People hear the word “orthodontist” and immediately think of “braces.” It’s true much of our job involves providing braces treatment for our patients. But orthodontists can do so much more than put braces on your teeth. Do you have a lisp? There are ways an orthodontist can help with that. Is your upper jaw too narrow? We have a way to fix that! Do you get headaches from jaw pain? We have a way to help with that, too!
Kanning Orthodontics offers a variety of treatments, not just braces, though we do lots of braces treatments. We also do treatments for those who need a little preparation before they get braces and treatments for those who might not need braces yet but might need to stop bad habits that could damage their teeth. You might be surprised at what Kanning Orthodontics can do for you!
What Does an Orthodontist Do?
In order to understand what an orthodontist does, it might help to understand what an orthodontist is. We start the same way a dentist does, with training in dental school. Once we graduate, we can begin practicing as dentists. To become an orthodontist, our education continues with a special certification program.
We learn about the field of orthodontics and the precise skills necessary to move teeth. We also learn about other tools we can use, from spacers to palate expanders. Once we complete the certification program, we receive special certifications that allow us to practice as orthodontists.
What Are Orthodontic Services?
Orthodontic services are about a lot more than just putting on and taking off braces. What kind of doctor specializes in teeth and jaw alignment? That would be an orthodontist! What type of doctor can help correct a narrow upper jaw? That would be an orthodontist! What type of doctor can help with speech problems that involve the placement of the tongue against the teeth? You guessed it, an orthodontist!
We provide a variety of services beyond braces. Let’s look at some of them.
Clear Aligners Treatment
Clear aligners have become a popular alternative to braces over the years. While some people think they will do OK with home delivery aligners, the fact is that professional, clear aligner treatment will give you the best results. That’s because your orthodontist knows how to create clear aligners that are perfectly customized for you. We know best how to move each of your teeth in an exact way and during the exact time necessary for the best results. Orthodontists today are trained to provide professional, clear aligner treatment.
Palate Expanders
Some people are born with narrow palates (roof of the mouth), which means their upper teeth may come in crooked because there isn’t enough space. An orthodontist can install a palate expander to correct this. Palate expanders are generally placed in the mouths of children before their permanent teeth come in. This is to keep the teeth from coming in crooked, but it’s also because a young child’s palate hasn’t fused together yet, so it’s much easier to expand the palate. It can be done with older children and even adults, but it’s easier with smaller children.
This device is held in place by brackets that fit over the back teeth. A key is placed in a small hole in the palate expander and turned once a day, which spreads the palate a little bit more each day. This is done until there is enough space for the teeth. Expanding the palate can also fend off breathing issues later because the nasal cavity will also expand.
Space Maintainers
Some children lose their teeth early. They may just fall out before the permanent tooth is ready to come in, or they may get knocked out from an injury. Left empty long enough, the other teeth will begin to move to fill in the space, which means when the permanent tooth finally comes in, it won’t have enough room and will likely come in crooked, in front of, or behind the surrounding teeth.
Space Maintainers, also called Space Fillers, solve that problem by maintaining the proper space between teeth until the permanent teeth come in. They are made up of a band that fits around the adjacent tooth and a wire that fits across the space and abuts the tooth on the other side. This keeps the space ready for the permanent tooth.
Lip and Cheek Bumpers
Some patients have lips and cheeks that push against the teeth, causing discomfort and even pain. The patient needs to train their lips and cheeks to maintain a certain distance and not squeeze the teeth. An orthodontist does this with lip and cheek bumpers. They look like an archwire with a strip of silicon across the front, which serves as the “bumper.” The wire attaches to one of the back teeth and wraps around the teeth. The bumper keeps the lips and cheeks away from the teeth, eventually training them to stay that way.
Jaw Splints
Some patients complain of jaw pain because their lower jaw is misaligned. They may also have headaches and neck aches, teeth grinding, and it may even cause them to snore. Often, jaw misalignment is treated while a patient wears braces. But if you don’t have braces, what do you do?
Your orthodontist may have you use a jaw splint. This sort of looks like upside-down headgear. It wraps around the back of the head and holds a sling that cradles the lower jaw and holds it in the proper position. A jaw splint relieves pressure on the jaw joint and jaw muscles. It often treats TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD or TMJ).
If you’re wondering, “do orthodontists do surgery?” the answer is yes! Your orthodontist is a doctor for TMJ disorder or jaw pain. Typically a jaw splint or braces work. However, in some situations, the condition is severe, and in that case, corrective jaw surgery may be recommended.
Tongue Crib
Some patients may have a lisp or a speech impediment because their tongue is placed improperly on their teeth. They may also thrust their tongue against their teeth, or they still are sucking their thumb, both of which can cause an overbite or open bite if left untreated. A tongue crib can help with these issues. A tongue crib fits on the back teeth and wraps around the inside of the teeth, where a small “basket” behind the front teeth holds the tongue back from the teeth. It trains the tongue to sit in the proper position. The tongue crib is often used to train the tongue before braces treatment begins, but it can be used without braces.
When to See an Orthodontist in Kansas City, MO
These are some of the many services an orthodontist can offer to patients of all ages, adults, teens, and children. If you’re looking for orthodontic treatment in the Kansas City, MO, or Liberty, MO, areas, schedule an appointment with Kanning Orthodontics. We can show you what treatment options we have to help with any orthodontic problems your mouth may be experiencing! Start your treatment planning with us today to improve your oral health!