More Than Just a Beautiful Smile
There are countless benefits to orthodontic treatment and a beautiful smile.
While you’ve probably thought about how much your self-confidence can improve, you may not realize how big of a benefit improved jaw function can be.
Orthognathic Surgery
Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) treats and corrects abnormalities associated with facial bones, specifically your jaws and teeth.
These abnormalities can interfere with your ability to talk, sleep, and enjoy your everyday activities. They can cause sleep apnea, snoring and TMJ pain.
Orthognathic Surgery corrects these concerns will improve the overall appearance of your facial profile when paired with orthodontic treatment.
How Can Jaw Surgery Help You?
Dr. Manley uses the latest technology and will help you understand the overall function and benefit of corrective jaw surgery. Christian Manley Orthodontics uses computerized treatment planning to minimize your treatment times, recovery periods, and the overall success of your surgery.
Jaw surgery may not be necessary with the use of orthodontic care and treatment. Thanks to the latest advancements in orthodontics, this can sometimes be the case.
Dr. Manley will determine if orthognathic surgery is the correct treatment option for you during your initial smile assessment.
Palatal Expander
Palatal expanders are often used while a child is still growing to help with a crossbite, crowding and even impacted teeth. They widen the upper jaw, so the upper teeth fit properly over the lower teeth.
The appliance is cemented in place on the upper molars, and we’ll teach you how to advance the screw of the expander every day.
The screw is expanded slowly to minimize discomfort. Once the palate is expanded to the correct width determined by your orthodontist, you’ll stop turning the screw. The appliance will remain in place until the soft cartilage in the palate fills in. This entire process normally takes only 4 – 6 months, start to finish.
We’ll remove the appliance and provide a removable retainer to maintain the expansion until most of the permanent teeth erupt.
Palatal expanders will not prevent the need for braces when all the permanent teeth erupt, but they help avoid the extraction of permanent teeth to create space or invasive jaw surgery to correct the growth discrepancy after your child’s jaws fully develop.
Herbst Appliance
You may notice that your child has an overbite that typical treatment is can’t correct. If this is the case, we may use the Herbst appliance along with your braces to shift the lower jaw into the perfect alignment.
Without proper treatment, having an improper bite may threaten the overall health of your child’s teeth, gums, and jaw function.
The Herbst appliance uses a metal tube connected to your child’s molars to connect the lower and upper jaw. Routine adjustments allow Dr. Manley to control the position of the jaw, as it relates to the upper teeth.
On average, the Herbst appliance treatment time is 12 months. Be sure to discuss any questions you have regarding the Herbst appliance with one of our Christian Manley Orthodontics team members today!
Invisalign Mandibular Advancement
Invisalign clear aligners with mandibular advancement feature can straighten your teeth and move your jaw forward at the same time.
The precision wings on the Invisalign aligners will slowly push the lower jaw forward to grow into the right position.
This will not only improve your bite but also enhance the appearance of your profile.
Traditional appliances to correct jaw positioning can be bulky and uncomfortable.
Invisalign aligners with the precision wings offer a comfortable, patient-friendly alternative to those bulky appliances.