At Define Orthodontics, we provide a comprehensive menu of orthodontic services to help patients achieve straighter, healthier smiles. Many patients are often confused about the differences between orthodontics and standard dental care. While dentists can help you maintain your smile and your oral health, they are often not equipped to provide services for complex dental concerns like misaligned teeth or bite patterns. To help our patients better understand our practice, we’ve answered three basic questions about orthodontics below. If you have any questions about what to expect from your orthodontic treatment, please contact our office directly.
What does it mean to be an orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dental specialist whose job is to address, diagnose, prevent, and correct issues pertaining to bite alignment. Orthodontists must first complete a five-year degree in dentistry before undergoing a further 5,000 hours (or three years of full-time study) of specialist training in the field. From early intervention to support healthy oral development to solutions for adults with misaligned teeth, orthodontists specialize in addressing these types of concerns.
What concerns can orthodontic treatment plans address?
Orthodontic treatment plans are used to address issues affecting your bite alignment. If you have a crossbite, overbite, underbite, or otherwise crooked teeth, orthodontic treatment can help you address these concerns. Misaligned bite patterns may lead to a variety of other dental concerns like an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease development. Orthodontic services promote improved dental health by targeting issues like improper jaw alignment, crooked teeth, and overcrowded teeth. Additionally, orthodontic care helps improve aesthetics and self-esteem concerns.
Do you treat adult patients?
Dr. Sodhi welcomes adult patients and can provide treatment options to meet a wide range of needs or concerns. Adults who had previous orthodontic treatment can experience orthodontic relapse. This is when teeth begin to shift again, affecting both the aesthetics and health of the bite. Dr. Sodhi can often restore a healthier and straighter smile after release with clear aligners.
If you are an adult patient who has never had braces but suffers from malocclusion, orthodontic treatment can restore your dental health and help maintain the stability of your bite as you age.
Who can benefit from orthodontic treatment?
Patients of all ages can benefit from orthodontic treatment. We treat patients of all ages in our Irving, TX orthodontist’s office. Our comprehensive menu of orthodontic treatment options can address any and all orthodontic concerns all under one room. Whether your child needs two-phase treatment for early orthodontic intervention, your teen is curious about the benefits of Invisalign Teen, or you yourself want to feel more confident about your own smile, Define Orthodontics offers the treatments needed to address these concerns and more.