Orthodontics Clute | Woodshore Family Dentistry

What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the position of teeth and jaws. If you have misshapen, crooked, or misaligned teeth, orthodontics consists of a number of treatments and procedures that can align your teeth again. While most people don’t consider crooked teeth to be an emergency, it can lead to a number of issues. In addition to simply looking bad, it makes it harder to clean teeth, puts extra pressure on the chewing muscles, and increases your risk of periodontal diseases and tooth decay.

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Who Needs Appliance Orthodontics?

If you believe you’re in need of orthodontic treatment, you should contact your dentist or orthodontist. After examining your mouth, they’ll determine if you’re actually a suitable fit for orthodontic treatment. The diagnosis will be done through a clinical exam, special X-rays, photographs, and other tests.

Generally speaking, orthodontics is recommended for people suffering from one of the following issues.

Overbite/ Buck Teeth: The upper teeth lie too far ahead of the lower teeth.
Underbite: The lower teeth lie too far ahead of the upper teeth.
Crossbite: The upper teeth don’t come down in front of the lower teeth while biting, as is normally the case.
Open Bite: When the back teeth are biting, there’s a space created between the front teeth or the side teeth.
Misplaced Midline: Misalignment of the upper and lower teeth — which can be seen if the centers of the upper teeth and lower teeth don’t match.
Spacing: There are spaces between certain teeth either due to missing teeth or poor spacing of the teeth.
Crowding: Too many teeth inside the mouth, which leads to crooked teeth.

Orthodontics Treatment

There are a number of different types of appliance orthodontics — some of them are fixed and some are removable. These orthodontic appliances apply pressure on the teeth and jaws in order to position them correctly.

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Fixed Orthodontic Appliance

The following are the most popular fixed orthodontic appliances.

Orthodontic Braces: These are wires or brackets fixed around the teeth or bonded to the teeth. These brackets consist of bands and arch wires are passed through them. As such, by tightening the arch wire, you can apply pressure on the teeth in order to move them in the desired direction. Over time, as your teeth continue moving, your braces have to be adjusted so they continue applying pressure till your teeth return to their original position.
Special Fixed Appliances: These are appliances attached to the teeth using bands — they cause great discomfort, especially while eating.
Space Maintainers: These are orthodontic appliances used to maintain the space between the teeth when your kid loses a baby tooth and the permanent tooth hasn’t yet come out.

Removable Orthodontic Appliance

The following are the most popular removable orthodontic appliances.

Invisible Aligners: These perform the same function as braces but they’re virtually invisible, a lot more effective, and they can be removed when necessary. These appliances are designed specifically for your teeth and they push your teeth towards the desired position without the use of wires or brackets. You can remove them while eating. You should, however, wear invisible aligners for at least 23 hours a day.
Jaw Repositioning Devices/ Splints: These devices are used to treat temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ). They’re placed on the upper or lower jaw to help them move in the desired direction.
Palatal Expander: This is a device attached to the roof of the mouth in order to apply external pressure using screws and widen the arch of the upper jaws, which opens up the palatal area.
Headgear: This is a device that helps pull the front teeth back to prevent them from sticking out too much.

PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

This place is great! Everyone is so kind and very professional. The dentist is awesome also. He takes the time to listen and gives you all the options with no pressure. They are also great with kids here. My 10 and 3 year old also do well when they come here. I highly recommend this place for anyone who wants great care for their teeth.

Laura H.

The entire office is very friendly. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. I really appreciated the extra time each Doctor took to review my medical history. Very gentle, kind and confident dental care.

Paula H.

I can’t say enough about my experience at this dental office! The entire staff was very friendly, from the second I walked in to the time I walked out. The doctor took the time to explain all that was going on, and he was very gentle in his approach which is what I like. Highly recommend this place!

Shaan

Me and my wife had been looking for a new dentist and we finally found them. This group of people are great. Extremely courteous and good at what they do. I couldn’t be more pleased with our new dentists and would highly recommend them to anyone.

Paul S.

The staff was so friendly and helpful. You can tell they really care about their patients and love what they do. They all made the experience really easy & comfortable. Highly recommend!

Kurstie P.

Hadn’t been to the dentist in 3 years because I just didn’t like it… tried this one out. Very kind and professional staff, friendly, outgoing, made me feel welcome. Definitely would recommend this dentist

Meena D.

The office is very clean and my daughter loved the tv in the ceiling to watch while her work was being done. Thanks again to the staff and doctor for making her feel comfortable.

Michael J.

Great customer service from check in to check out! It was my daughter’s first dental appointment and the staff made her very comfortable!

Santanna W.

The staff was very welcoming and friendly! Dr. Pattni explained my plan thoroughly and made sure I was comfortable during my treatment which I really appreciated. They also perform orthodontic work at affordable prices which is great because now I only have to go to one office for all of my dental needs. Not to mention the decor, ambiance, and state-of-the-art equipment is truly exceptional! Will definitely be coming back!

Anjani P.

FAQs About Orthodontics

Is it safe to get braces while having cavities?

Ideally, you should get your braces after filling the cavities. But, in some cases, people also get cavities after getting their braces. As such, it’s also safe to fill the cavities after getting braces.

What is it like having an open bite and then getting braces?

As with all other cases, the braces will push your teeth so that there’s no gap between your front teeth when the back teeth are biting. It will apply pressure to restore your teeth in the correct position. However, the experience may be uncomfortable.

What is the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist?

Both dentists and orthodontists can deal with your teeth alignment. However, dentistry is a broader field that deals with the teeth, gums, jaws, and overall oral health. Orthodontists, in comparison, only deal with the teeth to ensure that they’re correctly spaced.

Why are braces put on upper teeth first?

Braces aren’t always — but mostly — put on the upper teeth first. The following are some of the reasons why braces are put on upper teeth first:

The upper teeth are larger and take more time to move so braces may be put on them earlier.
The upper braces are a lot stronger and remain in the teeth whereas the lower braces can often come off and lead to discomfort.
Sometimes, correction of upper teeth is necessary before braces can be put on your lower teeth.

Orthodontics Near Me

Are you looking for advanced orthodontics near your location? If you live in or around Texas, then Woodshore Family Dentistry is one of the best dental clinics in the area. Our expert orthodontists examine your teeth carefully to come up with an orthodontic treatment plan that can perfectly solve your problems. For further information on the type of orthodontic treatment you need, please schedule an appointment today.

CALL NOW (979) 341-9890