

At Grand Dental - Aurora, we have an orthodontic specialist on site that 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. Because our orthodontic team works in concert with your dentist and hygienist you will get the best oral care plan possible, all under one roof. To learn more about our orthodontic services, schedule a consultation today!
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.
Learn About Phase One Orthodontics
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.
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.
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 Orthodontics offers:
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.
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.
Learn About Traditional 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.
There are three distinct phases of orthodontic treatment: the planning phase, the active phase, and the retention phase. This is why it often takes between 6 and 30 months to complete treatment. The exact timeframe patients can expect will vary from person to person based on the type of braces in Aurora, the severity of malocclusion, and how well the individual follows and commits to the customized plan.
At Grand Dental – Aurora, we have an in-house orthodontist who will perform a thorough examination and provide a definitive diagnosis that will determine the best way to realign a person’s smile. Dental X-rays make it possible to view the teeth and jaw and visualize the type of treatment required to bring teeth back into proper alignment. Also, a patient can expect to discuss their medical history so that if there are any pre-existing conditions, they can be addressed before moving forward with orthodontic treatment.
The last step of the planning phase is to capture an impression of the individual’s teeth to see how the teeth are positioned next to each other.
Once our orthodontist formalizes the treatment plan, patients can expect to receive customized orthodontic appliances. Whether they are traditional braces or clear aligners, they will be created and applied so that teeth will begin to move slowly in the right direction. If receiving traditional orthodontics in Aurora (i.e., metal brackets), they will be bonded to the tooth enamel. This requires certain restrictions when it comes to food and drinks. However, with Invisalign clear aligners, patients can freely remove them before eating or drinking but will need to wear them for 20-22 hours each day. No matter the type of orthodontics, patients will be required to follow up with their dentist every few weeks.
The last stage of orthodontic treatment in Aurora is the retention phase. This is when the braces come off, and an individual is equipped with a custom-made retainer. This ensures the teeth will remain in their new location until they are permanently integrated. It is necessary that patients wear their retainers to avoid undoing all their hard work. By emphasizing the importance of retainer wear, individuals can expect lasting results.
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.
As part of a patient’s orthodontic treatment, we can use Light Force brackets that are custom-made to fit each individual tooth. More aesthetically pleasing than traditional metal, they are translucent so that they blend in more seamlessly with smiles. By using these brackets, we can avoid traditional dental impressions and instead, take a digital scan that produces a three-dimensional model that personalizes a patient’s treatment so that their needs are met and more predictable results are achieved.
Patients who want to minimize the number of times they visit our dental office in Aurora for orthodontic treatment can appreciate our new dental monitoring system. Relying on the technology of smartphones, patients can easily upload photos of their smiles each week to a particular app. The artificial intelligence used will then identify oral structures and any problem areas as well as monitor tooth movement to provide dentists with a remote view of a patient’s orthodontic progress.