Orthodontics & Functional Orthopedics

It is known that only 18-20% of malocclusion or misalignment of teeth in children is genetic. This implies that the remaining 80% of poor bites arise due to environmental factors i.e., poor tongue position, mouth breathing, allergies, or enlarged tonsils and adenoids.  To ensure that your child has a proper growth pattern of teeth and lower face, it is important that he/she is regularly observed by an orthodontist.  Well timed functional therapy can have an astounding influence on your child's development often discouraging mouth breathing, poor sleep habits and a slow physical growth pattern. Functional orthopedics is usually therapy of short duration, may involve removable appliances and often makes more extensive therapy (braces) unnecessary.

Functional Orthopedics are a great way to help younger patients avoid many of the conditions that have plagued their parents, such as, poor sleep habits, T.M.J. pain, sleep apnea, small lower jaws ( weak chin profile ), and proud upper teeth (buck teeth) that my lead to poor self-image.
Orthodontics, more classically involves the use of braces that are bonded to the teeth. These braces allow us to control the teeth more accurately so that we can fine tune their relationship to one another and create that beautiful smile.