Burlington & Hillsborough Family Orthodontics
Serving Children, Teens & Adults
Here at Mack Orthodontics, we believe everyone should be able to get quality orthodontic care and a beautiful straight smile. We’re proud to offer a full range of orthodontics for children, teens, and adults at our Burlington and Hillsborough offices.
Orthodontics for Children
Get a Head Start on a Beautiful Smile
As a parent, you want the best for your child. That includes healthy teeth and a pleasing smile. As a father himself, Dr. Mack will treat your children like his own by giving them the best possible orthodontic care.
Kids Should Get an Orthodontic Check-Up By 7
By then, your child's teeth have developed enough for Dr. Mack to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth, while some baby teeth are still present. This check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine and braces for kids aren't necessary.
Or, Dr. Mack may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring your child's growth and development. Then, if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for your child. In other cases, Dr. Mack might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.
What Is Early Treatment?
Early treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.
In some cases, Dr. Mack will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
Signs the Bite's Not Right
It's not always easy to tell when your child may need braces or has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a problem bite.
Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that don't meet, or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Choosing the Best Time for Treatment
While the age that kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between the ages of 9 and 14. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they’re treated early.
If Dr. Mack thinks your child will need treatment, he’ll let you know when it will be best to begin treatment. This gives your orthodontist the best chance to:
- Guide jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improve appearance and self-esteem in your child
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
- Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips, and face
Orthodontics for Teens
Give Your Teen a Confident Smile
The teen years (between the ages of 12 and 16) are the most common time for orthodontic treatment because most permanent teeth will be in place.
Luckily, some new solutions work to make the treatment process much easier than ever before.
All About Teen Orthodontics
Experienced orthodontists like Dr. Mack can easily recognize issues with spacing, crowding, bite, and alignment in this age range, and your teen’s bone and jaw structure are formed enough to allow orthodontic treatment to begin.
Some teens may have even started Phase I treatment at an earlier age and are now following it up with full braces or other orthodontic treatment.
Beyond outward appearances, untreated dental problems can have a lasting impact on your teen’s oral and overall health.
Benefits of a Straight Smile
Straight teeth that respond well to orthodontic treatment have many benefits, including:
- Reducing the chances of developing gum disease, which can result in bone loss, decay, and tooth loss
- Improving proper chewing and digestion of food
- Being less prone to wear and tear, chipping, and tooth trauma
- Being easier to keep clean, helping to prevent tooth decay and cavities
Common Problems to Watch for in Teens
If you notice any of the following issues, we recommend a free consultation with Dr. Mack at Mack Orthodontics since they could be signs your teen may benefit from orthodontic treatment.
- Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
- Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
- Protrusion of teeth
- Early, late, or irregular loss of their baby teeth
- Difficulty with chewing or biting
- Crowding or extra spacing between teeth
- Jaws that shift or make sounds
- Frequent biting of the cheek or the inside of the mouth
Bad Bites
Diagnosing and successfully treating certain bite problems can have short-term and long-term benefits.
Problems classified as “bad bites” can often be minimized with the proper orthodontic treatment, including:
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- Missing or extra teeth
- An overbite or underbite
- Incorrect jaw position
- A disorder of the jaw joint
Choose Your Look
While creating a customized treatment plan for your teen, we might recommend an orthodontic appliance. Here at Mack Orthodontics, we offer the following:
Traditional Metal Braces
Braces have come a very long way, even within the past decade. When many people think of braces, they think of extremely bulky metal brackets.
We don't use this type of bulky orthodontic appliance, and many of the new braces are lighter and more comfortable than ever before.
Ceramic Braces
Also known as clear braces, these work the same way metal braces do but feature brackets made of tooth-colored ceramic materials.
They blend in with your teen’s smile, making them much less obvious. Since ceramic braces are slightly more prone to breaking and a little costlier than metal braces, they may not be best for everyone.
Clear Aligners
At Mack Orthodontics, we offer Invisalign and Spark clear aligners. Both systems use a series of fully customized, clear trays called aligners. These aligners are nearly invisible and totally removable.
Made of soft plastic, they provide a more comfortable orthodontic experience, with no friction or abrasions inside your teen’s mouth.
Each week your teen will switch their aligner for the next in the set. When worn the recommended 20-22 hours per day, your teen’s teeth will gradually move into the desired positions.
Clear aligners work best for mild to moderate orthodontic issues and may not be an option if your teen needs more serious treatment.
Orthodontics for Adults
You’re Never Too Old For a New Smile
Your smile is the first thing other people around Burlington and Hillsborough notice about you. Do you love yours? You’re never too old to benefit from orthodontic treatment with Dr. Mack, and that’s why we offer orthodontics for adults at Mack Orthodontics.
More Adults Are Pursuing Orthodontics
You’re never too old to benefit from orthodontic treatment. Today, adults make up about one in every five orthodontic patients. Here’s why:
Looking Good
Orthodontic treatment can help correct crooked teeth or spaces that you’ve been self-conscious about for years. It can give you the confidence and pride that come with straight teeth and a great smile.
Your Teeth Can Shift
Believe it or not, your teeth don’t stop moving in adolescence. Teeth that seemed straight and aligned in youth could have shifted later in life. This can lead to jaw pain, trouble brushing, or a smile you’re unhappy with.
Maintaining Dental Health
If you leave misaligned teeth untreated, you may end up with other dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. You may also notice difficulty chewing or abnormal wear on the surface of your teeth.
Adult Ortho FAQs
Learn More at Your
Free Consultation
If you, your teen or your child has a possible orthodontic issue, please contact us by setting up a free consultation.
We can talk about your orthodontic options and develop a treatment plan customized to give you the best results for a smile to love.