Orthodontic Health Month in Harrisonburg, VA: Why a Healthy Bite Matters
Every October, orthodontists across the country mark National Orthodontic Health Month. It is more a correction than a celebration, because most people still think of orthodontics as something you do to look better, and the work is quite a bit broader than that.
At Weiler Orthodontics and Invisalign in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the conversations we have with families almost always begin with appearance and end up somewhere else entirely.
What Is National Orthodontic Health Month?
The American Association of Orthodontists created National Orthodontic Health Month to draw attention to something that is easy to overlook, which is that orthodontic care is health care. Each October, orthodontists use the month to talk about oral health, the value of an early evaluation, and what treatment accomplishes beyond a better photograph.
For us, it is a welcome excuse to explain the part of this job that never shows up in a before and after picture.
Orthodontics Is Health Care, Not Only Cosmetics
Teeth that are crowded or overlapping are harder to clean, no matter how carefully someone brushes. Floss does not reach where it needs to, plaque settles into the spaces a toothbrush cannot follow, and the risk of cavities and gum disease climbs over the years.
A bite that does not fit together properly brings its own set of problems. Teeth that meet unevenly wear unevenly, and enough of that wear will chip enamel and shorten teeth over time. Some patients notice soreness or tension in the jaw. Others find certain foods difficult to chew, or realize a particular sound has always been a little harder to make.
None of that is visible in a photograph and it all improves when the bite is corrected.
The Bite Concerns We Treat Most Often
Most orthodontic cases come down to a handful of recognizable issues. You can see real results for each one, drawn from cases Dr. Weiler has treated himself:
Crowding — when there is not enough room for teeth to sit side by side, so they overlap or turn
Spacing — gaps between teeth, whether from smaller teeth, a wider arch, or a tooth that never came in
Overbite — when the upper front teeth sit too far in front of the lower teeth
Deep bite — when the upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too far vertically
Openbite — when the front teeth do not meet at all, even with the back teeth closed together
Crossbite — when upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth instead of outside them
Missing teeth — where space has to be closed or held open, sometimes alongside restorative work
If you recognize your own smile somewhere in that list, it is worth an evaluation rather than a wait.
What Makes an Orthodontist Different From a Dentist
Every orthodontist is a dentist. However, the reverse is not true.
Becoming an orthodontist means finishing dental school and then continuing into a full-time residency devoted to orthodontics, growth and development, and bite correction. It is a separate specialty with separate training, which is why your dentist refers these cases out rather than handling them.
Dr. Weiler went a step further. He is board-certified through the American Board of Orthodontics, a voluntary credential requiring additional education, case reviews, and ongoing evaluation. Plenty of excellent orthodontists never pursue it. Choosing to means putting your own finished cases in front of a board of your peers and asking them to judge the work.
Schedule a Free Consultation in Harrisonburg, VA
If National Orthodontic Health Month accomplishes one thing, we hope it is this. An orthodontic visit is worth making before anything hurts.
That holds for adults who have lived with a bite concern long enough to stop noticing it, and it holds for children, which is why our free Smile Club program exists to watch a growing smile until the timing is right. Consultations are complimentary for patients of all ages across Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, and the Shenandoah Valley, with no referral needed and no obligation to begin.
Schedule your free consultation today at Weiler Orthodontics and Invisalign in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It is an annual observance created by the American Association of Orthodontists and held every October. The focus is oral health rather than appearance, and orthodontists use the month to encourage early evaluations and explain what orthodontic treatment does for the health of the teeth, gums, and bite.
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They can contribute to them. Crowded or overlapping teeth are more difficult to clean thoroughly, which raises the long-term risk of cavities and gum disease. A bite that does not fit together correctly can also lead to uneven wear on the enamel and, for some patients, discomfort in the jaw.
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Some signs are noticeable at home, including teeth that do not meet properly when you close, difficulty biting or chewing certain foods, and front teeth that never quite touch. Many bite concerns are harder to spot on your own, which is what an evaluation is for. Dr. Weiler will tell you plainly whether anything needs attention.
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Board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics is voluntary and goes beyond what is required to practice. It involves additional education, a review of completed cases by other orthodontists, and ongoing evaluation over the course of a career. It is a standard an orthodontist chooses to be held to.
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Sometimes. When jaw soreness is related to how the teeth come together, correcting the bite may relieve it. Jaw discomfort has a number of possible causes, though, so the honest answer is that it depends on what is behind it. An exam is the only way to know whether orthodontics is the right tool for your situation.
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Yes. We keep before and after galleries organized by concern, including crowding, spacing, overbite, deep bite, openbite, crossbite, and missing teeth. Every case shown was treated by Dr. Weiler here in Harrisonburg.
