Everyone deserves to have a fantastic smile

Whatever age you may be, there are tons of reasons why you should consider orthodontic treatment. As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression – and your smile is a huge part of that.

Seriously, who doesn’t want to look (and feel) more confident and comfortable showing their natural smile? That’s the power of a great smile. Having healthy teeth and jaws will benefit your health both physically and emotionally for years to come.

For ages

7-11

Start early for the best results

Prairie Grove orthodontist agree with the American Association of Orthodontist (AAO) that it’s best to schedule your child’s initial orthodontist exam around the age of seven. This allows the orthodontist to identify any developing problems with your child’s teeth or jaw. Many children are able to correct these problems early, eliminating the need for more serious (and more expensive) treatment later in life. An annual orthodontic exam is highly recommended to ensure your child’s mouth and jaw development is monitored for any treatment needs.

We take a close-up look

Most children have a mix of both primary (baby) teeth and permanent teeth at this age. Using digital X-rays, a 3D mouth scan, and photographs of their developing teeth – all at no charge – we can capture this moment in time and assess their needs. If early treatment is necessary and your child’s permanent teeth have not all come in yet, we may suggest a two-phase approach. Or better yet, we may discover that your child’s mouth looks great! Whatever the results are, you can always count on us to give you an honest diagnosis.

A two-phased approach when needed

If deemed necessary, the first phase of treatment addresses your child’s tooth and jaw problems in hopes of preventing more serious issues from developing in the future. This first phase typically takes 9-12 months to complete, but the good news is that it can decrease the amount of time needed in the second phase. Once all permanent teeth have arrived, it’s time to start the second phase of treatment. Every case is different, but the second phase typically lasts up to two years. Think of it as taking the time now to avoid more serious problems later – a very worthwhile effort.

One phase of treatment usually does the job

The good news is that a single-phase orthodontic approach, which typically begins once permanent teeth are all in, usually resolves any concerns and eliminates the need for additional years of treatment, costs, and visits. Every child’s path to a beautiful smile is different, but you can trust Prairie Grove Orthodontics to get them started at the right time.

For ages

12-17

Smiling through the teenage years

Orthodontic treatment is practically a rite of passage for this age group. Many teens are already self-conscious, but especially if they have a less-than-perfect smile. What better time to give your teen a gorgeous smile that improves their self-esteem and builds confidence? With most of their permanent teeth already in, this is an ideal time for teens to get started with orthodontic treatment.

Traditional braces are still the most popular choice, but thankfully these aren’t the awkward painful braces of the past – and the dreaded head gear is long gone! Today’s braces are smaller, sleeker, way more comfortable, and often the most effective and efficient way to align teeth and jaws.

Invisalign® clear aligners are another option. Teens love them because they are practically invisible (hence the name!). But Invisalign clear aligners have many other practical benefits as well, mainly the fact that they are removable. Your teen can take them out when eating their favorite foods (especially hard or sticky foods that are banned with braces), going to prom or another special event, playing sports, playing a musical instrument, or brushing and flossing their teeth.

It doesn’t take a lot of time

Your teen may not respond to requests immediately (to clean their room), but their teeth and jaw are another story! Most teens usually start responding quickly to orthodontic treatment, and the average treatment time is just 24 months. Of course, some teens require more time, while others require less. Your Prairie Grove orthodontist will give you the straight scoop every step of the way.

For ages

18+

You’re never too old to have a perfect smile

If you can’t imagine having braces at your age, we hope you’ll give us the chance to change your mind. Our desire to look and feel our best doesn’t go away when we put our teen years in the rear-view mirror. As an adult, being self-conscious about your smile can affect jobs, relationships, and everything in between. You’ve waited too long to have a great smile – now is the time!

Adults may also consider orthodontic treatment for other health reasons in addition to aesthetics, including tooth and jaw pain, tooth decay or gum disease, or difficulty chewing. Adult braces or Invisalign clear aligners can help reduce or eliminate many causes of pain, pressure, headaches, sleep issues, and more. Whether we are caring for ourselves on the outside or the inside, we’re never too old to want to feel better. Prairie Grove Orthodontics is here to help you make it happen.

Orthodontics solve so many problems

One mouth. 32 teeth. It sounds simple enough, but there sure is a lot that can go wrong. In addition to giving you the smile of your dreams, orthodontic treatment can also improve your oral health by correcting dental issues known as malocclusions. Below are just a few examples, or you can explore our smile transformation gallery for even more.

  • Mouth with crowding
  • Mouth with spacing
  • Mouth with protrusion
  • Mouth with underbite
  • Mouth with crossbite
  • Mouth with openbite
  • Mouth with overbite

Teeth crowding

When teeth lack sufficient space in the mouth, they can overlap or rotate, resulting in a crooked appearance. This makes them difficult to clean, and can lead to cavities and gum disease.

Spacing issues

In cases of missing teeth, undersized teeth, or oversized jaws, the resulting spaces can allow food to get stuck, causing cavities and gum disease.

Protrusion

Often described as “buckteeth,” protrusion occurs when the upper teeth flare too far over the bottom teeth. This overjet can be uncomfortable and makes the teeth vulnerable to breakage.

Underbite

The lower jaw extends in front of the upper jaw, causing stress on the jaw joints as well as additional tooth wear.

Crossbite

The misalignment of teeth, where upper teeth fit inside of lower teeth. This can affect a single tooth or groups of teeth, involving the front teeth, back teeth, or both which can cause improper wear of your enamel.

Openbite

The back teeth meet, but the front teeth do not (anterior open bite), or the front teeth meet, but the back teeth do not (posterior open bite). Swallowing and speech problems may result.

Overbite

The upper teeth extend too far over the bottom teeth, causing the teeth to bite into the lower gums or the roof of the mouth. This can lead to gum disease and abnormal enamel wear.

Let’s get one thing straight

We have 32 teeth on average. What are the chances of them all being perfect? That’s why Prairie Grove Orthodontics is here.

See more smile transformations

  • After Patient with spacing and an anterior openbite
  • After Patient with an overbite, spacing and protrusion
  • After Patient with an openbite
  • After Patient with a crossbite and crowding
  • After Patient with crowding and an overbite
  • After Patient with crossbite and underbite tendency
  • After Patient with crowding and a crossbite
  • After Patient with crowding and a crossbite
Before Patient with spacing and an anterior openbite Before Patient with an overbite, spacing and protrusion Before Patient with an openbite Before Patient with a crossbite and crowding Before Patient with crowding and an overbite Before Patient with crossbite and underbite tendency Before Patient with crowding and a crossbite Before Patient with crowding and a crossbite
After Patient with spacing and an anterior openbite

After

Before Patient with spacing and an anterior openbite

Before

What’s the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a dental specialist – in other words, a dentist who has completed years of additional education and training beyond dental school, focused specifically on the safe and healthy movement of teeth and jaws.

We believe that our patients are special enough to deserve a specialist, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Prairie Grove Orthodontics. We have the knowledge and expertise to diagnose and treat every patient with the absolute best in orthodontic care – and we make the effort to keep learning all the time. You will experience exceptional service and compassion not just from our orthodontist, but every member of our staff. We are all here to make you smile.

Meet our orthodontist

Schedule your free consultation today!

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