Orthodontics

We are committed to creating beautiful, confident smiles throughout the treatment.

We provide state-of-the-art treatment, in a friendly and pleasant environment to children and adults of all ages. 

We promise to make you comfortable throughout with treatment that is both personalized and customized to address all your functional and aesthetic orthodontic needs.

Orthodontic candidate

Orthodontics is not merely for improving the aesthetics of the smile; orthodontic treatment improves bad bites (malocclusions). Malocclusions occur as a result of tooth or jaw misalignment. Malocclusions affect the way you smile, chew, clean your teeth or feel about your smile.

Why should malocclusions be treated?

According to studies by the American Association of Orthodontists, untreated malocclusions can result in a variety of problems:

• Crossbites can result in unfavorable growth and uneven tooth wear. 
• Crowded teeth are more difficult to properly brush and floss, which may contribute to tooth decay and/or gum disease. 
• Openbites can result in tongue-thrusting habits and speech impediments. 
• Protruding teeth are more susceptible to accidental chipping. 

Ultimately, orthodontics does more than make a pretty smile – it creates a healthier you.

Early treatment

When is the best time to begin orthodontics?

Though an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, there is an optimal time period to begin treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but vigilant examination can anticipate the most advantageous time to begin treatment.

What are the benefits of early orthodontic evaluation?

Early evaluation provides both timely detection of problems and greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Prudent intervention guides growth and development, preventing serious problems later. When orthodontic intervention is not necessary, an orthodontist can carefully monitor growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal.

What are the advantages of interceptive treatment?

Some of the most direct results of interceptive treatment are: 

• Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth 
• Creating facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth 
• Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth 
• Preserving space for unerupted teeth 
• Reducing the need for tooth removal 
• Reducing treatment time with braces 

Adolescent Treatment

Phase II treatment is normal orthodontic treatment which involves placing braces on the patient once the permanent teeth have erupted. The braces straighten the permanent teeth and finish correctly aligning the patient’s jaw. 

By age 12, most, if not all, permanent teeth have erupted and are in place, which is when crooked teeth, gaps and bad bites can easily be detected. These problems will hardly ever correct themselves, so this is when most parents decide to seek orthodontic treatment for their children.

For many teenagers, wearing braces is a part of life – an important part of life because a beautiful and healthy smile can boost one’s self-confidence. 

Children at this age are growing rapidly, and orthodontists can usually take advantage of these growth spurts to help shape the bite and teeth correctly. Pre-teens and teenagers have high metabolisms, which can help shorten overall treatment time and reduce the discomfort of orthodontic treatment.

Adult Treatment

Braces aren’t just for kids anymore. Tooth alignment can be changed at any age if your gums and bone structure are healthy. We offer a variety of treatments that are designed for different age groups – including adults. A new smile can begin today.

Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is equally important. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, headaches and jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.

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.

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

Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces, we are using high quality stainless steel or titanium metal braces: 

• Unique stainless steel alloy delivers maximum strength and performance
• Patented shape has contoured edges for your comfort
• Low-profile design makes brackets smaller, less visible, and more comfortable
• Precision manufacturing delivers accurate, consistent dimensions for the most efficient and effective treatment.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Ceramic braces are made of clear (tooth colored) materials offering a subtle, less noticeable appearance of the braces. We are using high quality clear braces that provides a unique surface treatment on the portion of the bracket which attaches to the tooth, and provides ultimate bonding to the tooth surface while ensuring safe removal at the end of treatment. 

With either bracket type (metal or ceramic), patients will always have their choice in colored elastic ties that are placed around each bracket and are changed at each visit.

Invisalign 

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.

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.