Orthodontics for All Ages in San Antonio, Texas
Orthodontics is not just straightening your smile for cosmetic reasons and it is not a “do it yourself ” service. While beautifully aligned teeth can certainly boost your confidence, a straight smile is also a healthy one! When your teeth are crowded, it’s harder to keep them clean, which leads to a buildup of bacteria, cavities, and gum disease, which, if allowed to progress can cause the bones that support your teeth to weaken leading to teeth becoming loose and eventually falling out. A bad bite and improperly aligned jaws can also make it harder to enjoy your favorite foods, and increase jaw pain and TMJ dysfunction. Narrow jaws can also negatively affect your airway, potentially leading to snoring, difficulty breathing, obstructive sleep apnea, and other airway obstructions. Contact our San Antonio orthodontist today to start your journey towards the smile of your dreams!
Invisalign
Braces
Properly aligned teeth have more benefits than their aesthetics alone! While a beautifully straight smile will certainly boost your confidence, it will also make taking care of your oral health easier. Crooked teeth can create hard-to-clean areas that allow bacteria to thrive and cause decay. Misaligned teeth also contribute to a higher risk of premature wear, TMJ/TMD, and other conditions. Braces are a reliable, versatile way to improve your bite and straighten your smile. If you’re interested in how braces could help you, get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are metal-based appliances that are very similar to their traditional counterparts. The difference? These braces are secured on the back of your teeth, making them virtually invisible. Patients looking for a discreet fixed option to straighten minor misalignments may benefit from lingual braces. They are fixed so they are working on your teeth all the time and hidden on the inside so you can live your life conveniently with no interruptions or alterations to your lifestyle.
Early Interceptive Orthodontics
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children have an exam with a by the age of seven. Why so early when most of the teeth are baby teeth? This early age is chosen because it is the time when the front and back permanent teeth are erupting, allowing your orthodontist to evaluate overall tooth eruption, bite position, and jaw growth. Although most children will not need early treatment, there are orthodontic problems that can develop into severe issues down the road if not addressed early. Phase 1 treatment can include the use of a maxillary expander, limited braces, Invisalign First, dentofacial orthopedics treatment, or observation and growth monitoring visits. San Antonio orthodontist
At Solana Orthodontics, Dr. Sandra will evaluate your child’s facial growth and development of jaws to look for proper balance and symmetry. She will examine the proper development of teeth and take appropriate x-rays if necessary. Throughout your orthodontic journey, we will be there to support you in minimizing any potential issues that may arise as your child grows and help give your child a great smile with a balanced bite.
Expanders
These are powerful custom appliances that slowly widen the jaw to make room for growing teeth while getting the back teeth into proper alignment and bite.
Expanders are typically used to fix a crossbite or to correct a narrow jaw. Expanders are also used to create space for incoming adult teeth when crowding is present and prevent the adult teeth from getting impacted.
Expander treatment may be used to help encourage proper airway development since the roof of the mouth is also the floor of the nasal cavity. By widening the palate, it creates enough room for the proper positioning of the tongue during rest, speech, and swallowing which can help correct open bite problems and speech difficulties.
Dentofacial Orthopedic Appliances
These are appliances that help encourage the growth of the top or bottom jaw. A commonly known orthopedic (functional) appliance is the Herbst, which helps encourage growth of a deficient lower jaw. Also, a reverse pull headgear can guide the growth of the upper jaw forward and help correct an underbite.
Here are a few common conditions to look for that could require phase 1 interceptive orthodontics:
- Protruding teeth
- Open bite
- Underbite
- Overbite
Space Maintenance
As your child grows, their baby teeth are destined to fall out to make room for their adult counterparts. But when they fall out too early, it can heighten the risk for orthodontic complications later on. We want your child to thrive, which is why we offer space maintenance, a solution that keeps your child’s teeth from shifting and having misalignment issues as they erupt. If you are concerned about your child’s baby teeth falling out, we can help them get a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Common conditions to look for, that might require phase 1 interceptive orthodontics:
- Crossbite
- Crowded teeth
- Early baby tooth loss
- Impacted permanent teeth
Habit Breaking Appliances
These are custom-made appliances that can help your child break a habit such as thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting. If not addressed early, these habits have negative effects on the development of the teeth and the growth of the jaws.
Common conditions to look for, that might require phase 1 interceptive orthodontics:
- Thumb or finger-sucking habits
- Pushing tongue forward (tongue thrust)
- Mouth breathing
- Lip curling under the teeth
Retainers
You’ve put in so much time and effort to achieve that stunning, straight smile through orthodontic treatment. Now, it’s crucial to protect and maintain those hard-earned results. That’s where our diverse selection of retainers comes in. They play a vital role in ensuring your smile stays in excellent shape for years to come. Take a look at our range of retainers and give your beautiful smile the care it deserves.
We also offer minor tooth movement retainers to correct any slight shifting that happens when retainers are not worn.
DID YOU KNOW?
Orthodontic care can reduce the chance of developing gum disease and tooth loss later in life.