What Procedures Do Orthodontists Do?

Orthodontics San Clemente, CA

When it comes to oral procedures, you want to make sure you’re going to the right person. While you may go to your dentist for your semi-annual checkups and cleanings, you should be going to an orthodontist regularly for bigger and more specialized treatments. However, when people think of orthodontists, they typically think that they only need to go to them if their teeth are severely crowded or if they need braces. On the contrary, orthodontists are trained in many different highly specialized procedures to help people have better overall oral hygiene. If you would like to reach out to an orthodontist about concerns you have about your teeth, please call an office now. If you would like to learn more about orthodontics San Clemente, CA chooses, continue reading below.

Typical Orthodontic Procedures

Braces

To start off, everyone knows that an orthodontist does braces. While it is among many other services, it is the most popular one performed by orthodontists. You can have many different types of braces, including metal or plastic braces. They can also go in the front or behind your teeth. When people opt for traditional metal braces, the treatment usually also comes with other necessary gear like bands, wires, and brackets. If you choose to go with plastic retainers for your braces—Invisalign is one of the most popular—you will have less noticeable braces.

Lip and Cheek Bumpers

It is not uncommon for patients to complain of teeth discomfort that is caused by their lips or cheeks putting pressure on their teeth. When this is the case, an orthodontist will fit a lip or cheek bumper to a person’s mouth to help reduce this pain and discomfort.

Retainers

Retainers are another popular treatment that orthodontists use. A retainer is used after braces or Invisalign, and it helps to keep your teeth in place once your braces or trays are out. Depending on which style you prefer, you may have a plate with a metal bar for your retainer or a set of plastic aligner retainers.

Headgear

When a child’s jaw is growing too rapidly and an orthodontist needs to slow the growth of the jaw, the orthodontist will likely bring up headgear as an option. Headgear usually consists of a strap around the child’s back of the head which is then attached to a metal, a retainer-like structure that is inserted into the mouth. This allows for the teeth to shape nicely as the jaw grows.

Space Maintainers

In some instances, a child’s baby teeth fall out far too early and the adult teeth do not replace them quickly enough. When this is the case, an orthodontist will use space maintainers to keep that empty space in the mouth open until the adult teeth begin to grow in. This allows the jaw to grow correctly and a child’s teeth not to become overcrowded.

Clearly, orthodontists provide many other treatments than just braces. While many people believe that an orthodontist typically just helps with the aesthetics of their smile, an orthodontist can greatly improve the health of your mouth. If you would like to speak with an orthodontist, please reach out to John Redmond Orthodontics now.