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Crooked Teeth - Common Problems We Solve
Each patient is different and requires a unique treatment to achieve a great smile, but malocclusions fall into a number of common categories.
Common Orthodontic Problems & Solutions
At Braces520s, we believe that everyone deserves a beautiful, healthy smile they feel proud to call their own. Unfortunately, most people will face some form of orthodontic problem in their lifetime. As a leading orthodontist serving the Tucson and Sierra Vista areas, we offer a diverse range of treatment options that can correct virtually any orthodontic problem.
Crowding of the Teeth
Patient started treatment at age 11 and wore braces for 26 months. He loves his new smile.
Open Bite – front teeth don’t touch
Patient sucked her thumb as a young child. She started treatment at age 13. She had braces and a special appliance — called a crib — to retrain the tongue, for 28 months. Now she can bite the lettuce out of a sandwich.
Deep Overbite – lower front teeth bite into palate
This adult patient, age 25, required braces and jaw surgery to correct his severe overbite, with treatment taking two years. His problem could have been corrected without surgery if he had been treated before he was a teenager.
Missing Lateral Incisors
This patient’s lateral incisors were congenitally missing. She had braces for 20 months to move the teeth into their correct positions, then the missing teeth were replaced with bonded “Maryland” bridges.
Underbite – lower front teeth in front of upper teeth
Patient’s underbite was causing her jaw joint discomfort and excessive wear patterns on her teeth. After about 30 months of treatment starting at age 32, she now finds smiling and chewing much easier.
Spacing of Teeth
Patient was bothered by the spaces between his teeth. Braces closed the spaces and gave him an ideal bite in 24 months. Special glued-in retainers help keep the spaces closed.
Overjet – protruding front teeth
At age ten, patient had a big overjet with the top teeth protruding beyond the bottom. She had two phases of treatment. The first helped her jaws to grow more harmoniously and the second aligned her teeth and bite. At age 13, she was proudly displaying her new smile.
Non-Braces Treatment
Sometimes braces are not needed to get noticeable improvements in tooth alignment. This patient was first seen at age seven for crowding of the lower permanent teeth. A procedure was performed to reduce the width of the adjacent baby teeth and the permanent incisors aligned on their own in nine months.
Phase-One Treatment
Patient’s parents were concerned about both aesthetics and the health of the erupting permanent teeth when they brought him to the orthodontist at age eight. The lower front teeth were crowded and touching the palate, and the upper front teeth were extremely displaced from their normal positions. After 12 months of Phase-One treatment with an expander and partial braces, patient’s appearance and dental function were vastly improved.
Your First Visit: What To Expect
STEP 1
Every smile starts with an initial consultation!
We understand that choosing to receive orthodontic care is a big decision and your first visit to our office is the first step. At your initial consultation, we take complimentary xrays and images of your teeth that lets us see what’s going on and perform a thorough examination of your teeth, mouth, and gums. This information helps us design your customized treatment plan.
STEP 2
Braces or aligners just for you.
When you think about braces, you might think about the old-fashioned ones you saw as a kid that made patients look like they had a mouth full of metal. Thanks to some of the newest designs and options, you no longer need to worry about how people look at you or how they perceive you. At Braces520, we want to help you get the smile that you love with treatment as convenient as possible.
STEP 3
Your new smile.
At Braces520, we make you our top priority! We create beautiful, confident smiles for all ages by offering advanced orthodontic care that’s designed to deliver the ideal treatment experience and results to ensure you achieve your best smile!
Answers To Your FAQs From Dr. Andrew Rosen
At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
If you want to improve the look and feel of your smile, then any age can be a great time to see an orthodontist. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children first visit an orthodontist around the age of seven; however, orthodontic treatment is not exclusive to children and teens.
About one in every five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. Whether you’re considering treatment for yourself or for a child, any age is a good time to visit our office.
What will I learn from the initial examination?
We will thoroughly explain your options to you after he completes the exam, and will recommend the best course of treatment. You’ll learn the answers to five important questions during your consultation appointment, including:
- Is there an orthodontic issue, and if so, what is it?
- What treatment is needed to correct the problem? Can braces and/or Invisalign correct the problem?
- Will any teeth need to be removed?
- How long will treatment take?
- How much will treatment cost?
How much will orthodontic treatment cost?
We can only determine treatment costs after your initial consultation is completed, as each patient’s case is unique. You can learn more about our Financing & Insurance policies on our website, or speak to one of our staff members at the office. We’ll review your financing options with you, and will work with you to maximize your insurance benefits.
Is it too late to have orthodontic treatment if I am already an adult?
Adult orthodontics is becoming more common, as orthodontic treatment helps increase overall happiness level, health, and self-esteem. It’s never too late for a beautiful smile!
Do I need a referral from my dentist to see an orthodontist?
If you think you or your child needs braces, you may be surprised to learn you do not need a referral from your dentist. You can make an appointment with Braces520 any time to discuss your orthodontic needs and set up a treatment plan.
It is also important to note that if your dentist does make a referral, you do not need to choose that orthodontist. You’re free to see anyone you feel can do the best job for you.
This doesn’t mean your dentist is not an important part of your care. He or she definitely is. It is important to continue to see your dentist throughout your orthodontic care.
With or without a referral, you should bring your child for an orthodontic consultation by age 7, as the American Association of Orthodontists recommends. Examining young children before all the permanent teeth have erupted may enable an orthodontist to correct problems that would be more difficult and costly to address later.
FAQs from Dr. Rosen
How much will braces cost? Are financing options available? How does my insurance work?
We can only determine treatment costs after your initial consultation is completed, as each patient’s case is unique. You can learn more about our Financing & Insurance policies on our website, or speak to one of our staff members at the office. We’ll review your financing options with you, and will work with you to maximize your insurance benefits.
Will I need to have teeth extract for braces?
It depends on your unique situation, but sometimes in order to achieve optimal results, teeth may need to be removed. However, advanced technology and methods have made this less common.
Can I wear braces even though I have crowns and missing teeth?
Yes, absolutely! A tooth with a crown will move just like a regular tooth, and treatment will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth.
Do braces hurt?
Braces do not often hurt, though you may feel a small amount of discomfort for a couple days as your teeth, gums, cheeks, and mouth get used to your new braces.
Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
Absolutely. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to return to your normal daily life.
FAQs from Dr. Rosen
Will my teeth straighten as they grow?
Unfortunately, no. Orthodontic issues, such as spacing and malocclusions, tend to worsen with age. It’s important to be examined as early as possible, to ensure these problems are corrected sooner rather than later.
At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
If you want to improve the look and feel of your smile, then any age can be a great time to see an orthodontist. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children first visit an orthodontist around the age of seven; however, orthodontic treatment is not exclusive to children and teens.
About one in every five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. Whether you’re considering treatment for yourself or for a child, any age is a good time to visit our office.
Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?
We do our best to schedule you for the most convenient times based on your busy schedule, but cannot make any guarantees. However, most appointments are scheduled 4-10 weeks apart, so you or your child will miss minimal work/school time.
Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
We completely understand your busy schedule and are happy to accommodate. Once you pick up your child, we will review what was accomplished at the conclusion of each appointment and what is expected to be accomplished at the next appointment. We strongly recommend making the follow up appointments prior to leaving our office.
Can orthodontic correction occur while a child has baby teeth?
If an orthodontic issue is severe enough, then early intervention can occur while the child still has baby teeth. If your child isn’t ready yet, we’ll simply monitor their growth and development, and begin treatment when they’re ready.
FAQs from Dr. Rosen
Can I still play sports
Of course! We do recommend that you use a mouthguard to protect your mouth during treatment.
Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
Absolutely. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to return to your normal daily life.
Will my teeth straighten as they grow?
Unfortunately, no. Orthodontic issues, such as spacing and malocclusions, tend to worsen with age. It’s important to be examined as early as possible, to ensure these problems are corrected sooner rather than later.
Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?
We do our best to schedule you for the most convenient times based on your busy schedule, but cannot make any guarantees. However, most appointments are scheduled 4-10 weeks apart, so you or your child will miss minimal work/school time.
FAQs from Dr. Rosen
Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
Adult orthodontics is becoming more common, as orthodontic treatment helps increase overall happiness level, health, and self-esteem. It’s never too late for a beautiful smile!
Can I still play sports?
Of course! We do recommend that you use a mouthguard to protect your mouth during treatment.
What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?
If your braces are hurting you or your child severely, or if one of your appliances breaks, you should call our office. We can solve most orthodontic emergencies over the phone, but will make time for you if your issue requires an office visit.
FAQs from Dr. Rosen
How long do I have to wear the aligners?
Because each patient is different, treatment time with Invisalign varies. You could be in treatment for as little as 6 months or as long as 24 months – it all depends on the specific type of orthodontic problem you have and how compliant you are wearing your aligners and keeping your scheduled appointments.
Do I have to wear the aligners even at night?
Yes. In order for Invisalign to work as it’s designed, you must wear your aligners for up to 22 hours each day. You can remove them when eating and when brushing & flossing. You can also take them out temporarily for those special occasions such as interviews or school photos as long as you put them right back in afterward.
Are there certain foods I must avoid eating that might break my aligners?
Invisalign aligners are designed to be removed when eating. One of the greatest benefits associated with Invisalign is the fact that there are no food restrictions whatsoever. You can continue enjoying all your favorite foods including hard-crusted breads, corn-on-the-cob, etc. as long as you take your aligners out before eating, but be sure to at least rinse, if not brush and rinse, before replacing your Invisalign trays. Any foods with color or food coloring (coffee, tea, red sauce, curry, sodas) can be on your teeth and slowly stain your attachments and/or trays.
Will my speech be affected?
When you first start wearing Invisalign, you may notice that your speech is not as clear as it normally is. This is nothing to panic about, as you simply must get used to wearing the aligners. Just spend a bit of time speaking or singing out loud while wearing your aligners and before you know it, your speech will return to normal.
Can I chew gum?
No, chewing gum is not a good idea because it will stick to your aligners and make a big mess.
FAQs from Dr. Rosen
Is it required that my family dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
It’s not required, but often times our patients are referred by their family dentist. However, patients also are referred by family members and friends, and take the initiative to schedule an appointment themselves.
Why should I choose an orthodontic specialist?
Orthodontic specialists have the education, training and experience to effectively alter teeth, jaw, and facial structures to help patients achieve optimal oral health. It’s critical that treatment is personalized to each individual and properly completed, and choosing a specialist, like Dr. Rosen and Dr. Decker, ensures that everything is done correctly.
How do I schedule an appointment for an initial exam?
You can schedule an appointment online or call our office with questions. We’re looking forward to seeing you!
What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
Before you leave, be sure to have all the necessary information needed to complete our new patient forms, including your insurance information. Then, one of our doctors will complete the examination, which can include X-rays and photographs, to properly diagnose you or your child’s condition. If you want to learn even more about what happens, you can find more information on our First Visit page.
How often will I have appointments?
Treatment time varies from patient to patient, depending on the severity of the orthodontic issues. The average patient wears appliances anywhere from 18-24 months, and total treatment time ranges from about 12-30 months.
Do you give shots?
No, as shots are not necessary for orthodontic treatment.
What are you waiting for?
Feel Confident in Your New Smile!
Today is the perfect day to start your journey to a beautifully healthy and radiant smile! We’d love to walk you through what we offer to get you to that confident and beautiful smile you desire.
