Most parents cringe when they hear their family dentist tell them their child needs an orthodontist in Medford. This is because parents worry about their kids all the time and may feel that they didn’t do the right thing to keep their kid’s teeth healthy. However, this is usually not the case. In some cases, the child’s teeth just don’t come in straight and it isn’t anyone’s fault.
What is an Orthodontist?
The orthodontist is a dentist that helps straighten teeth so that the jaws line up correctly. They usually use retainers, braces or other devices to get the teeth straightened and help them stay that way.
Why You Want Straight Teeth
Many children don’t understand the importance of straight teeth and jaws that are aligned properly. The main reason is that the kids will have better smiles, but it can also make it easier to eat your food if the jaws are aligned properly and the teeth are straight.
Many adults wish they would have had orthodontic care when they were younger, as they currently snore and proper teeth and jaw placement can reduce and prevent snoring.
The Orthodontic Experience
Your family dentist will recommend for children to see the orthodontist if they see problems or potential problems
Many problems can be fixed with orthodontic care, such as having teeth that overlap or are crowded in together, having problems with tooth development, or jaw growth problems. Many times, the problems are caused by losing baby teeth too quickly, tooth decay, thumb sucking or accidents involving the mouth or teeth. In some cases, the problems with jaw and teeth can be caused by genetics, meaning they were problems that parents had, as well.
Most children that require orthodontic work will go before the age of seven, but even teens and adults can go to orthodontists if the problem is difficult to deal with or hurtful.
When you go to an orthodontist, you will have x-rays done on your teeth and mouth. A mold of your teeth may also be taken, so that the dentist can see the best way to straighten the teeth and which teeth need straightening. An examination will also be done on the mouth, jaws and teeth. In some cases, there is no problem, though most people will need to visit an orthodontist frequently to get braces, have them checked and for other reasons.
