Ebrahimian Aesthetic Dentistry offers
functional orthodontics to help patients of all ages achieve a healthy
occlusion (bite), an attractive facial profile and a straight, attractive
smile. Functional orthodontics involves the use of custom-fabricated
dental appliances and/or braces to move the teeth into proper alignment.
Based on a neuromuscular approach, functional orthodontics preserves the
health of the temporo-mandibular joints and jaw muscles. It can be
used to correct problems that affect both children and adults:
-
Excessive wear and chipping of
front teeth
-
Severe crowding or spacing
-
Crossbite of front and back teeth
-
Limited tongue space
Functional orthodontics is also a great
option for pain patients, as well, since the teeth are ultimately moved into
a neuromuscularly balanced bite. Functional orthodontics relieves
debilitating symptoms such as headaches, facial pain, tender muscles and
joints, grinding, and a limited range of motion that can sometimes result
when permanent teeth are extracted for braces and headgear is used.
Dr. Max and Dr. Ariana have recognized
that frequently, orthodontic problems can be related to airway issues.
Americans are being diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in alarming
numbers. Dr. John Remmers, the Harvard trained physician who coined
the term “obstructive sleep apnea (OSA),” predicts that it will be the most
commonly diagnosed chronic disease in industrialized countries.
Realizing that OSA can result in a 20% reduction in life expectancy, and
that 95% of all OSA patients in the United States are undiagnosed (John
Remmers, M.D.), Dr. Max and Dr. Ariana have made it a priority to screen ALL
patients for signs and symptoms of OSA. Referrals are frequently made
to sleep clinics, and if a positive diagnosis is confirmed along with a CT
scan of the airway space, Dr. Max and Dr. Ariana will discuss different
approaches to resolving the OSA. This may include combined orthodontic
and surgical options, in which case the team at Ebrahimian Aesthetic
Dentistry will walk you through every step of the process.