Our office is a specialty orthodontic practice, meaning that our practice is limited to the treatment of problems with the alignment or position of the teeth and jaws. We are very comfortable treating patients in virtually all age groups; we have treated children as young as age four, and adults as old as age 78 (yes, full braces!).

Treatment Information: Adolescent Treatment Adult Treatment Surgical-Orthodontic Treatment Our Goals Treatment Goals On Balance

Adolescent Treatment

Treatment of orthodontic problems beginning at age eleven or so, or at any point during the teen years, is what most people associate with orthodontics. It usually involves full braces, and we enjoy great success treating all of the types of problems outlined above. In general, we prefer to begin this sort of treatment earlier rather than later, since many patients are best treated when there is active jaw growth taking place; also, the attitude of younger patients toward braces is often decidedly better!

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Adult Treatment

We enjoy treating adults -- more than a quarter of our patients are over eighteen years of age! Adult teeth move just about as well as childrens', and the benefits can be just as great. Many adults choose cosmetic alternatives to traditional braces, including clear braces and gold-plated braces!

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Surgical-Orthodontic Treatment

A few children and some adults have orthodontic problems that are created by a underlying jaw growth problem so severe that orthodontic treatment alone cannot move the teeth into the proper position. To correct this type of problem, an operation performed by an oral surgeon can move the jaws into the proper position, correcting the basic bite problem at the same time. This can often result in dramatic improvements to the facial profile as well as the teeth.

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Our Goals

We treat people who happen to have orthodontic problems, so our primary, overarching goal and vision for the practice is to create an unequaled environment where our patients are treated with compassion and respect, tempered with a good dose of fun. We think orthodontic treatment should be a terrific experience for both our patients and their parents; we work to make our office the kind of place where people like to be!

 

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Treatment Goals

Of course, our main treatment goal is to create beautiful, healthy smiles! But really, our goals go beyond merely lining up the teeth so they look good. To us, excellent treatment involves achieving all of these goals:

• A pleasing, well-balanced facial profile.
• Healthy, easily-cleaned teeth and gum tissue.
• Temporomandibular joints (jaw joints) properly seated in their sockets.
• Proper function of the front teeth to reduce wear and tear of the back teeth.
• The teeth are positioned vertically in harmony with the lips when smiling.
• The smile looks naturally beautiful, not "orthodontically created."

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On Balance

Achieving all of the above goals will naturally result in straight teeth. However, merely achieving straight teeth does not necessarily result in achieving any or all of the other goals! It is always Dr. Joiner's aim to achieve a truly excellent result that not only the patient, but also the patient's dentist, will appreciate. Proper orthodontic treatment results in health benefits that last a lifetime, not to mention the boost in self-esteem that a wonderful smile can create.

Our other goals tie in closely with our vision for the practice and involve delivering exceptional service and care to all we encounter. We want orthodontic treatment to be a fun and positive experience!

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