Orthodontics – Wilmington, IL
Customized Orthodontic Treatments For Patients of All Ages
At Grand Dental - Wilmington, our caring dental team develops custom-tailored treatments to help patients of all ages improve the health and appearance of their mouth. We offer a full range of products and orthodontic services including traditional braces, the Invisalign system, tooth-colored braces, and expanders. Expect to receive the best oral care plan possible, all under one roof! To learn more about our orthodontics in Wilmington, IL, schedule a consultation today.
Learn How We Approach Orthodontic Care
Why Choose Grand Dental - Wilmington for Orthodontics?
- Invisalign Clear Aligner Provider
- Customized Orthodontic Treatments
- Orthodontic Solutions for Children, Teens & Adults
Phase 1 Orthodontics
Early treatment (also known as Phase One) typically begins around age eight or nine (Phase Two will begin around age 11 or older). The goal of early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems, such as underbite. Early treatment also helps to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the chance of needing extractions in the future.
How to Tell if Your Child May Need Early Orthodontic Treatment:
- Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
- Teeth that don't come together in a normal manner
- Shifting of the jaw when your child opens or closes his or her mouth (crossbites)
- Protruding teeth (the top teeth and the bottom teeth extend away from each other)
- Difficulty chewing and/or biting
- Your child continues sucking his or her thumb after age five
- Speech impediments
- Early or late loss of baby teeth (your child should typically start losing teeth around age five, and have all permanent teeth around age 13)
What Causes Orthodontic Problems and How Will Early Treatment Benefit My Child?
Orthodontic problems such as crowding of the teeth, too much space between the teeth, jaw growth problems, protruding teeth, and bad bites can be inherited or caused by injury to the mouth, early or late loss of baby teeth, or thumb-sucking habits.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7. At this age, children have a mix of baby and permanent teeth, and the orthodontist can identify orthodontic problems at their earliest stages. Our team will provide your child with an initial exam and take a panoramic x-ray. That way the orthodontist can recommend the best options to care for your child’s smile now, and in the future.
Adult Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment is no longer just for teens. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists states that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. Many adults are choosing to receive treatment because they understand the importance of maintaining their health, and they want to feel better about their appearance. Adults everywhere are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive orthodontic care, and now you can too.
Health Effects That Can be Corrected with Orthodontic Treatment:
- Misalignment of the bite which can cause jaw pain and abnormal tooth wear
- Teeth are crowded or spaced apart which can result in tooth decay and gum disease
- Missing teeth resulting in bone loss and shifting of neighboring teeth
Treatment Options for Adults
For many adults, the thought of having metal braces is enough to discourage them from receiving treatment. However today’s orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of lifestyle and aesthetic choices to meet your needs. Grand Dental - Wilmington Orthodontics offers:
- Invisalign Clear Aligners
- Tooth Colored Braces
- Traditional Metal Braces
Why Should You Consider Orthodontic Treatment?
- Straight teeth are healthy teeth — Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to keep clean with flossing and brushing, and may help prevent other health problems.
- A beautiful, straight smile builds confidence — Orthodontic treatment can help boost your self-confidence, giving you a better quality of life and the freedom to smile without holding back!
- Mouths left untreated can get worse — Not receiving orthodontic treatment when it’s needed can create long-term health issues costing you more in the end.
- Incomplete orthodontic treatment as a teen — Many adults received some orthodontic treatment as a child or teen, but never completed their treatment. As an adult, they choose to complete their orthodontic treatment to achieve the healthy, beautiful smile they always wanted.
Invisalign ®
Invisalign is a popular, discreet orthodontic treatment that utilizes clear, customized aligners to gently shift your teeth into their ideal alignment. The average treatment time for patients is typically between nine to 24 months, depending on the severity of the orthodontic issues you face. To achieve the best results and stay on track with your treatment timeline, you’ll need to wear your trays for 22 hours every day, only taking them out when you eat, drink and brush and floss your teeth.
Metal Braces
Traditional wire and bracket orthodontics can be especially beneficial for patients with moderate to even severe crowding, misalignment and malocclusion problems. Braces can be attached to the teeth to help reposition and realign them for a straighter, healthier smile. Brackets work in conjunction with a thin metal wire that is adjusted at each of your orthodontic appointments. This traditional orthodontic option is ideal for kids, teens and even adults undergoing treatment.
Tooth Colored Braces
Tooth Colored Braces are made out of clear plastic or ceramic materials. They provide the same benefits and treatment as traditional braces only they are more discrete. Since the brackets are clear it is less obvious that the patient is wearing braces. Patients love this option because they provide all of the reliability and strength of metal braces while maintaining a more aesthetic, natural smile.
Expanders
An “expander” is a general term for a variety of orthodontic appliances that aim to modify the size and shape of the mouth or maintain space. These appliances can either be fixed (permanent) or removable depending on the treatment plan. Expanders apply gentle force to change the shape of the mouth as necessary, they may be spring loaded or screw activated. The goal of expander usage is to create an even and properly aligned bite.
Phases of Orthodontic Treatment
Although every case is unique, orthodontic treatment usually can be completed within 6 to 30 months. Your precise treatment timeline will depend on factors like the type and severity of the misalignment, the type of orthodontic treatment being used, and your ability as the patient to adhere to the treatment plan. In general, most orthodontic procedures have three major stages: the planning phase, the active phase, and the retention phase.
Phase 1: Planning Phase
In order to determine the most effective way to correct alignment issues, we first need to diagnose them. Our in-house orthodontist will take X-rays of your teeth and jaw to see the exact position of each tooth and check for potential complications. Also, we will look at your medical and dental history to make sure any existing issues can be controlled before we start orthodontic treatment. Finally, we’ll make a study model or impression of your teeth so that we can more accurately examine how to properly realign each tooth relative to each other.
Phase 2: Active Phase
When we’ve put together a customized treatment plan, it’s time to follow through with it. Various custom orthodontic devices can be utilized to slowly shift teeth into ideal alignment. For some orthodontic treatment, such as traditional braces and tooth-colored braces, the devices are fixed to the teeth and restrict what the patient can and cannot eat during treatment. In other situations, patients must wear removable devices such as Invisalign aligners for a certain amount of time every day, but they may remove the devices for meals and regular cleanings. In any case, the patient will need to come to Grand Dental – Wilmington to visit the orthodontist for adjustments or progress checks.
Phase 3: Retention Phase
After your teeth have been properly positioned, you will need to wear a retainer to prevent regression, or in other words, to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original alignment. A removable retainer must be worn for most of each day for a specific time period so that your new smile stays picture perfect. The retention phase is successful when it allows the jawbone to reform around the realigned teeth to maintain their perfectly straight positions.
Dental Monitoring
In the past, patients always had to make in-person office visits so our team could evaluate the progress of their orthodontic treatment. Nowadays, though, technology is changing that. To take advantage of Dental Monitoring, all you have to do is download a specialized app. Then, simply take photos of your teeth, and the app’s artificial intelligence interface will determine if your teeth are moving as we hoped. This convenient provision can reduce the number of trips you make to our office and allow us to identify any potential issues with your treatment as soon as possible.
Light Force Brackets
We want your orthodontic care experience to be as comfortable and efficient as possible, so we now use advanced Light Force brackets. They are customized to each tooth, tailored to your unique mouth with the help of three-dimensional digital impressions. This customization allows for more predictable, faster tooth movements that can propel you toward your final results as quickly as possible. As an added bonus, the brackets are translucent, providing pleasing aesthetics that can allow you to smile with confidence even while you are wearing braces.
Braces & Invisalign Videos
Invisalign First Clear Aligners
Health Effects
of Misaligned Teeth
How Invisalign
Really Works
