Patients: Orthodontics
Thank you for visiting New York University's Department of Orthodontics's website. Our faculty and residents are proud to provide a comfortable and friendly atmosphere for our patients. Our philosophy is total dedication to individualized patient care. We provide orthodontic expertise and the most advanced orthodontic treatment for children and adults.
The Orthodontics patient treatment area is located on the 6th floor of the Weissman building. For more information, please call (212) 998-9514.
Our goal is to help you achieve the beautiful smile you deserve!
Orthodontics is devoted to building beautiful smiles by bringing teeth, lips, and jaws into proper alignment. Straight teeth function better, are easier to clean, and are more likely to last your lifetime.
The brackets are made of either metal or ceramic. Each bracket is attached in a very precise position onto the tooth by a bonding glue. An archwire held to your brackets by a rubber ring, applies pressure on the teeth moving them into the correct position.
Early Treatment
The first phase of treatment also called Phase I, usually occurs when the patient is a child and still has his/her baby teeth. At this stage early growth modification therapy can allow correction of severe crowding and jaw discrepancies.
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur no later than the age of 7. At the age of 7, first adult molars erupt which create a back bite. At this time, orthodontists can evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships, and determine if there is going to be enough space for the larger adult teeth.
During earlier treatment, the orthodontist uses intra-oral removal or temporarily fixed appliances such as palatal expanders, lip bumpers, bionators, or extra-oral appliances such as headgears and facemasks. These appliances allow development of space in the jaws and modification of growth. We typically expect to see patients in the clinic at 4-6 week intervals.
- Creating room for crowded teeth and adult erupting teeth
- Reducing risks of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Reducing the need for tooth removal
- Reducing treatment time with braces, or avoiding braces altogether
Once all permanent teeth erupt the orthodontist evaluates the need for Phase II treatment with braces.
Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontists can move teeth at any age even after growth is complete. However adults sometimes experience worn, damaged, missing teeth and/or loss of the bone that supports the teeth. For these reasons, adults treatments normally require coordination between the orthodontist, oral surgeon, periodontist, endodontist and family dentist to assure complete rehabilitation of the bite.
Metal braces are the most commonly used. Today metal braces are smaller, comfortable and more attractive. You can use ceramic braces made of translucent material. They are the most popular with adult patients. In cases where bite and crowding problems are less severe Invisalign, a series of clear aligners can be used to gradually move the teeth into position.
One of the new advances in Orthodontics is mini implants or temporary anchorage devices (TADs). These can be placed temporarily in the upper and lower jaw to help tooth movement that previously was impossible or very difficult to achieve.
Your orthodontic treatment does not end when your braces are removed. Retention is an important part of the treatment. A retainer is designed to hold your teeth in position. They can be glued to the inside of your teeth or they can be removable and made of clear or pink plastic.
Research: Advances in Orthodontics
Our department is pioneering research in orthodontics and tooth movement. Numerous animal and clinical studies are underway, investigating ways to move teeth faster and strengthen the bones of the jaws.
We have recently introduced a new method shown to accelerate tooth movement as much as 50% in early-phase clinical studies, safely and effectively.
If you are interested in participating in one of our clinical trials please contact your orthodontist in the department and find out if you qualify.