Common Signs and Orthodontic Treatment Recommendations How Do I Know if My Child Needs Braces? It can sometimes be difficult for parents to determine whether their own child needs braces. While most parents think of the tween and teen years as the prime time for orthodontics, there are many good reasons children should be seen even sooner. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends kids be seen for an initial checkup with an orthodontic specialist at no later than age 7. Even if a young child’s teeth appear straight, there could be subtle problems with jaw growth or with the permanent…
Self-Ligating Braces What is the In-Ovation System? The In-Ovation braces system is an established orthodontic technology that is constantly evolving and improving, and it is the perfect option for our on-the-go patients. This system helps our orthodontists achieve beautifully straight smiles and it allows patients to spend little time in the dental chair at each visit and have fewer overall orthodontic adjustment appointments. This braces system offers all these benefits and more. Utilizing state-of-the-art, self-ligating technology, the teeth are discreetly moved into their intended place with ease. Although the system functions similarly to traditional braces, the use of technologically advanced…
Learn How Braces Move Teeth In order to understood how braces move teeth, it is important to understand why teeth are able to move at all. Teeth are essentially held in place by what is known as the periodontal ligament. This ligament is what connects the roots of each tooth to the surrounding jawbone. The fibrous tissue within the ligament that holds teeth in place is resilient yet malleable. This allows teeth to easily move when pressure is applied. How Teeth Become Crooked Genetics and the early loss of baby teeth are two of the main factors that cause teeth…
Types of Teeth Conditions That Need Braces More people today, both young and old, are currently going through orthodontic treatment and wearing braces than ever before in US history. Each year, more than 4 million people in the United States alone receive orthodontic care for one reason or another. Out of this number, over a quarter of these people are adults. This is a new development, considering people who wore braces in the past were often older children and teenagers. Now, due to increased access, growing popularity, and advanced treatment techniques, adults are beginning to take their smile into consideration…
What are Ceramic Braces? As technology advances in the world of orthodontics, more and more options are being developed for correcting crooked teeth in the least noticeable ways possible. For some patients, especially older adolescents, and adults, one of the main obstacles to wearing braces is the appearance of the appliance. Because of this, these patients seek options that offer a minimalistic, imperceptible look. Children tend to be more accepting and in many cases are in fact excited about the idea of braces that are visible and able to be decorated with colors. For these kids, traditional metal braces, which…
TADs Temporary anchorage devices, or TADs for short, were approved for use in orthodontics by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004. Since that time, they have been effectively used to treat patients with great success. Though the name “temporary anchorage device” may sound odd, this appliance is essentially a tiny mini screw, which is made of high-quality titanium. Titanium is used because of its bioinert nature. This means it will not leak harmful substances into the gums or trigger inflammation around the area into which it was inserted. Other names often used to describe TADs are orthodontic mini implants…
After the loss of baby teeth, it is a rare for someone to develop perfectly straight teeth as they mature into adulthood. Because of inherited conditions, acquired habits during childhood, and the overall imperfections of the facial structure, crooked teeth often come as a result. While some people may see a crooked smile as part of who they are, many others desire to have straight teeth instead. In some cases, there may be no problems associated with someone opting NOT to fix their crooked teeth. However, it is recommended that an orthodontist examine them to make sure there are no…
The Top Trends in Orthodontic Treatment Today While there are many different, innovative technologies being developed in the world of orthodontics, all these advances share a common theme. Every orthodontic advancement today is being designed to make patient treatment more efficient, less invasive, and with the least amount of discomfort possible. For instance, orthodontic treatment involving braces used to take several years to complete in some cases. Now, with the latest technologies, these types of cases can be completed in a much shorter period. In some cases, patients are finishing treatment in under a year! Given the value people place…