A confident, healthy smile is about more than looks—it impacts your overall oral health, bite function, and daily comfort. Crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth can cause jaw pain, difficulty chewing, and even speech issues. If your bite feels uncomfortable, you may have malocclusion, which occurs when teeth don’t fit together properly.
At Dupont Family Dentistry, our Fort Wayne dentistsprovide a range of orthodontic treatments to improve both function and appearance. Whether you’re a child, teen, or adult, we offer solutions that combine cosmetic dentistry with practical oral care.
Common Orthodontic Treatments
Your personalized plan will depend on your dental needs and smile goals. Modern orthodontics uses appliances that gently shift your teeth and jaws into proper alignment. Options include:
- Traditional Braces are probably what you think of when you think of orthodontics. They can be made of metal or ceramic and can be placed on the front of your teeth or behind them.
- Expanders are permanent devices that create more space in your mouth for proper alignment.
- ClearCorrect is an alternative to braces. These and other clear aligners are made from clear plastic, and removable to give you the same result without the signature “train-track” look in your smile.
- Six Month Smiles® are like traditional braces, but made with clear brackets and tooth colored wires for a much less noticeable look, and focus on only the front teeth to achieve aesthetic results in just a few months!
- Retainers are removable devices made of plastic and wires molded to fit your teeth and hold them in their new position.
In some cases, veneers or cosmetic dentistry treatments may complement orthodontics to enhance your smile quickly and effectively.
Benefits of Orthodontics
Malocclusion can cause a lot of problems in your daily life besides feeling embarrassed by crooked teeth. Straightening your teeth and improving your bite can help with:
- Better sleep
- Improved breathing
- Reduced jaw pain & TMJ
- Improved speech including lisp
- Reduced risk of gum disease
- Prevent accidentally biting your cheek
- A more confident smile
Cons of Orthodontics
Some orthodontic treatments cause initial tenderness in your mouth, but this should pass within a few days. Orthodontics can also be hard to afford. You will have to take extra time to properly brush your teeth if you have braces.
You might not want to start a new orthodontic treatment right before a big life change like getting married or starting a new job, so talk with your dentist about ideal timing. But overall, orthodontic treatments are low-risk and provide important, long-term benefits.
Affording Orthodontics
We know orthodontics can feel like a big investment, but there are ways to make treatment affordable:
- Call your dental insurance company to understand what benefits are provided (or our office is happy to do this for you).
- Explore state programs or family plans for reduced costs
- Ask about payment plans and financing options to spread out treatment costs
Is an Orthodontist a Dentist?
Dentistry is the general practice of providing oral health care. Orthodontics is a dental specialty that treats malocclusion and teeth straightening. All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. Many Fort Wayne dentists are general dentists providing orthodontic services.
If you want to see a dentist about problems with your teeth alignment, call Dupont Family Dentistry today. We’ll answer any questions you might have. We look forward to helping you straighten your smile!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
