Patient Information

Adult Treatment

Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age.  THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT FOR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT.  In fact, nearly 25% of all orthodontic patients are adults, many of whom have chosen Invisalign.  Adults may want to have treatment for healthier teeth and gums, improved chewing and to have a beautiful smile for years to come.  We offer many esthetic choices for our adult patients including Invisalign and ceramic (clear) braces. 
Think there is no way you can have orthodontic treatment because you work with the public?  Being in the public eye is all the more reason to have a beautiful smile.  We have treated doctors, lawyers, executives, pilots and local television personalities with Invisalign and clear braces.

 

Adolescent Treatment

Because teenagers are still growing, these years are often the optimal time to correct orthodontic problems and achieve excellent results. Orthodontic treatment is important for your child because crooked or crowded teeth are hard to clean, and that may contribute to tooth decay and gum disease.  A bad bite can also cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, difficulty in chewing and/or speaking and possible excess stress on supporting bone and gum tissue. Without treatment, problems may become worse. 
There is also the emotional stress of an unattractive smile.  When you are not confident in the way you look, your self-esteem suffers.  Teenagers whose malocclusions are left untreated may go through life feeling self-conscious and hiding their smiles. 
Great news!  Until recently, Invisalign treatment was only available for adults.  Align Technology has now introduced Invisalign Teen, a new Invisalign product for teens with certain mild to moderate bite discrepancies.  Ask Dr. Dunn if your teenager would be a good candidate for Invisalign Teen.

 

Early Treatment

Most parents want to know the best time to take their child to the orthodontist for their first evaluation. While the majority of children in our office don't start braces until middle school, having your child evaluated at age eight will allow us to detect potential future orthodontic problems and to intervene if necessary.

If your child does not require early treatment at the time of the initial consultation, you should not feel that you've made an unnecessary appointment. Children who do not require treatment at the time of their initial exam are placed into a growth and guidance program. These patients will be seen at least once each year to monitor growth and development of the face, jaws, and teeth. The growth and guidance program will allow us to evaluate your child on a regular basis, ensuring that we initiate your child's treatment at the right time. The office visits for the growth and guidance program are complimentary.

There are a few orthodontic conditions that do require early intervention. These are mostly related to jaw or bite problems, or self-esteem issues. Crossbites that cause the lower jaw to shift, and severe overbites or underbites should be treated early. Early loss of primary teeth, or excessive crowding which can cause damage to gum tissue, are examples of spacing problems that may warrant early treatment. Early, or Phase I treatment, usually lasts 9-12 months. The patient then enters the growth and guidance program until ready for a second phase of treatment, once all of the new permanent teeth have erupted. Ninety-five percent of those who have Phase I treatment at 8-10 years old will require a second phase of treatment at 11-14 years old to guide the new permanent teeth into their final positions.

Given our conservative approach, most children (about 85-90%) don't require early or two phases of treatment.  For these patients, there are many advantages to waiting until most of the permanent teeth have erupted (usually between ages 11 and 14). At this stage in a child's development, bone growth occurs more rapidly, increasing treatment effectiveness and yielding more stable results.  Waiting means less time in braces, fewer office visits, and fewer complications. Additionally, understanding and cooperation are better when children are more mature. From a financial standpoint, completing treatment in one comprehensive phase in middle school is less costly than a two-phase treatment plan. Since we are conservative, we prefer to wait until middle school to treat using one comprehensive phase.

Starting treatment at the optimal time allows us to treat all of the permanent teeth at the same time, without wasting time waiting for permanent teeth to erupt. This means less time in braces. Starting early does not mean that the braces will come off earlier or faster, to the contrary, it results in a longer time in braces. Orthodontic treatment begun at the appropriate time usually results in braces being on for 18 to 24 months, instead of for 3 to 4 years or more.

As you can see, deciding on the right time for orthodontic treatment is determined on a patient-by-patient basis. We are all unique, and no two patients have the same face, jaws, teeth, or bite. You can depend on Dunn Orthodontics to work with you, your child, and your family dentist to ensure that the right treatment is rendered at the best time for your child. The result will be a naturally beautiful smile that will last a lifetime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dunn Orthodontics is Avondale, Arizona's premier orthodontist/dentist providing braces, clear braces and Invisalign (Invisible braces) to Avondale, AZ.

Copyright© 2007. All rights reserved dunn-orthodontics.com (Avondale, AZ)
Dr. Matthew Dunn - Avondale orthodontist (Matthew Dunn, DDS, MS)
Dr. Courtney Dunn – Avondale Invisalign (Courtney Dunn, DDS, MS)

Website created by Matthew Dunn, DDS, MS (Avondale braces) and Courtney Dunn, DDS, MS (Avondale orthodontist) for Dunn Orthodontics providing braces, clear braces, Invisalign (invisible braces) to Phoenix’s West Valley including Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale, Surprise, Buckeye, Verrado, Estrella Mountain Ranch, Glendale, and Tolleson.

Contact: dunn-orthodontics@hotmail.com

 

 

Arizona Dental Association