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Telephone Calls
All patients are encouraged to call with any questions
they might have concerning orthodontic needs. Our office
staff is well qualified to answer most questions. In many
cases, they will be able to answer your questions directly
or relay answers to you. If the call requires Dr. Reiss to
speak with you, he will return your call at his earliest
opportunity.
What Is Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a dental specialty. You Might say it relates
to general dentistry as cardiology does to general medicine.
The specialty concerns itself not only with the proper alignment
of teeth, but with the total facial structure in the area
of jaws and involves the design, application and control
of corrective appliances commonly called braces to treat
and correct these problems. Treatment of the Temporomandibular
joint is another area of treatment provided.
Why Do Dental And Facial Problems
Occur? There are two general causes. Most malocclusions are inherited.
Some of the results of heredity include crowding, spacing,
extra or missing teeth, cleft palate and a wide variety of
irregularities of the jaws and face. Acquired causes include
thumb or finger sucking, tongue thrusting, breathing restrictions
by tonsils and adenoids, accidents involving the teeth and
face, dental disease and premature loss of primary or permanent
teeth. Many of these problems affect facial appearance, as
well as the teeth. |
