Ortho Questions

Can Orthodontic Issues Be Genetic?

Round Lake, IL – We often hear phrases relating to the genetics passed on to us from our parents. Things such as “She has her mother’s eyes” or “he has his father’s nose.” But have you ever wondered where your teeth came from? While someone may tell you you have a smile like one of your parents, chances are good they aren’t referring to the teeth themselves. But your genetics and your teeth are closely linked.

Retainers Guide

1- Retainer 101 – Why do patients need retainers, when are they used, why are they important?

    • Why are retainers used in orthodontic treatment?
      Retainers are used to retain the new teeth position after the smile has been corrected through braces or iDentity clear aligner treatment.
    • Why are retainers sometimes used before braces treatment?
      Retainers are not used prior to braces. Phase 1 orthodontic appliances may resemble retainers, however, they are not – retainers are used only after treatment to ensure the teeth retain their new locations.
    • Why are retainers so important during orthodontic treatment?
      Retainers are a crucial part of your orthodontic treatment. If you have worn braces or had iDentity clear aligner treatment, you’ve worked hard to ensure a beautiful smile at the end of that treatment. But, if you won’t wear your retainer exactly as your orthodontist recommends, you may see that smile start to slip away.
extractions before orthodontic treatment
Peter, the patient
Dear Dr. Stosich,
My child’s dentist said that he is too old to still have baby teeth, and recommends that we have them all pulled now. He’s only 11, and I’m worried about what pulling teeth too early will do for future orthodontic work. The dentist claims that we should pull the teeth now to make the orthodontist’s job easier. But are teeth always pulled before beginning orthodontic work?

Avoid DIY orthodontics
Peter, the patient
Dear Dr. Stosich,
I’ve got a space between my front teeth that I’ve hated my entire life. I don’t want to get braces just to fix the gap, but a friend recently told me about a video she saw on YouTube, where a woman closed the gap between her teeth with just some rubber bands. It sounds pretty easy, and it would be cheap and save me the headache of having to wear braces and schedule orthodontic appointments. My mom says no way, but I think it’s worth a try. What do you think?

Why Choosing the Right Orthodontist Matters?
Peter, the patient
Dear Dr. Stosich,
Our family dentist has told us our son needs an orthodontic evaluation. There’s an orthodontist in the same office complex as our dentist, which is a convenient location for us to get to. My wife says we need to research all the orthodontists in our area, though, to find the right one. I think she’s going a bit overboard – aren’t all orthodontists capable of the same things?

braces are for everyone
Peter, the patient
Dear Dr. Stosich.,
I have had a crooked smile for what feels like my entire life. I’d love to get braces, but I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my husband doesn’t think we can afford braces. Because he is the one who works full-time, he has said no to my orthodontic work. He said I’ve had the same smile forever, so he doesn’t understand why we need to spend the money now. How can I convince him otherwise?

iDentity Orthodontics