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Orthodontics Fusion Dental & Braces

For most people, achieving a healthy, beautiful smile is the reason for receiving orthodontic care. If you’re self-conscious about your smile, correcting your concerns with braces will greatly improve the way you look and feel. When your treatment is complete, you will have the smile you’ve always dreamed of and the confidence to show it off!

We also want you to feel comfortable and confident throughout your entire orthodontic experience, and our practice is dedicated to ensuring you receive the quality care you deserve. Orthodontic care is one of the dental services our Hewitt dental office in Waco provides to the public.

 

How Orthodontic Treatment Works

Orthodontic appliances are made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. They may be removable, or they may be brackets bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to the proper position.

Gone are the days when a metal band with a bracket was placed around each tooth. You can now choose clear or metal brackets and, in some cases, the color of your appliance. Wires are far less noticeable, and the latest materials are designed to move teeth faster with more comfort. Today, any age is a great age to wear braces!

Duration of Treatment

Treatment time varies and can last between one and three years, depending on several factors, including age, treatment method, and how minor or severe your case is. A big factor in a successful treatment is you! The more involved and diligent you are, the more efficient your treatment will be. For children, receiving interceptive or early treatment can also help provide a quicker treatment time.

Before beginning your orthodontic care, your doctor will discuss your options and estimate how long your full treatment may take. Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment and learn more about orthodontics and the treatments we provide.

Orthodontics For All Ages

Orthodontics for Children

While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting an orthodontist around age seven.

By this age, most children have a mix of baby Early Orthodontic Treatment and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.

Early treatment allows your orthodontist to:

  • Correct and guide the growth of your child’s jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
  • Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
  • Create more space for crowded teeth
  • Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
  • Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems
  • For parents, it’s not always easy to know if their child may need orthodontic treatment.

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist:

  • Early or late loss of baby teeth
  • A hard time chewing or biting food
  • Mouth breathing
  • Finger or thumb sucking
  • Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
  • Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
  • Teeth that come together abnormally or do not come together at all
  • Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
  • Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment now will give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.

Orthodontics for Teens

Braces, retainers, and everything else that you want to know about orthodontics! You’ve just heard the three words that every teen dreads: “YOU NEED BRACES!”

Braces! What now?

Don’t worry! Braces aren’t nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past.

How long will I have to wear braces?

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on three key factors:

  • Early treatment — Early treatment allows orthodontists to monitor the growth of the jaw and recommend further orthodontic treatment if it becomes necessary. Not everybody receives early orthodontic treatment; in some cases, it may be recommended that a patient wait to receive treatment.
  • What needs correction — The amount of treatment needed to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently. While it may take one patient only 12 months to complete treatment, it may take another patient 24 months. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect.
  • YOU! — Your willingness to use the appliances your orthodontist gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always take care of your braces and appliances; this will help shorten your treatment!

Braces Your Way!

Our practice offers a variety of braces, types, and styles to choose from. Some common options include:

Orthodontic braces are a big part of life for many people your age. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today’s braces make it easy to look good and feel good! Please contact our practice to schedule your next orthodontic checkup.

Orthodontics for Adults

Orthodontic treatment is no longer just for teens. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists states that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21.

Many adults receive treatment because they understand the importance of maintaining their health and want to feel better about their appearance. Adults everywhere are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive orthodontic care; now you can too.

Common reasons why adults consider orthodontic treatment:

  • A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly
  • Teeth are crowded or spaced apart, possibly causing tooth decay or gum disease
  • Abnormal jaw pain, or pressure that is caused by crooked teeth
  • The desire for a healthier mouth and a more confident smile
  • Treatment options for adults

For many adults, the thought of having metal braces is enough to discourage them from receiving treatment. However, today’s orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of braces and appliances that are comfortable, aesthetic, and customized to meet your needs.

Types of braces include:

  • Clear braces
  • Oral Hygiene With Braces
  • Clear braces
  • Ceramic braces
  • Self-ligating braces
  • Lingual (behind the tooth) braces
  • Invisible braces
  • Traditional metal braces

Orthodontics for Adults vs. Teens

The difference between adult orthodontics and orthodontics for children and teens:

The main difference to remember when treating adults or children and teens is that the jawbones are still developing in younger patients. For adults, these bones have stopped growing, which may mean the possibility of orthognathic surgery to align the jawbones.

Other differences include:

  • Gum or bone loss (periodontal disease) — Adults are more likely than children to experience gum recession or even bone loss due to gingivitis or advanced periodontal disease. Patients with straighter teeth are less likely to get gum disease.
  • Worn or missing teeth — Over time, teeth can become worn down and shift into different positions that can only be corrected with orthodontic care. Missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift and tilt, creating a bad bite and increasing the possibility of gum disease.
  • Incomplete orthodontic treatment as a teen — Many adults received some orthodontic treatment as a child or teen but never completed their treatment. As an adult, they choose to complete their orthodontic treatment to achieve the healthy, beautiful smile they always wanted.

Our practice also recognizes that adults and children have different needs and require different levels of attention and care. We will work with you to ensure that you receive the most appropriate treatments and that your needs are met with our understanding and respect.

Why Should You Consider Orthodontic Treatment?

  • Straight teeth are healthy teeth — Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to keep clean with flossing and brushing and may help prevent other health problems.
  • A beautiful, straight smile builds confidence — Orthodontic treatment can help boost your self-confidence, giving you a better quality of life and the freedom to smile without holding back!
  • Mouths left untreated can get worse — Not receiving orthodontic treatment when needed can create long-term health issues costing you more in the end.

If you have questions about our office’s orthodontic treatment, please see Orthodontic FAQs.

We have four convenient locations in Bellmead, Killeen, Harker Heights, and the Hewitt office in Waco, TX. Please get in touch with your local Fusion dental office to schedule an appointment to learn more about the benefits of adult orthodontics. We understand that you have a busy schedule, and we will work with you to ensure each office visit is as convenient as possible.

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