Controlled Arch Braces

At Miami Designer Smiles, we take great pride in caring for the whole patient, not just the mouth. Our comprehensive approach to care means that we offer a wide range of services to receive all the care you need in one place instead of going to multiple providers.

Besides general dentistry, periodontal care and cosmetic dentistry services, one of those additional services is facial growth and jaw development orthodontics, including Controlled Arch Braces treatment.

The Difference Between Controlled Arch Orthodontics and Traditional Braces

Traditional orthodontics focuses on smile aesthetics – straightening the teeth to achieve a beautiful smile by moving teeth into different positions to get the right look. Unfortunately, this may mean that the teeth are crowded together in a too-small space. In many cases, this approach to straightening the teeth resulted in unnecessary tooth extractions to create enough space to move teeth into a straight position.

When the teeth are moved with only aesthetics in mind, some consequences may develop, such as problems later in life with the jaw joints, temporomandibular joint disorder, and the development of sleep breathing issues such as obstructive sleep apnea because the jaw is not in the correct position.

The Controlled Arch approach begins by aligning the jaw to achieve its genetically intended, or proper, position. In many cases, this entails expanding the jaw to allow for more room for the teeth, which resolves crowding and often eliminates the need for tooth extraction.

When a patient comes to me that might have crooked teeth, whether it be a child or an adult, I determine their condition and I determine their upper jaw position or the amount of facial growth that they’ve had, and if we need a little more. I then go on to select what I’m going to use to achieve that goal.

What Are Controlled Arch Braces?

When you hear the word “braces,” you probably immediately think of wires, brackets, rubber bands and many trips to the orthodontist, who pushes and pulls the teeth to achieve a straight smile.

But Controlled Arch Braces, also known as arch orthodontics, are not traditional braces. Although this type of orthodontics uses some brackets and wires, the goal of treatment is not just straight teeth. Instead, this approach to orthodontics considers your facial characteristics and craniofacial physiology when changing your teeth’s position.

The bottom line: Controlled Arch Braces are not just about straightening your teeth so your smile looks good. Instead, the system addresses jaw size and space issues first and then moves the teeth.

HOW CONTROLLED ARCH ORTHODONTICS WORKS

Controlled Arch Braces use large arches and arch wires to expand the molars and the arch. These components help to widen the arch, increase the space in the mouth and align the jaws. The bite is improved, airflow is increased and sleep apnea is resolved; these are jaw alignment issues that could contribute to the development of TMJD and other problems such as tooth grinding and clenching.

Who Is a Candidate for Controlled Arch Orthodontic Care?

Controlled Arch Braces are an excellent option for patients whose natural jaw development resulted in a narrow arch and a misaligned positioning of their existing teeth. Controlled Arch Braces are ideal for teens but can also be used for adults who did not have orthodontics as teens, do not like the results of prior orthodontic treatment or have experienced an orthodontic relapse.

Individuals with the following conditions can benefit from Controlled Arch Braces:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Crowded teeth
• TMJD symptom or have been diagnosed with TMJD
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Narrow face
• Recessed chin
• Misaligned bite
• Mouth breathing
• Have been told in the past that they need corrective jaw surgery
• Have been old they need tooth extractions for orthodontics

Benefits of Controlled Arch Braces

Controlled Arch Braces were created to overcome the limits of traditional braces. The benefits of Controlled Arch Braces include:

• Natural jaw development
• Improved appearance of the face, such as more developed cheekbones and improved midface, reduced laugh lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth, and reduction of “turkey neck”
• Improved profile
• Reduced TMJD symptoms and relaxed jaw muscles
• Reduced sleep apnea
• Improved breathing, mouth breathing is corrected
• Treatment is 30 percent faster than traditional braces

Controlled Arch Braces and Facial Growth Dentistry

Controlled Arch Braces are often just one part of correcting jaw and facial development issues and can be combined with other treatments, including:

Osseo-Restoration Appliance (ORA). ORA help the face and jaws develop to their full potential by correcting irregular jaw development and imbalances in your facial structure.

Myofunctional Therapy. Myofunctional therapy is a treatment to help correct the improper function of the tongue and facial muscles. It works by strengthening the tongue and orofacial muscles to engage the muscles in the proper position.

Adult and Infant Frenectomy. Frenectomies are surgical procedures that remove an area of binding tissue, correcting issues such as a tongue-tie and lip-tie.

Are you considering Controlled Arch Orthodontics? Call Miami Designer Smiles today for more information or to schedule a consultation to learn more about facial growth dentistry, myofunctional therapy and sleep apnea treatment.