There are many specialties in every profession, including dentistry. An orthodontist in Medford is a dental specialist who deals with misaligned teeth and jaws. An orthodontist frequently deals with people who wish to align their teeth for cosmetic purposes; however, there are other issues which are strictly health related. People who have misaligned teeth or issues with their jaws not only suffer from insecurity and low self esteem, they can have great difficulty in eating and speaking properly. Along with eating and speaking issues, misaligned teeth can lead to snoring, sleep apnea and other breathing problems. An orthodontist is also called upon to surgically repair children who have been born with cleft pallet or lips.
Once the orthodontist in Medford area has diagnosed the problem he or she has a number of techniques and solutions that can be employed to correct the situation. To complete the diagnosis the dentist uses a combination of X-rays and molds which are made when the patient bites into a claylike material. With this information it is possible to determine the best approach to take to assure success in straightening the teeth. The orthodontist will use braces to slowly re-align the teeth, retainers and other devices are also used. In some cases it is necessary to extract a tooth, this is often done when the teeth are crowded together and one or more are twisted.
There are many reasons why orthodontic services are necessary in children and adults. One of the major influences on teeth is hereditary issues. There is a very good chance that if the patient has dental issues then someone in the immediate family suffered from the same or similar problems. This is because of the way the bones are structured in the jaw area, the oral cavity may be too small and the teeth are crowded or perhaps the baby teeth were left to decay and fell out too early. Accidents and other forms of trauma also contribute to the need for orthodontic services.
It is always considered good practice to have children’s teeth looked at by an orthodontist in Medford before the complete set of permanent teeth erupt. This is extra important if the family has a history of crooked teeth. Early intervention, while the jaw is still growing makes the corrective procedure easier.
If you think you or your child may need to visit an orthodontist in Medford you are invited to make an appointment with Pediatric Dentistry of Suffolk County.
