Orthodontist Paradise Valley AZ
Having a beautiful smile is important for your self-image and your self-confidence. Unfortunately, virtually no one comes by a perfect smile without some help. At Dunn Orthodontics, we help patients from throughout Paradise Valley, AZ, get the beautiful smiles they want with state-of-the-art orthodontics customized for their needs and their goals. Whether you’re interested in treatment for yourself or for your child, we’ve got solutions that improve smiles and boost confidence. Here’s what you should know about the treatment options your Paradise Valley orthodontist offer — and how they can help you.
What do Paradise Valley orthodontists do?
An orthodontist Paradise Valley AZ is a dental specialist who focuses on straightening your teeth and realigning your bite. For most patients, that means wearing braces or clear aligners to gently move teeth into their correct positions. Many people think of Paradise Valley orthodontics care as an aesthetic treatment. Certainly, straighter teeth and a healthier-looking smile makes you look and feel more attractive and more confident — and that’s important. But cosmetic improvements are just one benefit of orthodontic treatment. Teeth straightening offers benefits for your oral health, too — in a couple of significant ways.
Benefits to Oral Health
First, having braces or clear aligners just might help you maintain better oral health. How? By making it easier for you to take care of your teeth and gums. Straight teeth that are evenly spaced and properly aligned are easier to care for with routine care, like brushing and flossing. Home care routines play a major role in warding off tooth decay and gum disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. That’s because when your teeth are crooked or uneven, there are plenty of odd angles and crevices for food and bacteria to hide. That means you’re more likely to develop plaque and tartar, the major causes of gum disease. Bacteria also produce acids that eat away at your teeth, increasing the risk you’ll develop painful cavities.
And second, when your bite is unbalanced or misaligned, it increases the stress and strain on your jaw joints. Over time, increased jaw strain can lead to joint inflammation and a painful, chronic condition called temporomandibular joint disorder. An uneven bite also increases tooth wear, which can lead to cavities, breakage and tooth loss. And it also makes you more prone to tooth grinding, which causes further wear and tear on your teeth. Orthodontics Paradise Valley AZ can help prevent all these problems — and give you a great-looking smile, too.
What problems can an orthodontist Paradise Valley AZ treat?
At Dunn Orthodontics, we use the most advanced technology to help Arizona patients get the smiles they want. And that means we can treat lots of issues, including:
- Overcrowding
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Spacing problems, including gaps between teeth
- Crooked or “sideways” teeth
- Problems that interfere with normal jaw function
Both braces and Invisalign® clear aligners allow the Paradise Valley orthodontist to adjust individual teeth, so your treatment will always be completely customized for you.
Am I too old to have orthodontics?
Braces and aligners don’t come with expiration dates — and that means you can have orthodontic treatment at any age. As long as your teeth and your jaw bones are strong and healthy enough to undergo the movements and pressures associated with Paradise Valley orthodontic treatment, you can get the care you need to enjoy a lifetime of beautiful smiles.
At what age should my child have their first Paradise Valley orthodontist visit?
Ideally, before their seventh birthday. That’s according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Why so early? Because by age seven, most children are beginning to lose their baby teeth, and the adult teeth are starting to emerge. It’s also a time when your child’s jaw and palate (the roof of the mouth) are growing rapidly.
That makes it an ideal time to spot crowding, spacing and alignment problems in their earliest stages. At this age, interventional orthodontics like spacers and expanders may be used to provide some early correction. That means when your child is a teen or preteen, they might be able to wear braces or aligners for a shorter period of time — and in some cases, they might not need to wear them at all. Still, many kids don’t visit a Paradise Valley orthodontist until they’re in their preteens (or even their teens), and that’s OK. The important thing is to schedule a visit as early as possible, so if treatment is needed, it can begin right away.
Does dental insurance cover the cost of orthodontics?
That depends on your insurance plan. Some insurers cover the cost of certain types of orthodontics, at least in part. Other plans provide no coverage. The good news is, today insurance companies are starting to realize that having orthodontic treatment isn’t just about improving the way your smile looks — it’s also about enjoying better oral health. As a result, more companies are beginning to provide better coverage for orthodontic treatment. Even if your insurance company doesn’t offer coverage for orthodontics, our team will help you find a payment plan or financing solution that lets you fit your treatment costs into your budget.
See an orthodontist for straightening teeth
Straightening your teeth is a complex, involved process — even for the simplest corrections. It involves moving your whole tooth, including the tooth roots. As the roots move, your jaw bone changes and “remodels” itself on a continual basis. If a problem develops under the gum line, you may not see it — but it could affect your final results and wind up causing a lifetime of major oral health problems. With an orthodontist, you have regular visits so we can watch your progress, keep you on track toward your goals, and spot and correct issues before they become serious problems. Plus, we’re always here if you have questions or concerns. Considering your smile and your oral health are on the line, seeing an orthodontist just makes sense.
Why we’re a top-rated orthodontist Paradise Valley AZ
At Dunn Orthodontics, we know the true value of straight teeth and a more attractive smile. Our team is dedicated to providing the customized treatment each patient needs to get the beautiful smiles they want. If you’re ready to enjoy all the benefits orthodontic treatment can offer, give us a call at 602-864-0004 and book a consultation visit today.