As is common with many children and teenagers, adult teeth may grow in incorrectly. At Augusta Pediatric Dentistry, orthodontics means more than just braces. Our staff can help you find the best fit for your child. We will also evaluate growth and development of your child’s teeth through every stage of the process.
Remember, since each case is unique different treatments may be more successful than others.
Here are a few options Dr. Miller offers for you and your child’s dental health.
Standard Braces
The most common form of orthodontic treatment is braces. Due to recent advances, braces are now smaller and sleeker than ever, meaning less irritation for your child or teenager. These can be used to correct misaligned, crooked, or crowded teeth, as well as correct eating and speaking problems. They can also aid in correcting jaw problems, overbite, or underbite. Talk to Dr. Miller about whether or not braces are right for you!
Space Maintainers
If a baby tooth is lost abruptly or is extracted, it may be necessary to use a space maintainer to allow the adult tooth to come in properly. A space maintainer is a device made from acrylic or metal which keeps other teeth from crowding in where the baby tooth once was.
Space maintainers are custom-fitted to your child’s mouth so their tooth can come in properly. If maintainers are not put in, surrounding teeth may move in to fill the gap or the adult tooth may not come in correctly.
Talk to Dr. Miller about whether or not a space maintainer is right for you!
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are a great alternative to traditional braces. Clear aligners are custom fitted to your child’s mouth and can be updated throughout the correction process. They act similarly to retainers, but slowly move the teeth to their proper positions.
Clear aligners can also be removed while eating and brushing teeth, so your child can keep their normal routine without being disrupted.
Talk to Dr. Miller about clear aligners today!
Palatal Expanders and Other Appliances
Sometimes the main problem is how much space there is in the mouth. Teeth need enough room so they can grow in properly. Palatal expanders (and similar appliances) are devices put in your child’s upper or lower jaw to help make more room for adult teeth. This not only helps align your child’s teeth with surrounding teeth, it helps your upper and lower teeth fit together more naturally.
Talk to Dr. Miller about palatal expanders today!