ORTHODONTICS Dental Services

ORTHODONTICS

At Discovery Dental, we offer orthodontic treatment to children of all ages. Early orthodontics has become much more popular in recent years. Why? Treating orthodontic issues at an early age can result in a number of benefits. Above all else, it can help your child maintain a healthy and beautiful smile!

THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY INTERVENTION

Forty or fifty years ago, the halls of our high schools were filled with teenagers wearing braces. These days, that sight is much less common because children are undergoing orthodontic treatment at an earlier age. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), your child should receive their first orthodontic evaluation by the time they are seven years old.

By the age of seven, your child should have enough permanent teeth to make a proper assessment. During a consultation, Dr. Khayyat will be able to identify problems that require early intervention to promote healthier tooth development. We may also determine that treatment is needed, but not until a later date. In some cases, we may even tell you that no treatment is required.

The bottom line: early orthodontics can prevent small issues from becoming major complications. Many orthodontic problems are also easier to treat at an earlier age before the teeth and jaws are done developing. Once development is complete, it becomes much harder to move teeth to their proper alignment.

COMMON ORTHODONTIC ISSUES

The goal of orthodontic treatment is to improve the function and aesthetics of your child’s smile. Early treatment can even guide the growth and development of their permanent teeth and jawbone.

The orthodontic issues best suited for early treatment include: Crowded Teeth; Gapped Teeth; Crooked or Rotated Teeth; Underbites; Overbites; Crossbites; Open Bites; Issues Related to Excessive Thumb, Finger, or Pacifier Habits; Missing or Extra Teeth

BRACES AND OTHER APPLIANCES

Most parents are familiar with braces, the most common orthodontic appliance. Conventional braces consist of metal brackets, metal wires, and elastic bands. The brackets are bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth and linked together by the wire, which is held in place by the bands. Throughout treatment the wire is tightened, placing pressure on the teeth until they move to the proper position.

Thanks to technological advancements, braces these days are more discreet and comfortable than ever before. They are also more effective, which can result in faster treatment times. Even still, there may be a brief adjustment period as your child gets used to eating and speaking with their new appliance.

We also offer clear aligner trays, like Invisalign, as an effective alternative to braces. At the beginning of your child’s treatment, we will take impressions of their upper and lower teeth. These impressions will be used to create a series of clear, plastic aligner trays. Each tray in the series is designed to move the teeth to a slightly better position.

Many children prefer aligner trays because they are virtually invisible. These esthetically pleasing trays can save your child from feeling self-conscious about orthodontic treatment.

We also offer several orthodontic treatments designed to correct malocclusions (misaligned bites). In the end, the type of treatment we recommend is dictated by the severity of your child’s misalignments. Talk with Dr. Khayyat to learn more about our treatment options!

Please use the Contact Form below to schedule an Orthodontic Dental Appointment or call us at the following number:  (760) 471-2231

Invisalign

Traditional braces can leave some patients feeling self-conscious about having a mouth full of visible metal. With Invisalign clear aligners, you don’t have to hide your teeth while you straighten them. Clear aligner therapy allows patients to feel confident throughout the entire straightening process. Contact our office to schedule your Invisalign consultation!

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign utilizes a series of clear, discreet aligners to gently push your teeth into their ideal positions. It’s a convenient, subtle teeth straightening method that can correct mild to moderate alignment and spacing issues.

The Invisalign Process

Before your Invisalign treatment begins, we’ll work with you to determine the areas of your smile that need improvement and discuss your smile goals. Once we’ve determined that Invisalign is right for you, we’ll take impressions of your teeth and map out your personalized treatment plan.

We’ll send your impressions and treatment plan to an off-site lab where they’ll create your custom aligners. You’ll wear each set of aligners every day and move on to the next series every two weeks. Our team will send you home with a few sets at a time so you’ll only have to visit our office every 4-6 weeks!

Benefits of Invisalign

Compared to traditional orthodontic options, Invisalign provides patients with a number of advantages: Clear aligners are virtually invisible; Smooth plastic won’t irritate your cheeks or gums; Removable aligners so you can eat, brush, and floss like normal; Fewer appointments; On average, treatment time is shorter than metal braces!

Is Invisalign painful?

Your teeth are likely not used to being shifted, so experiencing some soreness and discomfort when you first begin wearing clear aligners is normal. We recommend putting in new aligners at night so that the initial tooth movements can be made while you are asleep. Dental wax and over-the-counter pain medications are also an easy way to reduce soreness and any gum agitation. Invisalign aligners are made of a smooth plastic material, and once your teeth become accustomed to them, your discomfort should be minimal.

Can I just wear Invisalign aligners at night?

Invisalign aligners should ideally be worn as often as possible, or any time the patient is not eating, drinking, or brushing their teeth. Invisalign is able to help patients achieve straighter smiles in an average of 12 to 18 months because of this. Patients who do not wear their aligners often enough may find that their treatment time is extended, as each aligner needs an appropriate amount of time to shift the teeth properly. Once your teeth are straightened, we will provide you with a retainer that is only worn at night.

ClearCorrect™

ClearCorrect braces are an alternative to both traditional braces and Invisalign. In our San Marcos dentist office, we provide this solution for straightening teeth discretely. If you live in or near the San Marcos area and want to improve your appearance, we invite you to call and schedule a consultation to learn how this treatment option can work for you.

What is ClearCorrect?

Instead of relying on metal brackets and wires to move teeth, ClearCorrect braces use a series of clear aligners to move teeth into place. The aligners are made of a clear and comfortable plastic that looks similar to a full retainer. By taking care of them and refraining from scratching their surface, aligners will remain clear and virtually invisible when worn. At Discovery Dental, we can show you how to keep your aligners in perfect condition during the treatment process.

The aligners are created using an impression of your teeth and gums. Once received, the lab will create a series of aligners that start with the current position of your teeth and slowly move them until they are perfectly straight. A patient will wear each aligner for about four to six weeks. Afterward, the patient will replace the old aligner with the next one in the series. The aligners place pressure on specific teeth to gradually move the teeth for a more comfortable experience. By wearing all of the aligners in the series, your teeth will move from crooked to perfectly straight.

The aligners are given to you at the beginning of the procedure so that you do not have to visit our San Marcos dentist office every time you need to switch them out. This allows you to spend less time in the dental chair than you would when wearing traditional metal braces.

ClearCorrect vs. Traditional Braces

Traditional metal braces are extremely effective for straightening teeth and treating misaligned jaws. While metal braces are more comfortable than they were in the past, they are still noticeable and unfavorable to many. With the wires, brackets, and rubber bands, traditional metal braces can negatively impact how a person looks and feels. Many people find that traditional braces are distracting and do not fit into a busy or professional lifestyle.

Simultaneously, metal braces are difficult to keep clean as food can become stuck between the brackets, requiring a special floss to remove the bits of food. At Discovery Dental, we can help patients receive the necessary treatment without having to drastically change their diet or skip out on some of their favorite treats when wearing braces. While only temporary, this can be inconvenient and, at times, frustrating. Given the tendency for food to become stuck, those wearing braces also need to spend more time brushing and flossing throughout the day.

ClearCorrect is a far more convenient option than other methods for straightening one’s teeth. Patients remove the aligners themselves when eating, so there are no restrictions on which foods you can eat. Patients also do not have to worry about something becoming stuck in the brackets or the embarrassment of feeling awkward while eating. Patients wear ClearCorrect for at least 22 hours per day, leaving plenty of time to enjoy a romantic dinner, business meeting, or lunch without metal braces ruining one’s confidence. This makes it possible for patients to maintain their current lifestyle without further restrictions.

Another advantage of ClearCorrect braces over traditional ones is that patients can remove the aligners while playing sports, a musical instrument or singing in the choir. As a dentist, we recommend that athletes wear a mouth guard during practice or a game. With braces or other teeth-straightening products, this can be an issue. With ClearCorrect, patients can remove the aligners to wear the mouth guard. If you play sports regularly, we invite you to schedule a consultation to see how easier it is to continue wearing a mouthguard when using ClearCorrect to straighten your teeth.

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    (760)471-2231

    Email office@discoverydentalsm.com

    Hours
    Monday: 8AM – 6PM
    Tuesday: 8AM – 6PM
    Wednesday: 8AM – 6PM
    Thursday: 8AM – 6PM
    Friday: Closed
    Saturday: 9AM – 2PM (Call for Appt.)
    Sunday: Closed


    READ WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING....

    “I recently visited Discovery Dental and I am beyond impressed with my experience. From the moment i walked in, I was greeted warmly by the receptionist. The waiting area was clean and comfortable.
    The dentist Dr. Alkhayat was very friendly and knowledgeable. He took the time to answer all of my questions and explained everything he was doing. I was so comfortable throughout my entire appointment.”

    Hala Mazin / Google

    “Great experience for my regular cleaning a couple weeks ago. Fatima make you feel like family as soon as you walk in the door. She is also a pleasure to speak to on the phone when setting up appointments. Dr. K and the rest of his staff are great, very friendly and explain everything to you in a manner that is easy to understand. Great place. If you’re looking for a dentist this is the place!”

    Michael Guerrero / Google

    “I would absolutely recommend Discovery Dental! The entire team is so kind, caring, and welcoming, and they genuinely care about their patients. I have always had anxiety going to the dentist, but now I look forward to going to my appointments. They are seriously the best!”

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