Dentofacial Orthopedics

You already know what it means to be an orthodontist, but what about specializing in dentofacial orthopedics? By specializing in dentofacial orthopedics, Dr. Reese has attained the special distinction earned by orthodontists who have completed a two to three year orthodontic residency program.

Dentofacial orthopedics is the process of normalizing the growth of a patient’s bone structure and repairing any imbalances of the face and jaws. This process often involves a two-phase treatment and often begins when the patient is around seven or eight years old but can also be quite effective in older patients especially while they are still growing

Types of Orthopedic Correctors

Bite Plates

Expanders

Headgear

Dentofacial Orthopedic Correction for Children

Children are often the best candidates for receiving dentofacial orthopedic therapy. Beginning at a young age, Dr. Reese will examine and monitor your child’s growth to determine when starting treatment will be most effective. If your child begins orthodontic treatment before all adult teeth have erupted, it is known as phase one treatment. During phase one treatment, Dr. Reese will use treatments designed to correct your child’s jaw growth and make sure that the jaw bone is properly aligned before beginning the second phase of treatment, which usually involves braces to straighten the teeth.

Dentofacial Orthopedic Correction for Adults

Dentofacial orthopedics is also used to treat adults; however, this process may involve surgery. In children, the jaw bones are still forming and have not completely hardened, making it easier for orthodontists to control bone growth and tooth movement. Adults, however, are no longer growing, and their jaw bones have hardened making it more of a challenge to adjust the bite and move teeth into proper alignment if the facial bones are misaligned.

To learn more about dentofacial orthopedics, and to find out if this type of treatment is right for you, please contact our practice and schedule an orthodontic consultation with Dr. Reese.