Services

Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children

What is the difference between early orthodontic treatment and regular orthodontic treatment, and why might my child need early treatment? How will early treatment benefit my child in the long run?

These are just a few of the questions surrounding the topic of early orthodontic treatment for children. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist as early as age seven. At this point, the orthodontist will evaluate whether your child will need orthodontic treatment.

Early treatment (also known as Phase One) typically begins around age eight or nine. Phase Two will begin around age 11 or older. The goal of early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems, such as underbite. Early treatment also helps to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly, which lessens the chance of extractions in the future.

How to tell if your child may need early orthodontic treatment

• Early or late loss of baby teeth (your child should typically start losing teeth around age five, and will have all permanent teeth around age 13)
• Difficulty chewing and/or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Your child continues to suck his or her thumb after age five
• Speech impediments
• Protruding teeth (the top teeth and the bottom teeth extend away from each other)
• Teeth that don’t come together in a normal manner or even at all
• Shifting of the jaw when your child opens or closes his or her mouth (crossbites)
• Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

What causes orthodontic problems, and how will early treatment benefit my child?

Orthodontic problems such as crowding of the teeth, too much space between them, jaw growth problems, protruding teeth, and bad bites can be inherited or caused by injury to the mouth, early or late loss of baby teeth, or thumb-sucking habits.

Most children lose all their baby teeth by age 13. By the end of their teen years, the jaw bones will harden and stop growing. Orthodontic procedures for adults often take more time and can involve tooth extraction or oral surgery.

Receiving early orthodontic treatment as a child can help prevent the need for orthodontics as an adult, and leave little to no chance of extraction or surgery in the future.

If your child is between the ages of seven and eight and shows signs of needing orthodontic care, or you have been directed by your family dentist to visit the orthodontist, please contact our practice and schedule an appointment. Our team will provide your child with an initial exam, and discuss with you the best steps to take toward caring for your son or daughter’s smile.

Orthodontics for Teens

Braces, retainers, and everything else you want to know about orthodontics!

You’ve just heard the three words that every teen dreads: “YOU NEED BRACES!”

Braces! What now?

Don’t worry! Braces aren’t nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, which makes life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past.

How long will I have to wear braces?

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on three key factors:

• Early treatment — Early treatment allows Dr. Jackson to monitor the growth of the jaw and recommend further orthodontic treatment if it becomes necessary. Not everybody receives early orthodontic treatment; in some cases it may be recommended that a patient wait until later to receive treatment.
• What needs correction — The amount of treatment needed to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently: While it may take one patient only 12 months to complete the treatment, it may take another 24 months. Treatment times can vary, depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect.
• YOU! — Your willingness to use the appliances our office gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your braces and appliances; this truly will help make your treatment shorter!

Braces Your Way!

Our practice offers a variety of braces, types, and styles to choose from. Some common options include:

• Damon Braces (silver)
• Damon Clear Braces (ceramic)
• Iconix Bracket System (gold)

Orthodontic braces are a big part of life for many people your age. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today’s braces make it easy to look good and feel good! Please contact our practice to schedule your next orthodontic checkup.

Orthodontic Treatment for Adults

Orthodontic treatment is no longer just for teens. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists states that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21.

Many adults are choosing to receive treatment because they understand the importance of maintaining their health, and they want to feel better about their appearance. Adults everywhere are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive orthodontic care, and now you can too.

Common reasons why adults are considering orthodontic treatment

• A bad bite or malocclusion, which causes teeth to fit together incorrectly
• Teeth are crowded or spaced apart, possibly leading to tooth decay or gum disease
• Abnormal jaw pain or pressure caused by crooked teeth
• Desire for a healthier mouth and a more confident smile

Treatment Options for Adults

For many adults, the thought of having metal braces is enough to discourage them from seeking treatment. However, today’s orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of braces and appliances that are comfortable, aesthetic, and customized to meet your needs. Types of braces include:

• Clear braces
• Ceramic braces
• Self-ligating braces
• Invisible braces
• Traditional metal braces

The difference between adult orthodontics and orthodontics for children and teens

The main difference between treating adults and children or teens is that the jawbones of younger patients are still developing. For adults, these bones have stopped growing, which may make orthognathic surgery necessary to align the jawbones. Other differences include:

• Gum or bone loss (periodontal disease) — Adults are more likely than children to experience gum recession or even bone loss due to gingivitis or advanced periodontal disease. Patients with straighter teeth are less likely to get gum disease.
• Worn or missing teeth — Over time, teeth can become worn down and shift into different positions that can only be corrected with orthodontic care. Missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift and tilt, creating a bad bite and increasing the possibility of gum disease.
• Incomplete orthodontic treatment as a teen — Many adults received some orthodontic treatment as a child or teen, but never completed their treatment. As an adult, they choose to complete their orthodontic treatment to achieve the healthy, beautiful smile they always wanted.

Our practice also recognizes that adults and children have different needs, and require different levels of attention and care. We will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatments, and your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.

Why should you consider orthodontic treatment?

• Straight teeth are healthy teeth — Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to keep clean with flossing and brushing, and may help prevent other health problems.
• A beautiful, straight smile builds confidence — Orthodontic treatment can help boost your self-confidence, which gives you a better quality of life and the freedom to smile without holding back!
• Mouths left untreated can get worse — Not receiving orthodontic treatment when it’s needed can create long-term health issues that cost you more in the end.

To learn more about the benefits of adult orthodontics, please contact our practice to schedule an appointment. We understand you have a busy schedule, and we will work with you to make sure each office visit is as convenient as possible.

We are a Certified Invisalign Teen Provider

Bummed out about having braces?
Invisalign Teen gives you a whole new way to wear braces for a “clearly” amazing smile!

As if I don’t have enough to worry about …   
… now I need braces too?

The team has a game this Friday night, homecoming is in a month, and what about my yearbook pictures?! Don’t stress! With Invisalign Teen you won’t need to turn down any dates, wear a paper bag over your head, or hide out in your room for two years! Invisalign Teen aligners are a perfect fit for your lifestyle, because aligners are:

• Clear
• Removable
• Super comfortable
• Customized just for you

Pizza, Popcorn … No Problem!

You’ve probably heard from friends that with braces you won’t be able to eat anything. With Invisalign Teen you can eat whatever you want!

Unlike traditional metal braces, your Invisalign Teen aligners are removable, which means you can go ahead and eat all the things you love without worrying about breaking a bracket or losing a rubber band. Cheers!

It’s your life; keep it that way!

Invisalign aligners are really comfortable and very durable. They fit in with any of your extracurricular activities. So whether you’re swimming the 50-meter freestyle, throwing the football out on the field, or playing the clarinet with the band, you don’t have to worry about your braces getting in the way!

See What Other Teens Are Saying

Connect with other teens to share your Invisalign experience and find out what other people have to say about their treatment.

At Jackson Orthodontics, we understand that the goals of treatment are a beautiful smile and a stable occlusion. We also understand that many patients prefer to have their smile transformed without traditional braces. Invisalign is a clear, removable option we can use to create your ideal smile. We are continually trained on the latest updates and techniques, which gives us the ability to treat even difficult cases with Invisalign aligners. Invisalign treatment is customized to each patient to give you the best smile possible.

At Jackson Orthodontics we also offer the AcceleDent System to decrease total time of treatment by ~30-50%. Through the application of gentle micro-vibrations, the device accelerates bone remodeling. With only 20 minutes of daily use, the AcceleDent mouthpiece can speed up your orthodontic treatment and decrease soreness when worn with orthodontic appliances, especially Invisalign aligners. The Acceledent has been proven in several clinical trials to be safe and effective. The result is a shorter time to achieve your ideal smile.

Our office is pleased to offer our patients passive self-ligating Damon Smile braces. Damon braces use a slide mechanism to hold the archwire, which reduces the amount of pressure exerted on the teeth and allows them to move more freely, quickly, and comfortably.

Thanks to these innovative new braces, achieving your perfect smile can be faster and easier than you ever thought possible!

Tie-less braces: a world without elastic ties!

Tie-less braces help reduce the amount of pressure placed on the tooth and require fewer adjustments because there are no elastics to replace.

Damon Smile facilitates healthy tooth movement with complete control. By combining tie-less brackets and high-tech archwires, we can minimize discomfort and create beautiful smiles that last a lifetime.

Braces are the beginning, but the system makes the smile!

Damon Smile is not just about revolutionary braces and wires; it’s a whole new way of treating patients!

Technology

Damon tie-less braces eliminate the need for elastic or metal “ties.” With Damon braces, you can experience treatment without tightening.

Comfort

Even though Damon Smile works so quickly, the use of gentle, low-friction force means less discomfort for you.

Convenience

Damon braces are designed to be discreet, comfortable, and easy to keep clean. Without the elastic ties, which attract and collect plaque, Damon braces make dental hygiene easy during treatment. Plus, Damon Smile is available in clear brackets for patients who want a great smile without sacrificing aesthetics.

Treatment Time

While the time needed in braces will vary from case to case, treatment time with Damon Smile is typically much faster than with conventional braces. Also, far fewer appointments are required during treatment, which makes your Damon experience convenient and hassle-free.

At Jackson Orthodontics, we understand that many people who had orthodontic treatment as a teen may have movement after they stop wearing their retainer. As we continue to grow and change, our teeth can shift if retainers are not worn. Many parents and other adults have noticed shifting of the incisors resulting in a less than ideal smile. Even our own Dr. Jackson didn’t wear his retainer properly and had Limited Re-Treatment as an adult to have the smile he wanted. Spacing and crowding are two of the most common cases of orthodontic relapse.

We offer a variety of treatment methods to re-align and/or close space to recapture that beautiful smile. The options may include clear braces, Invisalign Express, or traditional braces over a shorter time. Call our office to schedule a free smile consultation.