Orthodontics in Bakersfield
Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of the teeth and how they work. It can also help to look after the long-term health of your teeth, gums and jaw joints, by spreading the biting pressure over all your teeth.
Early Orthodontics
An initial consultation for children’s orthodontics should be made around 7 years old. At this age, the permanent first molars erupt, the first adult teeth to appear in the mouth. The presence of both adult and baby teeth allows the orthodontist to evaluate how the rest of the adult teeth may erupt and how the patient’s bite may develop.
Early Orthodontics
Braces are an orthodontic appliance used to align teeth into their ideal functional and aesthetic position, straightening teeth and correcting bite issues. Fixed braces utilize brackets which are cemented to the surfaces of your teeth, fixing the brackets firmly in place. An archwire is connected to each bracket and applies gentle pressure on each tooth, causing them to shift towards their proper position. The benefits of traditional fixed braces are that they apply greater force to shift teeth and can finish treatment faster than removable appliances. In more complex orthodontic cases, the use of fixed appliances are recommended.
Adult Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment in adults can improve aesthetics and function of your teeth. Misalignment of the teeth can be the cause of a few dental and functional issues. A misaligned bite is a major cause of temporomandibular joint disorders. These misalignments may also impair phonetic function, resulting in difficulty pronouncing certain syllables. Severely crowded teeth are harder to clean and floss increasing risk of caries and periodontal disease. Orthodontic treatment can not only improve your smile, but also benefit facial structure, by improving height and position.
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery corrects the irregularities of the jaw bones by repositioning the upper and lower jaws, and chin. The procedure is done to improve jaw function and can also improve the appearance of your facial structure as well. Incisions are made inside the mouth to access the bones, which are then cut, moved, and fixed into place with plates and screws. In some cases, extra bone will be added to the jaw using a graft from the hip, leg, or rib.
Invisalign
Invisalign are a series of clear, removable braces that gradually shift the teeth into favorable orthodontic positions. Like retainers, Invisalign is custom made to fit your teeth. However instead of retaining the position of your teeth, Invisalign applies gradual pressure, slowly shifting teeth into their ideal positions.
Braces
Braces are an orthodontic appliance used to align teeth into their ideal functional and aesthetic position, straightening teeth and correcting bite issues. Fixed braces utilize brackets which are cemented to the surfaces of your teeth, fixing the brackets firmly in place. An archwire is connected to each bracket and applies gentle pressure on each tooth, causing them to shift towards their proper position. The benefits of traditional fixed braces are that they apply greater force to shift teeth and can finish treatment faster than removable appliances. In more complex orthodontic cases, the use of fixed appliances are recommended.