Orthodontics – Lake Zurich, IL
Personalized Treatments for All Ages
Our orthodontic specialist at Grand Dental – Lake Zurich has worked with children and adults in the past to create healthier, more attractive smiles. At our dental office, you’ll find a full range of orthodontic services so that you and your loved ones can get the best care possible under one roof. And since our orthodontist works directly alongside our dentists and hygienists, all of our experts can combine their talents to develop an ideal treatment plan for you. Schedule a consultation with us today to learn more about your options for orthodontics in Lake Zurich, IL.
Why Choose Grand Dental - Lake Zurich for Orthodontics?
- In-House Orthodontic Specialist
- Fully Personalized Solutions
- Patients of All Ages Welcome
Phase 1 Orthodontics
Phase 1 Orthodontics begin around the ages of eight or nine. Your little one might not need braces at this point, but we can still intervene to treat developmental issues such as underbite. In some cases, we may even need to make room for permanent teeth to erupt. A good Phase 1 Orthodontics plan can potentially reduce the need for a number of more complex treatments later on in your child’s life.
How to Tell if Your Child May Need Early Orthodontic Treatment:
- The front teeth are crowded together as early as age seven
- The teeth don’t come together properly when your child closes their mouth.
- They show signs of crossbite (namely, a jaw that shifts around when they open their mouth).
- They have trouble biting or chewing their food.
- They have not naturally stopped sucking their thumb after the age of five (which can easily cause developmental issues).
- You notice that your child has developed a speech impediment.
- Your child has lost their baby teeth far earlier or far later than they should have.
What Causes Orthodontic Problems and How Will Early Treatment Benefit My Child?
There are various causes of orthodontic issues, including excessive space between the teeth, issues with jaw growth, bad bites (which can be a hereditary issue or a result of physical trauma), thumb-sucking habits, or mistimed loss of baby teeth. Generally, the age of 7 is the ideal time to check for orthodontic issues, since your child will have some of their permanent teeth at that point (along with some baby teeth) and we’ll be able to identify long-term problems more easily.
The initial orthodontic checkup will be comprised of an examination and a panoramic X-ray. We’ll try to get the full picture of your child’s oral health so that we can create a treatment plan that takes their unique situation fully into account.
Adult Orthodontics
One in five of all orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. That means that even adults have a chance to straighten their smiles! Of course, properly aligned teeth aren’t just show; they’re also important for keeping the entire mouth healthy and properly functioning. And of course, a more attractive smile can leave you feeling more confident during job interviews and dates. Become one of the many adults who are taking advantage of orthodontic care.
Health Issues that Can be Corrected with Orthodontic Treatment:
- Bite misalignment, which if left uncorrected will wear down your enamel and lead to jaw pain.
- Excessive crowding or spacing of the teeth that makes it harder to brush and floss well.
- Lost teeth, which causes the remaining teeth to shift around.
Treatment Options for Adults
It’s understandable why many adults do not look forward to having to wear braces to work or social events – which is why it’s a good thing there are so many options to choose from! In addition to traditional metal braces, you can also get more attractive tooth-colored braces or (depending on your needs) Invisalign clear aligners.
Why Should you Consider Orthodontic Treatment?
- When your teeth are correctly aligned, it’s easier to clean the various surfaces with tooth enamel and dental floss, which in turn decreases your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
- When you’re happy with how your smile looks, you tend to be more confident about showing it off – especially in situations when making a good first impression really counts!
- The longer orthodontic issues are left alone, the more severe they become. Not getting braces or Invisalign now could lead to a more complex (and costly) treatment later.
- If you started orthodontic treatment as a teenager or a child, you can still complete it as an adult. That way you can fully benefit from the effects of complete orthodontic care.
Clear Aligners ®
For those who want a more discreet orthodontic solution, Invisalign is often the treatment of choice. The aligners are made out of a clear plastic that will slowly but surely push the teeth towards their ideal position. Each aligner should be worn for about 22 hours every day and should only be removed for meals and oral hygiene purposes. You’ll switch to a new set of aligners every two weeks or so, and the total treatment time can be anywhere between 9 and 24 months.
Metal Braces
Even with all the changes that orthodontics and dentistry in general have gone through over the years, traditional wire and bracket orthodontics is still the best solution for the most severe cases of crowding, misalignment, and oral malocclusion. The wire will slowly push your teeth into place; you’ll need to return to our dental office every few weeks or so for periodic adjustments. Braces are typically first recommended during childhood, but adults can still get excellent results wearing them.
Tooth Colored Braces
Did you know that brackets and wires can also be made out of a clear plastic or ceramic materials? That way they can make the same kind of changes without standing out too much on your smile. You can get the reliable results of braces without having to worry about eyes being drawn to the dark pieces of metal covering your teeth and taking away from your beautiful smile.
Phases of Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment can take anywhere between 6 and 30 months. The length of your treatment will depend on several factors, such as the severity of the orthodontic issues, the type of appliance being used, and the patient’s dedication to their treatment plan. However, virtually all orthodontic treatments can be split up into three major phases: the planning phase, the active phase, and the retention phase.
Phase 1: Planning Phase
First, an evaluation needs to be conducted in order to determine the most effective treatment for your particular case. Our in-house orthodontist will take X-rays and evaluate the position of each tooth to gather all the necessary information, such as potential complications. There will also be a review of your medical and dental history to ensure that any existing problems are brought under control before orthodontic treatment begins. Lastly, a model or “impression” of your teeth will be created to examine the position of your teeth and detail a treatment plan.
Phase 2: Active Phase
Once your personalized treatment plan has been established, we can implement it. Custom orthodontic devises will be applied to gradually shift the teeth and jaws into their ideal positions. Options like traditional braces and tooth-colored braces are fixed in place, which inevitably requires the patient to alter their daily diet in order to protect them. Alternatively, removable appliances like Invisalign aligners allow patients to continue to eat and drink whatever they like, but they need to take their aligners out before every meal while still adhering to the 20-22 hour a day wear time. Throughout any type of orthodontic treatment, the patient will return to our office every few weeks for a checkup, where we will monitor the progress of their treatment and make any minor adjustments as needed.
Phase 3: Retention Phase
Once optimal alignment has been achieved, the last phase will begin. This will involve wearing a personalized retainer that will keep the teeth from shifting out of their new positions. Removable retainers need to be worn for a set amount of time every day for a specific period to ensure the results are kept in place. Permanent retainers are permanently bonded to the backside of the teeth, holding them in their new positions. In either case, retaining the teeth in their ideal positions allows the jawbone to reform and strengthen around the newly aligned teeth so they have a strong, healthy, and long-lasting foundation.
Expanders
If the mouth is too small, early orthodontic intervention can help create the necessary space for healthy oral development. A device called an expander (which can be fixed in place or removable) can be attached to the mouth in order to change its shape as necessary. There are a couple different kinds of expander, but they all help contribute to a properly aligned bite that will serve your child well as their mouth continues to grow and change over the years.
Light Force Brackets
To create a more personalized and comfortable orthodontic experience, our team now uses Light Force brackets. Customized to each tooth, they are translucent so that they do not show up as easily when worn. As a result, this gives individuals greater confidence while undergoing treatment. The brackets also produce faster, more predictable results because a three-dimension model of a patient’s smile is created using digital impressions instead of those formed with traditional dental putty. In using these brackets, our team can ensure greater tooth movement that is tailored to a patient’s oral anatomy.
Dental Monitoring
Using artificial intelligence (AI) to better observe a patient’s orthodontics, our dental team now incorporates dental monitoring as part of the process. This allows individuals to take photos of their teeth using a smartphone device and specialized app. After uploading the images, AI will identify the oral structures to determine if treatment is moving forward accordingly. This makes it easier to identify problem areas and ensure that teeth are moving as they should.
Braces & Invisalign Videos
Invisalign First Clear Aligners
Health Effects
of Misaligned Teeth
How Invisalign
Really Works
