An orthodontist is a dentist who helps properly align the teeth and jaw. Orthodontic treatments prevent and treat problems like misaligned or crooked teeth. Our orthodontic services for children in our Worcester, MA office, can create a more balanced bite.
However, these treatments provide more than straighter smiles. We can prevent problems like gum disease and tooth decay with orthodontic care. It can be difficult to clean between misaligned teeth as plaque and tartar can build on the teeth and gums. A straighter smile can make brushing and flossing easier.
Pediatric orthodontic services can include clear and metal braces, two-phase treatment, and appliances that aid treatment. We work with orthodontists Dr. Menachem Roth and Dr. Roberto Carvalho to provide treatments for children and teenagers.
Choosing Children’s Dental Specialists for Orthodontic Care
Our orthodontists have the experience and gentle touch to provide effective and comfortable care for patients of all ages. Dr. Carvalho and Dr. Roth provide compassionate treatment to children and teens who need braces, Invisalign, and other treatments. They will work with you and your child to create effective yet comfortable treatment plans.
Dr. Carvalho is a graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He completed a residency in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Throughout his career, he has received awards, including the Coenraad F.A. Moorrees Award from the Harvard Society for Advancement of Orthodontics.
Dr. Roth graduated from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine with a residency in Orthodontics. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Dr. Roth continues to learn about the latest in dental technology.
Dr. Carvalho and Dr. Roth provide compassionate treatment to children and teens who need braces, Invisalign, and other treatments.
Why Should Your Child See an Orthodontist?
When you ask someone why they need braces, they say they must “fix” crooked teeth to create a beautiful smile. But that’s only part of the equation. While we love giving kids gorgeous smiles, our main concern is the health and function of their teeth. Crooked, crowded teeth can cause multiple dental issues, including:
Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Crowded teeth are difficult to clean properly with a toothbrush and floss. As a result, plaque and tartar can build up on the teeth and gums. Tartar is a hard, calcified plaque that only a professional can remove with dental tools. Untreated, it can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease.
TMJ Disorder
Crooked teeth may lead to a misaligned bite, which puts pressure on the jaw joints. This pressure can lead to muscle irritation, inflammation, pain, chronic headaches, or migraines. Your crooked teeth can also affect how your jaw moves, leading to discomfort when eating hard or crunchy foods. In some cases, straightening teeth can reduce TMJ symptoms.
Cracked, Chipped, and Broken Teeth
Misaligned teeth can increase bite pressure on some teeth more than others. This can lead to crack teeth, chipped teeth, and broken cusps. Sometimes, if a crack is deep enough, it can irritate the nerve. In this case, your child would need nerve treatment and a dental crown.
Speech Issues
Crooked teeth can impact tongue placement and airflow. Misaligned teeth can prevent the tongue from pronouncing “s” and “z.” This can lead to lisps. At early visits, we will examine your child’s palate and tooth formation to determine if there is a chance their teeth could delay speech development.
When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children receive an orthodontic screening by age 7. Early care can address overcrowding, dental trauma, and an imbalanced bite.
In addition, we can evaluate how children’s adult teeth emerge and align at each dental check-up and cleaning. If we notice that the teeth aren’t aligning properly, we will correct the evaluation.
Sometimes, a single orthodontic treatment plan can correct malocclusion or a bad bite. However, your child may need to have phased treatment. Two-phase treatment first includes braces when your child still has mixed dentition (baby and adult teeth). Then, your child requires braces again when they have all their adult teeth.
Addressing problems early can prevent long-term issues. While adults can get braces, the process takes longer and can be harder to schedule around work or family.
Our Complete Orthodontic Services in Worcester, MA
Our dental office provides many treatments to help patients get healthy smiles. We coordinate care that aligns with your child’s specific needs.
We provide these services for children and teenagers:
Clear Braces
Invisalign clear braces are an alternative to traditional metal braces. The Invisalign treatment in our Worcester, MA, office uses clear aligners to straighten teeth.
These clear braces offer more discreet treatment for teens with mild to moderately crooked teeth. We do not recommend Invisalign for children because they may not have permanent teeth. Invisalign aligners are also removable, so patients can eat the foods they love without restrictions.
Orthodontic Appliances
Our office uses orthodontic appliances that help your child during treatment. We use elastics (rubber bands), retainers, and spacers for different needs. These appliances can apply pressure to straighten teeth or retain the appearance of straight teeth. They can also hold space for the primary teeth to grow.
Two-Phase Treatment
A two-phase orthodontic treatment combines tooth straightening and physical changes in the jaw and face. During this treatment, we provide orthodontic care to children two separate times. At the first phase, we recommend treatments to ensure the jaw and palate develop. Then, during the second phase, we will often recommend braces.
We recommend a two-phase treatment for children. Two phases can create space for unerupted teeth, ensure proper jaw bone growth, and prevent future issues that impact the teeth and bite. Early intervention, like a two-phase treatment, can be essential for children’s orthodontic care.
Types of Dental Braces in Worcester
We offer clear braces and metal braces in the office. Our office often recommends clear Invisalign aligners for teenagers.
Our Invisalign treatment for teens can offer space for adult teeth to erupt. Invisalign also offers more replacement aligners than adult treatment. If teens lose their aligners, we can provide backups to stay on track.
Metal braces are a traditional option for patients with mild, moderate, and severe orthodontic problems. Traditional metal braces use brackets, wires, and rubber bands to shift teeth into a straighter position. While these dental braces are more noticeable, metal braces treat overbites, underbites, crossbites, and other problems.
We will examine your child’s smile to determine the type of dental braces that will benefit them the most. Oral hygiene is also essential to effective care. We are happy to help patients learn the best tips to keep their teeth, gums, and braces clean.
Our office also welcomes you and your child to ask questions about braces care.
Straighten Crooked Teeth
Does your child need straighter teeth? Prevent future oral health issues with treatment from our orthodontic experts.
Call Children’s Dental Specialties for orthodontic services in our Worcester, MA office today at (508) 625-5534. You can also schedule a dental appointment with us online. We serve Worcester, Shrewsbury, Grafton, Northborough, and Boylston, MA patients.
Our office knows that not all school-aged children can visit our office after school for care. Dental appointments are excused absences. We will be happy to sign a doctor’s school pass for your child.