Dentofacial Orthopedics – Huntington, NY

Surprisingly enough, a vast majority of the American population (around 75%) could actually benefit from dentofacial orthopedics. This type of treatment is most successful when a patient’s bones are still in the process of developing and haven’t quite hardened all the way yet. In some cases, children may even avoid the need for more invasive surgery later in life altogether! Additional benefits include an improved appearance for the patient’s smile and overall face and more developed space throughout the mouth so that adult teeth have a safe place to properly erupt.

As already stated above, dentofacial orthopedics is ideal for younger patients with ongoing bone growth. Because the tissue structure is already in a state of change and still malleable, it will be easier for Dr. Justyna to nudge its future development in the right direction. During an initial consultation here in Huntington, NY, she will carefully inspect their current teeth and let parents know when it would be ideal to begin dentofacial orthopedic treatment; in some cases, it may become a part of Phase 1 Pediatric Orthodontics.

While dentofacial orthopedics may be recommended to adults, it’s important for older patients to remember that the treatment process is likely to be much more extensive. A surgical component to the care process may even be strongly recommended by Dr. Justyna. This is because adult jawbones have already considerably hardened and are much less receptive to readjustment, making it that much trickier to correct misaligned bones and create a healthier alignment for teeth. However, the right plan of action can result in dramatic, long-lasting improvements! Don’t hesitate to let us know if you’d like to explore this dental specialty in greater detail.