You might have heard a lot about orthodontics. But have you heard why it improves the patient’s life quality? And also, how could preventive orthodontics be financially wise? Let’s start by answering the first question.
Orthodontic treatment is crucial for a healthy smile, as well as overall oral health. Malocclusion, commonly referred to as “bad bite,” can result in accelerated teeth wearing, jaw pain, difficulty in biting and chewing food, and might also produce speech problems.
Malocclusion problems require a more strenuous intervention as the patient ages and also, and untreated orthodontic issues might cause other, more complex problems if left unsolved. For instance, teeth-wearing might produce cracks that might evolve into broken teeth and further teeth loss.
Also, untreated malocclusion can contribute to poor oral health, as misaligned teeth can be more challenging to clean effectively, leading to an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease. In both cases, corrective dental treatment poses a financial burden for patients that could have been avoided with preventive orthodontic care.
One thing leads to another, and you might haven’t noticed, but we’ve answered the two questions. But then, what comes next? You now know the importance of orthodontics. The next step is choosing the best specialist that can help you with malocclusion.
Keep reading this educating article that contains important pieces of advice for choosing the best orthodontics professional and, most importantly, one that provides personal and human-centered care.
How to Find the Best Orthodontist Near Me?
When it comes to orthodontic treatment, finding the best orthodontist near you can be quite overwhelming. However, our suggestion is to look for an orthodontist with extensive experience in the specialty.
Such specialists must have endured an exhaustive training process but, most importantly, place excellence at the core of their practice and be continuously and permanently up-to-date with field innovations. Here we include some prompts that could help you choose the best professional:
- Firstly, we recommend our readers check out the specialist education, including earning a doctorate from a School of Dentistry at a recognized University and additional specialty training like being certified by the American Board of Orthodontics – ABO.
- Secondly, consider the office environment and their approach to personalized treatment plans, flexible payment options, and virtual, easy-to-schedule consultations.
- Thirdly, evaluate the specialist’s vocation to serve, like being a Cleft lip and Palate doctor helping children at a hospital.
- Finally, read patient reviews, such as those on Google or from friends and family, to gain insight into their 5-star-rated orthodontic care, including any experiences with children or jaw surgery.
What Is the American Board of Orthodontics Certification?
The American Board of Orthodontics Certification is an enduring continuous education and knowledge update process that grants an endorsement for orthodontists that indicates their level of expertise and professionalism.
The ABO Certification is a voluntary process, but it is a crucial part of an orthodontist’s career. To achieve the certification, an orthodontist must undergo a rigorous process of testing and evaluation. The process involves a written examination, a clinical examination, and a review of their patient cases.
Patients benefit from the knowledge that their orthodontist adheres to the highest professional standards and is committed to continuous learning and development. The certification further strengthens the orthodontist’s commitment to excellence and ethical patient care.
An ABO-certified professional must pass these rigorous requirements every ten years. Fully committed orthodontic professionals who voluntarily adhere to the process renew their promise to excellence continuously during their practice.
What Are Some Other Tips for Choosing the Best Orthodontist?
Choosing the right orthodontist is an important decision because orthodontic treatment can have a significant impact on your oral health and overall well-being. So, when deciding to start orthodontic treatment, evaluate these additional aspects:
Early Orthodontic Treatment
Early orthodontic treatment is essential for children to prevent more severe dental problems in the future. It involves detecting and correcting dental misalignments during the early developing stages. Furthermore, the American Dental Association – ADA recommends parents take their children for their first orthodontic evaluation at age seven.
Early orthodontic treatment can prevent the need for more extensive orthodontic treatment later in life, using adequate functional devices like a palatal expander or applying special techniques to guide teeth eruption. Also, devoted orthodontists work on more concentrated areas within their specialty, like helping kids with Cleft lip and Palate.
Adult Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatments aren’t just for kids and teens. Yet, malocclusion is more easily treatable as the craniofacial structure develops between ages 7 to 16; this doesn’t mean you can’t give yourself a chance to have a healthier and more beautiful smile in adulthood.
Are you in your thirties, maybe forties, or even fifties? Your age doesn’t define whether you can or can’t start orthodontic treatment but your oral health. So before starting, Dr. Sloss will evaluate or refer you for evaluation of the status of your dental and periodontal health and see if there are no decay, caries, or gum disease that could compromise the treatment’s outcome.
Furthermore, today you can enjoy the beauty of invisible treatments that are discrete and aesthetic with Invisalign or Clarity Braces, which are the preferred option for adults who seek to pass unnoticed while getting their teeth straight.
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery, is a surgical procedure that corrects various skeletal and dental irregularities in the face and jaw. It is often performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment to achieve the best possible results. This procedure is typically recommended for patients with severe jaw alignment problems that cannot be resolved with braces or other orthodontic treatments alone.
Dental Emergencies
Centennial Dental emergencies can happen at any time and without warning, causing pain and discomfort. Fortunately, Dr. Sloss is there to assist you promptly. Indeed, immediate attention to loose brackets and derailed or broken wires is essential to keep your treatment on track and avoid delays.
Types of Orthodontic Treatment
The treatment you receive will depend on your age, needs, and the severity of your orthodontic issues. For teens and adults, traditional metal braces are a popular choice that can effectively correct dental misalignments and bite issues.
Ceramic braces are a great alternative for teens and adults who want a more discreet option that blends in with their natural teeth. Also, Centennial Invisalign clear aligners are another favorable option for those seeking a virtually invisible treatment.
In more severe cases, jaw surgery may be necessary to correct bite issues. With so many options available, consulting with an experienced orthodontist is crucial in determining the best treatment plan. Take a couple more minutes to read about the most popular orthodontic solutions Dr. Sloss can offer you.
Invisalign Clear Aligners
We were talking about popularity and discreteness, and Invisalign is a preferred option that is also almost invisible. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible and can be removed while eating and brushing your teeth.
Moreover, Invisalign treatment involves creating a personalized treatment plan with technological innovations that cater to the individual’s needs. Invisalign treatment options provide patients with orthodontic care solutions, including:
Invisalign Express offers solutions for mild malocclusion in as little as 6 months, previous evaluation
Invisalign First is designed for kids having jaw expansion in mind.
Invisalign Teen includes customized clear aligners with compliance indicators and mandibular advancement features and attachments to help get better results.
Dr. Sloss is a Platinum Invisalign provider. This means Dr. Sloss is a highly experienced doctor who has used the latest Invisalign technology in over 300 patients. Moreover, to ensure you have the best of the best, we’ve compiled a short list of the system benefits you get from Invisalign:
Comfort
Invisalign is comfortable. The aligners are made from clear thermoplastic components named SmartTrack that fit snugly over the teeth, providing a comfortable fit that won’t irritate the gums or cheeks.
Discreteness
Invisalign is highly discreet, as the clear plastic aligners are practically invisible. This means that people can get orthodontic treatment without feeling self-conscious about their appearance.
Hygienic
Invisalign aligners are removable, allowing patients to brush and floss their teeth as they normally would. This helps prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath, ensuring that patients have a healthy and beautiful smile.
Professional Follow-Up
Invisalign treatment involves Dr. Sloss’s permanent professional follow-up. Dr. Sloss monitors the progress of the treatment, making adjustments as needed to ensure that patients get the best possible results.
Clarity Clear Ceramic Braces
Clarity Clear ceramic braces are one of the best orthodontic treatment options for patients seeking a discrete option. Clarity Clear Braces are made of a translucent ceramic material that makes them barely noticeable.
Clarity Braces Benefits
Clarity Braces is a popular orthodontic treatment for patients seeking a discreet orthodontic option that is also permanent; this means not detachable. Clarity braces are exceptional for patients who can’t deal with detachable appliances as they might forget to comply with their use.
Clarity braces come with a personalized treatment plan that is tailored to the needs of the patients, ensuring excellent results in a shorter time frame. Let’s dig a little deeper into Clarity benefits for patients:
Discreteness
Clarity Braces match your teeth color, blending seamlessly with them, making it an excellent choice for people who do not want to have metal braces and still want a fixed orthodontic solution for their malocclusion case.
Professional Follow-Up
Dr. Sloss offers a comprehensive professional follow-up to ensure patients’ proper teeth alignment. Needless to say, this gives them the peace of mind they need to get the attention they require at all times.
The Best Orthodontist Is a Prepared and Human-Centered Professional
We’ve revised several aspects of what being the best orthodontic professional entails. Factually, there are several aspects to consider. Still, we can also summarize them into two more distinguishable elements, eagerness for continuous formation and training and demonstrating charitable human-centered values.
Dr. Sloss is an ABO-certified professional and Cleft Lip and Palate doctor helping kids, which demonstrates her competency and human-centered values in assisting patients. Book a consultation online and start a joyful path in which you will observe the evolution of your teeth getting aesthetically aligned and, more importantly, creating a healthy functional bite to preserve your teeth longer.