Braces aren’t just for kids anymore. Tooth alignment can be changed at any age if your gums and bone structure are healthy. Dr Tepper-Adler offers a variety of treatments that are designed for different age groups – including adults.
Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is equally important. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, headaches and jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.
With the wide variety of aesthetic methods Dr Tepper-Adler offers, adults find treatment has very minimal effect on their lifestyles and appearance.
Some of these aesthetic methods include: clear braces, Invisalign clear aligners, and lingual braces.
The new techniques and appliances Dr. Tepper-Adler uses greatly reduce discomfort levels, decrease the frequency of visits, shorten treatment time and may allow you to choose from several options. Your options may include metal braces, translucent braces, inside (lingual) braces, or transparent aligners that can treat cases of misaligned teeth.
During the initial examination, Dr. Tepper-Adler will be able to determine the best possible treatment for your individual needs. During this examination, she will outline the treatment plan, time of treatment expected and the approximate cost.
Are you a candidate for orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontics is not merely for improving the aesthetics of the smile; orthodontic treatment improves bad bites (malocclusions). Malocclusions occur as a result of tooth or jaw misalignment. They affect the way you smile, chew, clean your teeth or feel about your smile.
Why should malocclusions be treated?
According to studies by the American Association of Orthodontists, untreated malocclusions can result in a variety of problems:
- Crowded teeth are more difficult to properly brush and floss, which may contribute to tooth decay and/or gum disease.
- Protruding teeth are more susceptible to accidental chipping.
- Crossbites can result in unfavorable growth and uneven tooth wear.
- Openbites can result in tongue-thrusting habits and speech impediments.
Dr Tepper-Adler was fortunate to have been trained by world leading experts and researchers in the field of complex malocclusions and impacted teeth, exposing her to a wide variety of extremely challenging and rewarding cases.
Ultimately, orthodontics does more than make a pretty smile – it creates a healthier you.
Orthognathic Surgery
Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) treats and corrects abnormalities of the facial bones, specifically the jaws and the teeth. Often, these abnormalities cause difficulty associated with chewing, talking, sleeping and other routine activities. Orthognathic surgery corrects these problems and, in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, will improve the overall appearance of the facial profile.
Using the latest in digital imaging technology, we will demonstrate the overall functional and aesthetic benefits of orthognathic surgery. Computerized treatment planning minimizes treatment times, recovery periods and the overall efficacy of your surgery. State-of-the-art materials such as titanium plates and miniature screws provide stability, strength and predictability to your treatment. These advances in technology, procedures and equipment reduce post-surgical recovery time, thus allowing patients to return to their normal routines soon after the surgery.
Orthognathic surgery may be unnecessary if orthodontic treatment can correct the problem. Dr Tepper-Adler's approach is quite conservative, and would usually reserve recommending surgery to specific cases where other options wouldn't yield satisfactory results. With the latest advances in orthodontics, surgery can be avoided in many cases.
In cases where surgery is indicated Dr Tepper-Adler works closely with Melbourne's prominent Maxillofacial surgeons to achieve the optimal outcome.
A large percentage of our patients are adults, some of them are in their 50's and 60's. Several parents who have followed their children's treatment have decided to attend to their own smile as well.
Indeed, it's never too late to have a beautiful and healthy smile.