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About Orthodontic Treatment
What is Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a specialized part of dentistry involving
the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.
The orthodontist is a dental specialist who has learned to properly use
orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics to move poorly aligned teeth
and develop their jaws into their correct position. This involves the
design and application of corrective appliances, such as "braces"
to treat and correct these problems.
Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment
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Orthodontics can give you an attractive smile, improve your dental
health, and facial aesthetics. An improvement in appearance can
result in improved self-confidence and research has shown that attractive
dental and facial appearance are important factors in predicting
future success.
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- Straight teeth and beautiful smile
- Improvement in facial appearance
- Psychological and social benefit
- Improved bite for chewing
- Prevention of tooth loss due to improper bite
- Healthy gums and surrounding bone
- Healthy temporomandibular joint
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At What Age Should I begin Treatment?
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In the majority of cases,
the best time to begin orthodontic treatment is when the patient is
actively growing, usually in the early adolescent years from age 7
to 10. This corresponds to when the jaws are developing most rapidly.
Such treatment may reduce the severity of the problem and minimize
or even eliminate the need for comprehensive treatment at a later
date. Remember, each patient's needs are unique. Therefore, the length
and type of treatment can only be determined after a complete evaluation. |
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