Orthodontic Services
Del Mar Laser Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is excited to serve our patients. Our ultimate goal is to craft you a perfect smile that you are proud to show off. After your first examination and completion of X-rays, we will be happy to discuss all of your options. We are proud to offer several different treatment options for straighter teeth and a beautiful smile. We understand the importance of showing you all of our options and discussing them thoroughly with you. We want you to find the best treatment option for you, no matter what you choose.
We are proud to offer the following services to achieve the smile of your dreams:
Traditional Braces
Even though there are many types of braces, traditional braces are still the most popular option. Great strides in technology have been made since they were first used, so they are becoming more comfortable and effective.
Traditional braces use stainless steel brackets and archwires to move your teeth into their proper position. Many teenagers like to decorate their braces with different colored rubber bands to give them a colorful and unique smile. You can choose a new color (or colors) during every adjustment!
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Clear Braces
When you step into our practice, you can rest assured that your child’s dental and orthodontic needs will be taken care of. In order to help your child feel confident, while getting the orthodontic care that they need, we offer clear braces in San Diego, California.
These braces will gradually shift you child’s teeth over a period of time in order to give them a healthy and aesthetically pleasing smile, without the obtrusive look that traditional braces can have. This means that clear braces are an excellent option for a teenager who is apprehensive of how braces will change their appearance. Picture day is saved, and there is no longer a need for a “mouthful of metal” in order to have straighter teeth.
Helping your child feel better about their orthodontic treatment is important, because straighter teeth can affect more than just their appearance. It can have an affect on their overall health. Properly aligned teeth have been found to general have a lower risk of tooth decay, periodontal disease and other dental problems.
If you are interested in learning more about how Dr. Soudabeh Sharafi can help using clear braces, contact our office today at 858-259-1400 and we can set you up with an appointment with our dentist.
Invisalign
Is your child needing orthodontic treatment? Our dentist can use Invisalign® clear aligners in San Diego, California, as a wonderful option to help straighten the smiles of patients of all ages. Believe it or not, the Invisalign system is not just for adults. Children can also benefit from this discreet method of orthodontic correction.With this option, Dr. Soudabeh Sharafi will provide your child with custom-made, computer generated plastic aligners which will gradually straighten their smile. This is instead of the metal brackets and wires of traditional braces that can feel bulky and obstructive to some.
In order for the Invisalign clear aligners to work effectively, they will need to be switched every two weeks as the teeth are guided into their optimal position. We will also see the patient for regular appointments during their treatment, so we can monitor the process and ensure that it is occurring as planned.
One of the major benefits to this treatment is that the aligners are removable. This means that regular oral hygiene habits can be easily maintained. Simply remove them before brushing and flossing. They can also be taken out before eating, so there is no need to worry about getting gum stuck in a bracket or any broken wires.
During your child’s initial visit to our dentist, we can determine if they are a good candidate for Invisalign treatment. It can be used to treat many of the same orthodontic conditions that brace treat. These conditions include:
- Teeth Crowding
- Crooked Teeth
- Gaps and Spaces Between Teeth
- Bite Issues Like Overbites, Open Bites, Underbites and Crossbites
Invisalign for Teens
Many teenagers are affected by malocclusions that need to be corrected. However, the thought of going through high school with braces may be your teen’s worst nightmare. Luckily, Invisalign Teen® can be very helpful. Your teenager can get the smile that he or she deserves without bulky wires and brackets.
Invisalign Teen® uses clear aligners, so nobody will even know they are wearing them. As long as your teenager wears them for at least twenty-two hours a day, they will get proper treatment without the embarrassment of wires and braces. Even better, your teenager will be able to remove the aligners when it is time to eat, allowing them unlimited food choices. There are no restrictions that usually come with braces, like avoiding corn on the cob. Once they are finished eating, however, it is essential to brush their teeth AND the aligners to ensure fresh breath and a healthy mouth.
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Early Treatment
Dr. Soudabeh Sharafi provides early orthodontic treatment, sometimes referred to as two-phase treatment, to help your child’s teeth and jaw develop properly. We welcome you to contact Soudabeh Sharafi DMD to learn more about early orthodontics in San Diego, California, and to schedule your child’s consultation with our experienced pediatric dentist.
Two-phase orthodontic treatment is provided to help your child achieve the most healthy, functional, and beautiful smile possible. The treatment process combines straightening misaligned teeth with any needed facial changes to ensure that your child’s facial profile is well balanced and that the end results of their treatment will remain stable throughout his or her entire life.
Phase One
Phase one of early orthodontic treatment is designed to build the foundation for a beautiful smile. In this phase, our pediatric dentist will carefully examine your child’s teeth and jaws, and provide treatments to ensure that the jaws develop properly so that they can accommodate and support all of your child’s permanent teeth.
Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they are growing and developing. At this stage of their lives, it is easy to correct any potential problems, as the bones are soft enough to be easily guided into their correct positions. Upper jaws that are growing too much or are too narrow can be recognized from an early age, preventing the need for surgical procedures later in life. Crowded front teeth can also be treated with ease during this phase, helping to avoid extractions of permanent teeth at a later date.
Phase one is followed by a resting period. During this resting period, your child’s teeth will be monitored, but will generally be left alone as they emerge. A successful phase-one treatment will have ensured that there is enough space for each tooth as it erupts.
Phase Two
In phase-two treatment, our dentist will ensure that each tooth has a healthy position in the mouth, and that it works well with the other teeth, lips, cheeks, and tongue. Our pediatric dentist begins this phase of your child’s treatment after all of his or her permanent teeth have erupted. If your child needs braces, this will be the period in which he or she receives them. Our dentist may recommend a retainer following phase-two treatment to ensure that your child’s smile remains in place.
For more information on early orthodontic treatment, and to make your child’s appointment with our pediatric dentist, please contact our office today.
Braces For Teens
Braces are not as scary as most teens think. Technology has advanced a lot in recent years, providing us with newer styles of braces. The result is a faster, more comfortable, and more effective treatment. Braces come in different colors, styles, and materials, so your teen can customize their look and express their personality.
The first thing most patients wonder when they have to get braces is how long will they have to wear them. There is no easy answer to this question because it depends on several factors. For example, it depends on how early we catch the problem, what needs to be fixed, how your teeth respond to treatment, and how willing you are to follow directions.
It is typically recommended that children begin seeing an orthodontist at the age of seven. The earlier you catch a problem, the easier the problem can be to treat. There are also times when we find a problem, but may have put off treatment until they are older.
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Emergency Care
Here at Del Mar Laser Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we are dedicated to patient care, especially in the case of an emergency. Orthodontic emergencies may be rare, but we are ready and willing to help you whenever you are having trouble with your braces.
Contact us as soon as possible if you experience any severe pain, issues, or trauma to your teeth/braces.
Myobrace®
Soudabeh Sharafi DMD provides Myobrace® treatment as an alternative to traditional braces. Myobrace is a natural orthodontic treatment, and can straighten your child’s smile without the use of brackets and wires. For more information on Myobrace in San Diego, California, and to make your child’s appointment with Dr. Soudabeh Sharafi, please contact us at (858) 259-1400.
Myobrace is a no-braces orthodontic treatment to correct misaligned teeth and jaws. Rather than relying on metal brackets and wires, Myobrace treatment focuses on correct the poor oral habits that cause crooked teeth. Using a series of appliances, our pediatric dentist can help correct the habits that cause poor dental development while also providing the gentle pressure forces that will move your child’s teeth into the correct positions.
Myobrace appliances are worn for only one or two hours each day and overnight while sleeping. This, combined with a series of exercises, are enough to cause your child’s teeth to move. Exercises for this treatment include activities to improve breathing, muscle function, and tongue posture. The goal of Myobrace treatment is to create a healthier smile and provide optimal facial development.