A Little About Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that treats misaligned teeth and jaws. Patients may believe that orthodontics is just cosmetic, but dentistry is rarely simply cosmetic. The way your teeth come together greatly impacts how you eat and speak. Your bite even affects how well you can perform proper dental hygiene. If you live in Little Rock and need orthodontic care, get in touch with our team at Vondran Orthodontics. Our skilled and experienced orthodontists in Little Rock are pleased to find solutions for misaligned teeth. Our offices are conveniently found in two other locations besides Little Rock. You can also visit our offices in Russellville and Sheridan.
How to Choose an Orthodontist in Little Rock
One thing about orthodontics that’s not usually true of other forms of dentistry is that treatment can last for years. For example, patients may need to wear braces or aligners for between six months and three years before their teeth are straightened, and they’ll need to wear retainers after this. This involves regular trips to the orthodontist to make sure all is going well. Because of this, you’ll need to choose your orthodontist with care, much like the way you would choose a contractor to build or repair something in your home.
Do You Need an Orthodontist?
One of the first things to figure out is if you or your child needs an orthodontist at all. Though a dentist in general practice can treat certain orthodontic problems, an orthodontist has the extra training that can make lasting improvements in your smile.
Shop Around
As you would with a general contractor, it’s a good idea to shop around for an orthodontist. Ask friends, relatives and neighbors about their orthodontist. When you have a list of orthodontists in your area, do some research. Learn where they went to school and how long they’ve been in practice. Make sure that they’re a member of the American Association of Orthodontists. If your problem is especially complicated, learn if they are trained in treating it. It’s even better if treating your particular problem is the orthodontist’s specialty. Of course, you should also listen to recommendations from your family dentist.
Visit the Office
It’s also a good idea to visit the orthodontist’s office. You’ll be able to learn more about how the orthodontist treats patients, the cost of their treatments and how long the treatments take to work. It’s also good to simply get the feel of the office and to talk to the orthodontist face-to-face. It really does matter if the office is tidy, clean, well-lit and if the orthodontist and their team are congenial and seem eager to show you around.
Ask Lots of Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask an orthodontist questions. The orthodontist doesn’t expect you to be a specialist in the finer points of aligning teeth, so no question is too silly. Among the things to ask is if the orthodontist or their assistants will actually be in charge of the treatment. You might also ask if they have emergency hours or if the office stays open after the patient’s work or school day is over. Ask about insurance and financing and whether the treatment will be customized for you or your child. A good orthodontist wouldn’t have a one-size-fits-all policy when it comes to treatment.
Visit Our Orthodontist in Little Rock
Vonran Orthodontics is proud that our patients consider us to be the best orthodontist in Little Rock. Our dedicated professionals customize treatment plans for our patients and carefully oversee the progress of that treatment. Here are contacts for our three offices.
Little Rock
(501) 224-3421
Russellville
(479) 967-3421
Sheridan
(870) 942-2131
FAQ for Orthodontist in Little Rock
1. What’s the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist?
An orthodontist receives the training of a dentist at an accredited school, then has a two or three-year residency in orthodontics. On top of this, they need to pass national board exams.
2. What sorts of problems do orthodontists treat?
Orthodontics can treat a host of problems that involve misalignment. They include overbite, which means your upper teeth protrude over the lower teeth. Orthodontic treatment also treats underbite, which is when your lower teeth protrude beneath your upper teeth. Other types of misalignment include teeth that are crowded, crooked, overlapping or rotated. Orthodontics can also repair impacted teeth, which are teeth that haven’t fully emerged. These teeth are trapped partially or completely beneath your gums.
3. How are these problems treated?
Misaligned teeth are often treated with braces or clear aligners such as Invisalign. These treatments gently push the teeth back into alignment over time. In the case of teeth that are impacted or crowded, an orthodontist can work with an oral surgeon to expose the impacted tooth if it’s at the front of your mouth or remove it if it’s in the back. Extraction is often the treatment for wisdom teeth, which are molars that haven’t erupted because your human jaw is too short for them. With the front teeth, an orthodontist uses a method called expose and bond. The oral surgeon uncovers the tooth and adds a bracket and gold chain to it. In turn, the orthodontist attaches the chain to the main wire in the patient’s braces to gently ease the tooth into its right position. The orthodontist can also use a palatal expander if the problem teeth are in the upper jaw. This makes the jaw a little wider and gives more room for the tooth.
4. When should you bring your child to an orthodontist?
You should bring your child to an orthodontist before they’re seven years old. This is well before all of their adult teeth come in. An orthodontist can look for potential problems and treat them well before they become really troublesome and expensive to fix.
5. Should some people not have orthodontic work?
Though most people can benefit from a visit to an orthodontist now and then, there are some who shouldn’t seek orthodontic treatment. These are people who have severe tooth decay or advanced periodontitis, or gum disease that’s so severe that it destroys the structures that support their teeth. These people need to have these problems corrected before they start orthodontic treatment.
6. What are braces?
Braces are implements that help straighten your teeth when they’re misaligned. Traditional braces use metal brackets, wires, and sometimes rubber bands to do this. Some people, especially adults, find these types of braces too unattractive. The good news is that there are braces that aren’t quite so noticeable. Ceramic braces match the color of your teeth and look nearly transparent. Lingual braces are placed on the back, as opposed to the front, of the teeth. This requires great skill on the part of the orthodontist. Other braces are self-ligating, which means they work without rubber bands. This makes them a little more comfortable to wear.
7. How much do braces cost?
Braces usually cost between $3000 and $7000, with metal braces being the least expensive but the most durable
8. Do braces hurt?
To be honest, braces may hurt a bit when they’re first applied. But as your mouth adjusts, the pain subsides into a bit of achiness. Some people also find that areas of their mouth are a little sore.
9. What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a type of clear aligner. They are custom-made for your teeth and are very hard to see when you’re wearing them. They come as trays that are changed every few weeks as your teeth move into alignment.
10. What are the benefits of Invisalign?
Besides their near invisibility, patients who use Invisalign also love the fact that they can take the trays out to eat or perform oral hygiene. They no longer have to avoid the sticky and crunchy foods that a person who wears braces has to give up for a while. Their oral hygiene is also much easier as they don’t have to deal with brackets or wires. They also don’t have to worry about wires breaking and having to run to their orthodontist to have them fixed. Invisalign costs about the same as traditional braces, and the patient needs to wear them for the same amount of time.
11. What are retainers?
Even when it’s time to take off the braces or stop the clear aligners, you’ll probably need to wear a retainer. As its name says, this is an appliance that helps your teeth retain their proper alignment. You or your child might need to wear them pretty much round the clock for the first few months after your braces are removed. As with clear aligners, you only take them out to eat and perform dental hygiene. After that, you might only need to wear them at night and then every few nights for the rest of your life.
12. What happens if you don’t wear a retainer?
If you don’t wear a retainer, your teeth will most likely move out of alignment. This negates all of your hard work and your orthodontist’s hard work.
13. What is a palatal expander?
Orthodontists use palatal expanders if your teeth cross, are crowded, overlap or are impacted. It’s also used for people with an overbite or underbite. It is most often used for children, whose facial bones are still growing and pliable. Some of these appliances are fixed or removable. There’s even a type of expander called a rapid palate expander, which attaches to the back teeth and has a screw that you turn slightly every day to force the two bones in your palate apart. As this happens, new bone takes up the otherwise empty space. Some patients need surgery to expand their palate, especially if they’re adults whose facial bones are set. In this operation, an oral surgeon inserts an expander between the right and left palates. Palate expanders are usually worn for two to three months.
14. Do palatal expanders hurt?
Fortunately, they’re not as painful as you’d imagine, and any discomfort can be eased by over-the-counter painkillers.
15. What is TMJ and does an orthodontist treat it?
TMJ, or disorders of the temporomandibular joint, affect the joint that helps you open and close your mouth. Though the exact cause is unknown, TMJ is often a consequence of malocclusion. Symptoms are pain in the jaw, earaches and clicking or popping sounds when you open your mouth. Your jaw can even lock, and you may have trouble chewing or talking properly. Like overbite or underbite, TMJ can be treated with braces or Invisalign.
16. What are the benefits of orthodontic treatment?
The benefits of orthodontic treatment are many besides a beautiful smile. But even a beautiful smile can ease social and business relationships. Other benefits are improvements in how you chew your food and how you speak. Your teeth are easier to take care of, and this lowers the risk of problems with your oral health. The pain of TMJ is also eased.
17. Are there any drawbacks to orthodontic treatment?
The drawbacks to orthodontic treatment are few, but it can, admittedly, be expensive. As a patient, you’ll have to dedicate yourself to the care of both your teeth and the appliances that are helping to align them. You’ll also need to keep appointments with your orthodontist, and this obligation may have to go on for years.
18. Do the results of orthodontic treatment last?
The results of your orthodontic treatment should last as long as you wear your retainer according to the orthodontist’s instructions.
19. Do orthodontists perform oral surgery?
Yes, there are orthodontists who perform surgery, which is called orthognathic surgery. This surgery happens after the more usual type of orthodontic treatment.
20. What does orthognathic surgery entail?
This type of surgery realigns your upper and lower jaws. When your jaws are not aligned, your teeth are also misaligned. This makes chewing, speaking and biting difficult.
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