Phone: 402.489.1262
Address:
Plaza Mall South
1919 S. 40th Street, Suite 218
Lincoln, NE
68506
Orthodontic Services
CAESY Videos About Orthodontic Services:
Alternatives to OrthodonticsMalocclusions
Straightening with Braces
Pediatric Braces
Caring for Braces
Wearing braces isn't only about making your teeth straight. It is important to make the teeth straight along with establishing a healthy, proper position of the jaw and its TM joint as well as maintaining a healthy, open airway. Early identification and treatment is crucial in a person's overall long term health. It has been documented that 90% of a child's cranio-facial growth is established by age 12. Many children (70%) will have some sort of malocclusion and these problems begin and can be recognized early in their lives.
All our assessments begin with identifying functional problems first, followed by skeletal problems, and finally dental problems. Functional problems are a key indicator of what may have created the child's malocclusion. Functional problems include constricted airway (tonsils and adenoids), finger sucking, and habit behavior. It is important these issues be solved first to help treatment be successful otherwise you are faced with potential relapse, worsening of the condition, or maintaining an unhealthy environment. Skeletal problems include but are not limited to how the upper and lower jaw relate to each other, if either jaw is constricted or too small, are there deficiencies or overgrowth in the upper or lower jaw, and in what direction is the growth occurring. Dental problems would include are there impaction of teeth, size discrepancies of teeth, alignment problems, or crowding.
We believe it is important to address these concerns early and not wait until cranial growth is almost complete allowing conditions to worsen possibly requiring permanent tooth extraction or possible jaw surgery to make the teeth and bone straight. At Optimal Dental we utilize a two phase approach to Orthodontics when necessary. Phase one is a functional orthopedic treatment. Functional Orthopedics utilizes fixed or removable appliances to allow easy and comfortable growth modification to help the child achieve proper jaw dimension and position. This helps provide room for the eruption of permanent teeth, positions the lower jaw in its proper dimension, and helps establish a healthy airway during the growth phase of a child. Phase two treatment is utilizing braces when necessary to correct any further tooth alignment issues after all the permanent teeth have erupted. When we have used phase one functional orthopedic treatment first it is possible that phase two treatment (braces) may not be necessary and if they are treatment time is typically less than if we didn't begin treatment until age 12 or later.
We are committed to providing the best treatment for you and your child. We are proud that this includes Orthodontic care at Optimal Dental.
All our assessments begin with identifying functional problems first, followed by skeletal problems, and finally dental problems. Functional problems are a key indicator of what may have created the child's malocclusion. Functional problems include constricted airway (tonsils and adenoids), finger sucking, and habit behavior. It is important these issues be solved first to help treatment be successful otherwise you are faced with potential relapse, worsening of the condition, or maintaining an unhealthy environment. Skeletal problems include but are not limited to how the upper and lower jaw relate to each other, if either jaw is constricted or too small, are there deficiencies or overgrowth in the upper or lower jaw, and in what direction is the growth occurring. Dental problems would include are there impaction of teeth, size discrepancies of teeth, alignment problems, or crowding.
We believe it is important to address these concerns early and not wait until cranial growth is almost complete allowing conditions to worsen possibly requiring permanent tooth extraction or possible jaw surgery to make the teeth and bone straight. At Optimal Dental we utilize a two phase approach to Orthodontics when necessary. Phase one is a functional orthopedic treatment. Functional Orthopedics utilizes fixed or removable appliances to allow easy and comfortable growth modification to help the child achieve proper jaw dimension and position. This helps provide room for the eruption of permanent teeth, positions the lower jaw in its proper dimension, and helps establish a healthy airway during the growth phase of a child. Phase two treatment is utilizing braces when necessary to correct any further tooth alignment issues after all the permanent teeth have erupted. When we have used phase one functional orthopedic treatment first it is possible that phase two treatment (braces) may not be necessary and if they are treatment time is typically less than if we didn't begin treatment until age 12 or later.
We are committed to providing the best treatment for you and your child. We are proud that this includes Orthodontic care at Optimal Dental.