Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The technical term for these problems is "malocclusion," which means "bad bite". Children and adults can both benefit from orthodontics, because healthy teeth can be moved at almost any age.

Since monitoring growth and development is crucial to managing some orthodontic cases, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have an orthodontic screening no later than age 7. Some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of some problems more difficult.

About 4.5 million people in the United States are wearing braces or other appliances to achieve a beautiful smile and healthy teeth, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Most people do not have naturally straight teeth, in fact, the AAO estimates that up to 75 percent of people could benefit from orthodontic care.

Heredity and environmental factors are the two causes of crooked teeth and bite problems. Having too much space in between the teeth or upper teeth that don't match lower teeth when biting down is usually inherited. Accidents, as well as habits such as tongue thrusting and thumb sucking, can cause crooked teeth as well.

Custom-made appliances, or braces, are prescribed and designed by Dr. Andolino and his team to address each individual case being treated. They may be removable or fixed (cemented and/or bonded to the teeth). They may be made of metal, ceramic or plastic. By applying light, continuous forces in a carefully controlled direction, braces can slowly move teeth through their supporting bone to a new desirable position.

Our practice offers Tip-Edge Plus® and 3M Unitek's SmartClip brackets as the appliances of choice for traditional "outside" braces. These bracket systems combine the advantages of pre-adjusted systems with those of differential tooth movement and light wire forces to produce unparalleled results - shortening treatment time, increasing patient comfort and improving esthetics. Not only are the braces smaller and more efficient, the wires are no longer just stainless steel. They can also be made of alloys of nickel, titanium, copper and cobalt, and some of the wires are heat-activated. These wires cause the teeth to continue to move during certain phases of treatment, which may reduce the number of appointments needed to make adjustments to the wires.