FAQ

Can you describe orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the dental specialty dealing with the ability of the mouth to close with the teeth in their correct position as well as achieving esthetic improvements. As highly trained specialists, orthodontists provide treatment to bring the teeth, jaw bones and facial profile into their proper alignment, creating straight smiles and improved health for their patients.

Our "Before and After" morph section highlights what our doctors can do to your smile.

 

Are orthodontists also dentists? 

Yes, all orthodontists are dentists. All Orthodontists attend college, complete a 4 or 5 year dental graduate program and then complete a 2-3 year orthodontics residency program. Even though a dentist can attempt to move teeth and provide orthodontic services, we recommend that only orthodontists provide orthodontic treatments since patients directly beneft from the specialized training and extensive experience.

We invite you to visit the profiles of our doctors to learn more.

 

What are the cases that orthodontists typically treat?

Orthodontists treat all ages, from young children to adults We see patients with underbites, lower jaw protrusions, crossbites and deep overbites, as well as crowding of the teeth and spacing .

 

How do braces work?

Braces work by applying constant, gentle pressure, gradually moving the teeth into proper position. The basic components of braces are the brackets which are attached to the teeth and the archwire that connects them. By periodically reshaping the archwire that connects them.  Through the periodical reshaping of these archwire our doctors control the process which move teeth into the correct bite. As the wire applies force by attempting to return to its original shape, the pressure it creates serves to reposition the teeth, to create the correct bite and a stunning smile.

 

Is orthodontic treatment successful in adults?

Orthodontic treatment is very successful in adult patients. The biological process employed in the movement of teeth is the same regardless of age. The success of treatment is based on the health of the teeth, gums, and supporting bone. Because adult bones are no longer growing, some cases which involve extreme correction of the facial bones cannot be treated with braces (visible and invisible ones). In these cases other dental specialists  provide treatment along with us to achieve the desired result.

 

What is the cause when orthodontic treatment is needed?

Some common orthodontic problems are the result of heredity. The child of a parent with an overite will often exhibit an overbite also. In children, the teeth may be crowded, there may be too much space between the teeth, the teeth may protrude, and sometimes there may be missing teeth, extra teeth or problems with jaw growth. In constrast, malocclusions (bad bite) can develop over time. They may be caused by thumb- or finger-sucking, the early or late loss of baby teeeth, mouth breathing, abnormal swallowing, poor dental hygiene, dental disease, poor nutrition, or accidents. Trauma or birth defects can also be contributors. Although orthodontic problems can result from a variety of causes, most can be treated successfully.

 

If my crooked teeth don't bother me, is there any reason I should have orthodontic treatment?

Speaking, biting and chewing properly are all dependent on straight teeth. Straight teeth also remain helathier and promote healthier gums. You could eventually suffer from headaches or develop pain from temporomandibular joint (TMJ=jaw joint) problems due to the natural aging of the teeth and tissues of your mouth along with the crooked teeth which prevents proper bite and can cause sleep APNEA. Straight teeth promote maximum oral and overall health for a lifetime. With the highly aesthetic orthodontic techniques we offer today, it's never been easier to straighten your teeth and create or protect stunning smiles.

 

Why do straight teeth improve a person's appearance so much?

Orthodontic treatment helps to improve the appearance by returning the dentition to its proper position and in turn providing improved support for facial structure. Correctly positioned teeth help bring facial attributes into correct proportion with each other After a patient has had their teeth straightened, they can truly appreciate the incredible improvement a beautiful, straight smile brings. While crooked teeth can distract, straight teeth attract and highlight lips, cheeks and jaw line. If not having received treatment when young, adults often chose to straighten their teeth for special occasions such as weddings. Rather then beeing affraid to smile you may find yourself wanting to smile at everyone... which can have a direct impact on self confidence, personality and achievements.

 

Can anything bad occur by chosing to not have orthodontic treatment when suggested?

Yes! Misaligned teeth can result in tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease and increased risk of injury to protrucing upper front teeth. Decay and gum disease lead to the destruction of bone in the jaw, tooth loss, chewing difficulty and digestive problems. Poorly aligned teeth also cause uneven wear of tooth surfaces, leaving areas of the teeth badly worn down, with an inability to chew and digest food properly; excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone supporting the teeth' and misalignment of the jaw joint leading to headaches and/or pain in the face and neck, also sleep APNEA can often be addressed through orthodontic treatment. Proper orthodontic treatment can prevent these problems and help promote good health for life.

 

What can happen when food gets stuck in braces?

Food caught in braces can be a problem. It is very important for orthodontic patients to steer clear of crunchy, chew, sticky and hard foods. They also should not chew on fingernails, pencils or pens because hard substances can damage braces. Damaged braces result in extra visits to Dr. Gorton and Dr. Schmohl's office and make treatment take longer. So resist damaging foods and substances and stay focused on the beautiful results you will be enjoying when treatment is complete.

 

How can expanders prevent the need for the extraction of teeth and how do they work?

Traditional orthodontists often extract teeth if space is limited which can have a negative impact on the profile as the teeth get moved back. Therefore another treatment option many orthodontists chose instead, is the use of RPE expanders which rather then reducing a smile, widen a smile without a negative impact on the profile. However those RPE (Rapid Palettal Expander) have limitations as they can widen the entire lower face area. As a result our doctors unlike most orthodontists only use them in very specific cases where this is desired. In most cases we use soft expanders (such as a quadhelix or crozat appliance) that eliminate the more serious limitations of RPE expanders.

Please read what sets us apart from others other then a focus on less invasive, non extraction treatment.

 

Should all children be evaluated regarding a need for braces, and if so at what age?

The American Association of Orthodontists recomments a screening of all children by the age of seven by a trained orthodontist. While many children are able to wait until nearly all of their adult teeth have come in, some orthodontic cases are easier to correct  if detected early rather than waiting until jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may prevent the need for surgery or other more serious corrections later in life. Often earlier treatment before age 7 is suggesed if a child has one or more of the following: Difficulty chewing or biting, Open-mouth breathing, Thumb or finger sucking, Overlapping or crowding of erupting permanent teeth, obvious abnormal bite development of any kind, jaws that click or pop, biting of the cheek or into the roof of the mouth, speech problems, grinding or wearing down of teeth, protruding teeth and other issues that can only be detected by a trained orthodontist.