Orthodontics Pediatric dentistry is a broad field that involves the care of your child's teeth, gums, and jaw. While a pediatric dentist is capable of meeting many of your child's oral health needs, certain problems may require the work of specialized dental professionals. That is why Jacobsen Pediatric Dentistry includes several talented orthodontists on our diverse team. The field of orthodontics is a specialty focused on the alignment of teeth. How Are Orthodontists Different From Dentists?Orthodontists are similar to general dentists in that they have completed four years of dental school and have become licensed to practice dentistry. However, orthodontists have received additional specialized training after dental school. This specialized training generally takes approximately three years to complete and requires a stringent certification process. All of the orthodontists on our team are capable of completing high-quality general dental work, such as dental crowns and oral hygiene-related maintenance. In addition, they are trained to provide treatments to correct misaligned teeth. Our orthodontic professionals can also provide corrective treatment for overcrowding and bite alignment issues. What Do Orthodontists Do?One of the first procedures that come to mind when orthodontists are mentioned is the placement of braces. Our team can provide your child with a high-quality set of braces to correct serious alignment issues and give them a smile that they can be proud of. Braces also reduce the risk of several alignment-related ailments that your child might encounter without braces, such as gum disease and decay. The increased risk of gum disease in misaligned teeth occurs because these teeth often overlap and are difficult to properly clean, allowing plaque and tartar to build. Orthodontists also treat temporomandibular disorders or TMD. These disorders involve pain and tension in the jawbone and can range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain. Orthodontists can utilize a variety of treatments to provide your child with both short and long-term relief related to TMD. A common treatment for TMD symptoms is through the use of a custom mouthguard. Orthodontists can make a mold of your child's mouth to create this mouthguard. Orthodontists are also involved in the creation of a custom sports mouthguard for your child. A custom mouthguard is a great tool for preventing painful and costly dental trauma that is a common occurrence in contact sports. As you can see, an orthodontist offers a multitude of useful dental procedures designed to improve your child's quality of life. While a general dentist can be trained to complete select alignment-related procedures, it is important that your child's dental team has all the necessary skills to give your child the best treatment possible. Trusting your child's dental care to a team like ours that includes skilled orthodontists eliminates the need to transition them from a general dentist to a new and unfamiliar provider should the need arise for orthodontic care. Our professionals at Jacobsen Pediatric Dentistry can provide high-quality dental care, including orthodontic-related treatments, to your child at every stage of their life. If you think that your child may be in need of orthodontic-related care, then it is time to come see our team. You can schedule their appointment by calling our office at (971) 459-2431. |
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