Orthodontics / Orthopedics
Welcome to our practice! At our office the focus is to provide patients with a beautiful smile, straight teeth and healthy jaw joints. We offer orthodontic services with particular interest in functional appliances for children, a wide variety of treatment options for teens and adults, as well as a thorough assessment of the jaw joint. This interactive website is designed to provide you with detailed information on all the services our office has to offer. Together we will be able to provide you with a detailed treatment plan to address all of your orthodontic needs.
Early interceptive orthodontic treatment
usually starts before the eruption of the permanent teeth or when the child has
very few permanent teeth present. Our goal is to guide
the growth of the upper and/or lower jaw to make adequate space for the eruption
of all the permanent teeth. We feel that children should be evaluated by the age
of four to see if there is a bone problem (orthopedic) or a tooth problem
(orthodontic).
As a note pacifiers are not recommended, breast-feeding is the best option.
Facial growth from childhood
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Narrow Smile
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Broad Smile
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If the patient has a problem such as the upper jaw being too narrow, or an underdeveloped lower jaw, this will require a special appliance called a functional jaw orthopedic appliance to correct the problem. Minor tooth crowding can also be corrected early if it appears as though it may compromise the eruption of other permanent teeth.
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Underdeveloped
Lower Jaw |
Normal Jaw
7 Months Later |
It is always less expensive to correct a problem when the patient is younger rather than wait for the problem to become more serious in the future.
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Cross Bite
Pre-Treatment |
Cross Bite
Corrected
3 Years Later |
Functional habits include thrum sucking, mouth breathing or a tongue thrust habit which can contribute to the unfavorable growth of the jaws. Oral habits can commonly cause the upper front teeth to stick out and can contribute to speech problems. The best way to intercept a habit is to first make certain that the child has a proper size airway and can breath through the nose. In cases where there are serious allergies, swollen adenoids or tonsils, a referral to an Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist must be done.
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Effects of
Finger Habit
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Habit
Corrected
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After airway considerations are addressed an upper fixed habit- breaking appliance could be made to stop the oral habit. Most parents prefer the fixed appliances, which cannot be removed by the child. A tiny patient friendly crib at the front of the appliance helps to remind the patient not to place their tongue, finger of thumb in this area of the mouth. Active treatment usually takes 4 to 5 months. Then if an arch development appliance was used, the crib could be removed, and the child wears the appliance as a retainer for another 6 months to prevent a relapse.
Orthodontics is usually our Second Phase of treatment, following the use of functional appliances. The braces would now be placed to move the teeth into alignment to support the development of the bone achieved in the first phase of treatment. The second phase of treatment is initiated when most of the permanent teeth have erupted.
Braces are the small, square metal attachments (called brackets) that are bonded with special orthodontic adhesive to the teeth. There is a small slot in the in the middle of the bracket into which the orthodontic wire fits. In order to hold the wire in place, small tiny elastics are wrapped around the outside of the braces. It is the combination of the braces, the wire and the elastic that help the tooth move into is proper position.
To help make the wearing of braces more fun, patients have a choice of at least 40 different colored elastics.
The model below has red and green elastics in keeping with the Christmas spirit.
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This phase of treatment usually last between 12-24 months depending of the amount of tooth movement necessary to align the teeth and to establish a proper bite. It is important to remember that treatment time is estimated. Dr. Prussin has specific treatment goals in mind and will usually continue treatment until these goals have been achieved. Patient cooperation is the best way to keep on time with your treatment. Be sure to take care of your braces and to wear your rubber bands as instructed and we will both be able to achieve our desired result.
After phase II is completed it is necessary to wear retainers to hold the final
result. The great part about our retainers is that they are virtually invisible
which helps guarantee patient acceptance and ensures they will be worn at the
appropriate times.
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Retainer with Clear Labial Bow
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Orthodontics involves the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of
structural problems involving the jaws and malocclusion commonly known as bad
bites.” Orthodontic problems can affect your dental and general health as well
as your personal appearance.
Every patient wants to have an attractive smile. When you smile with confidence, you look your best and feel good about yourself. Straight teeth and a broad smile are very important to a person’s positive self- image. Everyone wants straight white teeth. We always recommend that patient’s get their teeth whitened after they are straightened with braces. As your teeth, jaws and lips become properly aligned through orthodontic therapy, your self-image can improve. This is just one of the many benefits.
If the teeth are out of position, they are more difficult to clean, increasing the risk of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. If chewing is difficult, people may not eat the foods needed for good nutrition. If your bite is poor, extra strain may be placed on the chewing muscles, possibly causing pain and problems with your jaw joint. Some of the symptoms of jaw joint problems include headaches, neck aches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, fainting, pain behind the eyes and difficulty swallowing.
Orthodontic treatment can be beneficial at any age and approximately 25% of today's orthodontic patients are adults. Teeth can be moved at any age and therefore more adults are proceeding with orthodontic treatment today in an effort to achieve straight teeth, a beautiful smile and healthy jaw joints. Many adults today prefer the clear or gold braces, which are more esthetically pleasing than the standard metal braces.
No two smiles are alike, and therefore no two orthodontic treatment programs are either. Typically, active treatment times range from one to two years and vary with the degree of tooth movement and the severity of the problem
You are never too old to improve your smile. We also have options for invisible braces with clear plastic trays that are worn in cases with minor crowding. If you have crooked teeth or you don’t like your smile, come in for a consultation appointment to see what treatment options are possible.
The following Smiles are examples of before and after treatment. There is no reason why you cannot achieve these results for yourself. We specialize in beautiful broad smiles, straight teeth and healthy jaw joints.
Here are some examples of outstanding profiles. These appliances are designed to reposition the lower jaw forward to it's more normal position.
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Profile Before
Treatment
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Profile 7
Months Later
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Profile Before
Treatment
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Profile 9
Months Later
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Profile Before
Treatment
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Profile 9
Months Later
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When the upper jaw is deficient, functional appliances can also be utilized to move the upper teeth and the upper jaw forward.
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Profile Before
Treatment
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Profile 7
Months Later
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The following smiles are examples of Before and After treatment.
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Narrow Upper
Jaw
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Wide Upper Jaw
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Narrow Smile
Pre-Treatment |
Broad Smile
Post Treatment |
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Narrow Upper
Jaw
Pre-Treatment |
Wide Upper Jaw
3 Years Later |
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Narrow Smile
Pre-Treatment |
Broad Smile
3 Years Later |