Orthodontics is a specialty branch of dental medicine which studies the growth and development of dentofacial complex. It includes diagnostics, prevention and interception, as well as treatment of all kinds of disorders and dislocations of teeth within dental arches.
First orthodontic examination for children is recommended at the age of 6 or 7 when the first assessment of the teeth in relation to our little patient’s face is made. That is when the first X-ray of teeth and jaw – panoramic x-rays – is taken, which shows permanent tooth germs and tooth eruption abnormalities of number and position. It is at that moment when the decision is made: to start orthodontic therapy or to observe the growth and development of the patient – regular replacement of deciduous with permanent teeth, formation of the bite and monitored teething. With regular checkups from the age 6 to 12, we can intervene and prevent later tooth extraction due to lack of space, redirect the growth of the lower jaw (the mandible) and stop or stimulate the growth of the upper jaw (the maxilla). The ideal time for orthodontic therapy is around the age of 12 when our dear patients are usually ready for complete orthodontic therapy which includes fixed orthodontic appliances on upper and lower dental arches.
And what if you are late for your recommended first examination and you are 20, 30 or maybe 60 years old or more???? Do not despair! There are no age limits for orthodontics of today. The only limitation is the number of remaining teeth in the dental arch (if there was teeth loss) and the health of your periodontium. Come by for consultations and our specialist will offer their professional opinion and recommend a therapy. Following her specialization, Dr. Kišić-Merlo dedicated a great part of her professional career to the orthodontics of adult patients.
Diagnostic procedures of the contemporary orthodontics include dental arch model analysis, dental photography analysis and panoramic x-rays, latero-lateral x-rays and, if necessary, the CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography).
