Orthodontics For All Ages
in Fort Lauderdale
ORTHODONTICS FOR CHILDREN
While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age seven.
By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.
Early treatment allows us to:
- Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
- Create more space for crowded teeth
- Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
- Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems
For parents, it's not always easy to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment.
Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see us:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- A hard time chewing or biting food
- Mouth breathing
- Finger or thumb sucking
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
- Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
- Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
- Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
- Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
Please contact us to schedule a complimentary appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment now will give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.
ORTHODONTICS FOR TEENS
Clear Aligners, Braces, retainers, and everything else that you want to know about orthodontics!
You've just heard the three words that every teen dreads: “YOU NEED BRACES!”
Braces! What now?
Don't worry! Teens can now choose between Clear Aligners OR Braces and braces aren't nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past
How long will my treatment take?
The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with either Clear Aligners or Braces depends on three key factors:
- Early treatment — Early treatment allows us to monitor the growth of the jaw and recommend further orthodontic treatment if it becomes necessary. Not everybody receives early orthodontic treatment; in many cases it will be recommended that a patient wait to receive treatment.
- What needs correction — The amount of treatment needed to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently. While it may take one patient only 12 months to complete treatment, it may take another patient 24 months. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect.
- YOU! — Your willingness to use the appliances we give you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your Clear Aligners or Braces and appliances; this truly will help make your treatment shorter!
Orthodontic Treatment YOUR Way!
Our office offers a variety of Clear Aligners, and braces in a vairiety of types and styles, to choose from. Some common options include:
- Clear Aligners (plastic that is custom molded to fit you; Available for Phase 1, Phase 2, Comprehensive, and Surgical forms of treatment)
- Tooth colored (ceramic) braces that do not stain
- Traditional metal braces that are custom made for you in miniture size to help allow brushing to be easier
Orthodontic braces and Clear Aligners are a big part of life for many people at any age. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today's braces make it easy to look good and feel good! Please contact our practice to schedule your complimentary orthodontic checkup.
ORTHODONTICS FOR ADULTS
Almost one half of the patents at our office are adults! Orthodontic treatment is no longer just for teens. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists states that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. Many adults are choosing to receive treatment because they understand the importance of maintaining their health, and they want to feel better about their appearance. Adults everywhere are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive orthodontic care, and now you can too.
Common reasons why adults consider orthodontic treatment:
- A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly
- Teeth are crowded or spaced apart, possibly causing tooth decay or gum disease
- Abnormal jaw pain, or pressure that is caused by crooked teeth
- Desire for a healthier mouth and a more confident smile
Treatment options for adults
Adults often present with more treatment challenges than adolescents do. Adolescents usually have their natural teeth and a full complement of teeth, as well as healthy periodontal tissue. In addition, adolescents still have growth potential and the bone is more flexible, which can often aid in correcting an improper “bite.”
Adults may present with gold or ceramic crowns, implants (which cannot be moved), missing teeth, periodontal bone loss, or gum recession, all of which can make orthodontic treatment more challenging. In addition, adults have no future growth potential available to aid in correcting an improper bite.
Fortunately for our patients, our office has successfully treated thousands of adult and adolescent patients since 2002. We aim to exceed patient expectations in every way. We want the journey to your dream smile to be as pleasant as possible and do our very best to make that happen. We are confident in our treatment and confident in our team.
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR ADULTS
Orthodontic Treatment YOUR Way! Unlike any other orthodontic office in South Florida, we DO NOT charge more for Clear Aligners or Clear Braces!
Our office offers a variety of Clear Aligners, clear braces and custom miniture metal braces to choose from. Some common options include:
- Clear Aligners (plastic that is custom molded to fit you; Available for Phase 1, Phase 2, Comprehensive, and Surgical forms of treatment)
- Tooth colored (ceramic) braces that do not stain
- Custom miniture metal braces that are made for you to help allow brushing and cleaning to be easier
While adults can take advantage of any treatment, we find most gravitate towards aesthetic treatment options: Clear braces and Clear Aligners, also known as, Invisalign®. With the indepth training Dr. Freeman achieved, no matter which form of treatment you choose, Clear Aligners or Braces, your time in treatment will be the same. This allows you to choose which option YOU want your treatment to be accomplished. Unlike any other orthodontic office, we DO NOT charge more for Clear Aligners or Clear Braces!
Treatment length is determined by the complexity of each individual patient’s treatment needs, as well as their individual goals. We offer additional treatment options for those patients who would like to make their treatment as accelerated as possible.
Why should you consider orthodontic treatment?
- Straight teeth are healthy teeth — Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to keep clean with flossing and brushing, and may help prevent other health problems.
- A beautiful, straight smile builds confidence — Orthodontic treatment can help boost your self-confidence, giving you a better quality of life and the freedom to smile without holding back!
- Mouths left untreated can get worse — Not receiving orthodontic treatment when it's needed can create long-term health issues costing you more in the end.
To learn more about the benefits of adult orthodontics, please contact our practice to schedule a complimentary new patient consultation. We understand that you have a busy schedule, and we will work with you to make sure each office visit is as convenient as possible. We also offer Virtual Consultations. Please call our office to see how easily we can make your Smile Transformation be!
