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| Warren Johnson DDS, MS |
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| WHY BRACES? Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, tooth loss, and gum disease. Treatment by an orthodontist can be less costly than the additional care required to treat dental problems arising as a result of orthodontic problems. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue, the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. These can lead to chronic headaches and face or neck pain. For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you'll feel more self-confident. FOR CHILDREN It is best for an orthodontist to see children by age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by this time and crossbites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment in some cases can simplify later treatment. If your child doesn't require any early treatment, we generally will schedule periodic follow-up exams while the permanent teeth are coming in and the face and jaws continue to grow.
FOR ADULTS One in every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over the age of 21. Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. Jaw surgery is more often required for adult orthodontic patients because their jaws are not growing. Adults may also have experienced some breakdown of their teeth and bone that supports the teeth. This may require periodontal treatment before, during and/or after orthodontic treatment. Bone loss can also limit the amount and direction of tooth movement that is advisable. RESOURCES: http://www.bracesinfo.com The Orthodontic Information Page is an award-winning source for anything you ever wanted to know about orthodontics. http://www.braces.org Homepage for the American Association of Orthodontists
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| Warren Johnson DDS MS 719-596-3081 |
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