Benefits of Treatment

Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crowded teeth are harder to clean and maintain resulting in tooth decay and gum disease, leading to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints.

Orthodontic treatment from Dr. Powell can be less costly than the additional care required for treating dental problems arising as a result of orthodontic problems. A beautiful smile and improved self-esteem are the most rewarding benefits of orthodontics.

Early Orthodontic Treatment

The enthusiasm felt by Dr. Powell and staff about early orthodontic treatment is evident in any discussion, and its benefits can not be matched! The general dental community, parents, and our patients clearly recognize the valuable benefits obtained by early treatment. Early treatment has proven to raise the child's self-esteem. When treatment is initiated at an early age, Dr. Powell can guide the growth of the jaws. Each child's growth potential is maximized so that all of the permanent teeth have room to come in naturally. In almost all cases, future problems (such as extractions) are avoided. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the dental arches, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, arrest thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment will simplify or sometimes eliminate later treatment.

Adolescent Treatment

Many children do not need early treatment and are best treated with one phase of orthodontics usually between the ages of 11-13. Dr. Powell's philosophy is to treat each child as if they are one of his own and he will recommend the best treatment for each patient.

Adult Treatment

Adult orthodontic patients discover that dramatic improvements in appearance and dental health are quickly obtained due to the advancements in tooth movement. Dr. Powell finishes most adult cases in 12-22 months with excellent stability and esthetics. To serve the needs of our adult patients, we offer clear ceramic, gold, and stainless steel braces in addition to Invisalign® treatment.

Why do adults want treatment? Our adult patients represent a wide range of issues. Some patients had braces as a child and did not wear their retainers. We educate our patients that retainers are a lifetime commitment of night-time wear only, as teeth can and will move for a variety of reasons. Many of our parents get excited to have treatment themselves after seeing the incredible improvement in their children's appearance and dental well-being. Some patients come to us after their children have grown, when they have decided it is "their time". Financial stability may be an influence and many employers now offer orthodontic benefits. Often adults seek tooth movement to alleviate TMJ symptoms. We also see patients who need to close space from missing teeth in order to restore (crown, bridges, etc.) remaining teeth properly. Others merely want to straighten front teeth for esthetic reasons. As you can see, each case is unique and requires customized individual attention.