Orthodontic Services
Peoria, AZ
Because our patients have a wide array of needs, Victor Nitu, DDS offers a wide variety of treatment options. If you would like more information, please reach out to us.
Early Orthodontics
A child will usually start getting his permanent teeth around age 6, so he should have his first orthodontic screening at age 7. Once your child’s adult teeth start erupting, we can assess how they align, both from side to side and from front to back. We can also evaluate whether there is enough space in the child’s mouth for all of his adult teeth to erupt. If there isn’t enough space, we will have to use orthodontic treatment. It is better to act sooner rather than later.
Adult Orthodontics
While orthodontic is mainly used by teenagers, at least 1 in 5 orthodontic patients is over age 21. Many adults seek orthodontics to improve their oral health and enhance the appearance of their smile. They may also have conditions such as misaligned teeth, crowding, spacing, underbites, or overbites. These can cause gum disease, tooth decay, jaw pain, and pressure, but orthodontic treatment can fix these flaws.
Traditional Braces
Braces today contain less metal than they did in years past. They consist of small metal or porcelain brackets connected to a wire and attached to your teeth to push them into the proper position. After installation, we will need to schedule appointments to track your progress and adjust the braces once every 6 to 8 weeks. We’ll also need to replace the wires throughout the treatment to keep moving your teeth toward the desired position.
Invisalign
Invisalign clear aligners are transparent trays that discreetly shape your teeth. You must remove them to eat, brush and floss, but to get the desired results, you need to wear them for at least 22 hours a day. Every two weeks, you will receive a new set of aligners, each of which will move your teeth closer to the desired position. Invisalign is a popular tooth-straightening method because you can remove the aligners and most people can’t see them.
Hidden Braces
Hidden braces are a type of lingual braces that are permanently cemented behind your teeth. They contain wires that are made of nickel-titanium and configured to fit each. The patient’s body heat activates the wires so they can shape their teeth into the correct spots. Like Invisalign, hidden braces are popular for their ability to straighten teeth invisibly.
Impacted Canines
Canine teeth become impacted when they don’t erupt properly and remain instead in the alveolar bone. The alveolar bone is the ridge of bone that contains the tooth sockets. Impacted canines can result from genetics, overcrowding, the early loss of baby teeth, teeth that are mismatched in shape and size, extra teeth inhibiting canine growth, misaligned teeth and (in rare cases) abnormal growths in the soft tissue, among other factors. If canines become impacted, they put pressure on adjacent teeth and nerves, causing pain and damaging the underlying structure, so we need to treat them promptly. |
