Are you looking for a trust worthy orthodontist in Arlington, VA? Our Arlington Orthodontists are highly respected among their peers and the local community. Our team includes not only orthodontists but specialists in a variety of dental care methodologies, so we can make sure your teeth are getting the best care. Their experience and education combine to exceed more than a half-century of providing local patients with the superior care they deserve.

What Is Orthodontics?

The field of dentistry which aids in the prevention and treatment of dental and facial abnormalities such as crooked teeth and bad bites is called Orthodontics. An orthodontist specializes in moving teeth into the correct position and enhances dental facial growth and development.

How Does Orthodontic Treatment Work?

Out of the several types of orthodontic treatment used, braces are the most common which work by placing gentle pressure on your teeth which shift them into right position thus creating a perfectly straight smile.

What Is The Best Age For Orthodontic Treatment?

As long as your teeth are healthy, then you are a great candidate to have orthodontic treatments. A straight smile is important at any age. However, orthodontists recommend that children visit their offices at the age of seven in order to diagnose any problems and to start with preventative care. Catching problems early on will help to avoid problems later on in life.

If you were unable to see an orthodontist at a young age, you can still see one later in life to help correct your smile. With the different varieties of braces, friends and coworkers will have no idea that your lunch date is really your orthodontist appointment.

Early Treatment

Most orthodontists begin treatment on children between the ages of 9 and 14 as most problems are easily fixable during this time. The earlier the treatment the better because you will be able to help your child correct oral habits that are harmful to their dental development, guide teeth into the correct position and avoid protruding front teeth.

Treatment Later In Life

The most common orthodontic treatments are for spacing, crowding, overbites, under bites and cross bites. These problems can be fixed easily earlier on in life but sometimes it is not corrected.

For whatever the reason, as an adult, you can still have these problems fixed during your adult lifetime. The only requirements that you need for braces are that your teeth and gums are in healthy and in good condition.

Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment

By treating the irregularities of the jaw and teeth, orthodontic procedures not only create an attractive smile but are meant to protect the life-long health and functionality of the entire mouth. Misaligned, occluded and misshapen teeth are often the cause of headaches, jaw pain and, surprisingly, tooth decay. Straight teeth are generally more healthy and stronger, not only because they allow for the growth of other strong teeth, but because they are simply easier to clean, brush and floss. Straight teeth not only contribute to a more attractive smile, but they make it easier to chew, eat and speak correctly.

Braces, the most common orthodontic procedure, allow those children and adults who are affected by dental irregularities to correct harmful oral habits. Furthermore, braces reduce tooth wear and limit the potential to damage to jaw joints. The list of benefits of braces is extensive, giving parents a variety of reasons to make the commitment of braces and orthodontic treatment for their child.

Braces

Braces are the best type of orthodontic care which help to eliminate problems such as under bite, spacing, protruding teeth, crowding and cross bite. Braces are a non-surgical resort which over time is vital in the creation of a perfect smile.

Traditional braces have been around for many years. They are the standard among patients looking to straighten their smile. Today’s contemporary braces are made of exceptionally strong metals as they need to be able to stand the test of time while they are on your teeth.

While contemporary braces are metallic colored, there are a number of bands and features that can be utilized to spruce them up. There are also many options other than traditional braces such as clear braces, Invisalign, and lingual braces.

Retainers

After your braces come off you will need to wear a retainer. A custom-made retainer will ensure that a patient’s teeth and mouth remain properly aligned. The length of time that a retainer must be worn will vary from patient to patient and may require several years. After a set of braces has been removed, the pressure exerted by a growing body can cause a set of beautiful straight teeth to return to their crooked ways.

Night Guards

Bruxism or teeth grinding affects many people. While some do it consciously during the day, it becomes a larger problem when you do it at night while asleep. It can damage enamel, irritate gums, cause jaw pain and wear down teeth. Your spouse’s sleep might also be disturbed if the noise from teeth grinding gets loud enough.

You should consider a night guard if you grind your teeth. Similar to the mouth guard worn by athletes, the night guard acts as a barrier between the top and bottom teeth when you sleep. Night guards are all custom fitted in order to allow proper breathing and comfort. The dentist will create the night guard from an impression taken from your teeth. Night guards can be used for up to ten years and can be very durable.

Mouth Guards/Sports Guards

Mouth guards not only prevent structural damage to teeth and jaw, but also help prevent injuries such as laceration of cheeks, tongue and lips in addition to help decrease the risk of concussions. While mouth guards are available in any sporting goods store, these might not provide the best level of protection as they are usually ill-fitting and uncomfortable.

In order to ensure highest level of protection and comfort, a custom mouth guard fitting is recommended. We create a custom mouth guard built specifically for YOUR mouth’s optimal protection. Created from thin plastic hardened to protect your teeth, the thinness of the custom mouth guards allows easy breathing and easy communication.

Invisalign

Invisalign® is a set of clear removable aligners that are worn over the teeth. These aligners can be removed to allow you to eat, brush, and floss normally.

Invisalign® is comfortable, convenient, and easy to use. Every 2 to 4 weeks you will receive a new aligner that is slightly straighter than the one before. Overtime these aligners will straighten your teeth and give you the beautiful straight smile you’ve been wanting.