Serving Children, Teens & Adults
Everyone in Portland, Windham, and the surrounding communities should have the opportunity to get quality orthodontic care and a beautiful smile.
We proudly offer a full range of orthodontic care for children, teens, and adults at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics.
Pick Your Appliance
Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics offers high-tech fixed and removable orthodontic appliances to choose from, including:
- High-tech Damon metal braces
- Damon Clear ceramic braces
- Invisalign (We're Diamond+ Providers!)
- Invisalign for Teens
- Invisalign First (for kids!)
Kids Should Get an Orthodontic Check-Up By 7
Dr. Joanna Yu and our team at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics will treat your children like our own by giving them the best possible orthodontic care. By age seven, your child's teeth have developed enough for Dr. Yu to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth before all of your child’s baby teeth are lost.
Your check-up at our offices in Portland or Windham may reveal that your child's bite is fine, and braces for kids aren't necessary at this time. Or, Dr. Yu may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring your child's growth and development and then, if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for your child.
In other cases, Dr. Yu might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.
If your child has a dental issue, please contact us by setting up a free consultation at our Portland or Windham office.
We can talk about your child's orthodontic options and if she thinks it’s necessary, Dr. Joanna Yu can create a customized treatment plan just for your child. As a mom herself, Dr. Yu will treat your child like her own, by providing them with the best care possible.
What Is Early Treatment?
Early treatment with Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics 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. Yu can achieve results that may not be possible once your child’s 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 without a trained orthodontist like Dr. Joanna Yu. Even if your child's teeth look straight may still hide a problematic bite.
Here are some clues that you may need to talk to Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics about 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
Finding the Best Time for Treatment
While the age that kids get braces may vary, we often begin orthodontic treatment at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics between 9 and 14, because some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if we treat them sooner.
If Dr. Yu thinks your child will need treatment, she’ll let you know when it will be best to begin treatment. This gives your orthodontist the best chance to:
- Guide jaw growth
- Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips and face
- Improve appearance and self-esteem in your child
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
All About Teen Orthodontics
The most common time for orthodontics for teens in Portland, Windham, and the surrounding areas falls between the ages of 12 and 16 because most permanent teeth will be in place. Luckily, at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics, you can find solutions to make the treatment process much easier than ever before.
Experienced orthodontists like Dr. Yu can easily recognize spacing, crowding, bite, and alignment issues in this age range, and your teen’s bone and jaw structure are formed enough to allow orthodontic treatment to begin.
Some teens in Portland, Windham, and the surrounding areas may have begun Phase I treatment earlier and now need to follow that up with full braces or other orthodontic treatment.
Beyond just looks, untreated dental problems can impact your teen’s oral and overall health.
If you notice any of the following issues, come in for a free consultation with Dr. Yu at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics, since they could be signs your teen may benefit from orthodontic treatment.
- 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
- 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
Bad Bites
Let Dr. Joanna Yu diagnose and successfully treat certain bite problems. This can have short-term and long-term benefits.
Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics corrects common bad bite problems and minimizes issues through orthodontic treatment, like:
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- Incorrect jaw position
- A disorder of the jaw joint
- Missing or extra teeth
- An overbite or underbite
Benefits of a Straight Smile
Straight teeth that respond well to orthodontic treatment at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics give your teenager tons of benefits, like:
- Being less prone to wear and tear, chipping, and tooth trauma
- Being easier to keep clean, helping to prevent tooth decay and cavities
- Reducing the chances of developing gum disease, which can result in bone loss, decay, and tooth loss
- Improving proper chewing and digestion of food
Choose Your Look
While creating a customized treatment plan for your teen, we might recommend an orthodontic appliance.
Here at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics, we offer:
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.
Invisalign® for Teens
The Invisalign system is made up of 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.
Invisalign works best for mild to moderate orthodontic issues, and may not be an option if your teen needs more serious treatment.
FAQs About Teen Orthodontics
Make an Investment in Your Teen’s Smile Today
Orthodontic treatment at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics helps you invest in the future health and confidence of your child. By scheduling a free consultation, Dr. Joanna Yu can happily go over the benefits of treatment with both of you, as well as any of the risks of putting off or skipping treatment.
Although adults can also see us for orthodontic treatment, your teen’s jaws and teeth can respond quicker to orthodontic treatment, shortening their total treatment time at our offices in Portland and Windham.
More Adults Are Pursuing Orthodontic Treatment
You’re never too old to benefit from orthodontic treatment with Dr. Joanna Yu, and that’s why we offer orthodontics for adults at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics. Adults make up about one in every five orthodontic patients both at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics and nationally. Here’s why:
Looking Good
Dr. Joanna Yu uses orthodontic treatment to correct crooked teeth or spaces that you’ve been self-conscious about for years.
Straight teeth and a great smile can give you the confidence and pride you’ve always wanted.
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.
FAQs About Adult Orthodontics
Why Should You Think About Orthodontic Treatment?
Straight Teeth Are Healthy Teeth
When teeth are correctly aligned, flossing and brushing are easier, which in turn helps prevent other oral issues, including some that can affect overall health.
Straight Smiles Grows Self-Esteem & Confidence
Completing orthodontic treatment at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics can boost your self-confidence, improve your quality of life, and help you smile freely.
Untreated Oral Issues Get Worse
Delaying or refusing orthodontic treatment when Dr. Yu recommends it may result in long-term health issues that can cost you more in the end.
At Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics, we recognize that children, teens, and adults will all have different dental needs, requiring a different level of attention and care.
We’ll work diligently for you to make sure you receive the most appropriate treatment at our inviting offices in Portland and Windham.
Get Started
Start your journey towards a healthy new smile today and schedule your free consultation with Dr. Yu.
Let's talk about your orthodontic options and develop a treatment plan that's customized to your needs and smile goals.