Types of Treatment

Early & Adult Treatment

Types of Braces

Invisalign

Early & Adult Treatment

Early Treatment

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The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends seeing an orthodontist by the age of 7 to see if your child can benefit from treatment. This is an ideal age for consultation as the first permanent molars have typically come in by this time, and crossbites, crowding, and other common problems can be evaluated and addressed before they worsen.

Early treatment can sometimes radically simplify (and in some cases do away with altogether) later treatment. It gives an orthodontist the ability to monitor the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. It allows the doctor to regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, to gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for extractions, and reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth.

While we do like to see kids for their initial consultation by age 7, please keep in mind that we typically do not start treatment at this age. This appointment is simply for us to evaluate your child’s future needs, as well as to start to establish a bond with your child. If no immediate treatment is needed, we will place your child on a recall program in which we will see them back once a year to continue evaluating growth.

Adult Treatment

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With the growing popularity of treatment options like Invisalign and Damon clear braces we are treating more adult patients than ever before. We expect this trend to continue as more and more adults come to realize the benefits of orthodontic treatment. No one is ever too old for orthodontics, and we can deliver a beautiful smile in an efficient, comfortable, and discreet way.

Good news! The new techniques and appliances we use greatly reduce discomfort levels, decrease the frequency of visits, shorten treatment time and may allow you to choose from several options. Your options may include metal braces, translucent braces or transparent aligners that can be worn at night to improve mild cases of misaligned teeth.

During the initial examination, we will be able to determine the best possible treatment for your individual needs. During this initial examination, we can outline the treatment plan, time of treatment expected and the approximate cost.A large percentage of our patients are adults, and they agree that it’s never too late to improve their greatest asset – their smile.

Types of Braces

Metal braces are the most common type. They are made of high-grade stainless steel. Today’s metal braces are smaller, more comfortable and more attractive.

Ceramic braces are made of translucent (clear) material. They are most popular with adult patients, due to their cosmetic appeal. The only drawbacks to ceramic brackets are that they are more fragile, and the elastic ties can discolor between orthodontic visits.

Pitts21 Pitts21 is an advanced orthodontic system designed to make the treatment process more efficient and comfortable. This approach focuses on helping teeth move into place with greater precision, while maintaining a natural, esthetic appearance throughout treatment. Many patients appreciate the streamlined design and the potential for shorter treatment times compared to traditional braces.

Self Litigated Braces are created with a movable components that are installed to contain the wire. The wires can be made with stainless steel, nickle-titanium allow, and beta-titanium allow.

Invisalign is a series of clear overlay templates—called aligners—that have been generated by computer simulation to gradually move the teeth. This system is available to adult patients with certain orthodontic bite problems. Ask us if you are a candidate for the Invisalign system.

Invisalign

Invisalign First Traditional metal braces, especially those with self-ligating brackets, can sometimes affect a child’s confidence and require extra diligence in daily care. Many kids may not be ready for the added responsibility that comes with wires, adjustments, and the challenge of keeping everything clean.

Invisalign First uses a series of clear, removable aligners designed specifically for children. These aligners gently guide teeth into place over time while staying nearly invisible, so your child’s smile improves without a dramatic change in how they look. Because the aligners can be taken out, brushing and flossing stay simple—no brackets or wires to work around. They can also be removed for meals, allowing kids to enjoy their favorite foods without the restrictions that come with braces.

Invisalign Teen Invisalign Teen gives teenagers a flexible, discreet way to straighten their smile without the look or hassle of metal braces. The clear aligners are designed to fit busy lifestyles—they can be removed for sports, music, eating, and brushing, while still delivering effective orthodontic results. Plus, built-in wear indicators help track progress, giving parents and teens confidence that treatment is staying on track.

Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.

Clearly Different

invisalign la cresenta The Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by your orthodontist. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan. Your first step is to visit our office to determine if Invisalign is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners — as few as 12 or as many as 48. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually — week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you’ll be smiling like you never have before!

If you want to learn more about Invisalign and how it works, please visit the Invisalign Homepage.

To ensure the best possible results, only an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Invisalign is not intended for children and is not appropriate for every adult. Only an orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, contact us to make an appointment.

iTero

itero la cresenta Our practice now offers the iTero Impressionless Scanner in our office. The innovative iTero Impressionless Scanner is an advanced technology used to take oral impressions for braces, Invisalign®, appliances and retainers. Impressionless scanning uses confocal imaging to digitally capture the shape of teeth and gums, providing a multitude of views without the use of traditional impressions.

Traditional impression techniques require a patient to be uncomfortably seated while having a messy substance held in their mouth. However, with the iTero Impressionless Scanner, it takes 1/3 the time to take an impression and we get a much more detailed result.

iTero Impressionless Scanners have several benefits over traditional impressions. First, a patient’s movement does not distort the scan and eliminates the invasiveness and discomfort caused by impressions. Second, the real-time digital display of scans allows for immediate adjustment, assuring accurate scans the first time. Finally, the image quality of impressionless scans is superior to conventional impressions.