About orthodontics

What orthodontics is

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that treats the position of teeth and the relationship between the upper and lower jaws. An orthodontist moves teeth into better alignment and corrects how the bite comes together.

An orthodontist is a dentist who completed two to three years of additional full-time training after dental school. That training covers tooth movement, jaw growth, and the mechanics of the appliances used to change both. An orthodontist has completed additional specialty training after dental school and limits their practice to orthodontics.

Dr. Shan Cen is an orthodontist. CDZ Ortho is the orthodontic division of Children’s Dental Zone, which has been treating families in Johns Creek since 2005.

What orthodontic treatment corrects

Crowding, when there is not enough room in the arch for the teeth to sit in line. Spacing, when there is too much. Overbite, where the upper front teeth sit too far forward over the lower. Underbite, where the lower teeth sit ahead of the upper. Crossbite, where upper and lower teeth meet on the wrong side of each other. Open bite, where the front teeth do not touch when the back teeth are closed.

Alignment affects more than appearance. Crowded teeth are harder to clean thoroughly, which can make decay and gum inflammation more likely. A bite that meets unevenly wears enamel down in specific spots.

The airway component

Dr. Cen evaluates breathing as part of the orthodontic exam. A narrow upper jaw, a low tongue posture, or habitual mouth breathing can affect how the face and dental arches develop. In children these patterns are sometimes treatable while the jaw is still growing.

This is covered in more detail on the airway-focused orthodontics page.

When to have a first evaluation

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Most children do not need treatment at that age. The purpose of the visit is to identify the problems that are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing, and to confirm that everything else can wait.

Adults can begin treatment at any age. Tooth movement works the same way in an adult mouth as in a child’s, provided the gums and supporting bone are healthy.

What treatment involves

Treatment begins with an exam, digital photographs, a scan of your teeth, and the X-rays your case needs. Dr. Cen uses that information to explain what is happening in your mouth and what the options are.

Most treatment takes between twelve and thirty months depending on what is being corrected. Appointments during active treatment are usually every one to two months. After the teeth are in position, a retainer holds them there.

The initial consult at CDZ Ortho is free. You leave that appointment knowing what the issue is, what the options are, and what it costs.