Do you have crooked teeth or a bad bite? Are you hesitant to seek orthodontic intervention because you have heard of or know someone who needed their bicuspids extracted to create “more room” in the mouth for better tooth spacing? After all, why extract healthy teeth when you’re trying to make your smile better?
If you are concerned about removing healthy teeth and still want a straight, even smile, there is help. It’s called epigenetic orthodontics, and dental experts like Dr. Mingus believe it is far superior to traditional orthodontics.
What Is Epigenetic Orthodontics?
Epigenetic orthodontics doesn’t just deal with your teeth. Of course, teeth are the main component to this type of treatment, but epigenetic orthodontics takes the entire face into account. This means any aligners or spacers are installed with the intention of making the entire face look good. After all, what good is an even smile if the rest of the face looks sunken or asymmetrical due to pulled teeth?
How Does it Work?
Much as the name implies, epigenetic orthodontics works on the genetic level to help straighten and align the teeth. This is done by stimulating the embryonic or immature cells located in the jaw. Did you know that an estimated 80 percent of adults have an underdeveloped upper jaw? And that when the upper jaw is underdeveloped, the lower jaw usually follows suit? Epigenetic orthodontics aims to correct this problem by stimulating the palate (in the roof of your mouth) and encouraging the upper jaw and midface to move naturally in adults. In children, epigenetic orthodontics has similar results but can stimulate facial growth.
But it doesn’t stop there, because much like the lower jaw mimics the lack of growth in the upper jaw, when epigenetic orthodontics begins working in the upper jaw, the lower jaw follows suit, naturally aligning to match the upper. Once this growth is complete, orthopedic stimulation may be used to better align the teeth as necessary.
Other Benefits
Besides a straighter, healthier smile, epigenetic orthodontics can also help correct and prevent other serious issues, including temporomandibular joint dysfunction (a painful condition where the temporomandibular joint of the jaw becomes misaligned) and sleep apnea, a dangerous condition that has been found to cause a host of medical problems, including obesity, high blood pressure and stroke.
If you are ready to get the smile you’ve always wanted, safely and naturally and without losing healthy teeth, please call Dr. Mingus at 541-382-6565.