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Do you have crooked or crowded teeth? Is your bite misaligned, or do you have an overbite, underbite, or teeth that stick out? These may be more than just aesthetic problems.
They can also create health issues such as increased risk for decay (crowded teeth that are difficult to clean) or headaches and jaw pain (bad bite or misaligned teeth). You may even have trouble chewing or talking.
What Can Orthodontic Treatment Do for Me?
Our orthodontic treatments can help with the following problems:
- Close wide gaps between teeth
- Make sure teeth are aligned
- Straighten crooked teeth
- Improve speech or eating
- Improve health of gums and teeth
- Prevent excessive wear or trauma of teeth
- Treat improper bite
At your initial appointment, our orthodontics team will examine your teeth for the above issues. We will also make sure your teeth and gums are healthy and disease-free. We will then design your treatment plan, taking dental X-rays, impressions, and other records. We will explain each step of the treatment process thoroughly so that you can begin treatment comfortable with your choices and confident in your results.
Know More About Common Dental Issues That Need Specialized Orthodontic Treatment:
Overbite (sometimes called "buck teeth")
When the upper front teeth lie too far forward (stick out) over the lower teeth.
Underbite
A “bulldog” appearance where the lower teeth are too far forward or the upper teeth too far back.
Crossbite
When the upper teeth do not come down slightly in front of the lower teeth when biting together normally.
Open Bite
Space between the biting surfaces of the front and/or side teeth when the back teeth bite together.
Misplaced Midline
When the center of your upper front teeth does not line up with the center of your lower front teeth.
Spacing
Gaps, or spaces, between the teeth as a result of missing teeth or teeth that do not “fill up” the mouth.
Crowding
When there are too many teeth for the dental ridge to accommodate.
Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Michael Eshelman, DDS
Dr. Michael Eshelman has served Houston and surrounding communities for over 20 years. Dr. Eshelman graduated from Texas A&M in College Station and University of Texas Dental Branch.
Dr. Eshelman and his wife Connie raised their family in Woodlands area and you can now find Dr. Eshelman spending his free time with his family, traveling and supporting the local area animal shelters. Mike and Connie are also enjoying being grandparents.
Dr. Eshelman is committed to giving his patients state of the art services and he looks forward to serving Rockdale, Crosby, Jasper, Victoria, Splendora and Houston communities for years to come.
Orthodontic Solutions
Traditional wire braces are a tried and true orthodontic treatment. They have provided millions of people with permanent smiles for years. Traditional metal braces can be used to treat crooked, crowded, and misaligned teeth and jaws.
Today, metal braces are sleeker, more comfortable, and smaller than the braces of the past. This means that they are easier to wear and easier to clean. They consist of metal brackets that are attached directly to your teeth, wires that run through each bracket, and bands that secure the wires. Our expert in metal braces in Rockdale will occasionally adjust or tighten these wires to straighten and align your teeth and jaws. He will also provide you with important information you need to clean and care for your braces so that you can get the best results possible. Orthodontic work can span from six months to several years, depending on the work that needs to be done. Throughout the process, Rockdale Dental & Orthodontics will be here to make sure you’re making progress towards your new smile.
Invisalign is a revolutionary way to straighten your teeth – without anyone knowing. Invisalign uses computer technology to plan your treatment, preview your smile, create your aligners, and provide you with straight braces in as little as 12 months. Every couple of weeks, we will switch out your custom aligners until your desired smile is achieved. Invisalign has several advantages over traditional braces:
Clear ceramic braces are similar to traditional wire braces but are made of clear materials instead. This makes them much less visible. We recommend these mostly for older teens and adults who appreciate their discreet advantage.
Ceramic braces require more attention to oral hygiene because they are larger and more brittle than metal braces. We use them more frequently on upper front teeth, where your smile is most noticeable.
Invisalign’s clear aligners fit over your top and bottom teeth and hardly show at all. Our adult and older teen patients love Invisalign for this reason. Invisalign aligners can be removed for regular brushing, flossing, and cleaning. You can also remove them when you eat, which means you don’t have to give up foods that you would with wire braces. You can even take off your aligners during special occasions.
Aside from being removable, Invisalign has comfortable acrylic aligners that don’t irritate your mouth like the brackets from wire braces can.
Invisalign is a perfect option for busy people because it typically requires fewer office visits and also less treatment time.
Invisalign isn’t for everyone, but it’s usually ideal for adults. Let us know if you’re interested in Invisalign clear braces to straighten your teeth quickly and comfortably.
Commonly Used Orthodontic Appliances:
Special Fixed Appliances
Used to control thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, these appliances are attached to the teeth by bands.
Rapid Palatal Expander
A device used to widen the arch of the upper jaw. It is an appliance placed in the roof of the mouth.
Lip Bumpers
This are designed to keep the lips away from the teeth. The lip muscles can exert pressure on the teeth, and this bumper helps relieve that pressure.
Jaw Repositioning Appliances
Also called Herbts, this device is worn on the top or lower jaw, and help train the jaw to close in a more favorable position. They may be used for temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ).
Headgear
With this device, a strap is placed around the back of the head and attached to a metal wire in front, or face bow. Headgear slows the growth of the upper jaw, and holds the back teeth where they are while the front teeth are pulled back.
Removable Retainers
Worn on the upper and lower arch, a retainer is used to retain the teeth in a finished position after orthodontic treatment and prevent shifting.
Our Professional Team
Our team of orthodontists are highly skilled & dedicated who take considerable pride in treating one smile at a time. Our orthodontic professionals are here to make each step of your orthodontic experience an amazing one. We have the expertise to treat our patients with utmost care and provide the best dental experience you deserve. The top priority of our orthodontic team is to provide the highest quality dental care to our communities in a family like environment.
