An orthodontist in San Clemente, CA, such as from John Redmond Orthodontics, has helped people with a variety of dentistry related issues. Many people know orthodontists as dental professionals that you see when you need a set of braces. But aside from that, you may wonder what else do they do? An orthodontist offers much more than just braces. They are focused on the alignment of teeth and repositioning of jaws. If you are in need of any of the following services, please contact our clinic right away for more information:
Aligners
Aligners are similar to braces in that they assist in straightening teeth and keeping them aligned. They are commonly used to correct crowding of teeth, cross bites, open bites, underbites, and overbites. These clear trays that fit around your teeth specifically and slowly mold them into the smile you desire is quite popular, so you may have seen ads for aligners before on TV or through a family member or friend. As an orthodontist may tell you, patients tend to prefer this option since the material is made of plastic, isn’t glued to their teeth, and is almost invisible to others
Space Maintainers
If baby teeth are lost much earlier than expected, an orthodontist may strongly suggest putting in space fillers so other teeth do not grow into the space that is meant for the adult tooth to rise into. Space maintainers can keep this space open as adult teeth grow in, as a way to prevent complications. When putting on space maintainers, a band is attached to a tooth and then a wire is extended to a tooth on the other side of the gap in order to keep it open.
Retainers
After a patient uses braces or aligners, an orthodontist may recommend using retainers to prevent the teeth from slowly shifting back to the position they were before the correction. For most patients, retainers are worn during the night when sleeping. Retainers may be a metal bar that runs across the top of the teeth, or in the style of a plastic aligner.
Bumpers for Lip and Cheeks
When patients express having discomfort due to pressure that their lips or cheeks put on the teeth, an orthodontist may offer the solutions of using bumpers. Lip and cheek bumpers help reduce any pain, pressure, or sensitivity of the teeth.
Jaw Repositioning
Splints may be used for patients who need their jaw to be repositioned. These appliances can help the lower or upper jaw so that it can close in a more natural way. This service is most commonly used for patients that have been diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Orthodontic services are not limited to what we have described here. So if you need help with someone that isn’t on this list, we still encourage you to call an orthodontist for more details.