Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry focused on treating irregularities of teeth and faces. Orthodontics deals with the proper positioning of individual teeth and the relationship of the teeth to each other and to the jawbone in which they are held.

An Orthodontic problem is called a malocclusion, meaning “bad bite”. Some of the causes of malocclusion are crowded teeth, extra and missing teeth, teeth that may have erupted in the wrong position or jaws that are out of alignment. The final position of teeth is usually determined by genetics and also factors such as tongue, lips and habits we might develop like thumb sucking.

Orthodontic treatment can be carried out by braces which are bonded to the teeth or, in simpler cases, by wearing a plate that can be removed by the patient.

A straight smile is a wonderful asset. If you are embarrassed by your teeth, you may not smile or laugh as often. Orthodontic treatment can increase self-esteem, confidence and facial appearance. It may also benefit a patient’s social and professional life.

You may also be surprised to learn that straight teeth are less prone to decay, gum disease and injury. When teeth are properly aligned they are easier to clean, enabling decay causing plaque to be removed. As for injuries to teeth, protruding upper teeth are more likely to be broken in an accident. When they are realigned into the correct position, the risk of fracture is decreased significantly.

T4K – Early Intervention for Better Dental Treatment

A T4K appliance is a removable Pre-Orthodontic appliance designed to provide growing children early intervention to help guide their erupting teeth into their correct positions
Parents are often concerned regarding second teeth coming through crooked, the upper teeth may start to look prominent and there may not be enough space for the new lower teeth. Parents ask “What can we do?”

More and more parents are interested in early treatment such as the T4K, which can help make future orthodontic treatment less complex, decreasing the need for extractions and long periods of fixed braces.

Studies have shown that crowding and jaw discrepancies are closely related to habits such as mouth breathing, reverse swallowing and thumb sucking. The T4K appliance helps correct these habits as well as aligning the developing teeth using inexpensive, gentle trainers.

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