Everyone wants a beautiful smile - and everyone should have a healthy one. The orthodontist's goal is to achieve both for the patient.

The physiological benefits:

a lifetime of a healthy smile

Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This may contribute to conditions that cause not only tooth decay but eventual gum disease and tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, excess stress on supporting bone and gum tissue, or misalignment of the jaw joints with resultant chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck.

When left untreated, many orthodontic problems become worse. Treatment by a specialist to correct the original problem is often less costly than the additional dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop in later years.

What is beautiful? Standards of beauty vary from culture to culture, but most people place a premium on well-balanced facial features, especially in the region of the mouth. The mouth is a focus of attention because we consistently communicate and express our feelings through it.

The need for acceptance is something we never outgrow. An adult or a child who feels unattractive because of crooked teeth or misaligned jaws may become self-conscious and preoccupied with his or her appearance. He or she may cover the mouth when speaking or laughing, hesitate to smile, or attempt to hide his or her profile.

In addition to improving the health of the mouth, orthodontics is one way to improve a person's looks and self-esteem. Orthodontic treatment gives a person a sense of control because it provides an opportunity to participate in improvement of one's appearance. Increased self-confidence often is observed even before treatment is completed. An improved appearance through orthodontic treatment can improve self-esteem, confidence and acceptance, which leads to greater success in all areas of life.