Crooked Teeth Treatment in Buffalo, NY
Are you or your child experiencing crooked teeth and looking for ways to straighten them? When fixing crowded or crooked teeth, the treatment often involves creating space for teeth to reposition them for proper alignment. To learn more about crooked teeth treatment and the options available at our office, please continue reading. If you still have questions after reading the article, please contact us to arrange a free consultation with our dedicated Buffalo orthodontists.
How Does Orthodontic Treatment Work?
When I meet with patients and their parents, the parents often ask me, “How does orthodontics work? How do you fix crooked teeth?” The answer to that question depends on the specific situation and the type of treatment required. For some patients, their first step in orthodontics is creating space for teeth to be made straight. That often includes some expansion and space creation so that, when we are ready to put braces on or use Invisalign, we will have the necessary space to straighten our teeth.
For adults, treatment can differ slightly because we don’t have the same options when it comes to creating space for teeth. As far as how orthodontics works overall, it essentially creates space for teeth through expansion or other means, and then uses braces, Invisalign, or other modalities to straighten the crooked teeth within the arches.
Invisalign clear aligners can help straighten moderately crooked smiles and may also be used to correct issues with your bite.
The final aspect is ensuring that the upper and lower jaws fit together as they should.
Expanding the Jaw vs. Expanding the Teeth
When diagnosing a new patient with crooked teeth, we take x-rays, including one from the front. We measure the widths of the upper and lower jaws as they relate to each other and to the head size. We measure the width of the patient’s jaws relative to that individual’s head size. Then, if we see that they’re skeletally narrow, we know we need to widen the upper jaw skeletally. One of the ways we’ll recognize this by looking clinically is that the patient will have what’s called a posterior crossbite. If a patient’s upper jaw is biting on the inside of the lower, we’ll know by looking at them that they’re likely to need a skeletal expander.
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We always ensure that we measure the patient on the X-ray as well, to determine their narrowness and the amount of expansion required clearly. If we notice that they’re not skeletally narrow, but densely set, meaning that the teeth appear to be tipped in toward the roof of the mouth or the tongue, we will use a dental expander to move the teeth into a better position.
If there’s crowding, we often try to create space for teeth by using an expander first, and then straighten those crooked teeth with braces later.
Orthodontists for Crooked Teeth in Buffalo, NY
If you’re looking for a Buffalo orthodontist who is experienced in treating all ages and cares about your family, contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation at one of our seven convenient locations throughout Western New York.
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