There are few things that are going to be as important to your life, over the long term, as making sure that you have a good smile that you have taken care of. It’s important that not only do you do the work that you need to do at home to ensure that said smile will continue to be in good condition, but there is more to it than that. More about our Family Dentist here:

But first, consider; what are the things that you mostly use to judge people when you meet them? The appearance is pretty high up on that list, without a doubt, and if you want to pretend otherwise you are either an idiot, someone who is being dishonest with themselves (and seriously, why would you do that, you don’t have to be dishonest with yourself. You can tell the truth to yourself if you can’t tell it to anyone else), or someone who has never lived somewhere that wasn’t filled with people just like yourself. And a huge part, literally, one of the biggest parts that you are going to be basing the snap judgments that you make about people on, is the way that their face looks.

This is just natural for humanity. We read a lot into facial expressions, which we combine with other things like the tone that someone is taking, and the way that they are standing, and their body language in general, and we combine this all together in order to figure out what amount of threat an individual represents. This makes the smile and the teeth that makeup said smile, all the more important.

If your teeth aren’t as straight as they need to be, your dentist may recommend an orthodontist for you to visit. To begin with, this is a great way to get the smile that you desire, but getting a referral is also a good way to save a little bit of money and to make sure that, when you go to get your teeth treated and realigned, you won’t end up having to worry about someone doing a bad job. Trust me, referrals from professional medical personnel are far more trustworthy than those from, say, your local contractor. Here are just a few things that such a referral will give you access to.

1. Dental Examination

The first thing that you are going to need to do is to get an exam in order to figure out what is going on with your teeth and what you can do in order to fix up said teeth. They will look around at your teeth, they will poke and prod your teeth, they will take dental x-rays, and they will basically do whatever they need to in order to identify both the issue at hand and the root issue as well. Likely, they will then suggest braces to correct orthodontic issues.
2. Standard Braces

The most common thing that they will use in order to fix up the smile is standard braces. They have been the most popular method around the world for fixing a crooked smile. They consist of a series of metal pieces, placed into the mouth, which will then be used to provide the tension needed to fix the smile and to make sure that your teeth will be as straight as you could ever hope for them to be.

3. Invisible braces

Of course, popularity doesn’t automatically equate to something being a great product or the best one of its group. In fact, I would argue that invisible braces like Invisalign are a much more preferential way to fix the smile. The benefit of clear braces is that, unlike the other braces that you will be using, they are invisible, and this means that when put on the teeth, no one is going to know that you have an issue to begin with, and this is a huge improvement. Let’s face it, no one likes having braces in the mouth and having them be invisible is a huge step forward for technology.

So, if you’re looking for a great way to fix your smile, it’s about time that you consider what your local professional orthodontist can do for you. You’ll be glad that you did when you have a smile that you can show off to the whole world.

Orthodontic Treatment – Braces

Braces can be used to treat a number of orthodontic problems including overbites, underbites, misaligned teeth, and spacing problems. If your orthodontist has prescribed braces to straighten your teeth and improve the look of your smile, you may be wondering exactly how this treatment works. Read this overview to gain a better understanding of how your braces will correct the placement of your teeth.

Application of Braces

Orthodontic braces are composed of several different components including brackets, an archwire, and ligature elastics. Your orthodontist will bond a bracket onto each tooth with a glue-like material, and then run the archwire through each bracket. Ligature elastics are used to secure the wire to the bracket and are regularly changed when you visit your orthodontist for adjustments.

Realignment of Teeth

Braces work by gently pulling on your teeth to realign them. The archwire is tightened on a regular basis, putting pressure on the teeth. Over time, this continual pressure moves the teeth into their proper place. Additional components, such as elastics, bands, and spacers, may be used to correct bite issues, create space, or reposition a tooth that is markedly out of place.

Completion of Treatment

Once your orthodontist feels that your teeth have reached their ideal location, it’s time for your braces to come off. You will have to wear a retainer for a period of time to keep your teeth in the correct position. Your orthodontist may use permanent retainers, semi-permanent retainers, or removable retainers to stop your teeth from shifting.

If you or someone in your family requires braces, visit the friendly staff at our Dental Office. We provide residents of the area with comprehensive orthodontic care. Call us to schedule an orthodontic evaluation.

If your front teeth are overcrowded, your orthodontist may recommend a palatal expander to create more space for your teeth. For effective treatment, you’ll need to turn the expander yourself.
Turning your expander is a relatively simple process. Insert the key, turn the screw back towards the roof of your mouth, and remove the key. Make sure you don’t accidentally reverse the screw when you remove the key and ensure that you complete one full turn with each adjustment. Ask your orthodontist if you have questions.

If you need treatment with a palatal expander, visit Our Dental Office. We offer a wide array of orthodontic appliances to correct any problems with your teeth. Call for an appointment today.

Many people can benefit from a visit to an orthodontist to receive comprehensive treatment. If you are wondering if you are one of those people, then here are some signs that you should look for:

Crooked Teeth

If your teeth are crooked, turned, or leaning to one side, you should see an orthodontist for braces. Undergoing treatment can straighten your teeth and give you the healthy, beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. It doesn’t matter if you are older—you can still get braces to help you look and feel your best.

An Overbite or Underbite

Some people have jaws that aren’t aligned properly, which leads to overbites or underbites. With orthodontic treatment, your bite misalignment can be corrected. Once your treatment is complete, you’ll have straight teeth that are properly aligned when you close your mouth.

Hard-to-Clean Teeth

If you have teeth that are overlapped, it can be hard to keep them clean. Without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can grow, causing plaque, cavities, and tooth decay, and possibly leading to more serious problems, such as periodontal disease. Braces can correctly align your teeth, allowing you to adequately clean between them and prevent these problems.

Speech Impediment

The position of teeth can affect speech. If you or your child has a speech impediment, braces should be considered to correct any abnormalities in the teeth. Ask your speech therapist for a recommendation regarding orthodontic treatment.

Sleep Apnea

Much in the same way that braces can help with speech problems, they can also help with sleep apnea. Sometimes, the position of teeth can hinder proper breathing at night, which can lead to sleep apnea. An orthodontist can help move teeth into their correct locations, making breathing easier.

If you believe that you or your child could benefit from braces, contact our Dental Office. We provide orthodontic treatment for families living in the area. Call to set up an appointment today.

While braces may be the first thing that pops into your mind when you consider orthodontic treatment, there are a number of other appliances that your orthodontist may employ to improve the alignment of your teeth.

Here is an overview of the different kinds of appliances your orthodontist may use:

Elastic Bands

Elastic bands may be used in conjunction with the brackets on braces or with a temporary anchorage device (TAD) to help teeth move into their correct positions. These bands can move the jaw forward or backward, and the TAD can help move specific teeth. The use of braces or a TAD can sometimes prevent the need for more noticeable orthodontic appliances, like headgear.

Palatal Expander

If your teeth are too crowded or if the rows of your teeth are not in alignment with each other, your orthodontist may use a palatal expander to help widen your upper jaw. This allows your mouth to better accommodate your teeth, helping prevent the need for tooth extractions. Once the jaw is adequately expanded, you may need to continue to use the appliance for a few months to ensure that your teeth stay in their proper place.

Headgear

For some people, headgear is a necessary orthodontic appliance. Headgear may only need to be worn at night and can be used to correct severe overbites and underbites. The headgear appliance puts gentle pressure on the teeth to stop them from growing forward, reducing the appearance of over and underbites.

Forsus

A forsus may be used when the upper teeth jut forward too much or when using other appliances, such as headgear, is not an option. This orthodontic appliance is attached to braces and works to pull the top teeth into alignment with the lower teeth.

If you are looking for an orthodontist in the area, visit the professionals at our Dental Office. We can provide the orthodontic treatment you need for a beautiful smile. For an appointment, call us today.

You Want A Seasoned Orthodontist

Our Orthodontist has many years of experience in dealing with every sort of tooth and dental development issue and is very willing to help you make an informed decision about the treatment choices for your child. Like many procedures, the effectiveness of early treatment can only be determined on an individual basis. Here, the doctor explains his viewpoint on early treatment options.

What is early treatment?

The terms ‘early treatment,’ ‘interceptive treatment,’ or ‘phase I treatment’ are all basically the same thing. This form of treatment is usually done when the child is 8 to 10 years old and will have 8-12 baby teeth present in the mouth. More here @ https://cochranorthodontics.com/children-orthodontics/

Phase II treatment consists of fixed appliances (metal braces) and is usually done when the patient is older and all the baby teeth are gone and the permanent teeth are in the mouth. For girls, this is about 11 ½ years old and for boys about 12 ½ years of age on average.

Are there drawbacks to early treatment?

Early treatment is great when it is indicated and appropriate. Dental problems such as crowding or crossbites are usually corrected best through early treatment at age 9 or 10. A second stage of treatment with braces will usually be required at age 11 ½ for girls, and at age 12 ½ for boys to finish aligning the teeth.

However, what I discovered was that it was still taking about 20 months of the metal braces to finish aligning the teeth at age 12 to 13. So, I could do two phases of treatment, taking 28-32 months, or I could be a little patient and do all the treatment in one step, taking about 24 months in the metal braces.

Which was the better way? Well, by just doing one phase of treatment, the parents saved money, the child had fewer hoops to jump through, and the results were basically the same.

When do we recommend early treatment?

I love to see the kids about age 9 or 10 years old, or even younger if mom and dad have a concern about their child’s teeth. I’d much rather be ahead of the game than behind. Sometimes I will turn the patient loose for a little while, and then when he/she is ready, start the correct early treatment.

Of course, there are instances where treating the patient at 9 or 10 works out great! If all the upper teeth are too narrow (called a crossbite), 9 or 10 is a great time to correct this. Sometimes a front tooth is stuck and won’t come down, or is sticking straight out – 9 or 10 is a great time to correct this.

Child patient at the orthodontist – close up

​

I firmly believe in early treatment. It just needs to be used when it is truly indicated.
Call now to schedule a consultation with us to discuss treatment options and see what financing plans you qualify for.
​
The doctor will examine you or your child’s teeth to determine the best course of orthodontic treatment and will discuss financing that you can afford.