Orthodontics in Rocklin, CA
Orthodontic treatment moves teeth that are crowded, rotated or are in incorrect bite position. By fixing these problems, orthodontics helps keep your mouth healthy. Crowded or rotated teeth can be harder to clean, putting your child at risk for cavities, gum disease and causing extra stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches, TMJ syndrome and neck, shoulder and back pain. Teeth that are crowded or rotated affect your child’s appearance and cause them to become self-conscious. The severity of your child’s symptoms will determine which orthodontic approach is likely to be the most effective.
Early Intervention
The goal of early intervention treatment is to develop the child's jaws to make room for the future eruption of permanent teeth and to improve the relationship of the upper and lower jaws. An upper or lower jaw that is growing too much or not enough can benefit from this early orthodontic treatment. A variety of appliances may be utilized during this phase of treatment.
Crozats
The purpose of a Crozat is to develop the dental arches and allow room for all the permanent teeth. Crozats are comfortable and easy to wear and are worn until all baby teeth are lost around about age 12. Crozats also allow room for the tongue to encourage proper rest oral posture. When the tongue does not have room in the mouth, the airway can be compromised. Crozats are ideal for young children because they are very versatile. They allow for constant wear without major disruption to speech, tongue posture and comfort. They can be adjusted in many ways and wires can be added or removed as needed.
Traditional Braces
Traditional braces are made up of bands, wires, and brackets. They gently move teeth into the right position. This can correct crowding and alignment. Bands are fixed around the teeth and used as anchors for the archwires, while brackets are most often bonded to the front of the tooth. Archwires are passed through the brackets and attached to the bands. Tightening the archwire puts tension on the teeth, gradually moving them to their proper position. Treatment time varies depending on individual needs.
Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy may accompany orthodontic treatment. If incorrect muscle patterning or swallowing has created improper alignment between the upper and lower teeth, learning proper techniques may prevent further mal-alignment. Careful diagnosis and special orthodontic appliance or braces will be needed to reposition dental problems that have already occurred. Treating children earlier at their optimal growth stage (ages 5-8 years) using Myofunctional orthodontic techniques can make orthodontic treatment later easier and more stable.
Orthotropics
Orthotropics is an advancement in orthodontic technology that corrects the position of the lower jaw and widens the upper jaw to allow proper growth and development. When your child’s jaw is not in the correct position it may cause many development and functional problems.
The primary goal of Othrotropics is to reverse unwanted facial growth that has occurred and redirect growth in a more favorable direction and to correct oral posture that caused the face to deviate from the intended growth pattern.
Orthotropic treatment takes three to four years and requires a large commitment from the child as well as the parents. During treatment your child will be wearing an appliance in their mouth at all times even while eating. There also may be placement of braces on the teeth during treatment as well. Because we are doing drastic movement of the jaw and teeth there tends to be an “awkward” stage of treatment. It is important to have the support of the entire family before starting this treatment.
For more information: orthotropics-na.org. Contact Little Fish Dental in Rocklin, CA, to find out more details about Orthodontic treatment.