Orthodontic treatment is fundamental in creating a healthy bite that allows you to take proper care of it from the moment your treatment is done to decades into the future. Part of the objective of orthodontic treatment is to avoid any possible pain or difficulty that may arise in the future because of an existing condition. Sturbridge Orthodontists are the ones responsible for these procedures, but what exactly do they do?  And what are the benefits of going through these long and sometimes uncomfortable treatments?

What Does an Orthodontist Do?

The word orthodontist comes from the two Greek words “orthos” and “odon”, which mean correct and tooth respectively. That is exactly what an orthodontist does, they correct your teeth and jaws by moving them into their proper position for you to have a healthy and beautiful smile. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) definition, orthodontists tackle facial and dental irregularities by diagnosing, preventing, treating, and intercepting them.

Orthodontists are dentists that specialize in orthodontics, and tooth movement, and thus focus mainly on treating malocclusions. Orthodontists use the term malocclusion to refer to bites where the upper and lower row of teeth don’t meet as they should. There are many different types of malocclusions as well as many different reasons for them. Orthodontists train to know how to deal with every one of them.

Once you present yourself with a malocclusion to your orthodontist, they will design a treatment plan tailored to your specific problem. From here, they will give you a few options of appliances for you to choose from, as not every appliance can deal with every problem. In case you receive braces treatment, an orthodontist will be the one who attaches them, and they will also be the person in charge of checking up on you every few weeks.

Here are a few of the different malocclusions that orthodontists treat.

Class 1

Class 1 malocclusion refers to the upper teeth protruding over the lower teeth. It can be a result of bad habits as a child such as thumb sucking, or it could be a result of genetics like jaw misalignment. It’s a very common type of malocclusion and it usually has very minor effects on your bite.

Class 2

Class 2 malocclusion, also called overbite, is a more severe case of class 1 malocclusion and will have significantly more damaging effects on your bite. It benefits from early orthodontic treatment and requires the use of an appliance for a long period.

Class 3

Class 3 malocclusion, or underbite, occurs when the lower jaw protrudes forward and overlaps the upper jaw. Similarly, to a class 2 malocclusion, it requires an orthodontic treatment that involves an appliance for continuous use.

What Are the Benefits of Orthodontics?

Following through on your orthodontic treatment and respecting your orthodontist’s guidelines, regardless of how tiring it can be at some points, allows the patient to get to their desired result in as little time as possible. But why start the process in the first place? Here are a few benefits that come with bettering your dental health with orthodontics.

A Healthy and Straight Smile

As explained previously, a variety of orthodontic problems are partially caused by misaligned teeth. To fix the issue, orthodontists will straighten your teeth and move them to a more orderly position, ultimately giving you a smooth even smile in the process.

Avoid Wear and Tear

Sometimes crooked and misaligned teeth change the way you bite and as a result, it can cause extra wear and pressure in some teeth more than others. Making them more prone to chipping and breaking in your daily activities. Orthodontic treatment allows your orthodontist to redistribute all the pressure evenly among your teeth.

Allows for Better Dental Hygiene

Crooked teeth can be at odd angles and very close to each other, which makes it very difficult to brush properly. Bacteria and food residue can accumulate in these hard-to-reach crevices and will eventually mix into plaque. Plaque can in turn lead to tooth decay, gum infections, tooth loss, and more. Having an orthodontist move your teeth into their desired orderly positions allows for better access that transforms into better cleaning, greatly reducing the chances of any dental complication.

Orthodontic Treatment in Sturbridge

For any questions regarding orthodontists, orthodontic treatment, or orthodontics as a whole, feel free to contact us at Sturbridge Orthodontics. If you have already decided on getting your teeth as healthy and pretty as possible, make an appointment with us here.

Braces can be challenging at any age, but during the teen and preteen years, the experience can sometimes be especially difficult. The process can occasionally take longer than expected, and you could wind up feeling as though you see the orthodontist more than anyone else in Sturbridge. No matter how tough the road may be, professional surfer and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton wants you to know that it’s worth the ride and you shouldn’t give up.

Hamilton is the pro surfer who miraculously survived a horrific shark attack as depicted in the movie Soul Surfer. Hamilton’s left arm was bitten off in the attack but she was able to find the strength to recover from her injuries and return to the sport that she loved. She now uses her platform as an athlete and a celebrity to encourage teens, children, and adults to keep going. She believes that you can smile through adversity, no matter what challenges life throws. Besides the shark attack, she’s faced a number of challenges in life. For example, she’s no stranger to orthodontic treatment.

Hamilton’s orthodontic journey began when she was 14 years old. She was diagnosed with a severe underbite, a narrow arch, and severe crowding. She also suffered from an open bite—a condition that prevents the front teeth from fitting together, even when the jaw is closed. Although her severe diagnosis could have required surgical treatment, her orthodontist was able to correct her smile and bite with the use of a cutting-edge orthodontic bracket system.

Bethany Hamilton is one of more than 3 million orthodontic patients who have enjoyed the transformational results of the Damon orthodontic system. She is now an advocate for other patients who want to overcome their orthodontic challenges. To find out if the Damon System is available in Sturbridge, call to consult an orthodontist today.

Welcome to Our New Website and Blog.

This is where we will keep you updated on news, events, and fun activities happening in our office. We also will post helpful information about Sturbridge orthodontic treatment here, so please check back periodically.

Please let us know if there is an orthodontic topic you’re interested in learning more about, and we will be happy to address it in a future blog post.

Our new website is designed to mirror our office atmosphere: A well-designed space packed with personality and professionalism. If you’re new to our practice, we invite you to take a moment to visit our pages about Dr. Ferdinand Sabelis and our professional team.

Are you considering braces? Check out the types of braces we offer here. Are you an adult who is interested in orthodontic treatment for the first time, or you’re interested in retreatment because your teeth have relapsed? You can find information on our Adult Treatment page, as well as our Invisalign^® page.

Treatment page. It contains important information about when your children should receive their first orthodontic evaluation, and how you can help prevent the need for extractions and surgery down the road.

Whether you’re a parent inquiring about orthodontic treatment for your child, or an adult seeking treatment for yourself, we know you have options when it comes to providers. We invite you to visit our Why Choose Us page to learn more about the characteristics that we believe patients look for in an orthodontic practice.

Lots of common questions about office policies, and payment and insurance information can be answered by visiting those pages of our website. If you have questions that aren’t answered on our site, please don’t hesitate to call our office. We are here to help.

We look forward to seeing you in the office soon.

Dear Sturbridge Orthodontics Families,

The latest guidance from the Massachusetts Dental Society and Department of Public Health is to continue to POSTPONE ALL NON-ESSENTIAL CARE at this time.

With the safety of you, your families, our staff, and their families, we regret that we have to restrict our patient care, and our office will now be CLOSED UNTIL MAY 18th 2020.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but it is necessary for us to do our part to protect our community.

Our office is limited to EMERGENCY TREATMENT only (ie. Significant pain, trauma) during this time. Please call our office if you have an emergency.

If you have a scheduled appointment: A member of our team will contact you to address your next appointment.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this. As things evolve, we will update you via our website, social media, and text.

Well, wishes for everyone to stay healthy and strong,

Your Sturbridge Orthodontics Team