Orthodontic Braces in Ontario

A straight, healthy smile can play a significant role in life, both socially and in terms of your health.

Orthodontic treatment can positively impact your self-confidence. Some people find themselves smiling for pictures more, laughing more heartily or even speaking up and sharing their thoughts and opinions with more confidence, all because they feel more at ease with how their teeth look.

Orthodontic treatment can also have a positive effect on your overall health. Correctly aligned teeth are less prone to chipping or damage, and they’re also much easier to clean properly than misaligned teeth are. This can prevent problems like tooth decay, bad breath, gingivitis and gum disease.

A well-aligned bite also creates less strain on the jaw muscles and joints, making for easier chewing and better digestion and though orthodontic treatment may seem costly at the outset, over time, it can help you avoid more expensive dental procedures by proactively ensuring your smile is healthy.

Orthodontic problems are often easier to correct when they are detected and treated early.

For this reason, the Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends that children should visit the orthodontist for the first time by the age of 7.

Some children may not need treatment until they are between the ages of 11 and 13, but since the first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in around age 7, issues like crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated and monitored at this early age.

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Phase 2 treatment — or comprehensive treatment — involves full braces that are applied only after all the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of 11 and 13.

In some cases, orthodontic problems can be significant enough to require intervention earlier than usual. This early stage of treatment is generally referred to as Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatment. Of course, if a young patient is not yet ready for treatment, we will monitor their growth and development until the time is right for treatment to begin. 

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Phase 1, otherwise known as early interceptive treatment, involves implementing limited types of orthodontic treatment (e.g., expanders or partial braces) before all the child's permanent teeth have erupted.

These types of treatment usually start between the ages of 6 and 10. We may recommend early treatment to make more space for developing teeth; correct crossbites, overbites or underbites; or to mitigate harmful oral habits. 

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Most of the time, Phase 1 treatment is done in preparation for Phase 2 treatment. This means that it is quite likely that your child will eventually need full braces. 

However, early treatment can make future orthodontic treatment significantly more efficient. It can help to regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, create space for permanent teeth to erupt correctly, prevent the need to extract permanent teeth, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumbsucking habits and help eliminate abnormal speech or swallowing problems.

Essentially, Phase 1 treatment can help make Phase 2 treatment easier on your child in the long run.

A child may need orthodontic treatment at an early age for a variety of reasons. When treatment is initiated at a young age, the orthodontist can make efforts to guide the growth of the jaw (Dentofacial Orthopedics) and the emerging permanent teeth.

All of the following issues may be treated with early (Phase 1) orthodontics:

• Thumbsucking
• Trouble with chewing and breathing
• Late or early loss of baby teeth
• Crowded, loose or impacted teeth
• Upper and lower teeth that do not meet correctly
• Improper jaw alignment
• Tongue thrusting
• Crossbites

With braces, you’ll be able to safely and comfortably eat most of the foods you normally do, with some exceptions. For the most part, you’ll want to avoid the following:

• Hard foods: hard pretzels, nuts, chips, hard candy
• Chewy/sticky foods: gummy bears, taffy, gum, caramels
• Foods that you bite into: apples. corn on the cob, celery, carrots

This is a very common question and for good reason! Having a time frame in mind can be very helpful in mentally preparing for your orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment can take anywhere from 9 months to 5 years from start to finish. Most of the time, though, it lasts between 12 and 24 months. The duration of your orthodontic treatment depends on the following factors:

The problem that is being corrected: The position of your teeth and the extent of the problem will affect the duration of treatment. Everyone is different!

If you’ve had Phase 1 treatment: Some teenagers or pre-teens have already undergone orthodontic treatment when they were younger (what’s called Phase 1 treatment). If you’ve had Phase 1 treatment, then you’ll probably have a bit of a head start!

How you care for your teeth and braces during treatment: The way you take care of your teeth and orthodontic appliances while you undergo treatment can affect how long it ends up taking. If you follow the care instructions your orthodontist gives you, you likely won’t need to wear your braces for longer than originally planned.

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Orthodontic treatment has no age limit! In fact, many adults receive orthodontic treatment.

We treat adults, and even seniors, regularly. The basic biological process that allows teeth to move is essentially the same in all healthy individuals, no matter their age.

For the most part, your braces will have little impact on your daily life. Once your teeth and mouth have adapted to your braces (they may feel a bit sensitive and tender at first), you’ll be able to go right back to your usual daily activities without any significant disruptions. 

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Invisalign: clear, custom, removable aligners straighten your teeth without wires and brackets. Invisalign clear aligners is a low-profile treatment, which means many people won't even notice that you’re straightening your teeth.