Orthodontics

Do you or your child have crooked teeth or other problems that affect tooth alignment? How your teeth fit together — or your bite — can affect your smile and everyday tasks, like chewing. Misaligned teeth can create problems that affect daily life and lead to other issues that impact oral health.

At Catlin Dental, we offer orthodontics to help correct alignment problems. Our dentists in Fort Myers, FL, can help you select the best treatment for you or your child, depending on bite issues and other factors.

What Are Orthodontics?

These dental services focus on making teeth straighter or correcting other problems that affect your bite or alignment, such as:

• Underbite
• Overbite
• Crooked teeth
• Crowded or overlapping teeth

Having misalignments can result in issues that affect oral health, such as gum disease and excessive wear and tear on your teeth. You can also have problems chewing when your teeth aren’t properly aligned. If the affected teeth are in the front of your mouth, you might feel embarrassed to show them when smiling.

When to Consider Orthodontic Care for Kids

How do you know if your child needs orthodontics? Our dentists can evaluate their bite to see if there are any issues that might require braces or other orthodontic treatments. Younger children might have signs of bite problems that may end up developing. In this case, we’ll keep an eye on these potential issues and correct them if needed.

Note that kids usually don’t start wearing braces until they’re around 9 years old. But we may recommend them sooner, depending on your child’s bite.

When to Consider Orthodontics as an Adult

These services aren’t just for children with developing teeth and jaws. If you have crooked teeth or other bite issues, you may benefit from wearing aligners or braces. Even if you don’t have trouble chewing or similar problems, you might choose orthodontics for cosmetic reasons, such as improving your smile!

What Types Are Available?

Different types of orthodontic treatments can be used to correct alignment issues. Our dentists can help you choose the right type for you or your child. Some of these options may include:

• Braces made of metal or ceramic
• Clear aligners or custom-made trays that shift teeth
• Retainers to keep teeth in position after wearing aligners or braces

The type you choose may depend on factors, such as cost, comfort, and visibility. Clear aligners don’t show as traditional metal braces do, for example.

What to Expect

The exact process for orthodontic care depends on what type of treatment you or your child gets. For braces, you may need wires and brackets placed on your teeth to shift them gradually. For aligners, you’ll be using removable trays that you switch every so often.

During orthodontic treatment, our dentists will want to see you in order to check on your progress. We can adjust braces as needed or address other issues affecting treatment.

How Long Do Orthodontic Treatments Take?

These kinds of treatments aren’t quick. In fact, it may take a year or more to get the desired results. More complex orthodontics for severe bite problems typically take longer than standard or simple treatments.

Note that braces are worn all the time throughout treatment. Aligners are usually worn for 22 hours a day or longer to help teeth shift their position. You might need to wear retainers for a few months or more after wearing braces or aligners.

How Long Results Last

With proper care, the results of orthodontics can last your entire life! This includes wearing a retainer afterwards to help your teeth maintain their new positions. But this also depends on the type you get — aligner results may not be permanent.

Visit Us for Orthodontics

Are you looking for braces or other orthodontic care for yourself or your child? At Catlin Dental, our dentists offer orthodontics in Fort Myers, FL, to correct many types of alignment issues. Our team can determine which treatment is most suitable to give you or your child properly aligned teeth — and an incredibly healthy smile!