What is Orthdontist?

Get Your Smile Corrected Today

A smiling face is a happy face. However, many people shy away from expressing their happiness through their smiles because of teeth problems. Crooked teeth, missing teeth, discolored teeth, and other such issues prevent people from smiling wholeheartedly, which negatively impacts their confidence and daily life.
In fact, many surveys reveal that about 75% of adults believe teeth problems can hurt a person’s career. About 8 out of 10 people also agree that a poor smile can make them less attractive to others.
These stats confirm that a smile ranks among our most important physical features — and we should never compromise on it.

Smile Confidently with Expert Orthodontic Care in Illinois

This is where orthodontics steps in. Orthodontists are trained professionals who correct teeth-related issues, restore your smile, and give you an attractive, confident look.
Orthodontists offer several treatments to address different teeth problems. Some treatments involve braces, while others may require surgery in rare cases. However, orthodontists consider surgery only as a last resort when all other options fail — and most such surgeries are minimally invasive.
In most cases, orthodontists correct teeth problems using the most suitable type of braces. Beyond improving your smile, orthodontists also address other concerns such as teeth grinding, overbites, and underbites.
If you face any of these problems, visit an orthodontist today. At Avon Dental Round Lake, our experienced orthodontists deliver reliable dental services across Illinois. Our dentists take great pride in restoring the aesthetics and dental comfort of every patient we treat.

Problems Associated With Dental Issues

There was a time when we had no option but to live with imperfections, but today thanks to the improvements in technology, most teeth issues can be resolved.

While some minor issues can be treated in months, some can take a few years, but it is still worth a try since the benefits are long-term.

Let’s get to know some of the common problems an orthodontist like Dr. Caplin can treat.

Malocclusion

Malocclusion occurs when the upper and lower jaws fail to align properly when you close your mouth. Overcrowded or misaligned teeth most commonly cause this condition.
This dental issue triggers a number of problems, including overbites, underbites, teeth grinding, and a poor smile.
In addition, tooth decay and various forms of gum disease can develop alongside this condition, because gaps between teeth allow food to accumulate easily in the mouth. This gives bacteria the opportunity to attack the teeth and cause tooth decay and gum disease.

The Hidden Health Risks of Periodontitis & Malocclusion

Periodontitis is one of the most common types of gum disease. It not only damages your dental health but also affects your cardiovascular health, leading to painful gum infections.
Furthermore, suffering from periodontitis increases your risk of developing peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, migraines, and stroke.
Malocclusion can also trigger a range of other problems, including TMJ (jaw joint pain), TMD (pain in the muscles, difficulty chewing, and fatigue), as well as tooth fractures and gum recession.
Orthodontists treat all types of dental problems involving misalignment, crookedness, bite issues, and aesthetic concerns by recommending the most appropriate and effective treatment plan for each patient.

Common Problems tot Malocclusion:

An overbite, also known as “buck teeth,” occurs when the upper teeth stick out over the lower teeth. An underbite develops when the lower teeth push too far forward or the upper teeth sit too far backward. A crossbite makes biting difficult because the upper teeth fail to come down in the correct position when you bite. An open bite creates an open space between your teeth when you bite, causing food to get trapped between them. Crowding happens when too many teeth compete for space in your mouth. Gaps or spaces appear when missing teeth or naturally small teeth fail to fill your mouth properly. A misplaced midline occurs when the center of your lower front teeth fails to line up with the center of your upper front teeth.
If you experience any of these conditions, you may be a candidate for orthodontic treatment. Our dentist will evaluate your situation to determine which treatment options can benefit you most.
For a thorough diagnosis, our dentist will review your complete medical history, examine your teeth, study your X-rays and digital photographs, and analyze custom-drafted models of your teeth.

Treatment Options For Misaligned, Crooked And Poor Looking Teeth

The field of orthodontistry offers ideal treatment options for such cases. Mainly, these are treated with different devices with braces being the most common ones.

All these appliance work in a similar fashion – that is by applying pressure on the jaws and teeth. The right appliance depends on the prevailing condition and its severity.

The appliances used can basically be divided into two types, fixed appliances and removable appliances. Let’s get to know ‘em all.

1. Fixed Appliances

As the name suggests, fixed appliances are basically appliances that are fitted for a specific period of time and cannot be removed. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular fixed dental appliances:

a. Braces

Orthodontists most commonly recommend braces as the go-to dental appliance for teeth alignment. Braces consist of wires, bands, and brackets. Your orthodontist fixes the bands around your teeth to serve as anchors, while bonding the brackets directly onto each tooth.
Arch wires pass through the brackets and attach to the bands. Your orthodontist tightens these arch wires to apply pressure on the teeth, gradually shifting them into the correct position.
Getting braces is a simple and painless procedure, though you may feel slight irritation as your mouth adjusts to them. Your orthodontist will also ask you to visit every few weeks so they can adjust the arch wires based on the changes in your mouth.
Braces can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to deliver results, but they carry a high success rate. While orthodontists commonly fit braces on children, adults account for about 25% of all braces worn in the US. This proves it is never too late to pursue treatment, especially since some dental problems only become apparent in adulthood.

B. Fixed Space Maintainers

This devices is used to fill empty tooth space when a baby tooth gets lost prematurely. This is important because if the space is left empty then other teeth may grow incorrectly. The maintainer is placed until a new adult tooth appears, after which the maintainer is removed.

C. Special Fixed Appliances

These are used to control issues such as tongue thrusting and thumb sucking and work by being attached to the teeth with the help of bands. However, they can be very irritating to wear hence should only be used if there is no other option.

2. Removable Appliances

Removable appliances are more common and popular than fixed appliances due to the ease that they offer. You can take them off to brush, eat etc, which makes them a lot easier to wear.

Let’s have a look at some of the most common removable appliances used in dentistry today:

A) Aligners

Aligners are basically removable braces. They are being used extensively due to their benefits as they do not include brackets and metal wires, which makes them also less visible. The most common aligners are Invisaligns that are basically invisible braces.

They do the same job as braces, but might not be suitable for very complex cases. Our dentist can examine you to see if aligners will work in your case.

Call 847.986.6682 today to book an appointment