There are a number of specialties within the dental profession, orthodontics is one of them. An orthodontist in West Islip specializes in preventing as well as correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. Often a patient seeks orthodontic care due to health reasons but in many instances it is done so for cosmetic reasons. Irregularities in the teeth and jaw can affect the patient’s inability to chew and speak correctly; crooked teeth also lower the confidence and self esteem of the person. When teeth are severely misaligned that individual may suffer from sleep apnea, snoring or other breathing problems. An orthodontist is also involved in correcting the problems associated with babies born with cleft palates or lips.
A rough estimate puts a full 50 percent of the population of the United States with teeth which are misaligned or irregular in some manner. The severity of the problems show themselves as over and under bites, open bites, cross bites and other irregularities.
There is no singular technique used by an orthodontist in West Islip to correct the problem, the technique that will be employed depends exclusively on the diagnosis made by the orthodontist. The diagnosis uses X-Rays as well as molds taken from the patient as he or she bites down on a plastic material. It is from this that the orthodontist can see the extent of the misalignment and determine the corrective procedures to employ. The orthodontist may use braces, retainers or other special devices to correct the patients bite and realign the teeth. In many severe cases of malocclusions it may be necessary to dislocate or even break the patients jaw and then wire it shut so that it heals aligned.
Both children and adults can seek orthodontic services and there can be many reasons for doing so. Heredity plays a big part in dental problems; frequently one can see families that all suffer similar traits. Misaligned teeth and problems with the jaws can be the result of the bone structure that forms the jaw, baby teeth which fall out too quickly or simply overcrowding. Other reasons include severe tooth decay as well as injuries and accidents which have affected the mouth and teeth.
An orthodontist is West Islip can often prevent teeth irregularities by conducting routine examinations while the child still has his or her first teeth and the second set of teeth have yet to erupt. It is especially important for children from families with a history of crooked teeth; early diagnosis of pending problems will allow the orthodontist to take full advantage of the fact that the jaw bones are still growing, making it easier to make corrections.
