If you suspect that you or your child is in need of an orthodontist, Calgary has many licensed orthodontic professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat issues relating to jaw or teeth misalignment. Especially in children, but also increasingly in adults, braces are one of the most common ways to treat these issues. Your family dentist should be able to give you some preliminary thoughts on the type of treatment you or your child needs, and if he or she can’t refer you to an orthodontist, Calgary has other resources for locating the right practitioner for you.
How important are braces?
Braces are elective, meaning that not getting them isn’t life threatening, but they are often highly recommended by orthodontists to prevent more serious alignment problems from developing later in life. Braces help people feel better about their appearance in the long run, and they can also help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Who can perform this procedure?
Orthodontists are dentists who have received special training for orthodontic care. One way to find practitioners in the area is to do a Google search for “Orthodontist Calgary,” but an even better way to locate an orthodontist in the area is by going to the website of the Canadian Association of Orthodontics and clicking “Find an Orthodontist.” After that, you can either enter your postal code or navigate to the Orthodontist Calgary section for a full list of licensed practitioners in town.
What are the warning signs that braces might be needed?
Here are some of the most common signs that your child may need braces:
- crowded teeth or teeth that seem to be out of position
- frequent biting of the cheek
- difficulty or pain chewing, biting, or swallowing
- sever over- or under-bite
- an off-center bite
- some teeth are not in proportion with the others
- some teeth grow in behind others
- a weak or too-prominent chin
- tooth loss leads to strange positioning in other teeth
- large spaces between teeth
- noises from the jaw
How early should children see an orthodontist?
The Canadian Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children should have orthodontic consultations before the age of 7. If you suspect there’s a problem with your child’s teeth, you can even seek a consultation as early as age 2 or 3. In general, because so much orthodontic care is about prevention, the earlier an issue is detected, the better it can be treated.
What are the causes of misaligned teeth?
Genetics are a large factor determining how one’s teeth grow. However, other factors such as pacifier sucking, finger sucking, gum disease, poor tooth brushing, and early loss of baby teeth can also play large roles.
How do braces work?
For a detailed description of how braces work, it’s best to go straight to one of the sources in the Orthodontist Calgary directory. But to put it simply: Braces apply gentle, continual pressure over a period of months or years to make sure that teeth move into their proper positions. They do this using brackets, wire threads, and rubber bands that hold the teeth in place and guide them into position to create an ideal bite. Because the process unfolds over time, it’s important to return to the orthodontist regularly for check-ups.
