Common Orthodontics Treatments

MINT Orthodontics lead by Dr. Marco Navarro, know the impact a beautiful set of teeth has. After treatment, our patients with teeth problems are filled with confidence, able to smile freely without discomfort. Studies show people who are unhappy with their teeth will avoid smiling. This is incredibly unfortunate as there are so many health benefits to a smile that has no inhibitions. Smiling lowers the heart rate and reduces stress. It releases endorphins that put you and everyone around you in better moods. Smiles are the best way to look younger and be attractive.

At MINT Orthodontics lead by Dr. Marco Navarro, we attack every overbite or crowded teeth in order to give people beautiful smiles and to help enhance their self-image, as well as with the intent to eliminate or prevent health problems that can result from issues with the teeth or jaw. We provide a broad range of services to deal with the mouth, using the latest and safest practices.

Orthodontic Treatment

Whether you need an overbite correction or have an open bite, it may take more than one visit before a treatment plan can be designed. The orthodontist will need to carefully review your medical and dental history. Photographs and X-rays may have to be taken for assessment. Certain dental problems may require moldings, so castings may have to be set. Treatment will entail the patient actively visiting the orthodontist regularly. This is the best way to monitor any application’s progress and to manage any adjustments to treatment as needed.
Every step of the process will be designed to not just remove issues and give patients a more appealing smile, it will include goals to improve the health of the teeth and jaw, and to implement preventative measures against risks associated with bad oral health.

Common Treatments

Crowded teeth can usually be corrected through braces. We look at a range of factors which can impact treatment plans, but you will end up with a beautiful smile. In this person’s case, it took 26 months of braces to create the final look.

Open bite is a condition where the lower and upper set of teeth do not touch. One way this happens is when a child is allowed to such their thumb for years and for long periods of time. Treatment here included braces and a crib, a tool used to retrain the tongue.

When the lower front teeth bite into the palate you have an overbite. Treatment can require braces or jaw surgery, depending on the severity of the condition. We find the earlier a treatment is started, the less likely surgery is required. In this case, we worked with the patient for two years to correct the issue.

Narrow-edge teeth at the front of the mouth are the incisors. In some cases, they can be missing. After wearing braces for 20 months so that teeth could position correctly, we replaced the missing teeth, returning a more natural appearance.

An underbite is when lower front teeth are positioned in front of upper teeth. This can lead to excessive wear patterns on the teeth, as well as discomfort, especially when trying to smile or chew. We treated this patient over a 30 month period, ultimately removing any discomfort and anxiety about their smile.

It is not unusual for teeth to grow with spaces between them. This patient was unhappy with the look. We applied braces to close up the spaces, creating an ideal look over two years. We applied retainers to ensure the spaces stay closed.

Overjets are when front teeth protrude beyond lower teeth. This overbite correction was treated in two phases. The first was getting a harmonious jaw growth. The second was aligning the teeth and bite.

It’s not uncommon to see dental problems that do not require braces. With the proper techniques, you can align teeth to noticeable improvement without extensive treatment. This patient had crowding on the lower permanent teeth. We reduced width of adjacent baby teeth, allowing permanent teeth to naturally align.

There was concern about the health and aesthetics of these teeth, which were growing haphazardly. The crowded lower fronts were touching the palate. Upper front teeth were extremely displaced. Using an expander and partial braces over 12 months in phase one, we corrected the teeth problems, improving appearance and function.

The need for orthodontics is increasing throughout the country. It is believed this is because over the last 10,000 years, bad bites, or malocclusions, have become more prevalent as human growth patterns have altered due to various genetic and ethic backgrounds living together and populating. This saw an expansion in jaw and teeth failure to accommodate differing teeth and jaw development in diversified communities.

It is recommended every child see an orthodontist for evaluation at least by age eight. Adults who have not had an evaluation – not unusual where families didn’t have a means to afford treatment – should get one as well. It is estimated almost three-quarters of the country’s population could benefit from some form of orthodontic treatment. Adults who want better smiles are looking to correct dental problems and improve long term dental health. Technology has advanced to the point where a lot of services are less intrusive. There are clear aligners, near undetectable molds worn over teeth that correct teeth problems.

MINT Orthodontics lead by Dr. Marco Navarro, isn’t solely about procedures and treatments. We are about education. We want everyone to have a beautiful smile and know how to get it. We want all our patients to see the benefits of a good bite and how critical that is to great oral health. We hope to get to all the children by educating their caregivers. We hope to see all those children grow into adults who never lose sight of what good teeth means.

Please feel free to call us for a complimentary consultation. You can also stop by one of our locations. We’re in Las Colinas and Dallas.