TREATMENTS

EARLY ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

Early evaluation provides both timely detection of problems and greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Prudent intervention guides growth and development, preventing serious problems later. When orthodontic intervention is not necessary, an orthodontist can carefully monitor growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal.

Early treatment, also called Phase I, can be done with fixed appliances or even removable clear aligners (see Multi-Phase Invisalign)

Why is age 7 considered the optimal time for screening?

By the age of 7, the first adult molars erupt, establishing the back bite. During this time, an orthodontist can evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships. For example, the presence of erupting incisors can indicate possible overbite, open bite, crowding or gummy smiles. Timely screening increases the chances for an incredible smile.

What are the advantages of interceptive treatment?

Some of the most direct results of interceptive treatment are:

Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth
Creating facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth
Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
Preserving space for unerupted teeth
Reducing the need for tooth removal
Reducing treatment time with braces

Will my child need full braces if he/she has Phase One treatment?

It is best to assume that your child will need full braces even after Phase One treatment. The period following Phase One treatment is called the “resting period,” during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations.

BRACES AREN’T JUST FOR KIDS

Teeth alignment can be changed at any age if your gums and bone structure are healthy. We offer a variety of treatments that are designed for different age groups – including adults. A new smile can begin today.

Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is equally important. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, even headaches and sometimes jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.

GOOD NEWS

The new techniques and appliances we use greatly reduce discomfort levels, decrease the frequency of visits, shorten treatment time and may allow you to choose from several options. Your options may include metal braces, translucent braces and even transparent aligners that can be worn at night to improve mild cases of misaligned teeth.

During the initial examination, we will be able to determine the best possible treatment for your individual needs. During this initial examination, we can outline the treatment plan, time of treatment expected and the approximate cost. A large percentage of our patients are adults, and they agree that it’s never too late to improve their greatest asset – their smile.

The Invisalign® System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with the 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners, Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets. The aligners are virtually invisible, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.

Invisalign® aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by Dr. Faust. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan.

Your first step is to visit our office to determine if Invisalign® is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign® uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions into a sequence of finely calibrated aligners – as few as 12 or as many as 48. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually, week by week, until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you’ll be smiling like you never have before!

Invisalign Teen is specially designed to allow for the development and growth of permanent teeth. The aligners have a blue dot indicator which fades with wear and allows Dr Faust to better assess the teenager’s level of compliance. Invisalign Teen also allows for up to six replacements aligners in case they are lost at no additional charge. Not every teenager is a candidate for Invisalign Teen. Dr Faust will speak with you at length about the level of responsibility required to make Invisalign Teen a successful treatment option.

In the rare case that your child is not compliant with their Invisalign aligners, we will transition them to braces at no charge.

Invisalign teen haverford | Faust Orthodontics Havertown Pa

MULTI-PHASE INVISALIGN TREATMENT

Phase I, or early interceptive, orthodontics is typically done on children between the ages of 7-10 to address a significant lack of space for the eruption of the permanent teeth. This is usually accomplished by the expansion of the upper and lower jaws to create space and prevent eruption issues from becoming more severe.

In the past this has typically been done with fixed appliances and braces. With advances in removable clear aligner therapy, we can now achieve this with a more comfortable and hygienic option. (In more severe cases, a fixed palate expander appliance may be used for the first few months before transitioning into clear aligners)

Removable clear aligners are worn day and night (20/24 hours is recommended) and are changed weekly. The initial expansion phase typically lasts around 1 year. Your child then enters into a retention phase where aligners are worn only at night. Once all or most of the adult teeth have erupted we then enter back into an active phase of aligner treatment to finish the case. On Average the 2nd phase of active aligner therapy lasts 18 months.

The advantages of the multi-phase Invisalign treatment include: better hygiene, greater comfort, less dietary restrictions, few if any emergency appointments, and the cost is actually cheaper than typical Phase I and Phase II braces if done separately.

There is no charge for any lost aligners during any phase of treatment. If we find that your child is not wearing his aligners during the 1 st phase of treatment we will switch them to braces at no charge.

GOODBYE TO THE GOOP!

We feature the iTero Intraoral Digital Scanner in our practice. This means that we no longer need to take impressions for retainers, expanders, or Invisalign. When your mouth is scanned, which takes about 4-8 minutes, the image is immediately sent digitally to our lab for 3D printing.

This technology makes our patients experience more comfortable and ensures more accurate appliances.

Healthy Teeth & Gums

When teeth are properly aligned, it helps the gums fit more securely around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against potential periodontal problems.

Easier Cleaning

One of the biggest challenges of having braces is removing all the food that gets trapped in the brackets and wires. This can often lead to plaque buildup and eventually tooth decay. With Invisalign, the aligners are removable, so it’s easy to continue brushing and flossing your teeth the way you normally do.

Overall Health

Think of your teeth as a window to the health of your body. Your teeth and gums — and how they look to others when you smile—say a lot about your overall health. If you’re taking good care of both, you’re probably taking good care of the rest of you.