ORTHODONTICS

We have been specialized in Orthodontics for 40 years

Only the best techniques for adults and children.

What is orthodontics

Orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry that entails the aligning of teeth that are crammed and crooked or have gaps, the rectification of deformed bites and jaw-related problems in order to correct masticatory, phonatory and aesthetic functions.

It does not only deal with the alignment of the teeth for aesthetic purposes, but its main and primary role is to restore a correct function of the stomatognathic system.

Issues caused by crooked teeth

In some instances, crooked teeth can affect your quality of life. For example, misaligned teeth may affect your ability to chew, causing you pain every time you eat.

In addition, some people may feel so self-conscious about their crooked teeth that they stop smiling or avoid social situations.

Other health issues that crooked teeth may cause include:

Periodontal disease. It can be hard to clean in between crooked teeth. This can result in tooth decay and gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to periodontitis, a more serious infection that can damage bones and teeth.
Chewing and digestion. Crooked teeth can also interfere with proper chewing, which may cause digestion problems.
Excess wear. Crooked teeth can also cause excess wear and tear on the teeth, gums, and jaw muscles, resulting in cracked teeth, jaw strain, temporomandibular joint disorder, and chronic headaches.
Speech difficulties. If your teeth are misaligned, they can affect the way you articulate sound, causing problems with speech.
Self-esteem. Unhappiness with your physical appearance can lead to a lack of self-esteem and social avoidance.

The two phases of orthodontics

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is orthodontic treatment that is done before all of the permanent teeth have erupted, and often occurs between the ages of 5 and 12.

It corrects existing or developing skeletal or muscular orofacial environments before the arrival of all the patient’s permanent teeth and it aims to amend the jaw position to accommodate the existing teeth as well as those that will come in later. This can be done by the utilization of a partial dental braces.

Clearly, early interceptive orthodontic treatment has proven to be beneficial for the overall desired result since it improves the width of the dental arches, it simplifies and shortens procedure time for definitive orthodontic treatment (phase II) and it preserves or gains space for erupting teeth.

This is why it’s important to carry out an orthodontic examination in an early stage, to prevent existent and future problems. The orthodontic check-up consists of several steps.

To provide a more accurate analysis, a correct diagnosis result is essential and to to make it possible, the next examinations are required:

An orthopantomography
An latero-lateral teleradiography
An intra and extra oral photo lineup
The impressions of the upper and lower jaw to create a plaster model of the mouth .

A proper diagnosis is crucial to improve the benefits of the orthodontic treatment and simplify and shorten the procedure time.

Prevention in orthodontics

Even in orthodontics we can prevent many of the developmental anomalies and dental eruption by changing some of the attitudes of children. For example, “spoiled habits” are defined as a series of childhood behaviors which, if continued beyond a certain age, certainly affect the bone growth of the jaws.

These can be summarized in:

use of the pacifier over 3 years
finger sucking over 2 years
use of the bottle over 5 years
and for older children: biting the pen, biting their nails, putting objects in their mouths.

Other things that parents should note are: oral breathing, discomfort in speech and swallowing, snoring or dyspnea at night, labial incompetence (lips always open).

All of these attitudes can be caused or caused by functional problems that orthodontics can correct and resolve.

Our orthodontic treatments

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Interceptive orthodontics

Interceptive orthodontics or early orthodontics is recommended to correct certain dental malocclusions and it may prevent serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later stage shorter and less complicated.
The interceptive orthodontics braces are all removable and there are of different types. To guarantee the best success, our clinic exclusively rely to the best otto-technical laboratory in Liguria.

Fixed Braces

We provide fixed braces using the latest self ligating brackets and to avoid extraction in the vast majority of cases and they are often the best option for complex orthodontic conditions ( in difficult cases we resort also with the aid of orthodontic surgery).
Fixed braces consist of square brackets attached to each tooth, with a wire running through them, which gradually moves your teeth into the correct position.
The length of treatment with fixed braces varies but is typically around 18 to 24 months and it allows to solve the vast majority of cases.

Invisible aligners

Our clear aligners (movable thermoplastic masks that envelop the entire dental arch) are the thinnest and most precise currently available on the market. These types of appliances are removable and can be removed for eating and for brushing teeth. Once fitted in the mouth they are almost invisible and are a valid alternative to fixed orthodontics but be careful: they cannot solve any type of malocclusion. For this reason it is very important to be advised by our Orthodontist on which type of appliance is best to use according to your clinical case.

Invisible internal orthodontics

This particular type of fixed orthodontic treatment is totally invisible as it is mounted in the back of the teeth. The brackets are built by customizing them to the shape of the individual patient’s teeth and mount self-ligating brakets. The various sequences of arches to be changed during the treatment are robotically folded in the laboratory after a digital study of the movements to be performed.

COMPLETELY INVISIBLE

An exclusive technique: the “INVISIBLE THREAD”

A fixed appliance completely invisible because it is fixed on the internal surface and very comfortable because it does not require the use of attachments.

It is the preferred technique and used by movie and sports stars in Milan. We are currently the only orthodontic practice to use this exclusive appliance in the entire Liguria Region.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Our patients are constantly asking questions concerning a variety of subjects involving their oral health. So, we have provided a list of common questions and answers especially for you. If the question you have is not on our list, please feel free to either call or ask us in person. We would love to help you!

Am I Too Old for Orthodontic Treatment?

In short, no, you are never too old for orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist considers many variables when developing your customized treatment plan, but age is rarely a deciding factor. Orthodontic treatment can be as successful for adults as it is for adolescents. In fact, one in three orthodontic patients is an adult. Don’t let your age keep you from consulting an AAO orthodontist.

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Can the teeth of judgment turn their teeth upside down?

Yes, the arrival of the teeth of the Judgment, which usually erupt or ‘born’ around 18-20 years (but also after) usually causes orthodontic problems to the teeth already present. The wisdom teeth in fact press on all the other teeth causing an ‘overlap’ of the latter. The solution? Predict the eruption of wisdom teeth and extract them before they can cause damage.

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Once straightened, can teeth come back crooked?

If the orthodontic treatment has not been carried out correctly and if the ‘restraint’ is not carried, it is possible that relapses may occur. These are usually mild, so your teeth will never go back to the way they used to be, but it’s still important to prevent this from happening. At our Clinic we provide a free long-term control service that allows us to monitor and prevent any possible relapse.

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What is a retainer?

At the end of your treatment time, the lab will produce and supply you with a set of removable retainers to be worn for a prescribed amount of time every day to keep your teeth in place. Unlike your clear aligners, your retainer will not make any further adjustments, but it will allow your teeth to stabilise in their new position.

If relevant to your dental needs, it is possible to have a fixed retainer fitted to prevent any further movements. Bonded to the back of your teeth, this discreet, unobtrusive retainer will ensure you have no further problems.