Children, adolescents, and adults of any age can benefit from an evaluation by an orthodontic specialist. Orthodontics is a specialized area of dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of conditions affecting the alignment of the teeth and jaw. An orthodontist will evaluate patients of all ages for crowded teeth, underbites, open bites, crossbites, deep bites or overbites, spacing, and impacted or missing teeth.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends children have an initial consultation beginning at age 7 to address any potential jaw or tooth development issues. The most common age to begin traditional braces or clear aligner therapy (Invisalign®) is 11-13 years of age (middle school.) More and more adults are realizing it is never too late to have orthodontic treatment, whether it is to correct relapse from prior orthodontics or to begin new treatment. At Morgan Orthodontics, Dr. Kelly Morgan takes a whole health approach to orthodontics addressing oral health, jaw development, and obstructive sleep apnea. Orthodontic problems generally do no improve on their own with age and can actually worsen.
How do you know if you need braces?
An evaluation by an orthodontic specialist is different from exams performed by a pediatric or general dentist. Beginning at age 7, an orthodontist can detect issues with jaw development and erupting teeth while baby teeth are still present. Most children will not need any early treatment and will continue to be monitored as they continue to grow, ensuring any necessary treatment begins at the appropriate stage of development. Other children may benefit from interceptive orthodontics to prevent more serious problems or more complicated treatment later. Early treatment may address jaw development, correct harmful oral habits such as thumb sucking, guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position or to protect the emerging permanent teeth from trauma. An evaluation by an orthodontic specialist at an early age will ensure your child has the best opportunity for a healthy, confident smile.
It is never too late to begin orthodontic treatment. Adults can benefit from orthodontics, not only to improve the look of their smile, but to create a better bite that prevents damage to permanent teeth that could lead to cracked teeth and the need for root canals and/ or crowns, gum recession and periodontal issues, TMJ problems, and obstructive sleep apnea. Morgan Orthodontics has an “Adult Orthodontic and Sleep Medicine Center.” Dr. Kelly Morgan is a Harvard-trained orthodontic specialist who can address simpler adult treatments of correcting the alignment of “that one tooth” to the most complicated cases requiring jaw surgery.
Are there non-cosmetic benefits?
Among the many benefits of braces/clear aligners (Invisalign®) is the improvement of small breathing passages or obstructed breathing, especially through the nose. Some of the signs that indicate you have difficulties breathing through your nose area are mouth breathing – especially while sleeping, daytime sleepiness, snoring, and more.
In addition, orthodontic treatment can help solve the issues of speech impediments, jaw pain, difficulty chewing or eating, sleep apnea, snoring, grinding or clenching teeth, gum disease, and tooth decay.
Healthy teeth and gums, improved health, relief of breathing issues, and enhanced self-esteem are just a few of the many benefits of correcting your teeth with braces.
Morgan Orthodontics is known for their friendliness and professionalism. We accommodate the busiest of schedules and offer a complimentary middle school limo service! Making our patients smile by offering excellent customer service, the latest technology and the highest quality of care is just part of the Morgan Difference.
For patient convenience, Morgan Orthodontics has two offices. The Lansdowne office serves Leesburg, Sterling, Ashburn, and Loudoun County. The Winchester office serves Frederick and Clark counties and the greater Shenandoah Valley. Consultations are always complimentary. Click Here to schedule an appointment.