If crooked teeth make you uncomfortable with the appearance of your smile, orthodontics can be a great cosmetic dentistry treatment for you. However, orthodontics can do much more than this. Orthodontics can improve the function and comfort of your bite. Some types of orthodontics can even improve sleep breathing disorders like snoring and sleep apnea. 

There are many reasons why you might be interested in orthodontic treatment at Firouzian Dentistry. But what can you expect when you come to our dental office? Firouzian Dentistry is a little different from many other dentists you might see, so you might be surprised at how we do things. Here’s what orthodontic patients can expect at Firouzian Dentistry.

A Dentist Who Listens

One big thing that separates Dr. Mike Firouzian from many other dentists is his ability to really listen to his patients. When you visit Firouzian Dentistry for any treatment, including orthodontics, Dr. Mike always begins by listening to your current concerns and treatment goals. 

He will be happy to look at any materials you have assembled to communicate what you want, such as pictures of yourself when you were happy with your smile or even photos of celebrities. 

Dr. Mike may ask questions to ensure he understands your current concerns and future goals. Some of these questions might seem a little odd. For example, he might ask about your sleep or digestive problems. These might initially seem unrelated, but the truth is that orthodontic problems can contribute to difficulty sleeping or problems with food. We’ll talk more about the whole-body health aspect of orthodontics in a little bit.

A Thorough Examination

Once Dr. Mike understands what you hope to achieve with orthodontic treatment, he will perform a comprehensive oral examination. At a minimum, Dr. Mike wants to understand the current health of your mouth. However, there may be other concerns he will want to address. 

For example, if you are looking for orthodontics to improve the appearance of your smile, he will want to understand if orthodontics will give you the results you want. If, for example, you have teeth that are different sizes, they may not look straight even once they are straight. In addition, straightening teeth might highlight how discolored they are, which would make Dr. Mike evaluate whether teeth whitening might be an effective treatment or not. 

Sometimes, Dr. Mike will use an intraoral camera to take pictures of your teeth so you can see what he sees. This can help you understand why certain orthodontic approaches might not work for you. Other times, Dr. Mike might recommend additional imaging to understand what’s going on with your teeth. Depending on the timing and the type of imaging, you might need to make another appointment to complete that.

Orthodontic Treatment Options

Once Dr. Mike completes your examination, he will give you multiple treatment options to achieve your desired results. Many dentists offer only a few orthodontic treatments, but at Firouzian Dentistry, we offer many different orthodontic approaches. This helps us select an orthodontic treatment that is ideal for the current condition of your mouth and your treatment goals. 

Among the treatment options we offer are:

  • Invisalign
  • Six Month Smiles
  • Traditional Braces
  • Neuromuscular Orthodontics
  • Controlled Arch Orthodontics
  • “Instant Orthodontics” (Porcelain Veneers)

We’ll describe each treatment briefly below, as well as when you might choose each one. 

Invisalign

Invisalign is a remarkable, modern approach to orthodontics. Instead of using wires and brackets like traditional braces, Invisalign uses a computer-designed sequence of clear plastic aligners to gently move your teeth into place. Many people find this option more comfortable and convenient than traditional braces. They’re also very discreet–most people won’t even notice you have the aligners in, even if you’re talking to them face to face. 

Six Month Smiles

Six Month Smiles is an orthodontic approach that utilizes the “work smarter, not harder” approach to deliver faster orthodontic results with traditional brackets and wires. Most people are concerned about teeth visibly crooked in the front of their mouth. These small teeth are easy to move, meaning most people can get the straighter-looking smile they desire in six months or less. As a bonus, there’s less discomfort associated with moving just the front teeth, and these braces use clear brackets and white wires to make the appearance of braces very subtle. 

Traditional Braces

Traditional braces are the brackets-and-wires system you’re used to. This treatment aims to move your teeth until they are straight. The treatment works well for uncomplicated cases of crooked teeth and remains a good choice for many people. 

Neuromuscular Orthodontics

Neuromuscular orthodontics is an approach to straightening teeth that’s informed by the principles of neuromuscular dentistry. Neuromuscular dentistry looks at your mouth as a complicated system of interlocking functional parts: teeth, bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and more. These affect each other in ways that can be harmonious and beneficial or unbalanced and detrimental. Neuromuscular orthodontics works to put your oral system into balance by moving your teeth. 

ControlledArch Orthodontics

ControlledArch orthodontics seeks to utilize your body’s developmental process to achieve a complex array of goals. These include straightening your teeth, but they go much further. ControlledArch orthodontics can expand your jaw, which not only improves your facial appearance by strengthening your chin but also improves your jaw function and breathing. 

“Instant Orthodontics” (Porcelain Veneers)

Although most orthodontic approaches move your teeth, this approach straightens them without moving them. You might wonder how that’s possible. Instant orthodontics reshapes your teeth rather than moving them, which allows your smile to get straight without the time required for braces. Instead of years or months, this approach can deliver results in just weeks.

An Emphasis on Whole-Body Health

As mentioned above, Dr. Mike believes dentistry should always be dedicated to improving your whole body’s health. The mouth is not separate from the body; the two affect each other. Dr. Mike will never recommend an orthodontic treatment that negatively impacts your health. Instead, Dr. Mike will recommend orthodontic approaches that potentially reduce the severity of your temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMD) or sleep apnea. Even if your goal is cosmetic, Dr. Mike will be aware of opportunities to benefit your health.

Attractive, Functional, and Long-Lasting Results

Even if cosmetic improvement is not your primary goal for orthodontics, you deserve a beautiful smile, and whenever possible, Dr. Mike will build this into your orthodontic treatment. In addition, even your cosmetic results don’t have to be impractical. Dr. Mike will design a treatment for you that improves your bite’s function and your smile’s appearance. In addition, your orthodontic results will be long-lasting. How long? Most orthodontic treatments offer lifetime results if you maintain them properly.

Considering Orthodontics in Columbus?

If you are considering straightening your teeth in Columbus, OH, choose Dr. Mike Firouzian as your dentist. He is prepared to offer you great benefits through orthodontic treatments designed specifically for you. 

To learn whether Firouzian Dentistry is the right choice for your orthodontic treatment, please call (614) 848-5001 or use our online form today to request a consultation with Columbus, OH, dentist Dr. Mike Firouzian.