Orthodontics: Braces Will Straighten Your Teeth

The main way that we realign the teeth these days is with the use of braces. This is something that is insanely common here in the United States, so common, in fact, that one out of every three people in the country will, at some point, have their teeth realigned with the use of this amazing series of pieces designed to help put the appropriate force on the teeth. This being the case, there’s been a constant improvement in the technology that we use to realign the teeth, and I do mean constant. There is a lot of improvement yet to come, I’m sure, but for the time being, we’ve still made a whole lot of progress when it comes to fixing the alignment of our teeth, and no mistake.

Now, if you pay attention to the way that technology goes, you can always find a pattern. In some cases, the pattern is that things are getting bigger (like when it comes to televisions), or they’re getting more defined (again, we’re talking about televisions and the like, although in an interesting twist, you can actually watch the evolution of the cellphone go from big to small to large again as soon as we were able to use the internet in order to watch things like television shows or Netflix. If you can figure out the demands that people will have, you can literally watch as the technology charts its course.

So, having said all of that, here are just a few things that have been done to improve the standard metal braces since it came out in the seventies, or to improve on the design in some way.

1. Ceramic or porcelain brackets

The first big upgrade was the use of things like ceramic or porcelain brackets. I know, this doesn’t sound like a big deal to a lot of people, but the reality of the matter is that one of the biggest complaints that people had when it comes to the whole idea of braces was that they are, in fact, so very visible. You see, it’s very hard to hide the fact that you have a mouthful of metal, and the only thing you could do to hide it, for a long time, is to never smile and to never talk in public if you want to make sure that no one knew you had braces for kids, teens, or adults.

With the advent of porcelain and ceramic brackets, though, you had a big change in how discreet your brackets were. No longer were they something that you had to work hard to hide, but rather, you only had to worry about hiding the long metal wire that goes around brackets. Having said that, no, you couldn’t replace that wire with anything ceramic or porcelain, and so far, they haven’t developed a bracket that has the same amount of ability to hold the tension required in order to allow the teeth to realign.

2. New metals

Now, another big upgrade is that they changed the metals that you use in the whole thing. Now, if you skip over the ceramic options, you can get newer metals, metals that are more long-lasting than the ones that came before. You see, for a long time, the problem that came up from time to time was that, well, the mouth just isn’t a hospitable place. When you leave your brackets in the mouth, they wear down. Now, on the other hand, these newer metals are more able to last long without having any issues with them falling apart or anything similar, and this is a good thing for you if you’ve got them in your mouth for a long time.

3. Invisalign

Invisalign is basically a rebuild of the idea, starting from the ground up. Invisalign is a series of retainers, basically, which are made of hard plastic, and when they are put in the mouth, they slowly realign the teeth in order to make them more and more straight, until you get done with the treatment plan and, hopefully, you end up with teeth that are straight and a smile that you can be proud to show off for the rest of your life. It also allows you to do the work of fixing it with a lot less hassle than you would think.

So, in the long term, braces have changed, and over time, they’re going to continue to change, and the reason that they’re changing is that we have new demands on what we’re doing and how we like to live.

Our Practice

You have chosen a professional team that will do their utmost to serve you and your family. We realize you have choices in your orthodontic provider and we thank you for the confidence and trust you have placed in our office. Know that we are dedicated to you and your child’s needs. You can be confident that you have made the right selection!

You can expect cutting edge technology and vast experience in this office. Each of the doctors is committed to the field of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, and they will provide the best possible and most timely treatment modality for you or your child. All are honor graduates and recipients of numerous awards. All are active in national and local professional associations. Our doctors are supported by an experienced team of certified assistants and an extremely knowledgeable administrative staff.

We believe that continuing education for our doctors and staff is crucial in order to provide the highest quality and most up to date treatment approach. As such, our office is committed to an ongoing education program, encompassing the latest in the vastly changing world of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

Our Treatment Approach

Our examination process is thorough and complete. We will outline functional, cosmetic, and treatment goals…tailored, of course, to the specific needs of each patient. All findings and recommendations will be explained to you and your child in a manner that is easy to understand. We want you to be completely comfortable with our treatment plan; we love to answer questions so please feel free to talk to the doctors and staff at any time. Find more information here: McOmie Cosmetic Dentistry
e are committed to keeping your dentist informed of our orthodontic progress. We will work in concert with your general dentist, periodontist, oral surgeon and any other health professional participating in your case. Ongoing communication between all parties involved is our forte!

We are fortunate to have an in house laboratory, manned by our own extremely experienced technicians. Because of this, we can provide the highest level of quality control and the convenience of fast appliance fabrication. This translates into highly efficient treatment timing, so we can provide you with the optimal care and hence, the optimal outcome.

Long term, supervised retainer checks, visits, and adjustments are included in your fee. Should you ever have a problem with a retainer, or questions about your case, we are only a phone call away.

For Your Convenience

It is important to us that our patients miss as little work or school as possible. Therefore, we strive to schedule appointments so that each patient receives their fair share of the most desired appointment times. We will work with you to make appointments as convenient as possible.
You can reach us when you need to. Orthodontic emergencies are rare, however we still maintain round-the-clock emergency coverage. You can reach us most any time….even on the weekends. The emergency pager number is provided on the office recording should you need to reach us after hours. If an emergency appointment is necessary, we have time reserved in the daily schedule to accommodate your need. Again, we are only a phone call away.

We have flexible monthly payments, outside financing options, and are able to answer all your insurance questions. Our administrative staff is happy to arrange a plan that is easy on your budget, without hidden costs. Let us help you achieve your orthodontic goals without the worries of financing.

One In Three Will Visit an Orthodontist In Their Lives

For many people in the United States, orthodontic treatments are going to be a part of their life. Recent estimates suggest that one in every three people (actually, slightly more, but the fractions aren’t important) will, at some point in their lives, make use of cosmetic dentistry or orthodontic treatment in order to fix the alignment of their teeth.

Your local Dentist performing professional family dentistry will be best equipped to tell you what treatments may best serve you. The purpose of this post is just to tell you why Invisalign invisible braces, if they’re an option, are the best choice for you.

1. It is comparably affordable

For many, cost of treatment is foremost in their mind, so let’s begin by talking about the cost of cosmetic dentistry and the treatments involved.

Standard braces, by which I mean braces made of the common metal used today (which, as of the time of this writing, is stainless steel), can run about four thousand dollars. Of this price, you’ll be responsible for covering three thousand dollars, and your insurance will cover the other thousand. Please note that this price may vary depending on the market you’re in.

On the other hand, in a comparable market, Invisalign braces can expect to be about five hundred to a thousand dollars more, depending on how long the individual cosmetic dentists and orthodontists have been offering them. The insurance will cover the same portion, leaving you to pick up the check for around thirty-five hundred to four thousand dollars.

Yes, there is a five hundred to a thousand dollar difference, but when you see the other four advantages that Invisalign has, you’ll see why it’s still such a great deal.

2. It is durable

Metal brackets for braces are designed to be durable, but that doesn’t meant that they can’t break. It is rare, but it does happen, occasionally, especially in people who don’t carefully clean their braces and their teeth properly every day and night. The corrosive effect of the food that is left in your mouth after you eat can, and will, eat through metal.

On the other hand, durability isn’t really an issue for Invisalign. The braces are only left in your mouth for two weeks at a time, then they’re removed and you move on to the next set of Invisalign aligners. Because of this, durability doesn’t really become an issue for Invisalign aligners.

3. It is comfortable

Braces aren’t that comfortable, alas. They consist of a lot of metal (or ceramics and metal), affixed to the teeth semi-permanently with the use of dental adhesive. They seem almost designed to catch food and other various debris in them, meaning they need cleaning as well as your teeth do, and their very design makes that cleaning a more complicated task. Add on to this the fact that the protrusion of the brackets can rub on the fleshy skin inside the mouth and cause lesions and rashes, and you have what will be an uncomfortable experience.

On the other hand, Invisalign aligners are form-fitted, meaning that they don’t add a lot of bulk to the teeth. They aren’t mounted onto the teeth by anything and are easily removed and replaced at will. They also don’t have anything for food to get stuck on, and they’re removable to make cleaning your teeth a breeze.

4. It is discreet

Braces are hard to hide, even with recent changes. Today, the use of ceramic braces has come more and more into vogue, and those ceramic braces are a good attempt to blend into the natural color of the teeth, but at the end of the day, there’s still that metal wire that can’t be hidden, nor can it be made of ceramic materials.

Invisalign has no metal involved in its aligners, on the other hand, meaning that there’s nothing glinting out from your mouth. Furthermore, the aligners are made of clear plastic, so rather than attempting to blend into the natural colors, they’re allowing the natural colors to show through, ensuring that, even from close to your teeth, no one will be able to tell that the Invisalign aligners are there.

5. It works

This may be a silly thing to have to say, but yes, Invisalign aligners, like any form of braces, can get the job done. It works more incrementally than its elder competitor, but it works nonetheless.

So, if you’re out looking to fix your smile, consider giving your local cosmetic dentist call, and ask them if Invisalign might be right for you!