• Teeth that are too crowded. These teeth may be difficult to clean and maintain making them prone to tooth decay, gum disease and eventual tooth loss.
• Teeth that are too far apart. This condition can often result in healthy teeth becoming loose or tipping into the open spaces. Deterioration of the supporting bone can also result in this situation.
• Protruding upper or lower teeth. Besides being unattractive, these teeth can cause abnormal wear of teeth surfaces and excess stress on supporting gum and bone tissue.
• Misalignment of jaw joints. Abnormal teeth position can affect the jaw joints where they hinge and result in chronic headaches or pains in the face or neck.

The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on the severity of your problem. Convenient financing with an initial down payment and monthly installments can usually be arranged.

For more information on orthodontic treatment speak with Dr. Jaffe. A beautiful, healthy smile can change the way you look at the world-and the way the world looks at you.

The following topics will help you understand orthodontics and how it can create that "beautiful smile" for yourself and for your child:

What is orthodontics?
When should orthodontic treatment begin?
What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?
What about adult treatment?
What will treatment cost?
What about clear braces?

Q: What is orthodontics?
A: Orthodontics is the specialty branch of dentistry that focuses entirely on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The technical term for these problems is "malocclusion" which means "bad bite." Orthodontics utilizes corrective fixed and removable appliances (braces and retainers) to bring teeth, lips, and jaws into proper alignment for proper function and facial balance.

Q: When should orthodontic treatment begin?
A: Dr. Jaffe recommends early evaluation of developing malocclusions. Often early treatment, Stage I, can correct or minimize a problem so subsequent treatment is less complicated and less costly.

Q: What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?
A: Phase I treatment as early as age eight or nine involves correction of cross bites, over bites, under bites and harmful habits such as thumb sucking. Early treatment may involve partial braces to expand space for developing adult teeth. Not all children need interceptive Phase I treatment, but a screening examination is very important to make this determination. Phase II treatment involves full braces after all the adult teeth are in. The quality of the result in Phase II often depends on effective Phase I treatment.

Q: What about adult treatment?
A: Orthodontic treatment can be accomplished at any age. The health of the gums and supportive bone is very important in successful adult orthodontic treatment. Because an adult's facial bones are no longer growing, certain extreme corrections involving jaw and bone misalignment cannot be accomplished with braces alone. In some cases, adult orthodontic treatment may have to combined with facial jaw surgery to achieve the desired result.

Q: What will treatment cost?
A: The actual cost of orthodontic treatment varies widely depending on the severity of the problem. Dr. Jaffe will discuss fees prior to beginning treatment. Insurance benefits and convenient financing can be arranged to help offset the cost of treatment. When you consider the cost of orthodontic treatment, be sure to keep in mind the many long-term benefits provided.

Q: What about clear braces?
A: Clear or ceramic brackets blend into the color of the natural tooth and are less obvious. They can be used – especially for adult treatment.

Invisalign is a series of clear, formed, removeable appliances to move teeth. While effective in certain cases – Dr. Jaffe can discuss the pros and cons of Invisalign.