Are you a mom looking for the best orthodontic care for your child?
If your child is struggling with jaw pain, misaligned teeth, or an improper bite, orthodontic jaw alignment services may be the solution you’ve been searching for. Various factors, including injury and birth defects, can affect jaw alignment and lead to issues such as improper bites, difficulties in chewing, and speech problems.
Here at Impact Orthodontics in Calgary, we understand how important a healthy and functional jaw is for a child’s overall well-being.
Let’s dive into why you might consider orthodontic jaw alignment services for your child, what the process entails, and how it can positively affect their future oral health.
Understanding Jaw Alignment
What is Jaw Alignment?
Jaw alignment refers to the proper positioning of the upper and lower jaws in relation to each other and the surrounding facial structure. When the jaws are well-aligned, it ensures that chewing, speaking, and breathing functions are optimal. However, a misaligned jaw can lead to various issues, including difficulty in these basic functions, as well as concerns with facial aesthetics and overall well-being. Understanding the basics of jaw alignment can help you recognize potential issues early on, allowing for timely intervention and treatment.
What Are Orthodontic Jaw Alignment Services?
Orthodontic jaw alignment services are specialized treatments designed to correct misaligned jaws and teeth. But this goes beyond just straightening teeth with traditional braces.
When the upper and lower jaws don’t align properly, it can cause a host of issues, including difficulty chewing, speaking, and even breathing.
Correcting these problems through orthodontic treatment and corrective jaw surgery ensures your child develops a healthy dental-facial relationship.
For example, if your child has an improper bite, or their top and bottom teeth don’t meet correctly, they could be at risk of jaw pain or even TMJ pain later in life.
At Impact Orthodontics, our orthodontic jaw alignment services focus on addressing these issues before they become more serious. This involves a comprehensive approach that transitions from orthodontic preparation to the actual surgery, ensuring optimal alignment and function.
Why Should You Consider Orthodontic Jaw Alignment Services?
You might wonder, “Is this really necessary for my child?” The truth is, jaw alignment plays a critical role in their long-term oral health.
Here are some reasons why moms in Calgary are turning to orthodontic jaw alignment services:
- Improved Jaw Function: A misaligned jaw affects how your child chews, speaks, and even breathes. Early treatment helps ensure their jaws function properly as they grow.
- Better Facial Appearance: Believe it or not, jaw alignment also impacts your child’s facial appearance. Correcting issues like an overbite or underbite through orthodontic treatment can enhance their profile and facial symmetry.
- Long-Term Oral Health: Fixing a misaligned jaw prevents further complications such as crooked teeth, crowded teeth, and TMJ disorders.
As moms, we want the best for our children—both now and in the future. Opting for orthodontic jaw alignment services ensures your child’s smile is both beautiful and functional for years to come.
A complete and thorough examination by an orthodontist is the first step. This allows us to craft a treatment plan tailored specifically to your child’s needs.
Orthodontic Solutions for Jaw Alignment
Braces and Jaw Alignment
Braces are a common orthodontic solution for correcting misaligned jaws. By applying gentle pressure to the teeth, braces can help reposition the upper and lower jaws, improving facial appearance, chewing function, and overall oral health. Braces can be used to correct various jaw alignment issues, including:
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Crowded teeth
By addressing these issues, braces not only enhance the alignment of the jaws but also contribute to a healthier, more functional smile for your child.
What Does Orthodontic Jaw Alignment Entail?
When you bring your child to Impact Orthodontics in Calgary for orthodontic jaw alignment services, you’re not just getting braces slapped on.
It’s a gradual process that involves multiple steps, each carefully designed to ensure the best results. Let’s break it down:
- Initial Consultation and Examination: A complete and thorough examination helps assess whether jaw surgery or other treatments are needed.
- Treatment Plan Development: Based on the results of the exam, we create a treatment plan that may include braces, orthodontic treatment, or even corrective jaw surgery.
- Pre-Surgical Preparation (if surgery is needed): If orthognathic surgery is required, you’ll visit a hospitals pre-admission clinic for your child’s surgery date.
- Surgical Progression: During the surgical process, an oral maxillofacial surgeon repositions the upper and lower jaws for proper alignment. Post-operative care following upper jaw surgery includes taking prescribed antibiotics and avoiding actions that may increase the risk of infection, such as blowing the nose.
- Post-Surgery Recovery: After surgery, your child may experience facial swelling and need to follow a non-chew food diet for up to one week.
It might sound daunting, but rest assured, the team at Impact Orthodontics is here to support you every step of the way.
Following the post-operative instructions is crucial for a smooth recovery. Encourage your child to use a child-size soft toothbrush and anti-bacterial mouth rinse to keep the surgical site clean.
The Benefits of Corrective Jaw Surgery for Jaw Alignment
For some children, orthodontic jaw alignment services involve more than braces—they need corrective jaw surgery.
While this may sound intimidating, it can significantly improve their quality of life. Here’s how:
- Enhanced Facial Balance: Corrective jaw surgery repositions the jaws to create a more harmonious facial profile, improving both facial appearance and function.
- Improved Chewing Function: Misaligned jaws often lead to problems with chewing. Corrective jaw surgery can affect chewing function, making it easier for your child to eat a balanced diet.
- Reduction of Jaw Pain: Jaw pain, jaw popping, and TMJ pain can all be reduced or eliminated through surgery. This means fewer headaches, earaches, and other discomforts.
Following surgery, be prepared for discomfort post-surgery and significant facial swelling for up to one week. Staying patient and following care guidelines will help minimize these side effects.
Early Signs Your Child May Need Orthodontic Jaw Alignment services
It’s important to know when your child might need orthodontic jaw alignment services. Keep an eye out for these early signs:
- Crooked Teeth: When your child’s teeth don’t grow in straight, it’s a strong indicator of misaligned jaws.
- Jaw Pain: If your child complains of chronic jaw pain or experiences jaw popping, it’s worth having their jaw alignment checked.
- Improper Bite: An overbite, underbite, or crossbite are all signs of an improper bite that could benefit from orthodontic treatment.
The sooner you catch these signs, the easier it will be to correct them with orthodontic jaw alignment services.
Regular orthodontic check-ups will help catch early signs of jaw alignment issues. Don’t wait until your child is in pain—schedule a visit if you notice these symptoms.
Life After Orthodontic Jaw Alignment Services
So, what happens after your child has undergone orthodontic jaw alignment services? Well, their journey to a healthy smile isn’t quite over yet.
The surgical progression might be behind them, but they’ll still need to follow up with their orthodontist to monitor their progress.
- Retainers: After the braces come off, your child may need to wear retainers to keep their teeth in place.
- Post-Surgery Care: If your child underwent jaw surgery, they’ll need to follow specific post-operative instructions to ensure a smooth recovery.
- Ongoing Check-ups: Continued orthodontic check-ups will ensure the alignment remains on track, setting your child up for a lifetime of oral health.
Make sure your child uses a non-chew food diet and sticks to soft foods as they recover from surgery.
Conclusion: Choosing Orthodontic Jaw Alignment Services at Impact Orthodontics
At Impact Orthodontics in Calgary, we are dedicated to helping your child achieve the best possible jaw alignment.
Our orthodontic jaw alignment services not only straighten teeth but also improve your child’s overall facial appearance, jaw function, and long-term oral health.
Whether your child needs braces or corrective jaw surgery, we’ll craft a treatment plan that’s personalized just for them.
In the end, it’s all about giving your child the confidence to smile wide and live without the pain or discomfort that a misaligned jaw can cause.
Why wait? Book a consultation today and take the first step toward ensuring your child’s jaws function properly, their teeth align beautifully, and their smiles light up every room they enter.
