What Is An Orthodontist?

Flower Mound Orthodontics is a full-service orthodontics practice in Flower Mound, TX. Dr. Wayne L. Sankey leads a team of professionals dedicated to offering comprehensive orthodontic solutions for patients of all ages. 


orthodontic treatment for crooked teeth in adults and teens

What Is An Orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a highly educated dental professional with specialized training in diagnosing, preventing, and treating irregularities in tooth position or jaw development that affect the health, function, and aesthetics of a patient’s natural smile.

All orthodontists are dentists, but only a few of them go on to complete the necessary training and advanced education needed to become orthodontists. An orthodontist gains the skills to manage tooth movement and guide jaw development through this training. Orthodontists not only do traditional braces but can also provide modern solutions for malocclusion.

Dr. Sankey is in the top 1% of Invisalign orthodontic providers nationwide. He completed a post-graduate Orthodontic Residency program to receive his certification as an Orthodontist. This required two years of additional training and clinical experience, which has prepared him to address the more complex problems affecting the health or function of your smile.

What Can Orthodontics Fix?

Orthodontics can address a wide range of dental problems, from minor alignment concerns to complex cases of malocclusion. In addition, orthodontics can also address certain types of cosmetic concerns. Dr. Sankey will evaluate your smile and recommend the best treatment option. We take pride in providing comprehensive solutions for your dental needs. Our orthodontic treatment can address the following concerns:

Orthodontic Services in Flower Mound, TX

Flower Mound Orthodontics offers a complete range of orthodontic services for children, teens, and adults. Dr. Sankey will assess your needs and recommend the most appropriate treatment option for your smile. Depending on your cosmetic goals and oral health needs, we may recommend one or more of the following to improve your smile:

  • Invisalign ®: Clear, removable aligners that can discreetly address many orthodontic issues related to tooth position and jaw development. A Diamond Provider in Flower Mound, Dr. Sankey offers experienced care for children, teens, and adults. To learn more about Invisalign treatment, see Invisalign.
  • Orthodontic appliances: Orthodontic appliances can treat various orthodontic needs. They may treat minor or complex orthodontic issues. They may also prevent orthodontic relapse. To learn more about orthodontic appliances, see Orthodontic Appliances.
  • Traditional braces: Braces can be metal or ceramic and are typically ideal for most orthodontic concerns. Braces can treat minor or severe tooth misalignment. To learn more about braces in our office and what they may be used for, see Traditional Braces.

We also offer two-phase treatment, or early orthodontic treatment, for young children. Dr. Sankey will assess your child’s needs and determine if treatment is needed. In many cases, early intervention for complex dental problems can prevent further orthodontic issues in the future or avoid the need for braces.

Do I Need Orthodontic Treatment?

Crooked teeth are one of the most common dental complaints that people have. However, cosmetic issues differ from those that need braces or other orthodontic treatments. At your dental checkup, your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist for care. Many people think children should have an orthodontic consult around seven to determine orthodontic problems. While children’s orthodontics is the most common, adult orthodontics is also available.

Your Teeth are Crooked or Cramped

The most common issue that orthodontics fixes is crowded teeth. You may notice that your teeth overlap or jut out at odd angles. If you’re flossing your teeth and it’s difficult to get the dental floss between them, it’s a sign that they’re too cramped. You need to be able to properly clean in between all of your teeth to prevent issues with tooth decay and gum disease. Cramped teeth can cause pain in the mouth as well.

Having crooked teeth increases the chances of developing other oral health problems. It’s important to understand how it impacts your oral health and how important it is to treat the condition. If you can’t floss between two teeth, it’s also difficult to get any specialized dental tools in there. If your wisdom teeth are coming in, that’s a common cause of your teeth becoming cramped, even if they weren’t previously.

Your Teeth Are Too Far Apart

The complete opposite of crowded teeth is an issue as well. Large gaps between the teeth, small teeth, or gaps caused by missing teeth all change the function and structure of your bite. They also increase your chances of injuring gum tissue in between these teeth. Food particles are more likely to lodge in there and can cause bleeding and irritation. If you aren’t rinsing and flossing frequently, big gaps are ideal places for food debris and bacteria to build up.

Your Bite Doesn’t Come Together Properly

When you bite down, your teeth should fit together. Overbites and underbites occur when either your upper or lower jaw protrudes over the other one. When you look at it, a protruding jaw covers more than half of the visible surface of your teeth. A crossbite is when the upper teeth are inside the lower teeth. And lastly, when you bite down, the lower front teeth don’t touch the upper front teeth.

Bite problems can cause a variety of oral health problems, so it’s important that you get treatment. An uneven bite means that your teeth are taking on different stress levels. The pressure of your bite doesn’t distribute equally. The teeth taking on more stress wear down faster and are more prone to breaking or cracking. If you have a severe overbite, your lower front teeth may damage the gum tissue on the roof of your mouth.

TMJ problems are the biggest issues with uneven bites. Your jaw becomes sore, and the muscles around your jaw and face are strained, causing headaches and facial pain. You may develop more severe problems, to the point where you can’t properly use your jaw. We want to ensure that everything is tracking smoothly and that bite problems aren’t causing pain.

Visit Our Flower Mound, TX Orthodontics Practice

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sankey at Flower Mound Orthodontics. During your consultation, Dr. Sankey will carefully evaluate your smile, discuss your orthodontic concerns, and explore your cosmetic needs. At the end of your appointment, Dr. Sankey will explore all viable treatment options with you, and together, you and Dr. Sankey will find the best solution for your needs.

To schedule your appointment, call 972.833.8212 or fill out our convenient online form to request an appointment online.