The Orthodontist Des Peres, MO Loves

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that most children undergo an orthodontic screening by age 7. Doing so allows Dr. Jaclyn Scroggins to determine if they need orthodontic treatment and the best time to receive treatment. Many dentists in our community have been trained to identify orthodontic problems early and may refer you to our office sooner than age 7.

Early diagnosis and treatment can guide erupting teeth into a more favorable position, preserve space for permanent teeth, and reduce the likelihood of fracturing protruded front teeth.

If early treatment is indicated, Dr. Scroggins can guide the growth of the jaw and incoming permanent teeth. 

Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment after all the permanent teeth erupt.

Early treatment does not necessarily benefit all children. Some orthodontic issues can be more quickly and efficiently corrected in the teen years when all the permanent teeth have erupted. 

Some skeletal orthodontic problems should only be addressed once growth is more advanced or completed. The doctor develops a treatment plan based on each child's needs. If the doctor decides the patient is not ready for treatment, they are placed on our orthodontic supervisory program, commonly known as a recall system.

The orthodontic supervisory program is for patients not ready for treatment and on recall. This program enables us to monitor the eruptive pattern of the permanent teeth. Sometimes, we correct poor eruption patterns of permanent teeth with early removal of baby teeth, which can reduce the treatment time required for braces. 

We will notify your general dentist of any recommendations made during your visit. We usually see the patients on recall every 6-9 months to observe their progress as they grow. This program has no fee and helps the orthodontist determine the optimum time to begin treatment and achieve the best possible result for your child.

Braces can improve the function of the bite and teeth, improve the ability to clean the teeth, prevent wear on the teeth, and increase the longevity of natural teeth.

Early treatment can begin correcting significant problems, prevent more severe problems from developing, and simplify future treatment. Because all permanent teeth have not yet erupted when early treatment occurs, their final alignment may not be correct. Typically, a shortened comprehensive phase of treatment (Phase II – full braces) in the teen years, after all the permanent teeth have erupted, completes the correction. However, in some circumstances, further orthodontic treatment may not be indicated.

Patients with braces and other orthodontic appliances require more effort to clean their teeth and gums. Because we want to ensure the highest level of dental health, we recommend you see your family dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings every six months during treatment.

Adults can benefit from orthodontic treatment in many ways. These include:

• Align the teeth to create a more aesthetic and beautiful smile
• Correct relapse after previous orthodontic treatment due to the lack of long-term retainer wear
• Improve the ability to brush and floss, especially for crowded or overlapping lower front teeth
• Create a better or more comfortable bite and ability to chew
• Address missing teeth
• Close spaces between the teeth
• Reduce excessive wear on the teeth due to grinding or poor bite
• Jaw surgery to correct the discrepancy between the upper and lower jaws.

Many adults are concerned with the appearance of braces. Clear aligners such as a known brand like Invisalign®  can often be used to treat adults. This technology involves clear removable aligners fabricated through advanced 3D imaging to align the teeth. For more severe problems, we have the option of clear ceramic brackets instead of metal.

Orthodontic treatment is no more uncomfortable for adults than children. Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment report the same level of soreness as children (although adults are more willing to tell us about the soreness).

Typically, the teeth are most uncomfortable 12-24 hours after an orthodontic adjustment and will disappear within 3 to 5 days. Modern appliances are smaller and more comfortable to wear. 

Modern techniques with new titanium technology put less pressure on the teeth, causing less discomfort while moving the teeth more rapidly and efficiently. It also decreases the time required between adjustments to every 8 – 10 weeks. Treatment time, on average, is completed in 16-18 months.

We determine the fee for adult orthodontic treatments like we assess child or adolescent procedures. It is based on the severity of the problem, the complexity of the correction, the appliances used, and the time to correct.