About Orthodontic Treatments

Learn More About Our Orthodontic Treatments

Orthodontics is an area of dentistry concerned with improving the appearance of your smile. For most people, improving their smile is the reason they seek out orthodontic treatment. Treatment can vary in duration and typically involves removable or permanent devices made from metal, ceramic, or plastic.

Contact Dieguez Smiles Orthodontics to find out more about the types of orthodontic treatments available!

How Orthodontics Helps Your Teeth

Orthodontics is a form of dentistry that strives to correct irregularities of the teeth and jaw, usually in how they align and fit together. Our team will go over the best type of orthodontic treatment for your specific needs. 

Orthodontics can correct a number of irregularities, such as:

• Misaligned teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Gapped and spaced teeth

Orthodontics can also correct problems with bite alignment, including overbite, underbite, open bite, and crossbite. 

Properly aligned teeth are at lower risk for dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease, so orthodontic treatment is also beneficial to your oral health. Orthodontics can also make it easier to chew, eat, and speak properly. Treatment is now faster and more comfortable than in the past, so now is a great time to straighten your smile! 

Types of Orthodontics Devices

At Dieguez Smiles Orthodontics, we use a number of different orthodontic appliances to give you the smile you want. Below you'll find the most common types of orthodontic devices used in our office.

Elastics (Rubber Bands)

Elastics or rubber bands help to correct bites and improve the fit of your upper and lower teeth. Elastics should be worn as prescribed by your orthodontist.

Forsus™

The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device is a headgear alternative that promotes growth and helps to improve the fit of the teeth and correct overbites. The Forsus device may prevent the need for jaw surgery.

Headgear

Orthodontic headgear eliminates overbites and underbites by gently pulling on your teeth to restrict further forward growth of your upper teeth and jaw.

Herbst® Appliance

The Herbst appliance helps to reduce overbite by encouraging the lower jaw to move forward and the upper molars to move back. This device is mostly used by younger children and is a fixed appliance worn for 12 to 15 months.

Palatal Expander

Palatal expanders help to widen your upper jaw. You should follow instructions provided by your orthodontist when using a palatal expander.

Retainers

After your straightening treatment, you will receive a retainer to help your teeth remain in their new, correct positions. Retainers may be removable or fixed and should be worn according to directions to avoid shifting teeth.

Separators

Separators or spacers are tiny round rubber bands that are placed between your teeth to push them apart. Separators are typically used in preparation for orthodontic bands. Be sure to be careful when flossing, using toothpicks, or eating sticky foods so you don't disrupt your spacers!

More on Palatal Expanders

Palatal expanders are used to widen the upper jaw when it is too narrow and makes treatment difficult to perform. This orthodontic appliance is used to widen the upper jaw to help the upper and lower teeth fit together better.

We will analyze your teeth and bite to determine the appropriate services for your unique needs. Many patients require bite adjustments in order to help their top teeth and bottom teeth fit together in a functional and aesthetically pleasing way.

If your jaw is too narrow, our orthodontist may recommend a palatal expander to widen your jaw and allow space for your teeth to align properly. The device works by gradually stretching the soft cartilage of the palate, making room for crowded permanent teeth without having to perform an extraction.

Based on your needs and preferences, your expander may be removable or fixed. We will help you learn more about the options at your next appointment. Contact us today at one of our locations in Birmingham or Fairfield to learn more about palatal expanders or to schedule your appointment at Dieguez Smiles Orthodontics!