Orthodontics is a specialized area in dentistry that focuses on the prevention and treatment of misaligned teeth and jaws. There are a number of reasons why a person would seek orthodontics in Orange Park, cosmetic and various health issues among them. There is a penchant for people to lose confidence and perhaps even suffer from low self esteem if they have teeth which are misshapen or they have an overbite or an under bite. Issues such as these are not only cosmetic in nature but they can seriously affect the individual’s ability to eat properly, induce snoring or be the cause of sleep apnea and other breathing problems. Although the majority of the orthodontists; those that specialize in orthodontics, work is with teens and adults, they are also called upon to correct cleft lips and palates in newborns.
Statistics seem to suggest that perhaps fifty percent of the American population have some sort of problem associated with misaligned or irregular teeth with at least 3 million of them in active orthodontic care at any one time. The type of incorrect occlusions include cross bites, as well as under and over bites.
During the initial consultation with an orthodontist little more than a visual inspection will be done of the teeth, jaws and facial features. If the dentist feels that more information is needed to diagnose the problem, then X-Rays will be taken. Once the patient has agreed to orthodontics in Orange Park, the method used will depend very much on the initial diagnosis and further review. The orthodontist will take an extensive series of X-Rays, create molds of the patient’s teeth and take a series of photographs. The methods used to correct the condition can include braces, retainers and other special apparatus, all of which is designed to manipulate the teeth into their proper position. Although it is rare, in serious cases of jaw misalignment it may be necessary to break the jaw and wire it into the best position while it heals.
There are a number of reasons why a person’s teeth may be malformed including hereditary factors that are evident in the immediate family. In other cases it may be that the baby teeth were not properly cared for and fell out early or the teeth could be crowded in a mouth which is too small for the number of teeth. Other reasons are trauma from an accident or a sports injury.
