Orthodontics at Ruby Canyon Dental
All About Orthodontics at Ruby Canyon Dental in Grand Junction, CO
Our first priority is to provide the highest quality orthodontic treatment in Grand Junction, CO and the surrounding areas. Using proven state-of-the-art technology, Ruby Canyon Dental is able to complete orthodontic treatment in the most comfortable and efficient way possible. We are able to ensure that each patient receives a healthy and happy smile that will last a lifetime.
The Mechanics and Biology of Aligning Teeth
When braces apply pressure to our teeth, they don’t simply move. There’s an intense cellular process happening in our jaws in response to that pressure. In front of the tooth, specialized cells called osteoclasts break down bone cells that are in the way, while osteoblasts build new bone cells behind the tooth to keep it fitting snugly in its socket. The bone is actually reshaping itself!
This is a major reason why it’s so important to go to an orthodontist for dental crowding, crookedness, or bad bites. It takes all those years of education and training we receive to be able to understand the best ways to encourage teeth to shift to their proper position. Someone with less experience might attempt an approach that doesn’t produce the best results or puts the teeth at risk.
Common Appliances Used With Wire Braces
Sometimes, we need one or two other appliances in addition to the braces themselves in order to have the correct bite and palate shape as well as straight teeth, and sometimes we need these appliances to get our teeth ready for braces in the first place.
In order to put braces on, you might need spacers between your back teeth for a while. Spacers are small elastic rings that move your molars apart just enough to fit bands onto them to anchor your braces. This process can take from 3-10 days. Not all patients with wire braces will need spacers first.
Palatal expanders correct narrow palates by bracing against the teeth and the roof of the mouth and exerting gradual pressure outwards to encourage the palate to widen to the proper shape. These are important appliances for correcting crossbites and crowding. Palatal expanders often go in before braces to make room for the teeth to go where they’re supposed to go.
A holding arch may be used when a child loses baby teeth too early. It holds the permanent front teeth and molars in place so they don’t shift and crowd the teeth that haven’t had a chance to grow in yet. A holding arch for the upper jaw is sometimes called the “Nance button,” and lower jaw holding arches are called “lower lingual holding arches.”
Bite plates are acrylic, retainer-like appliances that correct “deep” bites. A deep bite occurs when the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth so much that the lower incisors touch the gum tissue behind the upper incisors, leading to many complications. A bite plate creates a barrier between the lower incisors and the upper gum tissue and helps shift the teeth to decrease the overlap.
No Matter What Your Treatment Is, Retention Matters
The bone-reshaping process takes time, and our teeth still remember their old position after the braces come off. This is why the dentist will always tell you that it’s so important to wear retainers. They help the teeth and jaws get used to the new position, and they also prevent separate shifting that happens to most people’s teeth as they get older.
Orthodontics Services Offered at Ruby Canyon Dental
Here at Ruby Canyon Dental, we are pleased to offer orthodontic services, including:
How We Can Help
If you want to feel great about your smile and would like a consultation, please give us a quick call at (970) 241-1313 or send us a email. Your dentist would love to listen to your concerns and find a treatment plan that is perfect for you in Grand Junction. You can learn more about us by checking our business page, and make sure to get directions before heading our way.