Orthodontics
About Orthodontic Care
Why a Well-aligned Bite is Important
Orthodontics is all about improving the alignment of your teeth and bite so the mouth can function as it should. A well-aligned bite means the teeth fit together correctly and this supports balanced jaw movement and makes daily habits like chewing, speaking, and cleaning the teeth much easier.
At Paschen Orthodontics, we provide orthodontic treatment for both children and adults. Our services help patients who have crowded or crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and general alignment issues. If left untreated, these problems can have long-term consequences for a patient’s dental health.
Prior to starting any treatment, our team will look at the teeth, bite, jaw position, airway, and health history to determine what’s needed. Every treatment plan is tailored to the individual because every patient has different needs.
The Importance of Early Orthodontic Evaluation
Supporting Healthy Growth in Children
At Paschen Orthodontics, we follow the standard recommendation that children should receive an orthodontic evaluation around age 7. At this stage, the adult teeth and jaw development give us helpful information about how the bite is forming, and it is the ideal time to commence treatment if it’s needed. However, a lot of facial growth happens before age 7. Interceptive care can start with children as young as age 4 to help improve their development as they grow. In very young children, sometimes several appointments are needed to ease kids into the dental office, making sure they feel comfortable, before any real treatment begins.
Early orthodontic evaluations help us to spot any concerns such as crowding, misalignment, airway issues, or other things affecting development and function. Treating issues early can help reduce the risk of needing more complex treatment later as it supports healthier growth patterns as your child develops.
Our Orthodontics Services Help You:
IMPROVE FUNCTION
CREATE A BALANCED SMILE
FIX ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS
Orthodontic Evaluation
What to Expect at Your Visit
Orthodontic evaluations at Paschen Orthodontics are educational for both parents and children and it’s a chance to look behind the scenes and see what’s happening with the teeth and jaws. We’ll begin with an iTero digital scan to create a 3D image of the teeth. We will also use a panoramic X-ray to evaluate the developing teeth and jaw structure. These scans will help Dr. Dani to assess whether the patient is a good candidate for interceptive care or orthodontic treatment. They will also tell us what needs to be monitored.
A myofunctional screening is also completed as part of the evaluation process to check the patient’s ability to swallow and whether or not a lip or tongue tie is present.
Last but not least, an airway assessment is undertaken to see if there are any airway-related red flags that may need further evaluation.
Interceptive Orthodontics
Treatment While Little Smiles are Growing
Interceptive orthodontics focuses on optimising the emergence of the permanent teeth while a child’s jaw and facial structures are still developing. When this is done, it can improve how the bite forms and reduce the chance of needing more extensive treatment later. At Paschen Orthodontics, interceptive care could include appliances or habit correction, depending on your child’s needs.
Habit Reminders
To Support Healthier Habits
Certain habits, such as thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, or mouth breathing can affect tooth alignment and even jaw growth in children. Dental appliances are used as habit reminders to help put a stop to these patterns. They encourage healthier habits that protect developing teeth and support better orthodontic outcomes.
Space Maintainers
Saving Room for the Permanent Teeth
When baby teeth are lost too early, the nearby teeth can shift into the empty space. This can block the permanent teeth from erupting properly. Space maintainers hold open the correct amount of room until the new set of teeth are ready to come in. This reduces the risk of overcrowding or alignment problems later.
Palatal Expanders
Creating Space Where it’s Needed
A palatal expander gently widens the upper jaw to create more space for developing teeth. They are often used in growing children when the upper jaw is diagnosed as too narrow. Expanding the palate in this way can improve alignment, reduce crowding, and support healthy airway development.
Invisalign Clear Aligners
Suitable for Teens And Adults
Invisalign is a modern treatment that uses a series of custom-made aligners to shift the teeth into better alignment. They are removable, making it easier to go about your day normally. You can brush your teeth, eat, and floss as normal. Invisalign is a popular choice with older teens and adults who just aren’t interested in a highly visible option like traditional braces.
Braces
A Reliable Treatment
Braces are still highly reliable as a way of straightening the teeth, correcting bite concerns, and dealing with crowding, and alignment issues. We have metal and ceramic brackets available. Ceramic braces are a more discreet option that blend in with the natural color of the teeth.
Throughout treatment, our team provides ongoing support and monitoring for our braces patients throughout their treatment plan. The braces will be adjusted at regular appointments to make sure progress stays on track.
Retainers
Keeping the Teeth Where They Belong
Paschen Orthodontics makes custom retainers to hold teeth in place after orthodontic treatment has finished. They are a valuable tool that protects the results patients and their dental teams work so hard to achieve. If you don’t use a retainer, the teeth can shift over time, undoing all the good work that has been done.
Mouth Guards
Protection for Precious Teeth
Paschen Orthodontics can custom-make mouth guards to help protect smiles while patients are undergoing orthodontic treatment. We can also provide mouth guards for sports to protect the teeth of kids and adults.
Nightguards
Avoid Worn Teeth From Grinding
Nighttime grinding, also called bruxism, can lead to tooth wear, jaw discomfort, and headaches. At Paschen Orthodontics, we custom-make nightguards to protect your teeth while you sleep and reduce the damage caused by bruxism. Nightguards may also help to ease symptoms, such as head and neck pain, biting and chewing sensitivity, and discomfort around the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Our team can also look more closely at what may be contributing to teeth grinding.
Your Ideal Smile
A Tailored Plan Just for You
After orthodontic treatment is completed, some patients choose whitening or cosmetic finishes to get the final result they’re looking for. For example, ICON white spot treatment uses a tooth-colored resin that penetrates the enamel and blends areas of discoloration so the color matches the surrounding tooth structure. It can also act as a sealant for weakened enamel. If you decide you’d like further treatment, discuss the options at your next appointment.
Myofunctional Therapy
Retrains the Muscles
Some patients can benefit from myofunctional therapy during or after their orthodontic treatment. This type of therapy retrains the muscles of the face and mouth so they work in harmony with the corrected bite. The team at Paschen Orthodontics can refer patients for myofunctional therapy when appropriate.
Lip and Tongue Tie Evaluation
Find Issues Early for Better Outcomes
At Paschen Orthodontics, we provide lip and tongue tie evaluations. These conditions can affect speech, swallowing, breathing, and oral development. It’s especially useful for children to be evaluated, as leaving these issues untreated can cause further problems as they grow.
Airway Evaluation
An Assessment of Breathing Concerns
Airway health is an important part of long-term oral function and airway screening is another important aspect of what we do here at Paschen Orthodontics. We complete a screening for every patient who comes in. This includes asking about snoring, sleep quality, and possible signs of sleep-disordered breathing. If red flags are present, additional imaging or referrals for further evaluation may be recommended.
Paying for Your Orthodontic Treatment
Flexible options for your family
We accept cash, credit cards, and checks. A 5% discount is available for patients who choose to pay in full at the start of their treatment.
Payment plans and discounts
Paschen Orthodontics offers autopayment plans for orthodontic patients. CareCredit financing is also accepted.
