Children should start seeing a family dentist around age 1 or when their first tooth comes in, but how do you know when it’s time to see an orthodontist? Whether you’re looking for a children’s orthodontist or have questions about your own teeth, let Izadi Orthodontics help you decide what to do. Dr. Mohammad Izadi sees children and adults in his Timonium orthodontist office for a variety of oral health concerns.
What Does An Orthodontist Do?
An orthodontist is a dental specialist who is trained in tooth and jaw alignment in addition to general dentistry. Many general dentists can examine basic jaw and teeth alignment, but
Izadi Orthodontics evaluates the structure of your teeth, gums, and jaw joints and how they function in relation to one another.
Some functions of an orthodontist include:
- Overseeing facial structure development in children
- Diagnose and treat malocclusion, which refers to misaligned teeth and jaws
- Develop treatment plans to include appliances such as braces, palatal expanders, retainers, and Herbst appliances
How Do I Know When I Need An Orthodontist?
In order to know when an orthodontist is necessary for your child or yourself, understand why proper tooth and jaw alignment is so important. Improper alignment can cause oral health problems such as uneven wear on teeth, TMJ disorders, difficulty speaking, and tooth decay. More severe problems such as cleft palate, cleft lip, and other skeletal abnormalities can negatively impact a person’s oral health for their entire life if left untreated.
The American Board of Orthodontics recommends children have an orthodontist examination by age 7 to determine if there are any developmental concerns. Early intervention can help to avoid extensive treatment down the road.
While many general dentists offer some tooth straightening options such as Invisalign or short-term braces, you might want to visit an orthodontist if you are dealing with orthodontic relapse as an adult or your dentist suspects deeper jaw alignment issues.
No matter what age you are, orthodontic treatment can play an important role in the establishment, maintenance, or restoration of optimal oral health and a beautiful, functional smile.
Orthodontist in Timonium, MD
Dr. Izadi has extensive continuing education in orthodontics and has been practicing orthodontics in the Baltimore area for nearly 30 years. Our office strives to build long-lasting relationships with patients, based on trust and compassion with a goal of achieving a functional, comfortable lifetime smile. Schedule an appointment with us online or call Izadi Orthodontics at (410) 919-9806 today.