Learn About The Benefits of Functional Orthodontic Treatment
Most people think orthodontic treatment is only associated with correcting the positioning and function of your teeth to help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile. While this is true, another major issue orthodontics can help correct has to do with helping to reposition your jaw, bite, and facial structure to ensure good facial aesthetics and improve function. Functional orthodontic treatment is a slightly different approach than traditional orthodontics and at Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, we have a functional orthodontic philosophy that includes the use of appliances that are given to a patient in an attempt to help promote a more forward position of the lower jaw, thereby enhancing whatever growth may be available.
In utilizing functional orthodontic treatment and a functional appliance, we’re trying to guide the dental and skeletal structures into a better relationship, thereby allowing for less tooth movement once all of the patient’s permanent teeth have completely erupted.
Keep reading to learn about the benefits of functional orthodontic treatment and how it can help provide the foundation you need to ensure a healthy and beautiful smile with lasting results. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about functional orthodontics.
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Functional orthodontic treatment and many of the functional philosophies now used in orthodontics were adopted in Europe during the early and latter parts of the 20th century. One contributing factor that led to the adoption of those appliances in Europe is that they had socialized dentistry. The government wanted to find ways to treat patients – or the masses – more economically, so they started to use removable appliances and such in the attempt to influence the patients’ growth at an earlier stage so that, when they had all their permanent teeth, there would be fewer problems that required corrections.
One of the partners of Dr. Colarusso, our founder in this practice, was Carl Gugino, who lectured in Europe during the 60s and brought some of these European philosophies back and incorporated them into our practice, making us one of the earlier adopters of functional orthodontic treatment. Today, using many different types of functional appliances, we try to time the use of those appliances to coincide with the patient’s growth spurts, a critical component to decisions about when to use them.
Functional orthodontic treatment can make treatment less invasive and require less surgical intervention. For example, in a situation where a patient may have crowded teeth, rather than extracting teeth to make room and trying to reposition the remaining teeth, functional orthodontics can be used to actually expand the jaw to make room for all of the teeth. This helps actually address the root of the problem and provides a much better solution to make room for your natural teeth.
Functional orthodontic treatment can also help promote healthy airway development and prevent breathing problems. Functional orthodontic treatment can also help prevent more serious issues such as TMJ and TMD which can cause serious chronic pain in the jaw.
Both children and adults can benefit from functional orthodontic treatment. To learn if you or someone you love is an ideal candidate for orthodontic treatment, schedule a free consultation with our dedicated orthodontists today. We are happy to answer any questions you may have to help you make an informed decision about your oral health and wellness.
Orthodontists Associates of Western New York is proud to offer functional orthodontic treatment throughout Buffalo, Lancaster, Olean, Hamburg, Orchard Park, and Dunkirk, East Aurora, and Niagara Falls New York. If you are considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or a loved one, please contact one of our 7 convenient orthodontic offices to arrange a free consultation.
At Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, our reputation as a leader in orthodontic care is based on one thing… Making a Healthy and Beautiful Smile
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Our family is new to orthodontics. My son just turned 10, and it’s time for him to get braces. I’m trying to look around for good advice since we are inexperienced. I will come back often to keep learning. Thank you for the information!