Orthodontic Treatments

Orthodontic treatments performed by our Lakewood dentist focuses on correcting improper tooth or jaw alignment to ensure a patient has optimal use of his mouth for eating and speaking. Orthodontic treatment may also be used for purely cosmetic reasons to improve the appearance of a patient's teeth. Possibly the most well known orthodontic treatment is the application of braces. Braces are used to correct the misalignment of teeth, such as an overbite or crooked teeth, through application of pressure from the use of brackets that are securely fastened to the teeth and arch wires that go through the brackets. The options for braces offered by our cosmetic dentist in Lakewood include the traditional metal braces with varying bracket options or the transparent Invisalign braces.

Traditional stainless steel braces are the most well known and utilized type of braces. They are normally required by our Lakewood cosmetic dentist when the misalignment of teeth is extensive. The brackets used in the application of traditional braces may be metal, either in the same color as the arch wires or in a golden color, or ceramic, which is a color similar to the teeth and make the bracket largely unnoticeable. The brackets are closed through the use of either elastic ligatures, which connect the bracket to the arch wire, or with self-ligating braces that have brackets capable of holding the arch wire in place on their own.

Misalignment problems are common among kids and many adults. Our cosmetic dentist in Lakewood can correct these problems with traditional braces or Invisalign aligners.

Lakewood Orthodontist

Invisalign braces are useful for the patient who doesn't need major corrections to the alignment of his teeth by our dentist in Lakewood. The braces are transparent and removable, and consist of a pair of custom molded tooth aligners. Due to the transparency of the braces, they are useful for patients who are concerned about the appearance of metal braces. They should be removed to eat or drink, though they may be left in while drinking water, so they don't restrict the types of food consumed by the patient who wears them. Invisalign braces should be worn 20 to 22 hours a day and removed only during times when the patient is eating, drinking or cleaning his teeth and the aligners.

If you need to have your teeth straightened to make your smile more beautiful, contact our Lakewood cosmetic dentist to learn about the options you have.