Orthodontics is an important area of dentistry that everyone should get familiar with. It is a specialized form of dentistry that helps relieve and repair certain issues and abnormalities in a person’s tooth or among multiple teeth.
At Smile Reston Heights, we have an in-house orthodontic expert that has helped dozens of patients improve the look and feel of their teeth. Our high-quality professional orthodontist services are made readily available to all our patients throughout Reston, VA and Northern Virginia, along with our general and cosmetic dental services.
Below, we discuss the field of orthodontics in detail, including examples of its practices and how it benefits patients:
Defining Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a specialized field in dentistry that relates to diagnosing and treating the various forms of dental defects and abnormalities, along with deformities found in the connection between the lower and upper jaw. Professionals in this field are known as “orthodontists”.
An overall term for many of the issues orthodontists treat is called “malocclusion”, involving both the jaw and teeth being incorrectly positioned when the mouth remains closed.
Examples of Orthodontics
Generally speaking, orthodontists work to help their patients readjust their jaws and teeth in order for them to help maintain their dental health, as well as improve their appearance. Here are some of the effects they achieve through the various treatments and procedures they perform:
- Realigning the tips of your teeth
- Closing gaps between your teeth
- Fixing an improper bite and chewing ability
- Improving speech
- Adjusting crooked teeth
Orthodontists utilize a variety of different devices to help make these readjustments to your teeth and jaw. These devices can either be fixed or removable, depending on the needs of the patient, as well as their budget. Below are some such dental alignment devices that your orthodontist may offer:
- Braces – a system of brackets, wires, and bands that are fixed around your teeth and tightened to reposition them into a straighter appearance.
- Aligners – removable alternative to braces; most often offered as Invisalign braces for patients who would like to readjust their teeth without the outstanding appearance of regular braces.
- Splits – also called jaw repositioning appliances; these are placed in the top or lower jaw to help close it properly, and is most often used to treat temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Benefits of Orthodontic Care
Orthodontic treatments provide all kinds of benefits for patients in need of them. They improve your overall appearance by providing you with a straighter jawline and teeth, which can help bring you more confidence and comfort in your daily life.
On top of that, it restores your jaw so that you are able to bite and chew more comfortably, which can otherwise be incredibly painful and discomforting when left untreated.
Finally, by resetting and fixing your teeth and jaw into the correct position, you’ll be able to receive more successful cosmetic and restorative dental treatments, which can greatly improve your dental health and appearance as well.
Orthodontics may be a specialized area within dentistry, but it goes hand in hand with all other areas as well, ensuring that your dental health is at its best.
Smile Reston Heights: Reliable Professional Orthodontist Services in Reston, VA
At Smile Reston Heights, we are devoted to making sure our patients are able to receive the full extent of dental care they need. We provide general and cosmetic dentistry services, as well as excellent professional orthodontist services, for all patients in Reston and throughout Northern Virginia. Our staff ensures patients can receive these services through our affordable payment plans and flexible scheduling, all to ensure that we are fully available for you and your family. Contact us for more information about our orthodontic services and schedule an appointment with us today.