Why should I have an orthodontist put on my braces?

Many people are curious about general dentists and orthodontists. The common misconception is that both can put your braces on, and both give you the same results. The truth is that most general dentists are not trained to handle braces. The results are not comparable.

In dental school, most dentists receive only introductory courses in orthodontics, not enough to provide comprehensive treatment. Some pursue extra courses after dental school to learn how to apply braces, but general dentists are not orthodontists. They do not go through all the required hours of training or take the required tests. They are not certified by the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA), a division of the American Dental Association (ADA) that oversees and monitors the nine specialties existing in dentistry.

General dentists routinely oversee the health of your teeth and gums. They perform exams, cleanings and checkups. They treat oral diseases such as cavities and infected lesions, and restore teeth and gums. They monitor and maintain your general oral health.  

Orthodontists routinely work on diagnosis, prevention and correction of malocclusion, or poor bite. Their job is to focus on the reconstruction of your smile. Their day-to-day activities focus on correcting the position of the teeth, bite, face and jaw to create beautiful smiles. Orthodontists do not practice general dentistry.

All orthodontists must go through two to three years of additional post-graduate study after dental school to specialize in orthodontia, the straightening of the teeth and jaw. They attend an accredited specialty program recognized by the ADA and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).  They must pass all the prerequisite courses and clinical training hours to be certified as a dental specialist. 

Orthodontics is one of the nine specialties in dentistry. Orthodontists focus on different types of bad bites such as over-bite, under-bite, open-bite and bite asymmetry. They are responsible for bite correction in children and adults using braces, arch wires, orthodontic devices, dental orthopedic appliances and removable appliances, such as Invisalign clear aligners. They may also work with an oral maxillofacial surgeon to plan and treat surgical cases, such as cleft palette or treatment for patients who need a combination of braces and jaw surgery to correct their bite.

Just as you go to a family physician for a physical check-up but go to a plastic surgeon for cosmetic surgeries, you go to a specialist because they have advanced training and they do these procedures daily. The same applies to your dentist and your orthodontist. Dr. Nancy Phan is a specialist in orthodontics. For more information, visit us at www.CareOrthodontics.com.

What is a bad bite?

A bad bite refers to the misalignment of teeth. When teeth do not come together correctly, they are termed bad bite, or "malocclusion."

What causes a bad bite?

It is often caused by genetics, environmental factors, oral habits or multifactorials. For example, you may have an overjet, commonly known in lay term as "over bite," where your front teeth stick out. With this bite, your lower lip, caught behind the upper teeth, wedges both top and bottom teeth and makes the upper teeth stick out further. If you have a tongue habit, your tongue can push your front teeth out further. The misalignment of your teeth and jaw can make the bite worse over time.

3 types of bad bite:

In orthodontics, there are 3 main types of bad bite. There are also subdivision bites but for simplicity, lets discuss the 3 main ones. They are categorized based on how the top and bottom jaws relate to each other.

• Class I bite is referred to both upper and lower jaws being proportionate in length. There is no issue with the jaw; instead, the bite problem is associated with the teeth. The teeth are either not straight or they can be crowded, spaced, rotated, overlapped, twisted or tipped.
• Class II bite refers to a long upper jaw or a short lower jaw. The jaw position affects the appearance of the front incisors. With a Class II bite, the upper front teeth fit far outside the lower front teeth. 
• Class III bite refers to a long lower jaw or a short upper jaw. Often the upper jaw grows too short and the lower jaw grows too long. With a Class III bite, the lower front teeth fit far outside the upper front teeth.

Who should correct a bad bite?

A bad bite should be corrected by an orthodontist. Orthodontists are dental specialists who have undergone an additional 2-3 years of specialized study in the field of malocclusions to correct and treat bite and jaw problems. They are trained to diagnose all problems associated with the teeth, the jaw, the airway, the facial musculature, and temporal mandibular joints. Some bite problems may need both orthodontics and surgical interventions. Although your general dentist may offer orthodontic treatment, he or she does not have the added training and may not be able to correct complex orthodontic cases.

Dr. Nancy Phan is an orthodontist and has been practicing orthodontics exclusively for over 10 years. When you schedule an orthodontic consultation, she will go over your bite problem and suggest treatment options. Orthodontic records can be taken at that time to further collect data, diagnose problems, analyze details and establish a treatment plan. Once a treatment plan is completed, treatment will then be rendered.

When you have a bad bite, you need more than tooth alignment. You need correction of teeth, bite, jaw and facial alignment to achieve that harmonious and beautiful smile! You can check our website www.CareOrthodontics.com for other beneficial information.

Welcome

Hi. welcome to Care Orthodontic’s blog.  

We have been in practice for nearly a decade and we constantly find ways to communicate our messages, educate our patients, and participate on various activities in the community. 

Dr. Nancy Phan was inspired to become an orthodontist to change people’s perception of self-image and self-confidence through enhancing facial features and brightening smiles. She also wanted to develop personal connection with many of her patients.  After finishing Orthodontic Residency at Saint Barnabas Hospital/Cornell University-affiliated program in New York, she returned to San Jose to start working. Having worked previously at many offices in the Central Valley and in the Greater Bay Area, Dr. Phan was able to gathered her many experiences which have helped her redefined the criteria of which she wanted for her patients in her current practice.   

At Care Orthodontics, our mission is to create beautiful smiles with care.  We do this through providing braces and Invisalign for children and adults, by working hard to keep the patient’s wait time to a minimum. We strictly follow OSHA guideline in keeping a clean and sterilized working environment.  We provide exceptional customer service by clearly communicate your treatment plans, update progress and listen to our patients’ concerns and feedbacks.    We try our best to implement the necessary changes to make our patients’ experiences in the office a memorable and positive one.   We constantly find ways to incorporate fun events for our patients so that they can enjoy their journey while in treatment.   We do everything possible to ensure that you will get a beautiful smile in a nurturing and caring environment….and that’s the story of Care Orthodontics.  

Give us a call for a complimentary consultation.  You can check out our website at  www.CareOrthdontics.com.