Common Treatments
Please note: The following images are from Dean Orthodontics patients unless otherwise noted.
This is a great example of Dr. Dean helping a patient with issues related tp crowding, overjet and deep bite.
Crowding of the teeth
This 11 year old patient suffered from crowding of the teeth, which has many causes ranging from genetics to the growth of the teeth early in life. Tooth crowding occurs when there is a misalignment in the row of teeth, which causes the teeth to overlap and appear “crowded.” With orthodontic treatment, we are able to straighten the teeth out and create a new, straight smile.
Open bite: front teeth don’t touch
This 13 year old patient had a malocclusion called an open bite, which causes the teeth to not align properly when the jaw is closed. This type of issue often stems from thumb sucking as a child, and can be uncomfortable as the patient gets older. For treatment of this issue, the patient had braces along with a special appliance - called a crib - to retrain the tongue. After approximately 28 months, the patient’s bite is corrected, and the teeth touch as they should.
Spacing of teeth
Spacing between teeth, called diastema, is one of the most common reasons patients seek braces, and can many times be fixed with braces. The treatment on this patient took 24 months, during which the gap between his teeth closed and created a more aesthetically pleasing smile. After braces, special glued-in retainers were used in order to maintain the closure.
Overjet: protruding front teeth
This patient suffered from overjet, which is where the top front teeth protrude outward. Also called “buckteeth,” this malocclusion is similar to an overbite, with the difference being that when a patient has an overjet, the front teeth protrude at an angle. In a case with an overbite, the teeth remain straight. This patient is an adult, age 25, and required both braces and surgery to correct the issue. This case, and many like it, can be fixed without the need for surgery, if the patient seeks help earlier.
NOTE: All of the images below are provided by Sesame Communications.
Deep overbite: lower front teeth bite into palate
Overbites, like the one pictured, occur when the top teeth stick too far out over the bottom teeth. A severe overbite like this case required braces and jaw surgery to correct it, with a total treatment time of around two years. Issues like this can often be corrected without surgery, however, early intervention is required to correct the bite.
Missing lateral incisors
This patient’s lateral incisors were missing since birth, which occasionally happens and is caused by genetics. When the lateral incisors are missing, there are generally three courses of action. The first option is to open the teeth and replace the missing ones with prosthetics. Second, the extra space can be closed by moving the teeth forward. A combination of those of these techniques can also be used. In this case, the patient had braces for 20 months to move the teeth into the correct position, and then the missing spaces were replaced with bonded “Maryland” bridges.
Underbite: lower front teeth in front of upper teeth
Underbites like this, also called class III malocclusions, can often cause discomfort and wear of the teeth. The main cause of this type of issue is excessive mandible growth, and it can be treated using braces. In extreme cases, surgery may be needed in order to fix an underbite, but each patient is different. In this case, the 32 year old patient had around 30 months of treatment, and is now back to a nice, healthy smile.
Non-braces treatment
Not every alignment issue requires braces. In this case, the young patient was seen for crowding in their lower teeth. Using a procedure to reduce the width of the adjacent baby teeth, the permanent incisors aligned on their own in nine months. This is one reason why we always suggest early treatment. Had this patient waited until later in life, a more serious course of treatment may have been needed to correct the issue.
Phase One
This patient’s parents brought him in when he was 8 years old, as they were worried about the health of his erupting permanent teeth. The lower front teeth were crowded and touching the palate, and the upper front teeth were extremely displaced from their normal positions. This case required Phase-One orthodontic treatment, which is used in special cases where the patient has a mix of permanent and baby teeth. Partial braces, which only go on certain teeth to correct alignment issues, were used to fix his alignment issues. A palatal expander was also used to ensure proper upper and lower jaw alignment. Overall, the treatment lasted 12 months.