There are many reasons why braces are required; they vary considerably from one patient to the next. It has been estimated that about 3 million teens wear braces at any one time and it is not just teens, more and more adults are having them fitted as well. A family dentist is not the dental professional who will fit the braces, but he or she will be the first to suggest that you visit an orthodontist in Plains PA for an initial consultation.
Most pediatric dentists will recommend to the parents of their young patients that they make a visit to the orthodontist when they are about seven years old. Although this may seem awfully young to even think about braces, this is not necessarily the reason behind it. A simple first screening of the child’s teeth may lead to early preventative measures which may avoid the need for braces in the future.
Regardless of whether the patient is seven or an adult, the first visit to the orthodontist in Plains PA is simple, usually no more than a visual examination of the teeth and facial features and a talk about the findings. If the dentist believes the patient can benefit from orthodontic care further appointments will be made. In subsequent visits the dentist will run a complete set of X-Rays, prepare impressions of the top and bottom teeth and take a number of photographs from different angles of the face and teeth. With this information at hand, the orthodontist can develop a plan and if the patient agrees, begin the process.
Braces are devices which move the teeth into the ideal position and change the bite pattern. There are really three things that the dentist looks for when studying the patient, all of which take into account the relationship between the upper and lower teeth. The misalignment can be either an overbite or an under bite. An overbite is when the upper jaw protrudes forward and of course an under bite is when the lower jaw protrudes forward.
Although many patients have a good bite this does not mean they are not candidates for orthodontic care. Often teeth are crowded, this in turn results in overlapped teeth or teeth that are rotated out of position. It may be necessary for one or more teeth to be extracted prior to fitting the braces which will correct the situation.
