Combat Bite Issues With Orthodontics At Image Dental Care

At Image Dental Care, we know a straight, healthy smile is about more than appearance – it’s about self-esteem, comfort, and oral health that lasts a lifetime. If you or your child feels self-conscious about crowded teeth, gaps, or other bite issues, you’re not alone. Many Red Deer families turn to us for personalized orthodontics designed around results and everyday convenience.

As your trusted Red Deer dental team, we offer a complete menu of orthodontic options –including traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, and discreet Invisalign® clear aligners. We treat children, teens, and adults with care, patience, and respect, making every visit positive and empowering!

What Are Orthodontic Treatments?

Orthodontics is a field of dentistry focused on diagnosing, preventing, and treating misaligned teeth and incorrect bites. The position of your teeth and jaw determines your bite – how your upper and lower teeth fit together. A "bad bite," or malocclusion, happens when they don't align properly. This can be caused by problems like missing, crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth, or even habits like thumb-sucking. While it's not a quick fix, orthodontic treatment can give you a symmetrical and healthy smile over time. This treatment offers a blend of traditional practices and innovative technology, ensuring more efficient, less uncomfortable and esthetically pleasing treatment.

With orthodontic treatments at our dental office, you can move your teeth to their correct position. After getting your treatment, you’ll not only improve your smile, but your mouth overall will also be healthier. You’ll be able to reduce dental costs for the long term. Surrounding facial structures, such as your jaw, can also function more effectively.

What Orthodontic Treatments Do We Offer?

• Invisalign®: Invisalign is a customized teeth-straightening method you might want to consider if you want complete discretion. Similar to lingual braces, it's a subtle way to improve your smile. The custom-made aligners are made of clear plastic and are also removable.
• Advanced Metal Braces: Also known as self-ligating braces, advanced metal braces don't use ligatures (the small, often colorful bands on conventional braces). Instead, a special "trapdoor" mechanism holds the wire in place. Manufacturers claim this design reduces friction, making the braces more comfortable. Some also suggest it can reduce the number of dental visits needed. Plus, self-ligating brackets are often easier to keep clean.
• Ceramic Braces: Similar to traditional metal braces, ceramic braces use brackets made of ceramic instead of metal. These can be colour-matched to your teeth, making them a less noticeable orthodontic option. Ceramic is also a very durable material.
• Lingual Braces: For those who are concerned about the appearance of braces, lingual braces may be an ideal solution. These braces are placed on the back of the teeth, making them virtually invisible. While more expensive than conventional metal orthodontics, the higher cost is due to certain materials and custom fitting required for this discreet option.

What Are Cephalometric X-rays Used For?

A cephalometric (ceph) X-ray or radiograph is a tool that captures a complete side-view image of the face, showing the teeth, jawbone, and surrounding structures. It helps our dentist in Red Deer identify any developmental issues with the head, neck, and jaw.

Ceph x-rays are commonly used to:

• Analyze TMJ concerns.
• Determine the cause of significant tooth misalignment, such as an overbite or underbite.
• Assess impacted teeth.
• Locate fractures in the teeth or jaw.
• Identify the exact measurements of teeth, including their root structures.
• Plan orthodontic procedures.
• Assess airway problems.

These X-rays are particularly useful for understanding complex overbites and underbites, as the jaw's position or development often plays a key role. They are invaluable for orthodontic work, as they allow dentists to evaluate the movement of the teeth and sometimes the jaw over several years.

Reasons Why Adults Need Orthodontic Treatment

Overcrowding

Overcrowding happens when there's not enough room in the jaw for all the adult teeth, causing them to become crooked or overlap. This can lead to hygiene problems, difficulty chewing, and a lack of confidence. Braces or clear aligners are common treatments for this issue.

Overbite (Deep Bite)

An overbite occurs when the upper teeth significantly overlap the lower ones. This can be caused by genetics, oral habits, or even tooth loss. If left untreated, it may cause tooth wear. Adults can have overbites corrected with braces, clear aligners, or sometimes surgery.

Underbite

An underbite is when the lower teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth. While less common, it can impact oral health, appearance, and function. Braces or clear aligners can be used for treatment to improve chewing and speech, and to reduce jaw pain and tooth wear.

Open Bite

An open bite is a gap between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed. This can make chewing and speaking difficult. Adults can address an open bite with braces or clear aligners, leading to improved function and esthetics.

Jaw Pain

Orthodontic treatment helps relieve jaw pain in adults, which is often linked to wisdom teeth. These teeth can cause crowding and misalignment that braces or aligners correct. In some cases, removal of wisdom teeth may also be necessary to prevent further issues.

Tooth Wear or Decay

Misaligned teeth can lead to uneven enamel wear, making them harder to clean and increasing the risk of decay and gum disease. Orthodontic treatment aligns teeth, which improves bite function, makes oral hygiene easier, and supports long-term dental health.

Gum Disease

Gum disease begins as gingivitis and can worsen into a serious infection. Because crooked teeth are harder to clean, plaque buildup increases. Orthodontic treatment improves tooth alignment, making proper hygiene easier and reducing the risk of gum disease.

Reasons Why Children Need Orthodontic Treatment

Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth

While some variation is normal, losing baby teeth too early or too late can cause problems for the permanent teeth that follow. Our dentist in Red Deer can identify and correct these issues.

Difficulty Chewing or Biting

Eating should never be painful. At the same time, some discomfort is normal during teething, consistent pain when chewing may signal an orthodontic problem that needs attention.

Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing can lead to a number of orthodontic issues. Our goal is to address and correct these problems to ensure proper development.

Jaws Shifting or Clicking

A shifting lower jaw caused by a bite problem can lead to jaw pain and other dental issues. We will evaluate how teeth fit together and are focused on ensuring your child’s jaws are properly aligned.

Cheek Biting

In a healthy bite, the upper teeth hold the cheeks away from the lower chewing surfaces. If your child is frequently biting their cheeks, it could mean their upper and lower teeth aren't aligning correctly when they chew.

Facial Imbalance

The alignment of your child's teeth and jaws can affect the appearance of their lips, chin, and other facial features. Orthodontics can align your child's jaw to prevent an imbalance from impacting their face shape and to avoid future health issues.

Orthodontics at Image Dental Care in Red Deer is about comfort, flexibility, and results you’ll love. Whether you’re a parent, teen, or adult, we’ll make your experience smooth and stress-free. Book your free consultation today – our team is here to answer every question and help you feel right at home. Ready to address bite issues and enjoy a healthy smile?

Call us today or schedule your visit online!