You noticed that our website lists “Orthodontics” under our list of services, but you’re not entirely sure what that means. What is an orthodontist? What does an orthodontist do? And what are the orthodontic services that I should sign up for? You can find the answers to your questions and much more below.
What Is an Orthodontist?
You may be wondering, “What is an orthodontist? Isn’t it the same as a dentist?” Not exactly. Both professionals specialize in oral healthcare, but they have different focuses.
A dentist’s primary focus is diagnosing and treating the various parts of a patient’s mouth, including their teeth, gums and tongue. So, what does an orthodontist do? An orthodontist’s primary focus is diagnosing and treating problems with a patient’s bite. They’re concerned with dramatic over/underbites and teeth that are too crowded or spaced apart. They offer a variety of treatments ranging from dental appliances to surgery to help correct these misalignments in the teeth and jaw.
If you’re interested in our Hamilton orthodontics or Hamilton dental services right now, you should click on these links and book an appointment online.
Why Would You Need Orthodontic Work?
The benefits of orthodontic work can be both practical and cosmetic.
For example, you might have crooked and crowded teeth. This could be giving you difficulty when it comes to everyday tasks like chewing, biting and speaking. And you may have a harder time maintaining your dental health through brushing and flossing since the surfaces are more challenging to see and move floss through. Getting the right orthodontic treatment and realigning your teeth could help you resolve these issues.
Considering the cosmetic side of things, you’ll be delighted by how straight and neat your teeth look after undergoing orthodontic treatment. If you’ve lacked confidence in your smile before, you might be shocked by the confidence boost it brings.
What Are Orthodontic Services?
Most orthodontic services are treatments that correct the malocclusion of teeth for medical and cosmetic purposes. The most popular example of this is braces. These are designed to shift the teeth into a straighter, more functional position.
Other orthodontic services are designed to prevent teeth from becoming misaligned, damaged or infected in the future. One example of this is providing custom-made mouthguards for patients who compete in contact sports.
So, what are some of the orthodontic services available to you at our Hamilton clinic? Read ahead to find out.
Braces
Braces are dental appliances that slowly adjust the positioning of your teeth so that they settle into an appropriate alignment.
Many people are scared to get braces because they can be painful, especially when they’re tightened. Our Hamilton clinic uses Insignia Damon brackets, which are designed with your comfort in mind. They will cause less friction and discomfort than other conventional brackets.
Aligners
Another reason why people steer clear of braces, even when they need them? They’re very noticeable. Many adults worry that braces will make them look unprofessional, unpolished or younger than they really are. This is where aligners come in!
Aligners are dental appliances that work similarly to braces. They slowly adjust the positioning of your teeth and bring them into a better alignment. The main benefit of aligners is that they’re not very noticeable. There are no brackets, wires or elastics. It’s a clear device that you wear over your teeth.
The most popular aligner on the market is Invisalign. If you’re interested in this treatment, you should look into our Invisalign services and book a consultation with our clinic as soon as possible.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Another common orthodontic service is wisdom teeth extraction. Wisdom teeth often appear during your teenage years and young adulthood, long after your other adult teeth have grown in. These teeth can cause problems, like pain, tooth decay and damage to other teeth, particularly when they haven’t erupted (come through the gumline).
If a specialist detects any of these warning signs or notices that your wisdom teeth are growing in an abnormal direction, they will suggest removing them before they become a bigger problem.
Mouthguards
Another important service that orthodontists can offer is custom-making mouthguards. While you can buy mouthguards from general retailers, they will not necessarily be as effective as ones that you can get from your orthodontist. An orthodontist will craft a mouthguard that is specifically designed for your mouth, taking any misalignments, previous injuries and unique features in mind. You will get better coverage and protection with this version.
Why would you need to get a mouthguard from your orthodontist? There are three main purposes for this: sports, sleep apnea and bruxism.
Credit: Samantha Hurley via Burst
Mouthguards for Sports:
A mouthguard is essential for safely participating in certain sports and physical activities, including soccer, hockey, football, boxing and basketball. The risk of orofacial injuries is too high to play without one. With the help of a professionally made mouthguard, you can protect yourself from tooth fractures, tooth chips and other painful problems.
Mouthguards for Sleep Apnea:
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects your breathing. One of the ways that you can treat sleep apnea is to get a snoring appliance, which is a specialized mouthguard. This will gently reposition your jaw so that your airway stays clear, giving you a night of uninterrupted rest.
Mouthguards for Bruxism:
What is bruxism? Bruxism is a term that means chronic teeth grinding, clenching and gnashing. People often don’t know that they have bruxism because they do it while they’re asleep. Take a look at the symptoms for teeth grinding to see whether they seem familiar to you. If you deal with these symptoms, you should talk to an orthodontist right away. They may recommend a mouthguard to stop you from clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth so much.
Oral Surgery
And finally, there is corrective jaw surgery. This procedure is meant to correct any irregularities in a patient’s jaw. An orthodontist will only consider this option under the following circumstances:
- The irregularities are causing the patient pain and discomfort.
- The irregularities are causing them to have trouble biting, chewing, speaking or breathing.
- The irregularities are drastically affecting their facial appearance.
If any of these services appeal to you, you should call Dentistry on 7th! Together we can determine the right orthodontic treatments for you so that you can have the smile that you want and deserve.