What Does an Orthodontist Do?
Orthodontists help with crooked teeth, but they also help patients with many other issues concerning their teeth, jaws, and mouth. This includes fixing overbites, underbites, crossbites, spaces between teeth, overcrowding teeth, teeth that come in above or below the gum line and temporomandibular disorders, known as TMD.
Do Orthodontists Pull Teeth?
Pulling teeth, known as extractions, are the last resort when treatment is being planned. The goal of most orthodontic treatment plans is to avoid extractions. For many patients, there are treatment methods used that will achieve a better result without the need for any teeth to be pulled.
What is the Difference Between an Orthodontist and a Dentist?
All orthodontists are dentists, but dentists are not orthodontists! An orthodontist completes dental school and then goes on to an additional three-year program where they study the movement of teeth to create a beautiful smile. They study the science of treatment to make teeth align in a beautiful smile. The orthodontic student must also learn what forces are needed to move teeth into alignment, how much pressure should be exerted during treatment, what kinds of braces and appliances may be used for patients of different ages and how to provide the highest level of care.
Here are the main types of orthodontic treatment at Gellerman Orthodontics:
- Misaligned Teeth
- Crowded teeth or archways that are too small
- Overbite – when the upper front teeth overlap with lower front teeth
- Underbite – when the lower front teeth are in front of the upper teeth – sometimes because the lower jaw is actually sitting too far forward.
What Does Dr. Inna Gellerman Look for When Evaluating Patients?
Based on her years of clinical experience and training, Dr. Gellerman looks at the overall structure of the mouth and the person’s face. The goal of a spectacular smile is to look great AND to promote good health for the patient.
Children should have a free evaluation by Dr. Gellerman by age 7, when their mouth and teeth have developed enough so she can review these structures and determine whether or not they need to have any early treatment. The child’s mouth is still flexible enough so that if the mouth is too narrow for all of the adult teeth, a palate expander can be used. Treatment at this age can prevent the need for more intense care later in life, including needing to have teeth extracted.
What Exactly Does an Orthodontist Do?
An orthodontic evaluation starts with an evaluation of the patient’s mouth, teeth, and jaws. At Gellerman Orthodontics, a 3D digital camera is used to get a complete picture and then Dr. Gellerman and her team can show the patient and their parent what the internal structure of the teeth look like now, and how braces can be used to move the teeth into their correct positions.
The perfect smile is not just about looking good. When teeth are crooked or overlap, tooth decay occurs more easily. An overbite or underbite changes a person’s facial profile, which can create significant problems in speaking, chewing and even breathing for children and adults. The results from superior care can have a lasting impact on social skills, as a teenager will be more confident knowing that they the best possible smile they can have.
Patients benefit from seeing Dr. Gellerman, who is a board-certified orthodontist, with superior credentials from the American Board of Orthodontics. She has devoted her entire career to providing patients with excellence and the latest in orthodontic technology.
What Kinds of Different Options Does Dr Gellerman Provide?
Huntington based Gellerman Orthodontics offers many different types of orthodontic care. Here are a few:
Invisalign and Invisalign Teen – Dr. Inna Gellerman is a Diamond Invisalign Provider. That means she is in the top 2% of ALL Invisalign providers nationwide. She is able to provide even the most challenging cases with Invisalign allowing patients to enjoy the many benefits of Invisalign while attaining their best smiles.
Watch this video to learn how Dr. Gellerman creates spectacular smiles with Invisalign.
Braces – There are so many different kinds of braces available today, depending upon the patient’s needs. Gellerman Orthodontics evaluates each patient and determines which is best. Braces retrain muscles and affect the growth of the jaws. These appliances work by placing gentle pressure on the teeth, moving them into the proper location. Braces are used to fix crooked teeth, fix bad bites, and ensure that jaws are aligned correctly. Dr. Gellerman carefully selects the types of braces used in the practice to ensure the best possible journey to a spectacular smile.
How Else Does Dr. Gellerman Create Beautiful Smiles?
In addition to providing the best Orthodontic care, Dr. Gellerman and her team also help patients with chronic headaches and sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea – also known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is caused by a physical blockage, usually the collapsing of the soft tissue in the back of the throat. When that happens, people literally stop breathing. The lack of oxygen wakes up your brain so that you can start breathing again. The constant waking/sleeping means they don’t get restful sleep. People with sleep apnea often have trouble staying awake during the day, staying focused on tasks and they feel drowsy throughout the day.
Pediatric Sleep Apnea – Children who suffer from sleep apnea are often misdiagnosed as having ADD or other difficulties when in fact what they need is a good night’s rest. Some children’s airways are simply not wide enough, and this can be corrected with the use of an orthodontic appliance.
Headaches – TruDenta offers headache relief by addressing and treats the cause of the problem using a combination of techniques derived from sports medicine therapies.
Gellerman Orthodontics offers a free consultation and second opinions. To make your free consultation appointment today, visit www.drgellerman.com or call us at 631-427-8444. We look forward to hearing from you!