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BEFORE JUMPING INTO adult orthodontic treatment, consider the three dangers of nonextraction.

Danger #1: Inappropriate periodontal biotype

Depending on your bone and gums, your body may not be able to handle the dental arch expansion of adult orthodontic nonextraction therapy. The width, height, and thickness of your gums and the amount of bone surrounding your teeth will determine if non-extraction orthodontic therapy is possible for you. Your orthodontist will send you to a gum specialist, a periodontist, to determine the health of your gums and bone prior to the start of orthodontic treatment. To find a periodontist near you, visit the American Academy of Periodontology at perio.org.

Danger #2: Teeth already too far forward

Depending on your initial front tooth position, nonextraction orthodontic therapy may not be a healthy choice for you. In many cases, not extracting teeth creates an open bite where front teeth no longer touch or are able to function. This unhealthy tooth position affects your speech, bite, and your ability to eat a sandwich.

Danger #3: Your face could look worse

By moving teeth too far forward with non-extraction orthodontic therapy, your face could be made to look too full. Teeth moved too far forward could create a longer face, lip incompetence, "open lips", and a strained chin muscle with a "golf ball" appearance.

Before You Jump...

Check that your provider is indeed a highly trained and experienced orthodontist, a skilled graduate of a two or three year full time accredited university graduate school program, and a specialist and expert in adult orthodontics. To do so in the US, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

You Can Be Saved...

Even if you have experienced these conditions through prior orthodontic treatment, it is still possible to be saved by secondary orthodontic treatment (orthodontic treatment which is redone) by an orthodontist.

This case of secondary orthodontic treatment was completed by orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, in Antioch, California.

Doing orthodontic treatment twice wastes time and money. In adult orthodontics, it is much better to prevent these findings including gingival recession created by nonextraction adult orthodontic therapy than to try to correct it later.

When choosing adult orthodontic treatment, make sure you get not only the jump, but also a safe landing.

EVERYONE LOVES THE MOVIE “A Christmas Story”. In it, Ralphie dreams of getting a Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas. In addition, he is a victim of neighborhood bullying by one of the big boys. Ralphie finally confronts the bully, letting him know that his stunt is over. In doing so, he earns the respect of his parents and peers.

Bullying is no laughing matter. It starts as early as kindergarten. It is seen more frequently in boys/men then in girls/women. And, if you are a little bit special because of dental and skeletal malocclusion, that only makes the odds for childish bullying worse.

If Teeth Are A Cause Of Bullying, We Can Help

If your child is a victim of schoolyard bullying, he may not want to go to school. He may lose his happiness, joy for life, or find it hard to smile. If you notice these behaviors, your child may be bullied. If teeth are a cause, your orthodontist can help.

Social acceptability may become a factor in the decision for early orthodontic intervention as early as age six. In some cases, in addition to straightening teeth, distraction osteogenesis may also be needed to correct a jaw to normal size.

We’re Listening To What Our Patients Have To Say

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we recognize and are sensitive to bullying. We listen closely to what our young patients tell us about how they feel and what is going on at school. Kids trust us and we’re here to help.

Your Child Has Better Things To Think About

Lessen the load of being a kid. End bullying. We want kids thinking about rainbow bracelets and Red Ryder air rifles and not worried about their teeth.

To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org.

ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a princess named Veronica. She did not look like a real princess because her face made her look sad. Quiet and thoughtful, the smile of her eyes, gums, and teeth did not express the happiness in her heart.

One Day There Was A Terrible Storm...

One day there was a terrible storm. There was thunder and lightning, and rain poured down in torrents. To come in from the cold, the princess knocked on the door of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California.

An Old Queen came to the door and looked at the princess. “Good gracious!” said the Queen. “You are under the spell of vertical maxillary excess giving you ‘Adenoid Facies’. This makes you look sad by:

1. Showing the whites of your eyes under your pupils
2. Pulling down the smile muscles of your cheeks
3. Separating your lips at rest
4. Allowing your teeth to protrude
5. Giving your chin a puckered ‘golf ball’ appearance”

Orthodontic Treatment Is A Fast And Permanent Solution

A Wizard had told the princess she could be saved by a lifetime of Botox needle shots to her upper lip. “Hogwash!” said the Queen. “This will not help you! We need a fast and permanent solution by an orthodontist. Let us be happy and fix this forever. Your prince will be here soon!”

A Young Prince Arrived...

Soon the Princess’s teeth were straight, and she was smiling ear to ear. A young prince arrived to Antioch, California from Ciudad Guzman, Jalisco, Mexico. He looked at Veronica and said “You are dear to me. By the smile on your happy face, I can see that you have the best heart and that you are a real princess. I will marry you!”

So the prince and princess were married. Nothing made the Queen happier than to see the prince and princess happy and thriving. They soon had four children. And, they all lived happily ever after.

This Is A True Story!

This is a true story. Veronica is now Treatment Coordinator at Gorczyca Orthodontics and her orthodontic treatment was done by Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, in Antioch, California.

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

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BOYS MAY NOT CARE too much about their appearance, teeth and jaws when they are in high school. At that time, they may not want to follow an orthodontist’s recommendations for ideal orthodontic treatment. When they are men, priorities have changed, and they care a lot.

Having to do braces over, for the second time, when they could have been done right the first time, is a waste of time and money. This can be avoided when braces are done right, with an orthodontist, the first time.

Check Out This Re-Treatment Case...

The difference between the two smiles shown below may not look too different. In terms of dental health, the difference is HUGE.

The first smile is a result requiring secondary orthodontic treatment, that is, treatment requiring a redo for the second time, now by an orthodontist at the request of the patient.

The “Before” Picture Contains Several Unhealthy Findings...

This first smile exhibits many unhealthy findings easily recognizable to an orthodontist or an excellent general dentist.

• Openbite at the maxillary laterals
• Canines with mesial root tip
• Midlines off, bite asymmetry

What is more significant is...

• The lower incisors are tipped so far forward they are almost completely out of the bone. Long term this will lead to gum recession, periodontal grafting surgery, and lack of stability of the orthodontic result, resulting in lower tooth crowding.
• Lack of anterior guidance, the ability for the patient to bite their anterior teeth in a forward motion, is occlusal disease and puts additional force on the jaw, and wear on the teeth. This initial bite exhibits occlusal disease.
• Most significant, the patient has returned to an orthodontist's office, not happy about their appearance.

Ideal Orthodontic Treatment May Require Extractions Or Surgery... 

Some orthodontic cases require orthodontic extractions or orthognathic surgery in order to produce an ideal result. Orthodontists ethically cannot treat a patient in a way that would make a patient less healthy. This is why orthodontists tell patients to do their treatment correctly or not at all, the first time.

How you look will affect your happiness, who you date, who you marry, what kind of job you have, and future job promotions. You want to look and feel your best.

Great Orthodontic Treatment Is A Gift For Life

This case was retreated by orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, in Antioch, California. To find out more information about ideal and healthy orthodontic treatment by an orthodontist, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Do your orthodontic treatment right the first time. You may not get a second chance at “You had me at hello”.