Modern dentistry now provides many ways to straighten your teeth. From fixing a crooked front tooth that has always bothered you, to helping improve your bite, or making it easier to clean your teeth, we have many different orthodontic options for your needs.
The Process
We start every case with a thorough examination of the teeth, gums, and jaw joints and muscles. We also discuss your goals for treatment.This is the most important part of the whole process. We want to understand what outcome you want and make sure we can assess any potential problems before they come up. Even if you end up seeing an orthodontist we want to work with them to make sure the final product is what you are looking for. Often, there are issues with the gums, tooth size or color, missing teeth that need to be discussed before treatment. When you decide to proceed there are a number of options to choose from.
Invisalign®
Invisalign® is a system of clear aligners used to straighten teeth. Making the decision to straighten your teeth is much easier when you know that Invisalign® is flexible enough to let you live your life the way you want to. With Invisalign®, the aligner trays are not only smooth and comfortable to wear, but they're also removable. That means you can continue doing all the things you normally would, from brushing and flossing, to eating whatever you like. With other devices, brushing and flossing properly can take much longer.
Invisalign is also ideal for your busy schedule, with fewer doctor visits required (approximately every six weeks).
How Invisalign® Works
Once you and your doctor decide Invisalign is the right treatment option for you, we'll take x-rays, pictures and impressions of your teeth, which Invisalign will use to create a digital 3-D image of them. From these images your doctor will map out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth. Using this same technology, your doctor will even be able to show you a virtual representation of how your teeth will move with each stage of treatment.
Based on your individual treatment plan, a series of custom-made, clear aligners are then created specifically for you. These aligners are made of a smooth, comfortable BPA-free plastic that won't irritate your cheeks and gums like traditional metal braces often do. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements your dentist plans out for you. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You simply pop in a new set of aligners approximately every two weeks, until your treatment is complete and you achieve the smile you have always wanted. The best part of the whole process is that most people won't even know you are straightening your teeth.
Removable Retainers
Often, our patients have only mild crowding or a couple teeth that need adjustment. We have a variety of removable retainers that can be used to fix these issues quickly and inexpensively.
Crozat Appliances
The Crozat appliance has been around for many years and was the original "invisible" way to straighten teeth. The Crozat appliance is a very good way to expand dental arches in kids and adults. The Crozat also allows proper tongue placement on the roof of the mouth.
Myobrace
The Myobrace and similar systems are very popular in certain parts of the world. The Myobrace uses a series of removable retainers to straighten the teeth and (most importantly) correct any bad oral habits that can lead to crooked teeth in the first place. Many times teeth become crowded or crooked due to habits such as mouth breathing or tongue thrusting. Wearing the Myobrace requires patient compliance, but the results can be very impressive and can help correct habits that contributed to the problem in the first place.