Your Orthodontic Journey: Questions Uncovered

Orthodontic treatment is designed to develop teeth that fit well and, as a result, wear better over an individual’s life. Think of teeth in the mouth as a “gear” system. Teeth, like gears, must intermesh well to help avoid excessive wear throughout a lifetime of use. An ideal orthodontic result most often requires treatment of both the top and bottom teeth. Consult a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) to learn what will best correct your child’s orthodontic problem. The AAO Find an Orthodontist service will help you locate AAO orthodontists near you.

INCORRECT. When treatment is started with an orthodontist, that professional is “your” orthodontist. A treatment plan is developed based on the orthodontist’s diagnosis of your child’s problem. There are many treatment decisions made in a treatment plan, including the type of “appliance” (braces, aligners, etc.) to be used in the orthodontic correction. There are many types of appliances, and many manufacturers. The components are not necessarily interchangeable. 

Different orthodontists use different bracket systems and may not have the wires and accessories to fit another type of bracket. If someone wearing braces goes to an orthodontist who did not place the braces, the patient is considered someone else’s patient, or a “transfer” patient. Orthodontists in the U.S. are not obligated to accept transfer patients. Transferring can complicate and lengthen treatment and is not ideal. It is ideal for a patient to receive care from one orthodontist (or orthodontic practice) from start-to-finish. 

Visit the Find an Orthodontist service to locate nearby members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). All AAO members are orthodontists, meaning they first graduated from dental school, and then went on to successfully complete a 2-3 year orthodontic residency at an accredited orthodontic program. When you select an AAO member, you can be assured that the doctor truly is an orthodontist.

Yes. If someone cannot bite with their front teeth, called “incisors,” which are engineered to cut (“incise”) food, this can be a sign of an orthodontic problem. The upper and lower jaws could be out of balance and/or the front teeth could be protruding. See an AAO orthodontist for an in-person evaluation.

See an AAO orthodontist to learn whether there is a reason your child’s permanent teeth are late coming in. Orthodontists look at teeth differently than your dentist does. Something may be blocking the path of unerupted permanent teeth, they may be missing, or it may simply be that your child is on his/her own schedule and there’s nothing to worry about. To see an orthodontic specialist, you do not need a referral from your general or pediatric dentist.

It could be. When a person can’t comfortably keep their lips together when the mouth is closed and at rest, the condition is called “lip incompetence.” This can affect facial muscles, which could alter facial development. There may be problems with swallowing, jaw joint function, and the way teeth come in. See an AAO orthodontist for an evaluation.

A child’s mouth needs baby teeth to hold space for permanent teeth. Without baby teeth, permanent teeth may not come in properly, and facial development can be affected. See an AAO orthodontist to learn what early loss of baby teeth means for your child.

Yes. Protrusive front teeth may be the outward sign of a problem with the positions of the jaws, or positions of the teeth, even if your child has baby teeth. Protrusive upper front teeth are more likely to be broken at play or in an accident. Consult an AAO orthodontist.

Prolonged sucking exerts force on the teeth and on the bone that supports the teeth. If your child sucks a thumb, finger, pacifier, lips, or fabric such as clothing or a blanket beyond age 4, there could be unwanted consequences. Teeth may be pushed forward, an open bite may develop, and bone may become misshapen.

No. This could be an early sign of something an orthodontist should monitor. You may wish to take your child to an AAO orthodontist for a check-up.

Yes. In general, space between baby teeth is a good thing. It indicates there should be room for permanent teeth to come in. But if you have concerns about your child’s teeth or jaws, check with an AAO orthodontist for an expert opinion. A referral is not required. Many AAO orthodontists provide free or low-cost initial visits.