Dentistry & Orthodontics by Richard J Anderson DDS
Orthodontics
As part of complete care
We do much more than orthodontics at Anderson Dentalcare. We focus on complete, coordinated treatment so you can keep your teeth and your smile for a lifetime. One of the important parts of this coordinated care is orthodontics. We treat both children and adults utilizing interceptive treatment as well as complete braces and Invisalign. We tailor the treatment to fit the problem. In some cases it may be that only the lower front teeth are crowded, while in other cases it's the entire mouth that is involved with the teeth, bite and TMJ needing treatment. Because we focus on complete care, orthodontics becomes a natural part of that comprehensive approach, just as we use the other areas of dentistry: prosthetics (crowns, veneers, bridges, implants), periodontics (gum and bone health), endodontics (root canal fillings), preventive and restorative care. And if visiting the dentist isn't your favorite thing to do, we offer sedation dentistry to help with anxiety and fears.
Interceptive Orthodontics
You may have seen us featured in Mpls/St. Paul Magazine with a highlight on Interceptive Orthodontics. Here are expanded questions and answers about this part of orthodontic treatment.
- Q: What is Interceptive Orthodontics?
- A: When to start orthodontic treatment is a common and important question. We can accurately identify developing orthodontic problems in the growing child by ages 7 to 8. Intercepting the cause of orthodontic problems at this early stage - from ages 7 to 10, while the child is growing at a faster rate - decreases or can even eliminate extensive treatment during the teenage years. This approach to orthodontic treatment keeps the initial problem from snowballing into a more complicated issue as the child grows and matures.
- Q: How can orthodontic problems be intercepted?
- A: Certain key elements in growth and development can indicate discrepancies that are developing in three areas: tooth position, room in the arch for the teeth, and in bite relationships. By correcting these discrepancies early, the child is back on the path to normal growth and development. Of course, if no growth discrepancies are present, this first phase of treatment is not needed.
- Q: How does it work?
- A: Most people know how thumbsucking or extensive pacifier use can have a negative effect and cause a bad bite and crooked teeth. Interceptive orthodontics works in the reverse. It helps the child grow in a positive way to correct a developing problem. By gently guiding growth and shaping the upper and lower arches, room is created for the teeth and the bite is idealized. The custom-made devices look much like retainers. The goal of treatment, which usually takes 6 to 9 months, is to create full, beautiful smiles, with more stable results, less pain, no extractions, and fewer complications (i.e. no headgear).
- Q: How can headgear be eliminated?
- A: The use of headgear is focused on moving the upper first molars backward to create more room in the anterior (front) of the arch which then allows the front teeth to be uncrowded. The problem is that headgear is hard to wear, often doesn't accomplish its goal and is prone to have relapse. By using interceptive appliances, the correction is made earlier, easier and with less treatment time.
- Q: Are the results permanent?
- A: Yes. The changes with interceptive treatment are growth changes and are permanent. This results in well-positioned, well-aligned jaws that have the correct amount of space for the permanent teeth, which is why later extractions are not needed.
- Q: Is there need for additional treatment after interceptive treatment?
- A: As the remaining permanent teeth come in during the teen years, additional correction can be needed to finalize the ideal tooth position. This is always less treatment than would be needed if there had not been interceptive treatment, since bite and jaw relationships as well as space problems do not need to be addressed. So a frequent experience is to have an early interceptive phase of 6 to 9 months with a removeable appliance, and a later phase of 9 to 12 months (after all the permanent teeth are in) with braces or Invisalign to idealize tooth position. If no early treatment is done, then it is only possible to mask any underlying issue that might exist, with a result that is less desirable and less stable.
- Q: Is this technique new?
- A: No. It has been a common treatment in the US and Europe for many years and it is gaining in popularity. Dr. Anderson has used interceptive treatments for 28 years and some dental organizations now recommend every child should have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7 to determine if a first phase of treatment is indicated.
Braces and Invisalign
Positioning teeth using braces has been a successful treatment for a long time. But there have been many changes along the way that make this popular treatment easier and faster than before. All braces are bonded directly to the tooth surface, so metal bands are no longer needed to hold the braces in position. This makes the treatment more efficient, more comfortable and less bulky. Braces come in a wide variety of sizes and materials, both metal and clear, and when combined with high-tech alloy wires, treatment can go more quickly than in years past. And with more streamlined shapes, braces are easier to keep clean. But to help with this process, we include an electric toothbrush when someone begins treatment with braces. Keeping teeth and braces clean not only minimizes problems with decay and sore gums, but teeth that are clean will respond faster and more efficiently to the forces moving them, so treatment can be faster.
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional braces. Instead of having braces attached to the teeth, a series of thin clear snug-fitting shells called aligners are made with a sophisticated virtual reality computer program. Correction is built into each aligner so that when the aligners are worn in sequence, two weeks for each aligner, the teeth are dragged into the proper position. Invisalign works by putting specific forces on the teeth in the same manner that braces do. But since the braces are bonded to the teeth, the connection is very secure and the braces can't be removed from the teeth at home which provides 24/7 treatment time. The aligners with Invisalign are removable and must be removed for eating and cleaning teeth. Cleaning is therefore easier with Invisalign than with braces, but treatment times can be longer if the aligners aren't worn continually. The main benefit to Invisalign is that the aligners are clear and therefore they are virtually invisible when they are being worn. For some people this is a big advantage for their self image and self confidence and can be the difference in deciding to pursue orthodontic treatment.
Do you have questions? Just give us a call and we will gladly schedule time to talk with you.
