It is estimated that at any given time there are about three million teenagers in the US wearing braces. The reasons for needing them vary from patient to patient. Although you might notice that your teeth are not shaped right or are a little crooked it will usually be your dentist who first broaches the subject of braces. Orthodontics in Orange Park are not something that every family dentist does, often your dentist will refer you to a dental specialist; an orthodontist.
During a general dental checkup your family dentist may notice something on an X-Ray that is not yet visible. At this time, usually when the patient is about eight years old, he or she will be sent to see an orthodontist. Eight years of age may seem young but it is not, the specialist can employ early preventative measures that may actually eliminate the need for braces in the future. Either way, it is never too early or too late to have braces fitted.
The first visit to the orthodontist will normally be no more than an in-depth visual examination. The specialist will pay particular attention to the structure of the face and teeth. Once this visual examination has been completed, if the patient is a minor; the orthodontist will discuss the findings with the parents and discuss the suggested course of corrective action. Once there is agreement with all concerned the patient will have a set of full-face X-Rays taken. Along with the X-Ray, a series of photographs and a model of the teeth the dentist can formulate the best approach to straighten the teeth.
Why do some people need braces and others don’t?
There is an ideal position that the upper and lower teeth should meet. When this condition is not met and the patient’s bite is incorrect, braces are needed to slowly reverse the situation. An overbite or an under bite are technically known as occlusions, it is a method of describing the alignment of the teeth using a molar as the reference point. There are three types of occlusions that can be corrected by orthodontics in Orange Park.
A type one occlusion is considered to be the gold standard; this is when there is an ideal relationship between the upper and lower teeth. A type two occlusion is an overbite where the upper teeth protrude and a type three is an under bite, a situation where the lower jaw protrudes forward.
