Benefits of Seeing an Orthodontist
If your child’s smile needs improvement in function or aesthetic, you may be wondering about the benefits of seeing an orthodontist. There are countless benefits of seeing an orthodontist to improve your smile, and the earlier you get started, the faster and easier the results. Keep reading to find out what an Orthodontist can do for your smile. If you still have questions, or want to get started, contact us to learn about our free virtual consultations! Now you can get the quality orthodontic care you need in the comfort of your own home.
Better Self-Esteem and Better Dental Health
Most people tend to seek dentofacial orthopedic treatment for cosmetic purposes. While that is not our primary focus, patients report that treatment helped increase self-esteem and boost confidence. When misaligned bites go untreated, they may develop into lifelong issues. Some of these are tooth decay, enamel loss, gum disease, tooth loss, TMJ, and recurrent headaches. Moreover, individuals uncomfortable with their appearances may suffer from low self-esteem. Children with dental problems often face bullying at the hands of their peers. Dentofacial orthopedics corrects dental health problems whilst bolstering patients’ self-esteem. Seeing an orthodontist for dentofacial orthopedic treatment promotes the future health of patients.
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Seeing an Orthodontist for Early Correction of Problems
In the past, the trend for orthodontic treatment was to wait until most or all of a child’s permanent teeth had come in. However, most orthodontic problems are much easier to correct sooner rather than later. This is why professionals recommend and insist upon seeing an orthodontist for early orthodontic treatment.
Certain orthodontic conditions can be treated as early as 7 or 8 years old. Although they may not be able to be totally corrected at that time, early orthodontic treatment can drastically reduce the amount of treatment that a child needs to undergo during their teen years.
With the emergence of the Coronavirus, we have adapted our practice to provide virtual consultations for existing patients of all ages. This allows our patients to meet with an orthodontist via video chat and online form submission. This way, we can formulate and make adjustments to your existing treatment plan to ensure it is customized for your specific needs. No need to stop into the office, you can get started in your pajamas and an orthodontist at our practice will send you everything you need in the mail!
Sleep Apnea Treatment
How sleep apnea is treated depends, ultimately, on which form of sleep apnea you are diagnosed with. OSA has several treatments. Some treatments are more conservative than others. It may be treated by use of a CPAP, an APAP, or a BIPAP machine. These machines force air through your airway while you are sleeping. This is known as positive airway pressure (PAP). Your doctor may prescribe the use of an oral appliance. An oral appliance is something that a patient wears in their mouth while they sleep. The two main types hold your jaws in a certain position and hold your tongue in a certain position. The objective of both is to keep your airway from becoming blocked. For severe obstructive sleep apnea, an orthodontist may recommend surgery as an option.
Central sleep apnea is often treated with a CPAP or BPAP. Another option is an ASV. An ASV is an Adaptive-servo ventilation device. It makes automatic adjustments to compensate for any abnormal breathing patterns the patient may have when they are asleep. Medications may also be prescribed to people who have CSA. Usually, medications are not prescribed unless positive airway pressure doesn’t work.
Schedule A Virtual Consultation with an Orthodontist Today!
Are you or someone you love interested in orthodontic treatment but unsure what treatment would be best for you? Contact an orthodontist at one of our five convenient WNY locations to arrange a virtual consultation with one of our experienced Buffalo orthodontists.