- Dental ExaminationYou do — in fact, it's more important than ever! Keeping teeth free of plaque (and potentially, decay) can be challenging when you're wearing braces. Your dentist can help you avoid these problems with frequent cleanings and exams.
- Teeth CleaningYou know how important brushing and flossing are for keeping a healthy smile — especially now that you're in orthodontic treatment. But sometimes it's harder to clean your teeth effectively around an appliance's brackets and wires. Here are some tools and tips you can try for better tooth cleaning.
- Fluoride TreatmentDepending on your situation, we may recommend an in-office or at-home supplemental fluoride treatment to boost your cavity resistance. An antiseptic rinse may also be recommended, to ease minor gum inflammation or irritation.
- DenturesTo stay fresh and germ-free, all retainers need proper cleaning. The clear plastic retainers and the Hawley-type retainer can be brushed gently with a regular toothbrush. Denture cleaners, in powder or tablet form, as well as special retainer cleaners, can be used to clean most removable retainers. Fixed retainers are cleaned by brushing and flossing; a floss threader or interproximal brush can also be a helpful cleaning tool when needed.
- Oral SurgeryOne is a crossbite, a condition where many or all of the upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth. To treat this problem, a device called a palatal expander is often used, which gradually and painlessly widens the upper jaw; it's especially effective when the jaw itself hasn't fully developed. If we wait too long, a more complicated treatment — or even oral surgery — might be required to correct the problem.
- Jaw SurgeryIt is called orthognathic surgery. It is used to treat severe cases of teenagers and adults with bad bites, jaw bone abnormalities, malocclusion, or other aesthetic concerns (i.e. want to change the position of chin forward or back). The necessity for surgical orthodontics occurs when the jaws do not line up correctly, and a proper bite cannot be achieved with orthodontic treatment alone. The sequence of treatment is this: orthodontics is initiated to align the teeth so that the jaws will fit properly after surgery. Once the teeth are in an acceptable position, the surgery is performed. Following a few weeks of healing, the finishing tooth positions are achieved with the final phase of orthodontics. Then there is a retention phase just as with conventional orthodontics. Typically surgery would not be performed until after the jaws stops growing, at age 16-17 in females and 18-22 in males. Orthognathic surgery will help properly align the jaw, and orthodontic braces will be used to move the teeth into their proper position. This type of treatment is a collaborative effort with your orthodontist and the oral surgeon.
- Tooth Extractions
- OrthodonticsFor many teens, orthodontics is a rite of passage: It’s one more example of the changes adolescents go through at this time — along with growth in stature, edgier tastes in clothes and music, and an increasing degree of self-awareness. But is there any particular reason why orthodontic appliances and teenagers seem to go together? In a word: Yes.
- Invisalign OrthodonticsClear aligner technology has been improving over the years and can correct many malocclusions that once would have been too complicated for this form of treatment. Almost every orthodontic problem can now be successfully treated with Invisalign.
- BracesYou know how important it is to brush and floss properly when you're wearing braces — but what's the best way to do that? Let's start with the basic brushing tools: Either a soft-bristled brush or a bi-level brush (one that has shorter bristles in the middle and longer bristles at the edges) can be effective. Used carefully, an electric toothbrush can work just as well. But be sure the electric brush is set to a moderate power level, and don't let its vibrations cause the back of the brush to hit the braces!