Our Location:
2 South 56th Place, Suite 202,
Ridgefield, WA 98642
Find answers and other helpful dental topics in our digital library.
Our Blog:
Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
Tags
- celebrity smiles (74)
- cosmetic dentistry (14)
- oral health (34)
- bonding (3)
- tooth contouring (1)
- orthodontics (5)
- periodontal disease (2)
- gum disease (8)
- dental implants (20)
- dentures (5)
- smoking (4)
- pediatric dentistry (4)
- nightguard (1)
- grinding teeth (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- oral hygiene (22)
- braces (8)
- flossing (1)
- veneers (3)
- crowns (5)
- sealants (1)
- fluoride (2)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- tooth decay (10)
- dental anxiety (1)
- dental cleanings (1)
- bad breath (3)
- toothpaste (2)
- snoring (2)
- sleep apnea (2)
- removable partial denture (2)
- bridge (1)
- ibuprofen (1)
- pain management (1)
- wisdom teeth (3)
- nutrition (7)
- insurance (1)
- bacteria (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- orthodontic treatment (9)
- retainers (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- mouth sores (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- geographic tongue (1)
- teeth whitening (5)
- dry mouth (3)
- chipped tooth (3)
- smile makeover (2)
- mouthguards (2)
- tooth pain (4)
- adult orthodontics (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- fillings (3)
- bone grafting (2)
- dental visits (1)
- dental injuries (2)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- bone graft (1)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- bruxism (1)
- night guard (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- canker sore (1)
- sugar (1)
- toothache (5)
- dental injury (5)
- partial denture (3)
- oral cancer (2)
- shingles (1)
- x-ray (1)
- wedding day smile (1)
- fluroide (1)
- teeth grinding (2)
- dental exam (1)
- tmd (1)
- tmj (1)
- jaw pain (2)
- pregnancy (2)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- muscle frenum (1)
- dental implant (2)
- osteoporosis (1)
- lingual braces (1)
- vaping (2)
- implant overdentures (1)
- extraction (1)
- tooth wear (1)
- tmj disorders (1)
- clear aligners (1)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
- mouth sore (1)
Categories:

The monarchs of the world experience the same health issues as their subjects—but they often tend to be hush-hush about it. Recently, though, the normally reticent Queen Elizabeth II let some young dental patients in on a lesser known fact about Her Majesty's teeth.
While touring a new dental hospital, the queen told some children being fitted for braces that she too “had wires” once upon a time. She also said, “I think it's worth it in the end.”
The queen isn't the only member of the House of Windsor to need help with a poor bite. Both Princes William and Harry have worn braces, as have other members of the royal family. A propensity for overbites, underbites and other malocclusions (poor bites) can indeed pass down through families, whether of noble or common lineage.
Fortunately, there are many ways to correct congenital malocclusions, depending on their type and severity. Here are 3 of them.
Braces and clear aligners. Braces are the tried and true way to straighten misaligned teeth, while the clear aligner method—removable plastic mouth trays—is the relative “new kid on the block.” Braces are indeed effective for a wide range of malocclusions, but their wires and brackets make it difficult to brush and floss, and they're not particularly attractive. Clear aligners solve both of these issues, though they may not handle more complex malocclusions as well as braces.
Palatal expanders. When the upper jaw develops too narrowly, a malocclusion may result from teeth crowding into too small a space. But before the upper jaw bones fuse together in late childhood, orthodontists can fit a device called a palatal expander inside the upper teeth, which exerts gentle outward pressure on the teeth. This encourages more bone growth in the center to widen the jaw and help prevent a difficult malocclusion from forming.
Specialized braces for impacted teeth. An impacted tooth, which remains partially or completely hidden in the gums, can impede dental health, function and appearance. But we may be able to coax some impacted teeth like the front canines into full eruption. This requires a special orthodontic technique in which a bracket is surgically attached to the impacted tooth's crown. A chain connected to the bracket is then looped over other orthodontic hardware to gradually pull the tooth down where it should be.
Although some techniques like palatal expanders are best undertaken in early dental development, people of any age and reasonably good health can have a problem bite corrected with other methods. If you are among those who benefit from orthodontics, you'll have something in common with the Sovereign of the British Isles: a healthy, attractive and straighter smile.
If you would like more information about orthodontic treatment options, please contact us or schedule a consultation. To learn more, read the Dear Doctor magazine article “The Magic of Orthodontics.”