Dentofacial orthopedics is the management of the way the jaws are positioned in relation to the teeth, skull, and spine. In other words, dentofacial orthopedics helps to ensure a patient’s bite is perfectly aligned. Sometimes done alone or in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, Dr. Ben will develop a treatment plan to solve for the patient’s unique situation. To learn more about dentofacial orthopedics from our Grayslake, IL orthodontist and how it can be used to improve your child’s life in the long run, call Grayslake Orthodontics or submit a consultation request online today.
A dentofacial orthopedic treatment usually occurs in two phases. The first starts when your child is about 7 or 8 years old and we’ve discovered an issue with the way their jaws are growing. During this initial phase, Dr. Ben will use the appropriate appliances to guide the growth of the jaws. The goal is to make sure that the jaws are correctly aligned before the second phase of the treatment, which is normally the use of traditional braces.
Even though dentofacial orthopedics is generally intended for children, adults may benefit from the same kind of treatment. However, because their jaws are no longer growing, adults often have to undergo jaw surgery to make the appropriate adjustments to the alignment of their bite. This type of surgery is known as orthognathic surgery. This approach requires treatment with braces on the teeth, then jaw surgery (with braces still on the teeth), and then a few more months of braces after surgery to lock in a stable result. Thanks to these treatments, patients of all ages can still enjoy beautiful and perfectly functional grins.
