Orthodontics for All Ages: Braces and Clear Aligners
We provide orthodontic treatment for all ages because we believe every person should enjoy a healthier, more attractive smile. While early treatment for children is often related to developmental issues, adults have their own unique concerns which can be addressed by corrective orthodontic therapy.
Adults may need braces because they never had treatment as a child, or they did but didn’t wear their retainers, and their teeth have relapsed (got crooked again). If you aren’t conscientious about oral hygiene, your dental bone can start to recede, and your teeth will shift, causing gaps and misalignment. In some cases, for those patients who have lost teeth and need prosthetic work or implants, we have to correct alignment prior to dental replacements.
Young adults get wisdom teeth, which cause crowding even after braces, may seek treatment again. Luckily, with the advent of less conspicuous orthodontic appliances like ClearCorrect aligners, your second time around will be much easier.
Crooked teeth can be straightened at any age. Dr. Martinez will be able to help you obtain a beautiful smile given your gums and dental bones are healthy.
Preventive Orthodontic Treatment
By definition, “prevention” is the act of stopping something from happening. Thus, preventive orthodontic treatment is done to avoid the development of a malocclusion or “bad bite.”
Dr. Jesus Martinez does this by ensuring there is enough room for permanent teeth to come in. For example, when a child loses a deciduous (baby) tooth prematurely, it may require a space maintainer appliance to hold the space for the permanent tooth that will later erupt in that space. If untreated, adjacent teeth may shift, blocking the path for the successor, which may cause an ectopic eruption (tooth growing out of place) or an impaction (tooth could not come in). Since a situation like this would have a negative effect on the patient’s permanent dentition, early monitoring of your child’s teeth for orthodontic guidance is imperative.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment
As soon as a problem emerges and is identified, interceptive treatment will aim to correct it to reduce the severity of the malformation and eliminate its cause. It may be started in the primary or transitional dentition to guide the eruption of an ectopic tooth, to correct dental crossbites or to recover dental space.
Limited Orthodontic Treatment
You can be happy with your smile, but you may point out a single little problem that bothers you about your teeth, like a rotation, uneven tooth, mild crowding, a dental gap, just to name a few. In these cases, limited treatment will be the course of action to correct only minor issues, not necessarily involving the entire dentition or a full set of braces. This can be done in any of the stages of the dentition: Primary, Transitional, Adolescent or Adult.
Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment
It’s a completely coordinated approach, from the diagnosis to the treatment and improvement of the patient’s head and face abnormalities and/or deformities of teeth and jaws. Treatment may utilize fixed and/or removable orthodontic appliances and may also include functional and/or orthopedic appliances in growing and non-growing patients to correct the anatomical, functional and/or esthetic relationships of the face, jaws and the dentition.
“Comprehensive” means that we treat all problems from beginning to end. After his dental training, Dr. Jesus Martinez spent three years studying orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. This additional training qualifies him to diagnose, treat, and prevent dentofacial abnormalities that are part of practicing comprehensive orthodontics. If there’s a condition to be addressed, Dr. Martinez will oversee treatment until all permanent teeth erupt, are in the correct position, and are functional.
Another part of comprehensive orthodontics is educating you and your child about what treatment it involves. Getting braces is an investment in time and money, so you want to get the greatest benefit from treatment. It’s natural to have questions, and these appointments are a good time to share whatever concerns you have.
Expect the Best
Orthodontic treatment is a big decision, and we want to help make it as easy as possible for you. If you or your child need braces, you can count on us to guide you through the entire process and answer all your questions. We are committed to giving you a beautiful healthy smile, so at Martinez Orthodontics you are the Star!
Many general dentists offer orthodontics, but they lack Dr. Martinez' advanced training. Choosing a specialist for your orthodontic treatment ensures that you and your child receive the highest standard of care and healthy, reliable outcomes.
At Martinez Orthodontics, we accept most insurances (HMO and PPO) as well as interest-free financing. Please check our Financial page for detailed information. We offer free consultations and extended evening and Saturday hours, so you don’t have to take time off from work to see us.
Do you have questions about orthodontic treatment in Miami? Please call our office, and we will be happy to arrange an appointment at your convenience.
