Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is orthodontics?
A: Orthodontics is the specialty branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Braces are the appliances most often used to correct these problems.
Q: Why is orthodontics important?
A: An attractive smile and improved self-image are just some of the benefits of orthodontic treatment. Without treatment, orthodontic problems can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, bone destruction as well as chewing and digestive difficulties, speech impairments, tooth loss and other dental injuries.
Q: What are the benefits of braces?
A: Having straight teeth that fit together properly improves their function. Teeth that are aligned properly also help jaw joints to work more effectively plus they are easier to keep clean. If you ever need a filling, crown or bridge, your dentist can usually do a better restoration if the teeth are straight. As a result of braces, the appearance of the teeth and face is improved. Having a pleasing smile improves self-esteem, confidence and supports a feeling of acceptance in our daily activities.
Q: At what age should orthodontic treatment occur?
A: Orthodontic treatment can be started as early as age five. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery or extractions and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age seven or sooner if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician.
Q: What is a malocclusion?
A: Malocclusion literally means bad bite. Most malocclusions are inherited and it is possible to develop a bad bite as a result of bad habits such as tongue thrusting, thumb sucking and sleeping habits. The premature loss of baby teeth or the extraction of adult teeth can also cause the development of a malocclusion. Some early warning signs of a bad bite are: difficulty in chewing or biting, mouth breathing, finger sucking or other oral habits beyond age five, overlapped, misplaced or blocked-out teeth, biting the cheek or into the roof of the mouth, teeth that meet in an abnormal manner or do not meet at all, jaws that shift or make sounds, jaws that protrude, retrude or contribute to facial asymmetry or imbalance, and finally speech difficulty.
Q: Will braces hurt?
A: Most patients experience some discomfort the first week after their braces are put on and immediately after their braces are tightened. Aspirin, non-aspirin pain reliever or ibuprofen can be used to ease the discomfort.
Q: What can I eat with braces?
A: Most foods can be enjoyed just as much as before you got your braces. Hard, crunchy and sticky foods can damage your braces and should be avoided.
Q: Why do baby teeth sometimes need to be pulled?
A: Pulling baby teeth may be necessary to allow severely crowded permanent teeth to come out at a normal time in a normal location. If the teeth are severely crowded, some permanent teeth will either remain impacted (teeth that should have come in but have not), or come in to an undesirable position. To allow severely crowded teeth to move on their own into much more desirable positions, sequential removal of baby teeth and permanent teeth (usually first premolars) may be necessary. This sequential extraction of teeth, called serial extraction, is typically followed by comprehensive orthodontic treatment after tooth eruption has improved as much as it can on its own.
Q: What about the wisdom teeth (third molars), should they be removed?
A: In about three out of four cases where teeth have not been removed during orthodontic treatment, there are good reasons to have the wisdom teeth removed. This usually occurs when a person reaches his or her mid to late teen years. Your orthodontist, in consultation with your family dentist, can determine what is right for you.
Q: How long will I have to undergo orthodontic treatment?
A: It will vary for each patient and always depends on how much your jaw needs to change and how far your teeth need to move.
Q: Will I still be able to play sports?
A: Yes. It is recommended that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouth guard when participating in any sporting activity. Mouth guards are inexpensive, comfortable and come in a variety of colors and patterns.
Q: Will braces interfere with playing musical instruments?
A: No. However there may be an initial period of adjustment.
Q: Can you be too old for braces?
A: No. Age is not a factor, however, there are advantages to treating young people while they are still growing. A significant percentage of orthodontic patients in the United States are adults. If you are an adult considering
orthodontic work, treatment has changed a great deal in the last few years. Braces are more comfortable and effective today. With options like traditional silver colored braces, much less visible clear brackets and clear tooth alignment systems like Invisalign and Red White and Blues it is easier than ever for adults to begin treatment.
Q: Why are retainers needed after orthodontic treatment?
A: After braces are removed teeth shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide stabilization and are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the changes made during treatment. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last a lifetime.
Q: Is orthodontic care expensive?
A: Orthodontic fees have not increased as fast as many other consumer products and services. When orthodontic treatment is initiated at the proper time, it is often less costly than the dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop years later. After examining you or your child, we will review the costs of the treatment. Financing is usually available and our office offers customized-flexible payment programs that will meet you needs. In addition many insurance groups now include orthodontics.
Q: How often will I need office visits?
A: Once appliances are in place, routine office visits are at four to eight week intervals. Periodically, we may need to see you sooner. In the event of an emergency we will usually see you the same day. Students may find it necessary to occasionally schedule an appointment during class times because our early morning and late afternoon appointments usually fill up four to six weeks before the appointment date
A gummy smile, or excess gingival display, is a condition where too much pink tissue can be seen when a person speaks or smiles. It is usually associated with an enlarged upper jaw, a short upper lip, short upper front teeth or a forward position of the front teeth. This condition may also result from disproportionate lip length or tooth height. A gummy smile can be corrected by orthodontic treatment, periodontal surgery, jaw surgery, or a combination of these procedures. By placing a constant gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces can slowly move teeth through their supporting bone to a new desirable position.
An individual with a crossbite will have teeth that are out of place or visible when the mouth is closed. In most instances, this means that one set of your teeth will either fall inside or outside the opposing set. For example, your upper teeth may sit inside the lower teeth when the jaw is closed. Two of the biggest causes of crossbite are heredity and delayed loss of baby teeth. Treatment for crossbite depends upon the severity of the problem and the age of the patient. In extreme cases, surgery may be required to align the jaws.
Swallowing occurs 24 hours per day and about 2000 times each day. Each time you swallow, one to six pounds of pressure is applied to the inside structures
of the mouth. Normally when a person swallows, the middle section of the tongue is placed on the roof of the mouth. When the tongue is placed between and
behind the teeth, this pressure pushes the teeth apart and out, causing distortions of the face and teeth. This abnormal swallowing motion is known as
"tongue thrust." This condition is most common in children with prior severe thumb sucking habits. Dr. Haltom may give you special exercises to
correct tongue thrust. In severe cases, a special appliance may be prescribed with or without braces.
As with any orthodontic therapy, the earlier a problem is detected, the less time is required for treatment. If you suspect your child (or yourself!) is a tongue thruster, be sure to let your orthodontist know as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many parents fail to recognize the importance of correcting tongue thrust when the child is still young and the problem goes unnoticed for years. When this occurs, the length required for treatment increases and the child's self-esteem can be lowered. The problem can usually be repaired in a small child in under two years. It is important, however, that both parent and patient strictly comply with treatment prescribed by the doctor.
Open bite is an oral condition that occurs when certain teeth, usually your front teeth, do not make contact with each other. Open bite gives the illusion that a person's mouth is never really closed because there is always space between the teeth. Thumb sucking, tongue thrusting and speech problems such as lisping can have an affect on the development of open bite. While open bite can often be treated with braces, in moderate to extreme cases, a more complex solution is required. These individuals may require surgery to correct their jaw position. The entire treatment procedure requires a significant financial investment and, in severe cases, may take more than 3 years to complete. In many cases, orthognathic surgery may be covered with your medical insurance.
If your teeth are crooked, turned or overlapped, you are not alone — virtually 90% of the population has an orthodontic condition known as crowding. Crowding is generally caused by genetics (e.g., a relative small jaw or relative large teeth) or by habits such as nail biting and thumb sucking. Crowding is easily fixed with orthodontics. Whether braces, an oral appliance, or extraction is used to reduce tooth crowding, Dr. Haltom knows the quickest and most efficient way to resolve your situation.
In orthodontics, spacing means that there is too much space between your teeth. Spacing occurs in approximately 5% to 10% of the population. It may affect all of your teeth or just a portion of them. In addition, chronic thumb sucking as a child can also create or widen spaces between the teeth. The most popular (and least invasive) type of treatment for spacing is braces. Typically, patients with excess space between their teeth where braces for six to nine months followed by the use of a retainer (to maintain the teeth's new position).
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