Orthodontics

The area of Orthodontics is the way of treating teeth to keep them straight in order to keep the mouth functioning, as it should be. Several different treatments are used to straighten teeth, which helps in the patient's smile look good, as well as keeping the teeth clean and away from decay and diseases. It also helps maintain optimal health for the teeth, gingival tissues, and the surrounding muscles of the mouth. Proper alignment ensures that the pressure is balanced on all teeth when chewing, protecting the joints in the jaw and preventing TMJ disorder.

Here at Portmore Dental Office, we use systems like Invisalign to move teeth over time and straighten them. These systems are great alternatives to traditional metal braces because they use clear aligners, which give the patient more confidence in wearing them and not making it obvious that they're having their teeth straightened. The teeth are straightened when the patient wears a clear plastic aligner over their teeth. These custom-made aligners gradually move the teeth to the desired position, eventually straightening them. The aligners are worn all day and can be cleaned properly because they can be removed. The teeth can also be cleaned properly because there is no obstruction. Patients also have the added advantage of removing the aligner when they eat, so they can eat what they want and not worry about anything getting stuck in the apparatus or breaking it. However, it is recommended that the patient wear the aligners a minimum of 20 to 22 hours a day for the treatment to stay on schedule.

The patient is given a series of aligners, which they change every two weeks, and another set of aligners is given after about eight weeks. Each of the aligners is designed with a slightly different alignment so that it puts gentle pressure on the teeth and moves the teeth. There is less time spent at the dental office as well, since the patient only needs to come in every eight weeks or so to collect their new aligners and have their progress checked.