Your orthodontic treatment has been completed, your teeth look great and function properly, and now you need to maintain your results. Teeth tend to move throughout our lives, whether our not they’ve been straightened. Retainers are passive devices that resist the natural tendency for teeth to move. Some retainers are fixed, or bonded to the […]
When is the right time for a child’s first orthodontic visit? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child’s first orthodontic visit, or evaluation, should occur no later than seven years of age. This is an age when children are in the mixed dentition stage, meaning that their bite consists of both adult and primary teeth. […]
Why do I bring up safety of orthodontic appliances? Safety of orthodontic treatment and appliances is our main concern. There’s a movement in the dental laboratory world to require that patients be informed of foreign-made restorations, such as crowns and veneers. Some U.S. labs have their restorations made overseas, and that may mean that they’re not […]
What factors affect when braces will be removed? While the orthodontist is the engineer of your treatment, with either braces or Invisalign the reality is that the vast majority of tooth movement occurs under your watch. This means that you have a big part to play in determining how long your treatment […]
The aim of vibration technology in orthodontics is to speed up tooth movement and ultimately reduce treatment time. As long as there are no undesirable side effects this would be a very positive development! This explains why I’ve been asked if I use the technology. As I see it, the use of vibration technology in […]
Invisalign is a system of clear aligners that are an alternative to wearing braces. They tend to be comfortable, visually pleasing, and convenient in that you remove them to eat, to clean your teeth, and for dental visits. With those advantages, why do braces still exist? Good question! The answer lies in the fact that […]
