Blog

Clear aligners are being used by orthodontists more and more as patient demand for these esthetic, almost invisible tooth straighteners increases. At our office, we are adept at treating with braces and clear aligners for which we use the Invisalign brand. One of the main differences between braces and Invisalign is that Invisalign must be diligently worn by the patient 22 hours a day in order to ensure proper tooth movement.

What else can you do to ensure your Invisalign treatment goes according to plan? How can you potentially speed up your Invisalign treatment time? One solution is very simple, [...] Read More

Occasionally, we as orthodontists find patients with a narrow upper jaw. This causes the relationship of the upper and lower teeth to be out of sync, leading to potential problems with the jaw joints and how you bite. Constant chewing and eating with a crossbite can lead to excess wear of the teeth and even pain in the jaw down the road. That is why we always recommend crossbites to be corrected as soon as they are detected.

One appliance used to correct crossbites is pictured in this article. It is called the “Quad Helix“, named for the four springs [...] Read More

Can you ditch the Headgear? The Carrier appliance might be an alternative!

Often people go to the orthodontist to address an “overbite” or an “underbite”. These malocclusions appear when either the upper or lower teeth are too far back or forward.

Traditionally, headgear appliances were the standard of care to treat overbites and underbites, but wearing a headgear could be uncomfortable or cause embarrassment when wearing them in public.

The Carriere appliance was developed by Luis Carriere, a prominent Spanish orthodontist, and it has been in use by many orthodontists for the past couple decades. The [...] Read More

No…we’re talking about these guys:

Dark Triangles are what Orthodontists call the gap between teeth that can ruin even the most planned Instagram photo op.  Contrary to popular belief, they are not caused by the teeth being spaced apart, but rather the gums not being able to fill in that space.  If you look closely in between each of your teeth, there is a triangle of gum tissue we call the “interdental papilla”.  Having this is a sign of health gum and bone support of your tooth.  However, if the gums are receding, or crowded teeth are aligned to the [...] Read More

It’s not just about looks! Crooked teeth can affect more than just your looks…

1. Poor oral hygiene

Those with crowded teeth know, it can be a pain to brush and floss around them properly or even at all. The plaque and bacteria that subsequently build up can cause gum disease or even cavities.

2. Tooth wear

If a tooth is crooked, it can be worn down by the bite over time, leading to oddly shaped teeth that don’t function as well. It could also lead to trauma that affects the stability of the tooth itself.

3. Jaw and muscle [...] Read More

Let’s get this STRAIGHT.  After working so hard to get those teeth perfect, we want to make sure that they stay that way. That is why we always give retainers at the end of orthodontic treatment. Tooth position ages just like the rest of the body, we call this “relapse”.  Retainers are a way to prevent your teeth from aging.  The clear plastic retainers we use are called Essix retainers and with proper care, can last 3-5 years on average.  Sometimes they can even last 20 years if well maintained! Here is a breakdown of the recommended way to [...] Read More