Do I need Orthodontics?
- Some teeth don’t meet at all.
- Baby teeth falling out too early or very late.
- The centers of the top and bottom front teeth don’t line up.
- Often biting the cheek or roof of the mouth.
- Finger sucking or tongue sucking habit continuing after 6 years of age.
- Difficulty chewing or biting with teeth that don’t meet evenly on both sides.
- Teeth wearing unevenly.
- Jaws that shift off center when the teeth bite together.
- Embarrassing teeth or smile often hidden by hands.
- Top front teeth protrude or are “bucked”.
- Top front teeth cover more than 25 percent of the bottom front teeth when the back teeth are biting together.
- Top front teeth grow in behind the bottom front teeth.
- A space exists between the top and bottom front teeth with the back teeth biting together.
- Crowded, overlapped, misplaced teeth or extra teeth.
- Excessive spaces between teeth that persist after the top permanent canine teeth appear.






An even bite for improved jaw alignment and function.
Improved self-esteem and self-confidence.
Cleaner, healthier teeth.
Improve the width of the dental arches.
Reduce or eliminate the need to extract permanent teeth.
Reduce or eliminate the need for jaw surgery.
Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth.
Correct harmful oral habits.
Improve self-image related to appearance.
Preserve or gain space for erupting permanent teeth.
Simplify and shorten treatment time for definitive orthodontic treatment.
Increase stability of final treatment results.
Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth.
Improve speech development.
Help eliminate breathing problems.
Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions.
Improve lip closure.
Reduce potential for damage to the jaw joints.
Regardless of a person’s age, orthodontic treatment is usually a change for the better. The mechanics involved in the movement of teeth are essentially the same in adults as in children. Gaps between teeth, crowding, protruding front teeth and teeth in abnormal positions are problems that may be corrected in the adult by orthodontic treatment.
However, because an adult’s facial bones are no longer growing, certain conditions cannot be resolved with braces alone. Sometimes, surgery is required to obtain the correct result. The health of teeth, gums and supporting bone, as well as jaw relationships, are key factors in determining the prospects of improving one’s appearance through orthodontic treatment.
Research has proven that children and adults who believe their teeth are unattractive may suffer from a lack of self-esteem and confidence. Dr. Joyce Brothers, a leading psychologist, has said the need for acceptance is something we never outgrow. An adult who feels unattractive because of crooked teeth may cover his or her mouth when speaking or laughing and may feel self-conscious in social situations. Orthodontics has the ability to improve this.