Our world has long been geared towards aesthetics. As far back as the third century BCE, the ancient Greeks recognized the science in beauty as it relates to symmetry and proportion. A nice smile with properly aligned teeth dramatically enhances one’s appearance, which may contribute greatly to one’s self-esteem and mental health. How many Hollywood stars would have never ascended from obscurity without the help of orthodontics?

At Glauser-Williams Orthodontics, we don’t just straighten teeth; we build Hollywood smiles and faces. When someone comes in for a consultation, we take digital cephalometric and panoramic X-rays so we can see all underlying structures by comparing hard and soft tissue relations. Digital photographs of the patient’s face and teeth are also taken and immediately displayed so the patient can see what is being discussed and what the findings are. Diagnosis is the key to getting great smiles! Getting the skeletal structures well related is like having a solid foundation to build from. Many orthodontists still have not figured that out. It doesn’t matter how good you are at straightening teeth, if the skeletal structures aren’t right, the smile and face aren’t going to look right. Most people and dentists don’t realize that. Orthodontics is three-dimensional, and if not played out well, it could make a person look worse.

Creating a well-balanced face, as well as the smile, is what it’s all about. We can also modify facial growth and development. The nose, lips and chin need to be in specific relations as well as the teeth. What supports your cheeks and lips? Your teeth do. What supports the teeth? The bone does.

When you get it all balanced, that equals a Hollywood face and smile; the kind of face and smile that looks natural-not fake and made-up.

Offering more than just aesthetic improvements, properly aligned teeth add significantly to overall dental health. Improperly aligned teeth are hard to clean and maintain, which can contribute to tooth decay, other problems associated with misaligned teeth, as well as increased stress on gums and supportive bone. Improper alignment of the teeth can lead to TMJ-a misalignment of the jaw that has a whole host of maladies which accompany it, including chronic headaches, facial pain and/or pain in the muscles of the neck. Dr. Glauser treats every patient as if they have TMJ. He makes sure that he gets the proper vertical and horizontal relations, anterior guidance, cusped rise and anterior discussion. Doing this eliminates TMJ issues. Dr. Glauser has treated over 15,000 patients so far.

While orthodontics provide patients with an increase in self-confidence that only a beautiful smile can offer, orthodontics also provides a pre-emptive cure for dental maladies, that if diagnosed and treated at a later age, may wind up costing significantly more money.

Even adults can benefit from adult orthodontic treatment. Statistically, one in five orthodontic patients is over 21. While some things such as jaw alignment issues and dental breakdown may already be beyond the scope of what orthodontics can fix or may require orthognathic surgery, in many cases orthodontics can still provide adults with a beautiful smile.

Generally, children will benefit most from orthodontics if they are seen by age seven. Permanent incisors and molars have often come in by that age, and trends towards crowding and other issues can generally be assessed at that time. In maximizing the effects of orthodontics, early treatment allows the orthodontist to guide incoming teeth, and regulate growth of the jaw, thereby reducing chances of impacted teeth, which may later lead to permanent tooth extractions.

There are many different types of braces. Orthodontic appliances have been traditionally made of metal, but are now available in ceramics and plastics, with some consisting of brackets bonded directly to the teeth, while others are removable. Advances in techniques and technology have made available braces with wires that are less noticeable and in some cases are made of clear materials. Added benefits to these latest technologies are braces that move teeth more quickly and do so with less discomfort to patients. Invisible braces or aligners (such as the Invisalign system) are also available. These plastic aligners are virtually invisible and can treat most malocclusions.

Want to know more?

Check out the other areas of our site where you will find information on the different types of braces including the Invisalign system, retainers & retention, braces for children, braces for adults, and answers to other common questions.