An orthodontic evaluation allows Dr. Siddall and Dr. Dunn to assess your child’s oral development. During the evaluation, our orthodontic dental team will inspect your child’s teeth and gums, as well as the bones and muscles in your child’s mouth to evaluate the need for braces now or in the future.
We take into account their entire orofacial anatomy, as well as comprehensive personal factors, in treatment planning. As wellness dentistry practitioners, we know that nutrition can play a role in the eruption of the dentition and the shape of the face. An orthodontic consultation will give you the ability to plan ahead for your child’s future dental needs.
We also proudly offer orthodontic treatment to our adult patients. Straightening your smile can include many social advantages, but did you also know that a straighter smile tends to be a healthier smile? Straight teeth are easier to floss between and keep clean, so the incidence of cavities and other oral health problems may be lessened with orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign® Clear Braces
Invisalign is both effective and lifestyle friendly! Aligning your teeth makes them easier to clean, but it also has a huge impact on your appearance. As Invisalign providers, Dr. Siddall and Dr. Dunn can help you straighten your teeth without having to refer you out to an orthodontist for traditional brackets and wires.
Clear, removable Invisalign braces make it easier for you to keep your smile clean and avoid problems like tooth decay and gum disease. This advanced system uses removable plastic trays that are easy to care for and comfortable to wear. No one will ever have to know they’re there!
SureSmile® Clear Braces
Are you looking for a rapid, affordable, and discreet way to straighten your teeth? With SureSmile Aligners, you get effective orthodontic care designed especially for your unique smile. Even better, they require fewer trips to the dentist's office for maintenance and can straighten your teeth months - or in some cases, years - faster than traditional metal braces!
Metal Braces
Metal braces are still the most common type of braces for orthodontic patients. Modern metal braces are much more comfortable than ones worn in the past, as they’re flatter and smaller. Dr. Dunn and Dr. Siddall may recommend braces if you suffer from crooked teeth, crowded teeth, jaw problems or a misaligned bite.
Phase I & Phase II Orthodontic Treatments
If Dr. Siddall or Dr. Dunn performs your child’s orthodontic evaluation and concludes that treatment is necessary, we will move forward with a two-phase approach.
The goal of Phase I is to better prepare your child’s jaws to make room for their permanent teeth and improve the relationship between their upper and lower jaws. Dr. Dunn and Dr. Siddall may recommend expansion, an active retainer or partial braces as part of the Phase I treatment. Phase I is usually between the ages of 6 and 10, while they still have most of their primary teeth.
Phase II occurs dependent on your child’s growth. The goal of this phase is to make sure each tooth is located in the best functional location possible. Phase II usually involves full upper and lower braces for your child and will not begin until all of your child’s permanent teeth have erupted. Phase II treatment usually lasts for a minimum of 24 months depending on the individual needs of your child.
Space Maintainer
Your child might need a space maintainer if they lose a tooth early or have a baby tooth extracted. If your child needs a space maintainer, Dr. Siddall and Dr. Dunn will custom make it to fit your child’s mouth. Its purpose is to keep the space where the baby tooth was lost open in order to allow the permanent tooth to come into place.
Baby teeth are vital to the healthy development of adult teeth, jawbones, muscles. Often, if a space maintainer is not used, your child’s other teeth can shift into the open space causing more invasive orthodontic treatment to be needed in the future.
Post-Orthodontic Treatment
Caring for your smile after orthodontic treatment is a vital part of making sure your teeth don’t move after your orthodontic treatment. This is a critical follow-up stage that usually involves wearing a retainer. At Lisa Siddall, DDS we offer several different types, all of which are custom-made to fit your smile.
Ready to take the next step toward creating your best and healthiest smile? Call Lisa Siddall, DDS in Lake Leelanau today to schedule your appointment!
Looking to get something fixed before beginning orthodontic treatment? Our menu of restorative dentistry treatments will help you reach your oral health goals!