TREATMENT FOR ADULTS

Today, more and more adults are seeking orthodontic treatment.  We offer a full range of treatment options especially designed for adults. As a board-certified, residency-trained orthodontist, Dr. Carney is specially trained (an additional 3 years in addition to 4 years of dental school!) to address every aspect of your smile - from the myofunctional aspects of your bite and jaw to your unique esthetic preferences.

Orthodontic treatment is not only designed to improve the appearance of your smile, but improve the health of your teeth and gums as well.  By seeking orthodontic treatment as an adult you can potentially avoid severe tooth decay, gum and bone loss, irregular wear of the tooth enamel, and TMJ/TMD pain.

Often times, because adults are usually more willing participants in their orthodontic treatment, their results turn out better than with a less compliant child and/or teen.  By following the instructions provided by your orthodontist, you not only increase your chances for amazing results, but could also shorten your treatment time.

Airway Orthodontics - did you know that all orthodontists are airway orthodontists? This is because how we breath and posture can affect how our face and skull grow and also how our teeth fit together. While childhood is the preferred time to address airway issues, it’s never too late to fix the way you breath and function. Dr. Carney is often the first person to bring up a potential airway issue to a patient. Adult treatment for airway issues usually involves an interdisciplinary approach in which the patient is evaluated by other healthcare providers such as a primary care physician, an ENT and/or allergist, and sometimes an oral surgeon or a myofunctional therapist.

Myofunctional Orthodontics - just like airway orthodontics, all residency-trained orthodontists are myofunctional orthodontists. “Myo” means muscle; so myofunctional is muscle function. Our teeth are where they are because they are in equilibrium between our muscles - our tongue, lips, cheeks, and sometimes outside forces like thumbs and fingers. Orthodontists are trained to diagnose and treat, and sometimes refer out, any muscle function abnormality. This is often closely tied to airway issues. Dr. Carney works closely with myofunctional therapists and often refers patients for evaluation by a myofunctional therapist. These are professionals who are similar to speech therapists but treat resting muscle posture, not just speech issues.

We offer a wide selection of braces to meet the individual needs and desires of each of our adult patients. From traditional metal and “invisible” ceramic braces to clear aligners, night guards for teeth grinding, to jaw-positioners such as Herbst Appliance to improve certain airway issues— we are confident we can help you achieve and maintain the beautiful, healthy smile you’ve always dreamed about.

Don’t ever feel it’s too late to enhance your smile. Schedule your consultation today and let us help you start your journey to receiving a beautiful, functional smile!