Orthodontics is needed to correct crooked teeth and jaws.

Young children should be seen for an examination at age 6 or 7. If a malocclusion, crooked jaws or teeth is present phase I or early treatment may be indicated. Many orthodontists

put braces on young children when a crooked tooth is present. This is done to get the parents to commit to the practice. Dr. Hulsey will only do phase I treatment if it is indicated.

Phase II or full orthodontic treatment in young adults is started when all the permanent teeth are erupted. This allows the orthodontists to control all the teeth in an orderly manner.  The exception to this is a very severe skeletal problem, (jaws not in alignment) that was not treated earlier with phase I treatment. Growth is a main consideration to make this treatment successful and due to age and maturation of the patient treatment might be started before all the teeth are erupted.  

A quick and simple education about orthodontics. (Orthodontics A-Z)

1. In order to have ideal straight teeth, the jawbones have to reasonably line up.  The lower jaw must be reasonably symmetrical. with the upper jaw and not too far forward or too far back.

2. Crooked jaws can be aligned by directing their growth in young growing children with dento-facial orthopedic appliances. This facility is lost with growth, usually in girls about age 14 and boys at age 16 (depending upon maturation rate and everyone is  individual.) Accomplishing orthodontics without good jaw alignment will result in a compromised result and future relapse.
    
3. In adults or patients with gross jaw alignment, the jaws cannot be aligned with growth so Orthognathic  (jaw ) surgery  will need to be done . First the orthodontist positions the teeth individually to a normal position in each jaw and then an expert oral surgeon moves the jaws to fit the teeth together.

4. If the jaws do line up, then the teeth need to be moved to an ideal position. Depending upon the severity of the problem, this can be done with braces, clear aligners (Invisalign), lingual braces or sometimes removable appliances. In severe crowding or protrusion, permanent tooth extraction may be needed. This is becoming more rare due to new orthodontic techniques.  

5. Elastics or springs are often used to relate the teeth properly in one dental arch with the other dental arch. 
 
6. The puzzler! A patient may have straight teeth but that does not mean the bite is right with the rest of your body. The unique thing about Dr. Hulsey’s treatment expertise is he makes sure your bite is correct with the rest of your body structure. He does this as a result of years of experience treating chronic jaw, neck and back pain patients and a unique testing system.

7. Once the teeth are aligned, that doesn’t mean they will stay there. This is why we need retainers and good posture and habits Most common is a lower fixed  retainer on the inside of the lower front teeth and an upper retainer worn just at night. The teeth are a fixed size and as you age, the jawbones and muscle pressures change and will move the teeth. Ask your parents what has happened to their teeth over the years since they were 18. To combat this aging and crowding, Dr. Hulsey recommends wearing retainers and particularly keeping the lower retainer in as long as possible.