Calgary Braces For Children & Adults

The benefits of orthodontic treatment often go beyond the obvious physical changes of an improved bite and straighter teeth; it’s also a great way to improve a person’s overall self-image.   While having beautiful straight teeth is important, even more important is the need to alleviate any potential health problems associated with the teeth or jaw.  Braces can help crooked teeth or jaw problems. These issues may contribute to improper cleaning of teeth, leading to tooth decay and, possibly, gum disease or total tooth loss.  Orthodontic problems that go untreated can lead to chewing and digestion difficulties, speech impairments, and abnormal wear of tooth surfaces.  Over time, excessive strain on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth can affect the jaw joints leading to problems such as headaches or face and neck pain.

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children get an orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7.  Though orthodontic treatment for braces can be done at any age, timely treatment ensures maximum dental health. 

With all of the recent advancements in orthodontics, wearing braces has never been easier.  State-of-the-art appliances and treatments are now available, from traditional metal braces, to clear and tooth colored brackets, to NASA type wires that are heat activated and require fewer adjustments!  Some patients may even be candidates for treatment with Invisalign, a revolutionary way to straighten teeth using clear, retainer type aligners that require no braces or wires!

If treatment is necessary, we will thoroughly discuss which treatment option is best suited for you!

Reasons for orthodontic treatment like braces

Benefits for braces for adults 

• Breathing or swallowing problems – Mouth breathing can lead to snoring and sleep apnea.
• Crossbite – One or more upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth (towards the tongue).
• Crowding – Involving extra teeth or malpositioned teeth.
• Deep Overbite – The lower front teeth bite into the upper tissue of the upper teeth.
• Disfiguring of the face & mouth – Affects the development of the jaw and the position of the teeth.
• Jaw & jaw joint pain
• Missing or extra teeth – Due to tooth decay, injuries, or inherited problems.
• Overjet (protruding upper teeth) – Upper teeth that protrude beyond normal and are usually associated with a short lower jaw.
• Self-image – An attractive smile can boost a person’s self-image and confidence.
• Spacing between teeth – Teeth are missing or may be too small or too large.
• Speech, chewing or biting problems
• Underbite (lower jaw protrusion) – Lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw.

Specific to braces for children:

• Finger or thumb sucking – These habits can cause protrusion of the upper incisor teeth, and mouth breathing.
• Teeth erupting out of position – Can be guided to proper alignment.

What does orthodontic treatment involve?

Orthodontic treatment involves three phases:

1.  Planning Phase – Your first couple of visits may include the following:

• A medical and dental history evaluation.
• Castings or “molds” of your teeth.
• Computer generated photograph of the head and neck that will aid in planning.
• Photographs of your face and mouth.
• X-rays of the teeth and jaws.

After careful planning, your orthodontist will design and apply braces or fabricate custom-made appliances for you.

2.  Active Phase – Active treatment involves visiting your orthodontist on a regular basis for adjustments and following specific treatment requirements to ensure successful treatment.

3.  Retention Phase – When treatment is completed, the braces and/or appliances are removed and a new appliance is made.  Usually these retainers are removable and will maintain the changes made to your teeth if worn continuously until the teeth and bone are stabilized in their new positions.

Treatment and retention times vary depending on each individual case.  Your orthodontist will ensure you have a successful treatment for a beautiful smile that can last a lifetime. 

Orthodontics can not only help straighten your teeth, giving you an appealing smile, but can greatly contribute to the health of your jaw, teeth and sometimes your overall health.

The In’s and Out’s of Orthodontic Treatment by Calgary Dentist Dr. Karin Potter

What exactly is orthodontics, and what kind of lifestyle improvement can people experience after the entire process has come to completion? If you are an individual who is facing some
issues with your teeth and you want to learn more, read on to learn more about what orthodontic treatment in Calgary can do for you.

What is orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on teeth alignment and jaw growth, which can help to improve facial features and restore a person’s confidence. Dr. Karin Potter has a special
interest in Orthodontics, whether she is correcting bite problems such as crowded and misaligned teeth or improving your smile. At Fusion Dental we use braces, clear aligners,
retainers, and other dental appliances to move teeth into their proper positions.

What are some common orthodontic treatments?

Our Calgary orthodontic treatments are used to move teeth and/or your jaw into proper alignment. Three of the most common treatments include that includes braces and clear aligners:

Early Intervention

Early intervention can help children’s growth patterns by helping with jaw growth or widening the palate. This is best done when the sutures of the palate are still malleable. Early intervention can also be in the form of retainers to stop habits such as thumb sucking, or retainer to help stop tongue thrusting.

Braces

Metal braces are what most people think of when they hear the word, orthodontics Braces are made up of brackets that are bonded onto your teeth and wires that create the
movement. Elastics are often used when bite correction is needed. Speak to us about Braces! 

Clear Aligners

Another option is clear aligner trays which are made from clear plastic. These trays gradually move your teeth into place by gently putting pressure on specific teeth to
achieve your optimum bite and beautiful smile! Speak to us about clear aligners and clear braces! 

What are the reasons for needing orthodontic Calgary treatment?

Orthodontic treatments can improve your smile, your self-esteem, and your long-term oral health. Here are some of the most common reasons for visiting an orthodontist in Calgary:
 Poorly aligned teeth
 Excess spacing or crowded teeth
 Teeth that do not grow in properly (this is called malocclusion
 Want to improve your smile
 Narrow palate in children
If you have crooked teeth, a gap in between your teeth, or if your teeth do not fit together correctly, then you may be a good candidate for orthodontic treatment. 

Who can benefit from orthodontic Calgary care?

There are many reasons why you may want to seek out orthodontic treatment. Maybe you are not happy with your smile and want to improve your appearance. Maybe you have a problem with teeth that do not meet properly, which can lead to pain and discomfort. Or maybe you are concerned about the damage caused by a traumatic injury to the teeth and bone around a tooth.

How do I get started with orthodontic treatment?

First, you will need to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Potter. At this appointment, we will take photos, and a digital scan, and then Dr. Potter will do a thorough exam. We will then
discuss our findings and go over treatment options. We offer a flexible, interest-free payment plan and will work together to find the payments that work for you and your budget.
Orthodontics can be a great way to give you the smile you have always wanted, even if you were not born with perfectly aligned teeth. For those who need orthodontic treatment to fix a mild or major issue, it can go a long way toward improving their quality of life.

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