FAQ

Q. What is the role of the orthodontic examination and why is it necessary?

A. Radiographic evaluation provides a lot of information which is not always revealed by a simple visual examination, such as congenital absence of teeth, supernumerary teeth, dental ectopias, the state of the radicular development of the teeth, jaws and facial growth models, symmetry. The complete orthodontic examination is the basis of a good diagnosis and an adequate treatment plan and includes X-rays, pictures of the teeth and face, teeth models and other diagnostic means deemed necessary.

Q. Why is an early treatment recommended for some children?

A. In some cases, an interceptive treatment can facilitate the evolution of the teeth in a favorable position, improve the growth and alignment of jaws, correct functional problems related to an inadequate width of the upper jaw.

Q. What is the psychological impact of an orthodontic treatment?

A. One of the most common comments that we receive is about self-confidence and self-esteem. The pride of having a beautiful smile gives confidence to the one who has it. It is sometimes unsettling to notice that irregular teeth or spaces between teeth affect people and prevent them from smiling. Some develop the reflex of putting their hand in front of their mouth. Others tell us that they don’t like having their picture taken. Some tell us that they have problems chewing their foods. Even if it is not everyone’s case, appearance can have a positive effect on popularity, social behaviors, personality, even decrease the probability that a child has of being bullied by other children.

Q. Why is the growth spurt during teenage years so important in an orthodontic treatment?

A. The facial growth is optimal during this period and a treatment provides the opportunity to influence positively the facial profile. When the growth of facial bones is completed, an orthodontic treatment remains possible, but the correction of some skeletal dysplasias can necessitate a surgical approach.

Q. Can an adult be too old for an orthodontic treatment?

A. For those who can benefit from orthodontics, age is not a factor that can prevent them from getting an orthodontic treatment. An adult who has healthy teeth and supportive structures is never too old to get a treatment. A growing number of adults choose to benefit from long-term benefits of orthodontics. They chose to spend the rest of their life with a ravishing and healthy smile, with the self-confidence that comes with it.

Q. What can we expect from your expertise in orthodontics?

A. You can expect a unique combination of art, science and experience. Our goal is to provide high-level orthodontic care in a convivial environment. We intent to treat you personally as well as technically in such a way that you would not hesitate to recommend us to your friends or family

Q. What are the potential benefits of an orthodontic treatment?

• A more appealing smile.
• Reduce the uneasiness of a having a bad smile appearance during the teenage years or in adulthood.
• Better chewing function and a better comfort during chewing.
• Better self-confidence and better self-esteem
• Facilitate the cleaning and maintenance of teeth.
• Better distribution of forces on the dentition.
• Guide the facial growth for a more glamorous profile.
• Better long-term health of teeth and gums.
• Possibility to reduce the need to extract permanent teeth.
• Reduce the risk of trauma on prominent anterior teeth.
• Better closing of the lips.
• Improvement of articulation of sounds and swallowing.
• Possibility to shorten the required duration of treatment.
• Avoid having to replace missing teeth.
• Can help optimize other dental treatments.
• Less muscular tensions or tensions on the jaw joints.

* In orthodontics, as in any other health treatments, a particular result cannot be guaranteed. The results, based on several treatments and different orthodontic conditions, vary from one person to another, from their level of cooperation, their oral and dental health and other factors.

A complete evaluation is necessary to obtain a precise diagnosis and treatment plan.

Q. What are the causes to orthodontic problems?

A. Several orthodontic problems are inherited. Here are a few examples:

• Crowding or misalignment of teeth
• Their spacing
• Missing or supernumerary teeth
• Some jaw growth disorders

Other malocclusions are acquired. They develop with time. They can be caused by several factors. Here are some other examples:

• Thumb or finger sucking
• Breathing through the mouth
• Dental diseases
• Abnormal swallowing
• Bad dental hygiene
• Early loss of baby teeth or baby teeth that remain in place for too long
• Loss of permanent teeth
• Bad diet
• Some medical disorders
• Accidents

Sometimes, an inherited malocclusion gets worse with an acquired disorder. But, no matter what the cause is, the orthodontist is usually able to treat most of the disorders successfully. Some signs can indicate a malocclusion to you:

• Teeth tilted forward (protuberant teeth).
• Upper teeth that cover too much of the lower teeth.
• Early or late loss of baby teeth.
• Difficulties in chewing or biting.
• Jaws positioned too far back or too far forward.
• Biting of the cheeks or in the palate.
• Protrusive teeth.
• Upper or lower teeth touching incorrectly.
• Asymmetrical face.
• Teeth grinding or teeth clenching.
• Speech disorder.
• Jaw that deviates or makes sounds while moving.

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Q. Are dental diseases frequent?

A. They are very frequent. In Canada, gum diseases affect seven people out of ten, at one point or another in their life. They can develop practically without causing pain until the real problem appears. This is why it is so important to prevent them and to prevent them from getting worse.

Gum diseases start when plaque sticks on the visible part of the gingival groove or underneath. If it is not removed every day by cleaning the teeth with a toothbrush and floss, the plaque hardens into tartar, which facilitates bacterial infection at the point of attachment. At the beginning, the dental disease is called gingivitis. The gums can become reddish, but you could feel nothing. When gingivitis gets worse, infection pockets form. Swelling of the gums can occur and they can bleed a little bit when you brush your teeth, but always without causing pain. With time, the infection destroys the gingival tissue and you are eventually at risk of losing one or several teeth.

The most important factor in the battle against gum diseases is prevention. The essential thing is to keep your teeth and your gums clean. Brush your teeth properly at least twice a day and clean them with floss at least once per day. See your dentist regularly to get a professional cleaning, to get an examination of your mouth and to eradicate all signs of the beginning of gum disease.

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Q. What are the food recommendations?

A. To avoid breakings or damages to appliances that would extend the duration of the treatment and could compromise its results, throughout the whole duration of the treatment, we strictly prohibit:

• Chewing gum of all kinds.
• Hard candy, peanuts, nuts, almonds, popcorn.
• Sticky candy. E.g.: St. Catherine’s Day taffy or Halloween candy.

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Q. How can a disengaged wire be put back into place?

A. Here are two pictures showing how to put a disengaged wire back into place:

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