Before and After
Crowding of the teeth
Before
After
This patient does not have sufficient space to allow for the eruption of the upper permanent cuspids (eye teeth). The orthodontic treatment created space for the eruption of the permanent cuspids (eye teeth) and no permanent teeth were removed to resolve the dental crowding. The timing of orthodontic treatment is important and Dr. Rose and Dr. Malik suggest patients have an orthodontic examination when a dental crowding situation exists, even if all the permanent teeth have erupted.
Openbite: Teeth don't touch, and posterior crossbite
Before
After
This patient sucked her thumb and that habit contributed the anterior open bite and the posterior cross bite because the thumb prevented the upper front teeth from erupting properly, and the thumb prevented the palate from properly forming. The patient was treated by first using a device to break the sucking of the thumb habit. This was followed with a device to widen the palate. The treatment was completed without the removal of permanent teeth. When a parent observes this type dental development, it would be advisable for them to contact our office and schedule an evaluation appointment with Dr. Rose and Dr. Malik to discuss treatment options.
Deep overbite: Lower front teeth bite into palate
Before
After
This adult patient, age 25, required braces and jaw surgery to correct his severe overbite, with treatment taking two years. His problem could have been corrected without surgery if he had been treated before he was a teenager.
Missing lateral incisors
Before
After
This patient's lateral incisors were congenitally missing. She had braces for 20 months to move the teeth into the correct position, then the missing teeth were replaced with bonded "Maryland" bridges.
Underbite: Lower front teeth in front of upper teeth
Before
After
Patient's underbite was causing her jaw joint discomfort and excessive wear patterns on her teeth. After 30 months of treatment starting at age 32, she now finds smiling and chewing much easier.
Posterior Crossbite
Before
After
In this case there is no space for the upper lateral incisors, and there is a crossbite on the patient’s right side. There is severe crowding in the upper and lower arches (jaws). Orthodontic treatment was begun before all the permanent teeth had erupted so the patient’s facial growth could be used to help correct the orthodontic problem. The crossbite was corrected and space created to correct the dental crowding without the need to remove permanent teeth.
Overbite: Protruding front teeth
Before
After
At age 10, patient had a big overbite with the top teeth protruding beyond the bottom. She had two phases of treatment. The first helped her jaws to grow more harmoniously and the second aligned her teeth and bite. At age 13, she was proudly displaying her new smile.
Non-braces treatment
Before
After
Sometimes braces are not needed to get noticeable improvements in tooth alignment. This patient was first seen at age seven for crowding of the lower permanent teeth. A procedure was performed to reduce the width of the adjacent baby teeth and the permanent incisors aligned on their own in nine months.
Phase I
Before
After
Patient's parents were concerned about both aesthetics and the health of the erupting permanent teeth when they brought him to the orthodontist at age eight. The lower front teeth were crowded and they touched the palate, and the upper front teeth were extremely displaced from their normal positions. After 20 months of Phase I treatment with an expander and partial braces, patient's appearance and dental function was vastly improved.
