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Tag: kids braces

model of the mouth with clear braces and metal braces with colorful bands

Ask an Orthodontist in The Woodlands, TX: What is an overbite and how can I treat it?

Written by Identiwrite on . Posted in Tomball Orthodontist.

Dental misalignment can take many forms. Sometimes, only individual teeth are crooked. Other times, your entire bite could be out of alignment, a condition known as malocclusion. Overbites are a type of malocclusion that can cause significant cosmetic issues and even health problems. Fortunately, an orthodontist in The Woodlands, TX, can provide effective treatment with long-lasting results. 

At Harmony Orthodontics, Dr. Wint Tun treats all types of dental misalignment, from minor cosmetic concerns to severe malocclusion. To provide the best possible care, she offers a wide range of treatment options, including traditional and clear braces, as well as Invisalign®. 

If you are ready to improve your smile and oral health, contact Harmony Orthodontics today.

What is an overbite?

An overbite occurs when the top teeth protrude in front of the bottom teeth. A minor overbite may not require treatment. A severe overbite can affect your facial contours and cause problems with oral function. Studies indicate that this type of malocclusion is quite common and affects about 22% of the population. 

Symptoms of an Overbite

The most noticeable symptom of an overbite is the effect it can have on your appearance. In severe cases, it could make it difficult to close your mouth all the way. Or your chin could appear to be small or receding. An overbite can also make it difficult to bite down fully. It could also cause breathing difficulties and speech impediments. 

What causes this type of misalignment?

Genetics are one of the most common causes of an overbite, since genes affect the shape and size of your jaw. Other causes include: 

  • Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use: The pressure from non-nutritive sucking can cause adult teeth to emerge at an angle
  • Tongue thrust: This occurs when the tongue presses too far forward when swallowing or speaking. The resulting pressure can push the top teeth outward.
  • Bruxism: Teeth grinding can cause an overbite. Conversely, existing malocclusion increases the risk for bruxism and related problems, such as TMJ Disorder and dental erosion.  

Treatment Options from an Orthodontist in The Woodlands, TX

Braces are the most common treatment for an overbite. Your treatment may take place in two phases. During the first phase, the brackets and wires will straighten crooked teeth. During the second, Dr. Tun may place a small rubber band called an elastic to connect the upper and lower braces. This will cause the top teeth to shift back and the bottom teeth to move forward. However, elastics are not always necessary, which is why Invisalign can sometimes be a great option. 

In other cases, Dr. Tun may recommend a palatal expander. An expander sits on the roof of the mouth and widens the upper dental arch. Patients of all ages can benefit from expanders, but younger children are often the best candidates, since their jawbones are more malleable. 

In very severe cases, you may require surgery to correct an overbite. Known as orthognathic surgery, this procedure will realign your upper and/or lower jaws. Dr. Tun can refer you to a surgeon for treatment.

Contact Harmony Orthodontics Today

If you struggle with an overbite or any other type of malocclusion, treatment is available!

To schedule a consultation with an orthodontist in The Woodlands, TX, contact us online or call 832-699-3683. 

Girl lying on the ground with flowers in her hair

Does your child need an orthodontist or dentist?

Written by Identiwrite on . Posted in Tomball Orthodontist.

In some states – including Texas – general dentists are permitted to provide braces, Invisalign®, and other orthodontic treatments. So if you have been told that your child needs braces, you may be inclined to go to your regular dentist, especially if you have a long-standing relationship. But is this really the best choice, even with a trusted provider? Should your child see an orthodontist or a dentist? If this is your first foray into adolescent dental care, it can be confusing!

Dr. Wint Tun offers a full range of orthodontic services at Harmony Orthodontics in Tomball, TX. Your child’s general dentist will be a key part of your treatment team, and she will work with them to provide a continuum of care. At the same time, her training and expertise makes her a better choice for improving your child’s dental alignment. 

To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.

Orthodontist vs. Dentist: Training and Education 

Both an orthodontist and dentist must attend dental school. Once finished, dentists can immediately begin practicing. Orthodontists, on the other hand, must then complete a multi-year residency program, focusing exclusively on craniofacial and alignment issues.

Many orthodontists stop here. But the remaining practitioners – including Dr. Tun – pursue board certification. This helps to ensure that they have the best possible training and are able to provide highly specialized treatments. To become board-certified, orthodontists must pass rigorous clinical and written exams. The recent pass rate of these exams was 78.8%. They must then renew their certification every ten years. 

What treatments do dentists and orthodontists perform?

General dentists are responsible for overall oral health. In addition to preventive exams and cleanings, they offer restorative treatments. These include fillings, crowns, and bridges. Many dentists also provide cosmetic treatments, and some offer periodontal care, implant dentistry, and larger prosthetics. And, as stated above, many also provide braces and clear aligners.

Though orthodontists are trained in general dentistry, they typically focus exclusively on tooth and jaw alignment. In addition to braces, they may offer more specialized treatments, including:

Why choose Harmony Orthodontics?

When it comes to your child’s health, you obviously want the very best. So the choice is clear – see an orthodontist with the best possible training and experience. Dr. Tun became the Chief Resident in the orthodontic residency program at the University of California, San Francisco. Only five residents per year are accepted to this highly competitive program.

As the owner of Harmony Orthodontics, Dr. Tun combines her education with her compassionate care and her love for aesthetics. She believes that all patients deserve a beautiful smile they are proud to share, and she works tirelessly to provide the best possible results. She and her team also understand the importance of communication and presence in their patients’ lives. They will always take the time to answer questions and will respond to any messages – including texts – within 24 hours.

Contact Us to Schedule an Appointment 

To schedule your no-cost, no-obligation consultation, contact Harmony Orthodontics today. 

Make your appointment online or call 832-699-3683.

Blonde girl wearing a sequined top

When does a child first need to see a dentist in Tomball, TX?

Written by Identiwrite on . Posted in Tomball Orthodontist.

When your child was born, you couldn’t even leave the hospital until you had scheduled their first pediatrician appointment. But when it comes to dental care, there’s much less guidance. Sometimes, pediatricians offer advice at a child’s early appointments, but it’s not the same as seeing an expert. So new parents can be left scratching their heads and wondering when they really should take their child to see a dentist in Tomball, TX.

At Harmony Orthodontics, Dr. Wint Tun is a board-certified orthodontist. She loves treating patients of all ages and is particularly passionate about providing young children with the care they need. She can work with your child’s primary dentist to lay a firm foundation for a lifetime of oral health. 

To find out if it is the right time for your child to visit the dentist or orthodontist, contact our office today.

When should you schedule the first dentist appointment?

Though it may seem early, children should first visit a dentist in Tomball, TX, around their first birthdays. For children who start teething early, it would be appropriate to schedule a visit sooner – no later than six months after the first tooth comes in. 

Many parents are surprised by this recommendation, but the reality is that childhood tooth decay is far too common. According to the CDC, 23% of children between the ages of 2 and 5 have had decay in their baby teeth.

What should you expect when you first see a dentist in Tomball, TX?

If your child has already entered the “stranger danger” phase, you may dread the thought of a dental visit! How will your little one handle meeting a new person, let alone sit still long enough for an exam and cleaning?

Not to worry! Dentists understand the needs of squirmy toddlers. Before age 2, dental visits will typically involve nothing more than a quick exam to make sure teeth are developing properly. Dentists also educate parents, sharing the best ways to care for their children’s teeth at home. 

What about the first orthodontic evaluation?

Like a routine dental visit, an orthodontic evaluation should take place sooner than you might expect. Children should be screened for orthodontic problems around age 7, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Although children will not have all their permanent teeth yet, they will have enough that your orthodontist can detect significant alignment issues. Early treatment can reduce the severity of malocclusion and shorten overall treatment time.

What should you expect with early orthodontic care?

If a child has early orthodontics, the complete treatment regimen will typically take place in two phases. During phase one, your child’s orthodontist will create room to accommodate emerging adult teeth. She may suggest a retainer, expander, space maintainer, headgear, or braces that only target specific teeth. Treatment usually takes 9 to 12 months. Then your child will begin phase 2 around age 12 or 13. 

Contact a Dentist in Tomball, TX Today

To schedule an appointment for your child, contact Harmony Orthodontics. 

Book a consult online or call us at 832-699-3683.

multi-colored braces bracket bands on teen girl

Show Your Spirit with Colored Braces

Written by Identiwrite on . Posted in Metal Braces.

Kids and teens may not be excited about wearing metal orthodontic braces, but colored braces? That’s another story!

To show school spirit or their own free spirit, colored braces come with unlimited options for mixing and matching. And in addition to standard color-wheel options, like black, reds, blues, greens, purples, pinks, and oranges, we often have metallic and glitter bands, which can add a bit of sparkle to your color scheme. (Did someone say “GO TEAM?”) In October, our glow-in-the-dark bands are quite popular, though they’re cool any time of year. For the winter holidays, popular colors are red, green, silver, gold, and blue. With colored bands, you’re the artist.

In today’s blog, we’ll answer common questions about colored braces. If you have additional questions, give us a call at 832-699-3683. As your Tomball orthodontist, Dr. Wint is always happy to answer questions, so you and your kids can make informed decisions about orthodontic treatment.

FAQs for Colored Braces

What are colored braces?

Metal braces brackets help hold an archwire in place by way of ligatures, also called rubber bands, elastics, or just bands. At every appointment, the bands are changed out. Normally, we use clear bands. But who likes normal? 

Colored braces are really metal braces with colored ligatures.

How are bands attached?

The bands are woven into brackets, and they are not the same types of rubber bands that span from top to bottom arches. Those are called interarch bands.

Ligatures (colored braces bands) are literally woven in and around each bracket.

Why do brackets have bands?

Colored braces feature ligatures to help move teeth in specific directions. The archwire itself doesn’t do all of the work.

What colors should I choose?

This is an excellent question. First of all, note that if you use our palette to choose colors, the shade of your bands will be a bit darker than what’s represented in the palette. 

And BONUS, here are some more great tips:

  • DO NOT choose colors that could be mistaken for food stuck on your brackets (brown, green).
  • DO NOT choose yellow; it makes teeth look yellowed.

And…

  • DO choose dark-colored bands to make your teeth look whiter.
  • DO celebrate holidays with the shades of the season.
  • DO support your favorite teams by sporting team colors.
  • DO match bands to your eyes or hair. (This is especially fun if your hair is pink or blue!)
  • DO choose bands in the most prevalent colors of your wardrobe.
  • DO match your bands to your manicure.
  • DO be creative and let your personality shine through!
  • DO plan ahead. Your bands won’t be changed again until your next adjustment appointment. What will happen between now and then? Will baseball end and football begin? Is the 4th of July coming up? What about class pictures? It’s good to plan ahead!

How often are bands changed out?

At every adjustment visit, which occurs every 6 to 8 weeks, we change out colored braces bands. This means, you can select a new color scheme at every visit (though you don’t have to change the color scheme). For a faster visit, plan ahead of time which colors you want.

Why are elastics changed?

Have you ever noticed how elastic-waisted pants become stretched out over time? Braces elastics are no different. To maintain the pressure required to move your teeth, elastics must be swapped out at every adjustment appointment.

Schedule Your Colored Braces Consultation 

Do you want colored braces? If you now wear or will soon wear traditional orthodontic braces, we’ll be happy to help you show your school spirit or your inner pazazz! Call Harmony Orthodontics now at 832-699-3683 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Wint W. Tun. Located in Tomball, TX, Harmony Orthodontics serves children, teens, and adults. We are accepting new patients now, so give us a call!

6 Year Old Girl with Phase 1 Orthodontics Braces

Who Needs Phase 1 Orthodontics?

Written by Identiwrite on . Posted in Orthodontics.

Phase 1 orthodontics is a therapy for children, and it can begin as early as age six. At Harmony Orthodontics in Tomball, TX, Dr. Wint W. Tun offers two primary options for phase 1 treatment: traditional braces or Invisalign First. Both therapies reshape the mouth to make space for 32 adult teeth to properly develop.

In today’s blog, we’ll review:

  • Who needs phase 1 orthodontics
  • What phase 1 accomplishes
  • Treatment options for phase 1

Does your child need phase 1 orthodontics?

According to the AAO, children should have an orthodontic consultation by age seven. At this consult, the orthodontist can determine whether a child needs braces and when the braces should be applied. In many cases, orthodontists advise parents to wait until all or their child’s permanent teeth have developed before undergoing orthodontic treatment. Other times, children as young as age six may benefit from phase 1 orthodontics.

The purpose of phase 1 treatment is to ensure the mouth has sufficient room for 32 adult teeth to come in straight, while also promoting healthy occlusion. The term occlusion refers to the relationship of upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed.

Children who need phase 1 may have a crossbite, overbite, or underbite. Children who sucked their thumb, bottle-fed, or used a pacifier past age three may have an improperly shaped palate. Those who habitually thrust their tongue against their teeth may experience improper development of the palate.

Commonly, a child’s upper palate is too narrow, which causes the need for extractions when permanent teeth develop. Phase 1 orthodontics makes space, eliminating the need for extractions. Genetics also has much to do with the shape of the jaws. 

How Phase 1 Ortho Helps Kids as They Grow

Since the primary goal of phase one orthodontics is to reshape the palate to accommodate all permanent teeth, treatment usually involves wearing a palatal expander. This device is worn on the upper palate to guide bone growth and widen the palate. (Note that harmful habits like thumbsucking and tongue thrusting stop when a child wears a palatal expander.)

Bone growth occurs in the center of the palate, where the left and right maxillary bones meet.

By altering mouth shape to accommodate 32 adult teeth, phase 1 orthodontics can prevent future orthodontic problems. Ultimately, this eliminates the need for extractions and other procedures later in life. If the child needs to wear braces during the teen years, treatment time may be shorter because of the results of phase 1 therapy.

Treatment Options for Phase 1

At Harmony Orthodontics, Dr. Tun offers two options for phase 1 orthodontic treatment. 

The therapy that provides the most accurate tooth movement and jaw expansion is traditional phase 1. The child wears a palatal expander and may also need spacers, in addition to wearing metal braces. A parent will need to turn a special key on the expander each night, to create appropriate pressure for jaw growth. Typically, traditional phase 1 ortho takes two years and is appropriate for children between ages six and nine. 

Another option for patients with qualifying cases is Invisalign First. Like regular Invisalign, the patient wears a series of clear, removable aligners instead of affixed metal braces. Invisalign First acts as both a palatal expander and braces, expanding the width of the upper palate and repositioning teeth. Not all patients’ cases qualify for Invisalign First. 

No-Cost, No-Obligation Phase 1 Orthodontic Consultation

Call Harmony Orthodontics in Tomball, TX, at 832-699-3683 to schedule your (or your child’s) complimentary orthodontic consultation with Dr. Wint Tun. After x-rays and a thorough oral exam, Dr. Tun will explain her findings and discuss treatment options, if necessary. We offer a few different options for phase 1 orthodontics and Dr. Tun will provide you with all the details during your visit.