North Haven Affordable Orthodontist | Also in Cromwell and Wallingford
Nova Dental’s Dr. Jaimie Vassiliou can help if you or your child have misaligned teeth. Dr. Vassiliou is a board-certified orthodontist. At Nova Dental, we offer affordable traditional braces as well as Invisalign in North Haven Affordable Orthodontist Center
When to See an Orthodontist
Dr. Vassiliou treats kids, teens, and adults. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, you should consult with an orthodontist as soon as you realize your child may have a dental alignment problem, preferably by age 7. Your child’s needs will guide the frequency of future appointments.
You can still straighten your teeth with braces if you’re an adult. It takes longer to straighten adult teeth, so it’s best to correct malocclusion young. However, an orthodontist can safely treat healthy teeth regardless of your age.
The Disadvantages of Crooked Teeth
- Crooked teeth can be difficult to keep clean, with lots of nooks and crevices to harbor bacteria. After your teeth are straight, you’ll be able to brush and floss thoroughly.
- Misalignment can cause your teeth to wear down unevenly, setting you up to need restorative dental work later on.
- Severely misaligned teeth can make it hard to chew food, resulting in poor digestion. You may also find yourself whistling or lisping when you speak.
- They can put stress on your jaw muscles, leading to muscle spasms and TMJ disorder.
- A crooked smile is unattractive. A healthy-looking smile will improve your appearance and your confidence.
How Do Braces Work?
When placing traditional braces, Dr. Vassiliou will attach a bracket to the surface of each tooth and then thread a long wire, called the archwire, through the brackets. She will use small elastic bands to secure the archwire. The archwire and the elastic bands will exert direct force on your teeth, gently and gradually moving them until they are straight. You’ll visit our office every 4 to 8 weeks during this time so we can make adjustments and check your progress.
During treatment, your teeth might feel a little loose. That can be alarming, but it’s normal and caused by dental roots and ligaments moving to support your new healthy tooth alignment. The feeling will go away as your mouth builds bone to support your teeth in their new positions.
At the end of treatment, Dr. Vassiliou will remove your braces. However, you’ll need to wear a retainer to protect the new alignment. How long you wear the retainer depends on your unique needs. Wearing the retainer as directed will ensure your new alignment lasts.
Ceramic vs. Metal Braces
The brackets for your braces can be metal or ceramic. The pros of metal braces are:
- They’re less expensive than ceramic and Invisalign braces
- They rarely break and don’t get stained
Many patients prefer ceramic braces for their aesthetic advantage—they match the color of your teeth, so they’re not as noticeable. They’re suitable for most patients, though some types of misalignment can only be fixed with metal braces. Both metal and ceramic braces take 18 to 24 months to work. Difficult cases can need up to 36 months.
Invisalign Invisible Braces
Dr. Vassiliou can also treat your case with Invisalign. Invisalign treatment is particularly appealing to adults. It is faster, taking about half the time of conventional braces. It is also more comfortable, and the clear plastic aligners are virtually invisible. You can read more about Invisalign here.
Orthodontic treatment permanently changes how the bone in your jaw supports your teeth. Mistakes in this area can have lifelong consequences, so it’s important to have complex work done by a specially trained orthodontist.
If you’d like to make an appointment with Dr. Vassiliou, please call us at (203) 234–3900. You can also fill out our online appointment request form here, and we will call you.