Orthodontics

Removable or fixed orthodontic appliances 

Removable orthodontic appliances

Removable orthodontic appliances are used for moderate to severe dental misalignment. Depending on the severity, the ideal age for treatment is 7-10 years. Reasons for removable orthodontic appliances may include the following:

  • Dental crowding caused by a too-narrow upper and/or lower jaw
  • Misalignment due to the lower jaw being too far behind the upper jaw (overbite) or too far forward (underbite)
  • An upper jaw narrower than the lower jaw

Removable braces are worn to treat misalignment of the teeth and/or jaw early, for a positive impact on jaw growth.

Fixed orthodontic appliances

These are likewise used for moderate to severe misalignment of teeth.
If there is sufficient space in the jaw, treatment with a fixed (multi-bracketed) appliance is all that is needed. Orthodontic treatment alone corrects misaligned teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw.

In many cases, combining removable and fixed orthodontic appliances is necessary and the sensible path to take.

Invisalign

Invisalign aligners are transparent plastic splints that enable light to moderate tooth misalignment corrections. Aligner therapy is particularly popular with patients, because the splints are transparent and therefore almost inconspicuous. In addition, thanks to the latest technology, patients have the opportunity to see the end result in advance of treatment.