Orthodontics for Children
It’s best for the orthodontist to see children by age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and it is the best time for that patient to be treated. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.
Orthodontics for Adults
Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. One of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21. Jaw surgery is more often required for adult orthodontic patients because their jaws are not growing. Adults also may have experienced some breakdown or loss of their teeth and bone that supports the teeth and may require periodontal treatment before, during, and/or after orthodontic treatment. Bone loss can also limit the amount and direction of tooth movement that is advisable.
Crowding of the teeth
Patient started treatment at age eleven and wore braces for twenty-six months. He loves his new smile.
Openbite: Front teeth don’t touch
Patient sucked her thumb as a young child. She started treatment at age thirteen. She had braces and a special appliance — called a crib — to retrain the tongue, for twenty-eight months. Now she can bite the lettuce out of a sandwich.
Deep overbite: Lower front teeth bite into palate
This adult patient (age twenty-five) required braces and jaw surgery to correct his severe overbite, with treatment taking two years. His problem could have been corrected without surgery if he had been treated before he was a teenager.
Missing lateral incisors
This patient’s lateral incisors were congenitally missing. She had braces for twenty months to move the teeth into the correct position, then the missing teeth were replaced with bonded “Maryland” bridges.
Underbite: Lower front teeth in front of upper teeth
Patient’s underbite was causing her jaw joint discomfort and excessive wear patterns on her teeth. After thirty months of treatment starting at age thirty-two, she now finds smiling and chewing much easier.
Spacing of teeth
Patient was bothered by the spaces between his teeth. Braces closed the spaces and gave him an ideal bite in twenty-four months. Special glued-in retainers help keep the spaces closed.
Overbite: Protruding front teeth
At age ten, patient had a big overbite with the top teeth protruding beyond the bottom. She had two phases of treatment. The first helped her jaws to grow more harmoniously; the second aligned her teeth and bite. At age thirteen, she was proudly displaying her new smile.
Non-braces treatment
Sometimes braces are not needed to get noticeable improvements in tooth alignment. This patient was first seen at age seven for crowding of the lower permanent teeth. A procedure was performed to reduce the width of the adjacent baby teeth and the permanent incisors aligned on their own in nine months.
Phase I
Patient’s parents were concerned about both aesthetics and the health of the erupting permanent teeth when they brought him to the orthodontist at age eight. The lower front teeth were crowded and they touched the palate, and the upper front teeth were extremely displaced from their normal positions. After twenty months of Phase I treatment with an expander and partial braces, patient’s appearance and dental function was vastly improved.
Rely on our resident orthodontist, Dr. , to deliver the orthodontic services you and your loved ones need for optimal oral health. As a fully-licensed dental practitioner, Dr. is dedicated to ensuring that you receive comprehensive orthodontic care that keeps your smile beautiful and healthy.
The Orthodontics Difference
Discover the difference when you schedule an appointment with Orthodontics. Our ultimate goal is to exceed your expectations, providing you with optimal orthodontic treatments that render impressive results. We create healthy, properly aligned teeth that keep your teeth looking beautiful and functioning for a lifetime.
Orthodontics for Children and Adults in Woodbridge and Manassas
After receiving two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Maryland at College Park, Dr. attended the Baltimore Dental School at the University of Maryland where he graduated with honors. He then completed his residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Today, Dr. is a board-certified orthodontist and is a member of the following dental organizations:
- Virginia Dental Association
- Rated in America’s Top Dentists
- American Association of Orthodontists Northern Virginia Dental Society
- Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists
About Our Resident Orthodontist
Dr. and his wife have resided in the metropolitan community for more than 25 years. When he’s not delivering exceptional dental services to his patients throughout the area, Dr. enjoys sports, nature photography, hiking, playing tennis, watching movies, and listening to all genres of music.
In addition to his impressive achievements, our resident orthodontist voluntarily completed requirements to become a Diplomate for the American Board of Orthodontics in 2007. This certification requires presentations, oral exams, and a written examination. The program applies to both classroom learning and practical application. Dr. is committed to continuing education, as he stays up-to-date on all the latest techniques and equipment within the orthodontic field.
Complete our online contact form to learn more about our orthodontics in Woodbridge and Manassas. We also proudly serve patients in Fredericksburg, Burke, Lorton, Dale City, Quantico, Triangle, Bristow, Nokesville, Gainesville, Haymarket, Stafford, & Spotsylvania, Virginia.