Orthodontics - Glen Ellyn, IL
Straightening Teeth One Smile at a Time
At Glen Ellyn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we know what crooked teeth, multiple gaps, and a poorly aligned bite can do to a person’s oral health and self-confidence. This is why our in-house orthodontist, Dr. Shiloah Golden, remains ready and eager to provide state-of-the-art orthodontic solutions to both children and adults. From lingual and traditional braces to clear aligners, custom retainers, and even early orthodontics, our team has the options available to treat smiles at any stage of life. If you or your child could benefit from a personalized evaluation, call our office today.
Lingual Braces
If wearing shiny metal to straighten your teeth doesn’t sound like much fun, we can offer an alternative that delivers the same great results – lingual braces. Instead of being affixed to the front surfaces of teeth, these metal brackets and wires are attached to the backside of your pearly whites. These not only offer a more pleasing aesthetic for self-conscious adults, but they also produce reliable outcomes that will have you seeing a straighter set of teeth before you know it.
Traditional Braces
Teens and adults who need help addressing minor or more complex dental alignment issues can trust the reliability of traditional braces. As the most popular bracket-and-wire system on the market, Dr. Golden can map out a treatment plan that uses these strategically placed appliances to shift teeth over time, eventually creating a newer, healthier smile that looks beautiful, offers improved function, and is positioned for better oral health in the future.
Clear/Ceramic Braces
Instead of settling for glaring metal that is obvious to onlookers, a viable alternative is clear/ceramic braces. Designed much in the same way as traditional braces, these replace shiny metal with tooth-colored materials, so teens and adults can enjoy a less noticeable form of treatment. Another added benefit of clear/ceramic braces is the brackets are often wider and do not protrude as far, so the potential for soft tissue irritation decreases.
Clear Aligners
When the word “metal” of any kind causes you to cringe, you can ask about clear aligners instead. Crafted from custom impressions taken of you or your teen’s mouth, the clear plastic trays use gentle pressure to move teeth over time, eventually producing a healthier, more perfectly aligned smile. While undergoing clear aligner treatment, you will be able to eat, drink, brush, and floss your teeth without any issues because you can easily remove your trays.
Interdisciplinary Orthodontics
When a straighter smile is necessary for the success of another form of dental treatment, interdisciplinary orthodontics can be used. This means that if you or your teen need restorative care (i.e., a dental crown or bridge) or some form of tooth replacement down the road, braces can be used to prepare the teeth and move them into a more appropriate location so that optimal results can be achieved.
Retainers/Oral Appliances
Oftentimes, patients need more than braces to obtain the desired results. This is why Dr. Golden offers oral appliances, like space maintainers, palatal expanders, and even retainers to ensure you, your child, or your teen’s smile goals are successful. No matter which method is used, our team will recommend the appropriate device to create space for proper tooth eruption, address overcrowding by expanding the palate, and keep teeth in their new location permanently with a custom retainer.
Dentofacial Orthopedics
For many patients, the problem isn’t just overcrowding or bite misalignment; instead, it is their bone structure that can make moving teeth more difficult. However, with dentofacial orthopedics, we can change how the bone functions so that oral structures move more fluidly and work together properly. What your child or teen is left with after treatment is a symmetrical, beautiful, and more proportionate bite.
Phase 1 Pediatric Orthodontics
It is recommended that children who are at least 7 years old should receive an orthodontic evaluation from a trusted professional. The reason is that alignment issues can begin to form early on, and to prevent more serious problems later on, Dr. Golden can provide Phase 1 Pediatric Orthodontics. This proactive approach helps address minor issues that currently exist, primarily making sure adult teeth can erupt successfully and move into place to create a straighter smile. Using various oral appliances, he can set your child’s mouth up for success as it continues to grow and change over time.