Dentofacial Orthopedics in Clarksville, Tennessee

Dentofacial orthopedics helps guide jaw development during growth. These therapies are usually applied to children before braces or orthodontic treatment. As one of twelve recognized dental specialties, dentofacial orthopedics requires advanced research, education and practice.

How Does Dentofacial Orthopedics Differ From Orthodontics?

Dentofacial orthopedics is a specialty targeting the bone structure of the face and jaw. Dentofacial orthopedics uses appliances that can redirect growth to make various repairs, including fixing an overbite, underbite or narrow jaw. 

Alternatively, orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals solely with improper teeth positioning.

Appliances are frequently used in both cases, including specialized equipment like headgears and expanders. Your dental care provider may use dentofacial orthopedics and the more standard-type braces or orthodontics, depending on what jaw or facial abnormalities are present.

Both dentofacial orthopedics and orthodontics work on correcting dental alignment and arches, and both control the development of abnormal dental and facial structures. 

Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentofacial Orthopedics? 

Children are often the best candidates for receiving dentofacial orthopedic therapy, with the first stages of treatment occurring around age eight. While orthodontics deals with managing tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics involves the guidance of facial development and facial growth, which occurs for the most part during childhood.

Around eight years old, a child’s face and jaw are still developing, making it easier for an orthodontist to control tooth movement and bone growth with dentofacial orthopedics. A child can start using orthodontic treatment to develop a healthy smile and a strong bite once their permanent teeth come in. 

Although children are the best candidates for dentofacial orthopedics, adults who face jaw abnormalities can also benefit from the treatment. Many experts suggest surgery for adults with jaw abnormalities as the jawbones are fully formed. 

Overall, the purpose of dentofacial orthopedics is to align a client’s jaw and bite. These treatments can help individuals of any age get the smile they’ve always wanted.

What Are the Benefits of Dentofacial Orthopedics? 

Dentofacial orthopedics provides patients of all ages with various benefits:

• Young patients: Gives younger patients a greater chance of remedying oral health problems without the need for comprehensive oral surgery.
• Adults: Helps remedy underbites, overbites, crooked teeth or an uneven smile in adults.

Dentofacial orthopedics alleviate issues that could potentially cause the uneven grinding of teeth or chipped teeth. A misaligned jaw could also result in spinal problems or chronic headaches.

Why Visit Reflections Orthodontics? 

When you choose Reflections Orthodontics for orthodontic or dentofacial orthopedic care, you can count on:

• Best-in-class treatment.
• Outstanding user experience.
• Doctors that are Diamond or Diamond+ level providers.
• A facility that offers a welcoming, retreat-like feel.
• Cutting-edge procedures and improved communication.

Schedule an Appointment With Reflections Orthodontics in Clarksville Today 

Reflections Orthodontics is dedicated to offering top-quality, direct-to-consumer orthodontic solutions to our patients in Clarksville. To learn more about the services at Reflections Orthodontics or to schedule an appointment for dentofacial orthopedics, call us at 931-552-1339 for your nearby Clarksville location at 1281 Parkway Place. You can also call 931-647-6370 to reach us at our Rudolphtown Road, Clarksville location today.