A Bit About Traditional Metal Braces
Some of our patients come to us with misaligned (crooked) teeth they want to straighten because they want a prettier smile—after all, who doesn’t want a dazzling smile? Others seek braces to help with their bite, ease discomfort, or reduce pain while chewing, speaking, and laughing. However, not everyone is a great candidate for metal braces; some just refuse to put them on their teeth for cosmetic reasons.
Not all people with crooked teeth and a misaligned bite need metal braces. Some of Dr. Crosby’s patients may require teeth straightening following a neuromuscular orthodontic consultation to relieve symptoms of TMJ or sleep apnea. We will look more in-depth at neuromuscular orthodontics later on this page.
Dr. Crosby will explain the process if traditional metal braces are the best choice for your needs. Metal braces require a time commitment, and you must come to the office for regular adjustments. If you can deal with the wires and brackets, you’ll be a great candidate for metal braces, and in a few months (or a year), you’ll have the beautifully straight smile you’ve always wanted.
The Process for Metal Braces
Even if you previously had metal braces, you might need them again as an adult. Though you might associate braces with discomfort and an unattractive smile, modern technology makes wearing metal braces easier and more comfortable than ever. There are even clear aligners that are hardly noticeable at all.
Anchorage dentist, Dr. Crosby, will employ cutting-edge dental technology to scan your teeth and design a precise movement plan to meet your unique smile aspirations. Next, he will place the braces on your teeth by bonding brackets using an adhesive. Fortunately, the metal brackets are much smaller than they were in the past, and there are even new ceramic brackets that are much more attractive than the metal brackets of yesteryear.
Bands will be placed between your molars to make your smile even, and we will also place bands on top of your brackets to keep the wires in place. Our dental team will then place a flexible wire to guide your teeth and provide constant pressure for proper movement.
You’ll come to the office for periodic adjustments, and there may be some discomfort with these adjustments—pain is only temporary, however.
More About Neuromuscular Orthodontics
Neuromuscular orthodontics in Anchorage is a highly specialized area focusing on how the muscles, jaw joints, and teeth work together. Proper alignment of the teeth is vital so they can function adequately with the joints of the jaw and muscles of the face, head, and neck.
Advanced neuromuscular dentistry technology provides a clear picture of how the muscles, joints, and teeth function; neuromuscular orthodontics in Anchorage will correct misalignment issues and allow the teeth, joints, and muscles to work together as they should.
Neuromuscular orthodontics realigns your bite to ease the painful symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD), and neuromuscular orthodontics puts your jaw in its optimal position.
Anchorage neuromuscular dentist Dr. Richard Crosby will use the Myotronics K7 Evaluation System to monitor the movements of your jaw. Sensors placed on your jaw track its real-time movements; the Myotronics system also picks up any popping or clicking in the area of your jaw as you move your mouth and face. This innovative, pain-free technology gives Dr. Crosby the information he needs to create your treatment plan.
You may be a candidate for traditional braces, Invisalign® clear retainers, or even a full mouth reconstruction. Or, you may need an oral appliance to realign your teeth gradually. Every patient has a unique treatment plan; no two treatment plans are ever exactly alike.
A Final Thought
Traditional braces are adjusted as the patient grows and your teeth shift. Neuromuscular orthodontics, on the other hand, allows Dr. Crosby to see which direction your movement is heading and design the treatment plan based on the technology’s information.
Please contact Dr. Richard Crosby, by calling (907) 277-1098 or filling out our online contact form. One of our team members will call to answer questions or schedule an appointment for you or a loved one who may need braces or neuromuscular orthodontics.
