The best time for orthodontic treatment with your Brentwood dentist could correlate with growth spurts

Growth spurts and braces are two very different things, though they are related by the fact that we often see each in the life of the average teenager. Could there be more to this correlation than meets the eye?

Dr. Alkhoury is an experienced family dentist who provides outstanding orthodontic care to patients of all ages. Today, many adults can be seen straightening their smiles with state-of-the-art methods such as Invisalign. When necessary, adult misalignment can be corrected using conventional bracket-and-wire braces, though this may not be the adult patient’s first choice in treatment. At Brentwood Family Dental, we design care around the patient’s needs and wishes. Orthodontic care must also take into consideration the capabilities of the treatment option, regardless of the age of the patient.

Some younger patients are able to achieve their smile goals using an aligner system like Invisalign. There are also cases in which conventional brackets and wires are the most suitable way to achieve the desired outcome. One factor that makes adolescence the best time for orthodontic treatment is pliability. In our Brentwood dental office, we encourage parents to have their children evaluated for orthodontic issues before adolescence or at the beginning of this time in life.

Orthodontic treatment is customized to the needs of the individual, and may begin before the average age. Most often, braces are effective treatment around the age of 11-13, when baby teeth have been replaced with permanent teeth and the jaw has matured.

During this time in life, however, the body is also prepared for general growth spurts. As such, joints and ligaments may have a weaker hold on quickly-growing bones. The benefit of braces at this time is that teeth may be more easily released by the periodontal ligament and lead into their proper position.

How braces work

Orthodontic treatment consists of brackets and archwires that are a constant presence on teeth. The archwires are run through brackets on individual teeth, and are tightened to exert gentle force on a given area, or even a given tooth. This exertion on teeth pulls against the periodontal ligament, eventually changing the overall structure of teeth within the jawbone. Invisalign is an innovative system that accomplishes the same goals using aligner trays in place of brackets and wires. Though effective in many cases, Invisalign may not be the ideal choice for every situation.

With precise adjustments, your dentist is able to improve a bad bite, correct spacing issues, eliminate overcrowding, and give you a straight, healthy smile. If you or your child has misalignment, we can help. Call Brentwood Family Dental for a private consultation.