More adults requesting orthodontics due to advancements in dentistry

SAN ANTONIO (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — W Dental Group recently announced a gradual increase in the number of adult patients seeking orthodontics for malocclusion or otherwise misaligned teeth caused by an accident or natural causes. The increase has been attributed to the practice's reputation for excellence in dental care and the fact that sedation therapy is offered.

Dr. Tom Watkins, an orthodontist and family dentist at W Dental Group, a Texas clinic serving San Antonio, Leon Valley, Castrolville, Westover Hills, Helotes, Silver Creek, and Alamo Ranch, recently revealed that the practice seeing an increase in the number of adults in need of orthodontics. Many people request orthodontics to improve their jaw function, reduce pain, and improve their appearance. This type of dental care corrects malocclusion, a condition in which the jaw and teeth don't align correctly, as well as crooked teeth and crowded jaws. This can be due to an accident, but more often is simply caused by faulty development of the teeth and jaw.

An orthodontist can treat these problems by performing an in-depth oral examination, including X-rays to reveal the location of hidden teeth, as well as the position of the roots. A treatment plan typically lasts a minimum of two years and includes fitting braces to correct misalignment. In some cases, it may be necessary to extract teeth in order to create more space in the jaw.

"Malocclusion may not only cause dental problems and pain, but also seriously affect a person's appearance and confidence. "We can help change all of that, even in adults," said Dr. Watkins, the founder of W Dental Group and a member of both the American Orthodontic Society and the Southwest Academy of Restorative Dentistry. "I've seen many patients become literally transformed after treatment, as their correctly aligned teeth not only felt more comfortable, but also revealed their true smile and facial features."

Though a patient is typically referred to an orthodontics specialist by a family dentist around the age of seven, in recent years it has become more and more common for older patients to request orthodontics. "I think adults feel more confident about treatment knowing they can wear invisible braces," Dr. Watkins said. "Invisalign allows for a discreet, yet gradual, correction of the teeth and is much less obvious than wire braces.

Both Dr. Watkins and his associate Dr. Alejandro Cavazos have received advanced training in different fields of dentistry. According to the dentists, Invisalign is a popular option at the clinic for shifting
teeth into proper position and correcting a patient's bite.

W Dental Group is a full-service dental practice serving that offers general and family dental care, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, sedation dentistry, and dental implants. For more information, contact W Dental Group.