Orthodontics in Palatine, IL

As an experienced general dentist, Dr. Michael Unti offers a wealth of services to help your family achieve and maintain excellent oral health. His advanced training also allows him to go above and beyond and provide comprehensive orthodontic treatment for kids, teens, and adults at our Palatine dental office.

Why Is Orthodontic Treatment Important?

Straight teeth are healthy teeth, and that holds true for adults and children. Timely orthodontic treatment for kids helps make room in their jaw so that all permanent teeth erupt correctly. Straight teeth also make it easier to brush and floss, facilitate clear speech, and help kids chew comfortably.

Adults enjoy the same oral health benefits of straight teeth, with the addition of improved aesthetics and a more harmonious and symmetrical smile. Since most adults don’t require traditional orthodontics, however, we offer Invisalign clear aligners, a convenient and comfortable way to achieve the straight smile you've always wanted. 

Because Dr. Unti offers both traditional metal bracket and wire braces and Invisalign in Palatine, we can treat a collection of alignment and bite issues, including:

• Crooked teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Gapped teeth
• Overlapped teeth
• Spacing issues
• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crossbites

Eliminating these problems helps improve oral hygiene, reduce teeth grinding and clenching, and minimize the risk of injury to protruding teeth.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an evaluation by age seven to determine the likelihood of whether or not your child will need braces. At this age, Dr. Unti can take steps to help influence jaw growth in a way that makes space for all permanent teeth to erupt in the correct position.

Also known as interceptive orthodontics or Phase One treatment, this stage may involve your child wearing a removable or fixed retainer, palatal expander, space maintainer, or headgear. In many cases, these approaches can minimize orthodontic treatment times in the future; occasionally, early treatment eliminates the need for braces completely. 

After dental school, Dr. Unti spent three additional years studying orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. This advanced training allows him to provide comprehensive orthodontic treatment, including the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dental-facial abnormalities.

In this case, comprehensive means that Dr. Unti can provide all phases of your child’s orthodontic treatment right here at our Palatine dental office. If there’s a condition he needs to address, Dr. Unti will oversee treatment until all their permanent teeth have erupted in the correct position and are functional.

An essential part of providing comprehensive orthodontic treatment is also to educate you and your child about what treatment involves. We understand that getting braces for your child is a significant investment in time and money, and we want you to get the greatest benefit from treatment. It’s natural to have questions and concerns, and these appointments are the perfect time to ask for guidance and information.

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, the first step is to call our Palatine, IL dental office to schedule an appointment for an evaluation. Based on his findings, Dr. Unti will make personalized treatment recommendations that help set you or your child on a path to a straighter, healthier smile.