Functional Orthodontics & Dento-Facial Orthopedics
Orthodontic treatment is all about making sure your teeth get to their perfect positions. Why? Because straight teeth not only result in a more attractive smile, but they also contribute to better dental health. If you notice that you or your child have an overbite, underbite, crossbite, spacing issues, or crowding, you could benefit from comprehensive orthodontics!
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Traditional Braces
There’s a reason braces have been a teeth-straightening method for centuries! Traditional braces are a time-tested solution for fixing teeth that are crooked, crowded, and too spaced out. Even the most complicated cases of tooth misalignment can be corrected with braces. Thanks to technological advancements in dentistry, braces are now sleeker and less noticeable than ever before. They’re also gentler, so the treatment process is more comfortable for patients.
Palatal Expanders
Some people are born with a narrow upper jaw. This dental issue causes the upper and lower arches of teeth to not fit together properly when the mouth is in a resting position. We can place a palatal expander which will create more space in the mouth by widening the upper jaw. In addition to correcting bite alignment, palatal expanders also reduce teeth overcrowding and improve breathing ability.
Orthodontics for Myofunctional Disorders & Oral Posture
Orthodontics can work wonders when paired side by side with myofunctional therapy or orthotropics. Orthodontics can help combat improper oral posture, issues with the function of the muscles and nerves in the face, mouth, and throat, and tongue thrust.
Integrating Orthodontics with Complete Health
Orthodontics is more than just straightening teeth. It’s about developing forward jaws, creating facial balance and symmetry, promoting an open airway, and developing a full smile that extends to the corners of the mouth. We utilize Face Focused® treatments to help integrate a beautiful smile with a better-functioning body. Our Face Focused treatments can contribute greatly to your overall oral health and can even correct improper oral postures, such as tongue thrust, lips resting apart, mouth breathing, and more.
Dr. Sitaram graduated from Dr. William Hang’s Face Focused Residency in 2017!
TMJ & Epigenetic Orthodontics
Epigenetic orthodontics focuses on utilizing non-surgical orthodontic methods to correct any irregularities in a patient’s facial symmetry as well as issues they may have with their bite alignment and other jaw-related problems. We offer a TMJ/TMD solution using jaw development orthodontics if a patient responds well to the first phase of orthotic treatment. Correcting a misaligned bite is a potential solution for chronic TMJ problems. Most TMJ treatment involves the use of a removable oral appliance or splint, which can be very successful in reducing a variety of symptoms. However, there are few clinicians who offer a more permanent second phase correction. Applying epigenetic science prior to moving teeth with braces can stimulate jaw development at a foundational level giving the body a chance to develop the underdeveloped jaws. With the jaws fully developed, everything will fit from the teeth to the jaws to the tongue. In this environment, we straighten the teeth with orthodontics, building a balanced, beautiful smile on a solid structure of fully developed jaws.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Dr. Sitaram is certified to offer appliance therapy for sleep apnea and snoring. A custom oral appliance repositions the jaw while you sleep to improve underdeveloped upper and lower jaws that can restrict breathing during sleep. Oral appliances can help you get the good night’s sleep you deserve and improve your overall health and well-being.
Growth Appliances
The position and size of your jaw has a huge impact on your overall well-being. Your jaw is directly correlated to your airway, which can lead to obstructive sleep apnea, chronic tension headaches, and many other health complications. When your jaw is not of adequate size, your facial and neck muscles must adapt to allow you to breathe properly. For years, the solution to jaw issues often involved surgery. Thanks to improvements in dental technology, there is now a less invasive treatment that produces visibly noticeable results in shorter periods of time.
We offer growth guidance appliances for both teens and adults to promote new bone growth and reposition your jaw. Growth guidance appliances differ from other palatal expanders by stimulating a precise nerve in your upper palate that signals the body to build bone rather than forcibly pushing the jawbone. The result is a more open airway, improved facial structure, and less fatigue throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
One main reason people get braces is that it results in a nicer, straighter smile. There are plenty of benefits for your oral health too. Straight teeth are actually easier to brush and floss, helping you take better care of your oral hygiene. Also, when your teeth are correctly aligned, it can help decrease your chances of grinding and TMJ pain.
When you think of someone wearing braces, your first thought is probably someone in middle school or high school. Braces are common with preteens and teens because their mouths are still growing and their permanent teeth are coming in. Just because they can benefit from orthodontics doesn’t mean they’re the only ones! Braces are effective for adults as well, and there’s no one “best” age.
How long you have to wear braces for depends on how serious or complex the problem is. In general, the average treatment time is between one to three years. Once you come in for a consultation, we can go over a more accurate estimate for your situation.
It may feel a little funny at first, getting used to how braces feel, and you may experience some slight soreness after each adjustment appointment. The good news is that modern braces are more comfortable to wear than ever before. Most patients find that any discomfort they experience is completely manageable with over-the-counter medications and salt-water rinses. If you’d like more tips for managing pain, contact us!
We know you’re probably thrilled to finally have your braces taken off, but in order to ensure all that hard work and time you spent was worthwhile, you’ll need to wear a retainer. Retainers prevent your newly positioned teeth from shifting over time, which is naturally as we age. We’ll give you specific instructions for how long to wear your retainer after treatment so that eventually you’ll only have to wear it at night.