What Is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a specialty practice of dentistry. All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialty training.  Orthodontic treatment allows us to bring the teeth and jaws into harmony in three dimensions, resulting in beautiful smiles, improved dental health and function, and an enhanced quality of life.

With a thorough understanding of the movement and growth of teeth and jaws, we are able to treat many problems, such as:

• Crowded teeth
• Gaps/spaces between teeth
• Protruding teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Impacted teeth

We believe that an orthodontic screening for each child should be completed around the age of 7 or about the time of eruption of the upper permanent front teeth. This permits the identification of any developing problems and allows for early interceptive treatment if needed. When indicated, early treatment (Phase 1), can be extremely valuable in preventing future problems in jaw and tooth development. Even if no treatment is recommended at the first appointment, the x-ray and exam are valuable for assessing growth and development. In the majority of cases, treatment begins around age 10 to 12.

Adults can be treated at any age. It is never too late to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful, healthy smile. Many adults had braces in their teens, but have relapsed and required additional orthodontic treatment to move the shifting teeth back into place.

At Papasikos Orthodontics, we enjoy treating patients of all ages: children, teens, and adults. We are proud to serve orthodontic patients of all ages in Bloomfield, Montclair,  Verona, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge and the surrounding communities.

We are happy to provide a free comprehensive orthodontic consultations to all patients.