. If you have a
child, you should have your child see an orthodontist by age 7.
How long do dentofacial orthopedic treatments take?
For
children, it lasts between six to 12 months. For adults, it may last
longer, depending on the severity of the jaw positions and growth
directions.
How
much does treatment cost?
At
Burns Orthodontics, we focus on giving our patients comprehensive
treatment plans for dentofacial orthopedic appliances. Call us today
at any of our multiple locations to learn about our services.
“Orthodontics For Your Smile”
Orthodontics can help treat many medical issues such as facial pain, TMJ, speech impairments, and chronic headaches, but when it comes to beautiful smiles, orthodontics provides cosmetic solutions that are safe, sound, and healthy for long term dental care. Our orthodontists believe that beauty starts bone-deep – meaning that our appliances such as braces and aligners have the outstanding capability to reconstruct the mouth and teeth without permanent damage and provide lasting outcomes that last a lifetime.
Why Choose an Orthodontist for Cosmetic Treatment?
Cosmetic dentistry concentrates on achieving perfect smiles through immediate treatment options, such as porcelain veneers, teeth whitening treatments, dental implants, and dentures. All of these options can help fix misaligned, stained teeth, and help repair any damage done to teeth that appliances cannot. However, orthodontics focuses on the mechanical aspects of dentistry, giving patients appliances and devices that work to align teeth over time rather than with immediate solutions. At Burns Orthodontics, we provide our patients with alignment treatment plans that are sustainable, durable, and demonstrate positive results.
Our Cosmetic Treatment Plans
Clear Braces – Clear, ceramic braces have similar traits to traditional metal braces, but without the appearance. At our orthodontics locations, our orthodontists will attach clear or tooth-colored brackets to each of your teeth, and then connect them to a highly flexible, thin wire. The wire will put light pressure on the wire, and will gradually move the teeth into position. The natural-looking brackets will be able to correct the same issues as traditional metal braces but will offer a more discreet feel that’s barely noticeable.
Invisalign – Invisalign therapy involves using clear, plastic aligners that will gently shift the teeth into position over time. These aligners are practically invisible, can be removed during eating and brushing sessions, and don’t contain any wires or brackets. Because this treatment’s non-invasive, it can correct various orthodontic issues ranging from misalignments to overbites.
Colorful traditional braces – Metal braces, while they may not be the most attractive option for cosmetic dentistry, can be quite fun to design. If you choose traditional braces, we offer a wide range of metal colors to choose from. Pink, blue, green, red, we provide numerous colors that you can choose from to have a colorful time while your teeth align back into position.
Other appliances – Our patients don’t just come in with misaligned teeth – in more severe cases, a misaligned jaw due to injury or genetics can cause a severe impact on a person’s well-being and health. Our appliances, such as palatal expanders and jaw repositioning appliances, can provide extensive cosmetic solutions as well as health solutions for a happy smile.
Schedule a Free Orthodontic Consultation!
If you desire to straighten your smile, our orthodontists will give you the discreet, compassionate space you need to discuss your options. To schedule your free consultation with Burns Orthodontics, call us at any one of our various locations, or fill out our HIPAA contact us form, and we’ll help you get started on your way to a perfect smile.
Clear
braces offer a less visible cosmetic alternative to metal braces.
They’re an excellent option for those who wish to have braces but
want a less noticeable alternative, especially for those who cannot
qualify for Invisalign. Our clear braces are made with clear brackets
and minimal wires that adhere to the teeth and are highly resistant
to staining and breakage. Discover how clear braces may be the answer
for you.
How
Our Clear Braces Work
Clear
braces maintain the cosmetic aesthetic of clean, white teeth without
the appearance of metal braces. Traditional metal braces can be
noticeable with their metal brackets and wires. Clear braces work to
remove the bulk but maintain the effectiveness of braces by
predicting tooth movement and ensuring that the braces straighten
teeth over time. Our braces don’t also treat misaligned teeth; they
also handle a wide range of problems, including crowded teeth,
malocclusion, and wide spacing in teeth.
Clear braces use side braces attached to memory wire, which reduces the number of pressure patients would generally feel from the elastic bands with metal braces. The sliding mechanism gradually tightens the teeth as they align into position, and patients typically experience less discomfort than with metal braces. What allows our braces to appear clear is the ceramic brackets. These brackets are made by matching the color of your tooth enamel, and when applied, blend in with the teeth for a more natural look. At Burns Orthodontics, our team of second-generation dentists and orthodontists can help achieve the look you desire with our clear braces treatment plans.
Frequently
Asked Questions:
Are
clear braces the same as Invisalign?
Clear
braces and Invisalign braces are not the same. Invisalign braces
don’t include any metal brackets or wires and are made of flexible
plastic. Invisalign braces offer a discreet system for aligning teeth
and provide corrections for overbites, under-bites, crowded teeth,
and gaping teeth. However, depending on the severity of those
conditions, Invisalign does not always work. Clear braces offer the
same benefits and offer more variety for patients to receive
straighter teeth.
Am
I a candidate for clear braces?
To
qualify for clear braces, your dentist will need to determine whether
or not you need teeth adjustments. You might need braces if:
Your
teeth look crowded or crooked.
Your
jaw shifts constantly
You
have an overbite or underbite
You
have significant gaps in your teeth
These
are a few examples of what many people experience when they have
misaligned teeth, as these conditions can occur depending on the
severity of your teeth case, and how your teeth have developed over
time. Contact us today to qualify for clear braces!
Are
clear braces more expensive than metal braces?
Clear
braces can cost more to make than metal braces because they’re made
of more expensive materials. However, clear braces offer numerous
benefits to metal braces and Invisalign braces because they have the
best of both worlds. Feel free to contact Burns Orthodontics at any
one of our various locations if you have any questions regarding
clear braces.
Orthodontic
treatments help to restore proper oral function, fixing issues such
as overbites, under-bites, crooked teeth, and jaw misalignment. The
American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children receive
an orthodontic evaluation at age seven. By this time, children will
have received an initial dental check-up by their primary pediatric
dentist. At age seven, the first adult or permanent teeth will come
in. During this time, it’s crucial for a child to see their dentist
check up on their teeth because their dental development can be
highly impacted at this stage.
Our
orthodontists at Burns Orthodontics are highly prepared and capable
of diagnosing and treating early dental problems with our
interceptive child treatments. We focus on giving our patients, big
and small, a safe, compassionate, and authentic experience when they
arrive at any one of our offices. Our interceptive child treatments
work through a diligent process, as we always make sure to maintain
and track the progress of all children who enter.
Our
Early Interceptive Treatment Process:
Our
child interceptive treatments aim to regulate the width of dental
bone arches and provide enough space for the permanent teeth to
arrive correctly. We prescribe interceptive treatments for these
common oral problems, which include:
Protruding teeth – These teeth can protrude from habits such as sucking the thumb. Thumb sucking, if not disciplined, can lead to a risk of tooth injury or tooth loss.
Underbites and overbites – When the upper or lower teeth protrude, it can cause difficulties chewing, speech impediments, tight muscles, and higher chances of gum disease.
Crossbites – Crossbites can cause asymmetrical jaw growth, gum recessions, and excessive tooth wear if left untreated. Treatments such as braces and palette enhancers can help fix the crossbites and reform the mouth back to health.
Late loss of baby teeth – If baby teeth are still present, then it can become more difficult to correct at a later stage.
During the early treatment phase, our orthodontists will work with you and your children to prescribe the best treatment options. Our selection of braces, headgear, and aligners can help remove many of these common issues and diminish their effects in the future. We will also work to provide useful tips for removing bad habits, such as thumb sucking and poor oral hygiene.
The
Benefits of Early Interceptive Treatments
Child
Interceptive Treatments provide numerous benefits for your child,
including:
Determine
your child’s future oral health
Correct
bad habits such as thumb sucking
Correct
bite problems
Guide
the jaw growth to accommodate for the permanent teeth
Create
a more pleasing smile
Prevent
future dental corrections
Improve
your child’s self-esteem
Have
questions about our treatment options? Reach out to us! Burns
Orthodontics serves the Mt. Lebanon, Waynesburg, and McMurray areas,
and has a wide team of orthodontists here to help you and your child
achieve a beautiful smile because we focus on family first. Contact
us at any of our various locations by phone or email, and schedule an
appointment today for a free consultation.
Orthodontics treatments, such as metal braces, clear braces, and Invisalign, can benefit people of all ages and give them beautiful, perfectly-aligned teeth that will last for generations. However, many people tend to associate orthodontic appliances with children and young teens, and most often not, adults can tend to believe that they’re too old for proper treatment. We at Burns Orthodontics believe that’s not the case; many studies have shown that orthodontic treatments have numerous benefits to adults. That’s why our orthodontists offer specialized treatment plans for adults who wish to realign their teeth and gain a beautiful smile in the process.
Our Orthodontic Treatment Plans
Healthy teeth can move and shift at any age, and many of our orthodontic treatments can minimize the effects of those changes, and reverse them overtime. Orthodontists accurately diagnose, prevent, and treat facial irregularities, hence why we offer many treatment plans, including:
Braces – Braces are the most common fixed appliances, consisting of bands, wires, and brackets, to place pressure on the teeth over time and gradually move them to the proper position. Our options for braces include metal braces and clear braces. These can be applied with select fixed appliances for controlling the tongue position.
Aligners – A removable alternative to braces, aligners work to align and position teeth back into place without the permanent side effects that traditional braces bring. Invisalign’s our most popular choice because it allows patients the freedom to align their teeth without the discomfort of regular braces.
Jaw Repositioning Appliances – Jaw repositioning appliances, also called splints, these appliances are worn either on the top or lower jawline to train the jaw to close in a better position. These appliances are used for TMJ or temporomandibular disorders.
Palatal Expanders – These appliances widen the arch of the upper jaw, fitting over the roof of the mouth. It applies pressure through a plastic plate, which forces the roof of the mouth to open lengthwise. Palatal expanders work to apply outward pressure to widen the palatal area and realign the mouth and teeth to a proper position.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a good fit for specialized adult treatment?
Adult specialized treatment focuses specifically on the dental and jaw bone effects that many adults experience, but don’t treat. At Burns Orthodontics, we will focus on giving you the most comprehensive care through our consultations and regular supervision. Contact us today at any of our various locations to get a free consultation.
How much does treatment cost?
Orthodontic treatment depends entirely on the type of treatment you need. Before any treatment begins, our orthodontists will gladly speak with you about the costs and payment plans we accept before any procedures.
Why choose Burns Orthodontics?
During your consultation, our orthodontists at Burns Orthodontics will determine which treatment plan is right for you. The cost of your orthodontics treatment will depend on many factors, including the severity and complexity of the problems you experience. We offer many payment and insurance plans and have the most comprehensive orthodontic care throughout the McMurray, Waynesburg, and Mt. Lebanon areas.
