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These dental specialists are trained to diagnose and treat improperly positioned teeth or a poor bite, with the intention to improve how the teeth function and their overall aesthetic appearance. 

Along with holding the same degree as a general dentist, an orthodontist has completed an additional three years of university and earned a specialty designation. 

While general dentists can take continuing education courses to perform some basic orthodontic procedures, an orthodontist would provide a more advanced, guided treatment plan for all of your orthodontic needs.

While we often think of only young people receiving orthodontic treatment due to the importance of early intervention, many adults also consider orthodontic care. 

An orthodontist can assess orthodontic issues and give advice for treatment of jaw problems, a poor bite or crooked teeth. They can also help identify the underlying cause of these issues. 

While your family dentist will often diagnose an orthodontic problem and refer you to an orthodontist, a referral is not needed to schedule an orthodontic consultation. 

Early treatment offers the chance to:

• Create a better environment for the eruption of permanent teeth by guiding the growth of young jawbones. 
• Regulate the width of the jaw 
• Guide growth of incoming teeth into their ideal positions 
• Preserve or gain space for permanent teeth yet to arrive
• Decrease the risk of teeth becoming impacted beneath the gums 
• Correction of harmful sucking habits

Individuals of any age can benefit from orthodontic treatment. The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) and the Canadian Association of Orthodontics have indicated that every child should see an orthodontist for an initial assessment as early as 7 years old. 

Early diagnosis can yield many advantages, especially since treatment options may become more limited once permanent teeth have emerged. Facial growth also slows as we age into teen and adulthood. 

We can address issues such as teeth crowding by guiding jaw growth. This can often eliminate the need for tooth extractions or complex surgeries later in life. 

Plus, if mouthbreathing, dental decay, thumbsucking and other issues are caught early, your orthodontist can help to prevent these issues from becoming worse for your child. 

At Village Orthodontics, no referral is necessary. However, your family dentist can often help with a recommendation and with more information on orthodontics.

As you consider your options, keep in mind that orthodontists are dental specialists who have met the exacting standards of education and experience set out by the Canadian Dental Association.

People can successfully undergo orthodontic treatment at any age, since moving teeth involves taking the same steps with children as with adults. 

A person's prospects for improvement and their options for treatment also depend on the health of their teeth, gums and supporting bones. Adults have many treatment options at their disposal. Our team would look forward to discussing these with you, and we will be happy to provide treatment recommendations. 

Invisalign is a line of plastic clear aligners and a potential alternative treatment option for adults who may feel self-conscious about undergoing treatment and do not want to draw undue attention to their teeth. 

While clear aligners are less noticeable and are also removable, they are not an option for all types of orthodontic cases. 

We recommend coming in for a full orthodontic examination to determine whether you are a candidate for Invisalign. Healthy teeth can be realigned at any age, and an orthodontist can help you straighten your smile. 

If you are a mature teen or adult who meets certain conditions, you may be a candidate for Invisalign clear aligners. This alternative to metal braces can correct a range of problems. However, they cannot correct bites due to improperly positioned jaw bones, so not everyone will be a candidate. 

We recommend scheduling a full orthodontic consultation with one of our orthodontists. Many patients will choose braces to address issues that are more difficult for clear aligners to resolve, followed by Invisalign clear aligners to correctly align teeth. 

Your Invisalign treatment will involve wearing a series of clear aligners that you switch out about every seven days. Each aligner is individually manufactured with precise calculations to gradually shift your teeth into place. 

If you'd like a straighter smile without the need for braces, Invisalign may be the ideal choice for you. 

Invisalign clear aligners are removable, which allows you to eat all your favourite foods. While it may take some time to adjust to your aligners, many people say they are more low profile than braces. 

Your orthodontist will tailor your treatment plan to your needs. Depending on the severity and complexity of your orthodontic issue and the amount of time it takes to correct the problem, treatment costs vary. 

Our team understands each person has individual financial needs, and will always discuss fees and payment options before starting treatment. 

We at Village Orthodontics do not subscribe to charging a fee for the consultation- this has been a philosophy which has been a part of our culture for over 40 years. During your consultation, orthodontic records will be taken and we'll make recommendations for treatment. 

Yes - in most cases. Once permanent teeth have emerged, treatment is typically required to complete the work started in their earlier phase. 

While we'll work to retain the correction and progress made in Phase 1, we'll aim to guide growth of permanent teeth into more favourable positions. Since treatment planning is critical to success, your orthodontist will monitor your child's growth and development carefully during their period. 

Even if you think your treatment with braces or aligners is over, your jawbone is still healing. Orthodontic treatment shifts your teeth into new positions, but it takes time for your jaw to reform around them. This is where retainers come in. Retainers are orthodontic appliances designed to help hold your teeth in their new positions. This is important for maintaining your results.

Retainers are an important part of maintaining your orthodontic results. Most patients wear their retainers full time at first before transitioning to nighttime wear only, based on their orthodontist’s instructions and treatment needs.

Although retainer replacement can vary based on everyday wear and tear, most orthodontists typically recommend replacing your retainer each year. Signs it’s time for a replacement include a loose fit, visible discoloration, or lingering odours that don’t improve with proper cleaning.

Those who choose to undergo orthodontic treatment may enjoy numerous health benefits. If you've got crowded or crooked teeth, aligning them will make them easier to clean and maintain. 

Food gets trapped between the teeth after we eat, leading to bacteria growth and consequentially, tooth decay, bad breath, gum disease and eventual tooth loss. By correcting misalignment or a bad bite, we can also reduce the risk of dental injuries such as fractured teeth, as well as speech impairments. 

Misalignment of the jaw can also lead to significant orthodontic problems and lead to chronic headaches and jaw pain. We can develop a custom treatment plan with goals such as correcting a bite, maintaining facial aesthetics and straightening teeth. 

Your orthodontist can also help you address uneven wear on the teeth, which may result in excessive pressure being applied to the gum tissue and bones supporting the teeth. This may be causing your neck or facial pain.  

At Village Orthodontics, we recommend seeking the guidance and advice of a registered orthodontist to ensure you're aware of your orthodontic health and have all the information you need to make an informed decision about your treatment. 

This checklist can help you identify individual orthodontic issues with your child or yourself and choose an orthodontist: 

Identifying Orthodontic Concerns 

Crowding and narrow arches: Small dental arches don't provide enough room to accommodate the teeth. 

Crossbite: Upper back teeth rest inside, instead of outside, the lower back teeth. 

Deep overbite: This refers to an excessive vertical overlap of upper front teeth over the bottom front teeth. 

Underbite: The lower front teeth bite further forward, in front of the upper front teeth. 

Open bite: The teeth do not overlap enough or at all, resulting in the upper teeth sticking out past the lower teeth. The tongue often rests here. 

Protruding upper teeth: Protrusion is marked by the upper teeth extending too far forward or the lower teeth not extending far enough forward. 

Recessive upper jaw: The chin protrudes or pushes forward, resulting in facial disharmony between the lower and upper jaws. 

Recessive chin: The chin is pushed back or recessed, leading to facial disharmony between the upper and lower jaws. 

As a person's teeth, lips and jaws become properly aligned, orthodontics can help to boost a person's self-image. However, a straighter smile is just one benefit of treatment. It's just as important to prevent or alleviate physical health issues. 

Untreated orthodontic problems can lead to destruction of the bones supporting the teeth, gum disease, tooth decay, and chewing and digestive challenges. 

A bad bite can play a role in chipped teeth, tooth loss, other dental injuries and speech impairments. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone supporting the teeth, misalignment of the jaw joints or inefficient chewing function.

These can lead to chronic headaches and neck or facial pain. Orthodontic treatment may be less costly than the additional care needed to treat dental issues that have occurred due to orthodontic problems. 

There are specialists in dentistry just as there are specialists in medicine. Orthodontists diagnose and treat dental and facial irregularities. They are experts at moving teeth, ensuring proper jaw development and working with patients to ensure teeth remain in their prescribed positions.