Author: Ask Dr. Reynolds

Accelerated orthodontic treatment is one topic I have been very interested in throughout my career. Speeding up orthodontic treatment safely and reliably is very complicated, but it is powerful to know these four accelerators.

1. It’s all about the timing.

The most common and easiest way to faster treatment is to avoid making treatment go unnecessarily slow. This sounds simple and intuitive, because it is. Selecting the proper starting time minimizes the amount of time you spend in braces and maximizes the amount of productive work the doctor can do at each adjustment visit. For example, if treatment is started before all the baby teeth have fallen out (or at another premature time), treatment will be unnecessarily delayed and unnecessary time will be spent in braces. Starting too early could unnecessarily prolong treatment and lead to months or years of extra braces, increased risk of tooth decay, and many unneeded trips to the orthodontist.

2. Move the teeth faster (with self-ligating braces).

People often ask me if there are risks with “moving the teeth too fast.” The answer, surprisingly, is no. But, there are increased risks from pushing too hard on a tooth. Orthodontists used to think that, to move the teeth faster and better, we should push harder. As it turns out, the harder you push on a tooth, the more the tooth resists movement. The increased pressure causes increased inflammation around the tooth, which can lead to lots of unwanted side effects: increased gum problems, increased risk of root shortening, increased pain associated with tooth movement, and markedly slower tooth movement.

A self-ligating brace has a small built-in door that does not apply much pressure to the wire. The wire can slide through the braces much more easily, and the entire system has exponentially less friction (increased resistance to sliding) involved.

Because of the decreased friction and force necessary to move teeth, orthodontists are now able to move teeth in a healthier and safer way that is more comfortable for the patient. In addition, the bone that houses the teeth reacts much more favorably to lighter forces, allowing faster tooth movement.

3. Use digital orthodontics.

The role computers play in orthodontics is ever increasing. Exciting new technology allows us to individually customize each brace for each person based on the sizes and shapes of his or her teeth, as well as calculate the math required to move each individual tooth ideally.

Most digital products are enhanced by the addition of digital intraoral scanners. The basic general function of scanners is to take three-dimensional pictures of your teeth and upload them to the computer. The computer can then use these images to build really cool 3-D stuff.

Technology has made those yucky, bad-tasting impressions obsolete as digital scanners take the place of dental molds. An up-to-date office should be able to offer you impressionless orthodontic treatment.

4. Alter the local physiology.

The area of orthodontics garnering a ton of current attention is physiologic orthodontic acceleration. Altering the local physiology allows faster tooth movement – like using rocket fuel in place of regular fuel in your car. Over the past few years, new products for this have emerged, and now there are several different ways to make teeth move faster. The following are some of the most popular accelerated modalities available today:

Mechanical pulsation: Mechanical pulsation works by applying a light vibrational force to your teeth and jaws that makes the cells around the teeth work at a higher rate. Mechanical pulsation devices appear to work particularly well with aligners. Another interesting side benefit of mechanical pulsation is a dramatic reduction in tooth soreness. According to current research, mechanical pulsation can speed treatment by as much as 30 percent.

Photobiomodulation: Photobiomodulation, or PBM, delivers a series of LED light pulses to the area around the gums, increasing blood flow locally. It is thought that the increased blood flow will allow teeth to move faster. Using this product is completely painless; however, it does not seem to have the advantage of decreasing tooth pain. With research available today, it appears that PBM is capable of 30 to 40 percent reduction in treatment time; however, more research is needed.

Corticotomy: Corticotomy is the process of making small, minimally invasive cuts in the bone around the teeth. They cause the bone there to think it is injured, so the body sends a series of healing cells to the area. These cells, in combination with orthodontic pressure on the teeth, create the fastest tooth-moving environment we have found in orthodontics to date.

Accelerated orthodontics is not a simple topic and this post is not meant to be a complete guide. Please ask your orthodontist about these techniques if you are interested in them.

In this day and age, consumers are provided with more choices than ever. From which travel website to use to which toothpaste is best, the options seem limitless. On the surface, this seems like a good thing, and in many ways it is, but the sheer volume of choices makes it that much harder to choose an orthodontist.

Give that, no one could blame customers for shopping around, for being diligent in researching the best choice for them and their families. In fact, it should be expected—the best practice of any consumer.

The same is true not just for consumer goods, but also expert services like orthodontics. The tricky part here is that landing on the best choice for you and your family might not be as straightforward as booking a hotel room that’s the perfect balance of quality and affordability. Put simply, most customers lack the detailed information necessary to make the right decision on specialty services like the ideal orthodontist.

 

As an orthodontist who has provided care for many years, I have identified three factors to consider before choosing the orthodontist who is right for you.

1. Make sure your provider is a specialist in orthodontics. Though they are skilled and excellent at their trade, a general (or cosmetic) dentist is similar to a family doctor who provides excellent care for your well-being and aids in disease prevention and treatment. Dentists are great for checkups, preventive care, fillings, and cosmetic procedures, but only about six percent of dentists are orthodontists.

So, what’s the difference? Orthodontists are dentists who completed dental school and then attended a two- or three-year residency focused solely on orthodontics. They are specialists who focus their practice on improving tooth alignment, correcting bite problems, managing TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues, and designing smiles by gently straightening teeth.

Orthodontists also limit their practices to orthodontics. They do not offer other dental services in their offices (such as fillings, cleanings, deep cleanings, root canals, tooth extractions, and so on). If you notice braces (also called brackets) or Invisalign are offered alongside cleanings and fillings, that doctor is not an orthodontist.

2. Make sure their office is efficient, pleasant, and trustworthy. Your orthodontist should value your time and be prompt in both welcoming you to the visit and getting you out within your scheduled time. The office itself should be run efficiently by an office manager, other office staff, and the provider(s). It is also worth considering how easy or difficult it is to get someone from their office on the phone when you call and how long it takes to hear back after leaving a message.

Here’s something you might not have considered: orthodontic treatment does not have to be a scary or unpleasant experience. In fact, it can be fun! Advances in orthodontics make transforming your smile more comfortable than ever. Look for personal touches, fun contests, and rewards programs. These are good indicators that the provider truly cares about making the patient experience special. Each visit should be something to smile about!

There are a few ways to ensure that an orthodontist is trustworthy. First, do they support the community? The office should be committed to supporting local communities in a meaningful way, set an example for giving back to the children they treat, and provide treatment for underprivileged children in the area. Investing in the community shows an extra level of care for and commitment to others. It also shows you that their motivations are well-intentioned and that they are in practice for the right reasons.

Second, are they sharing all the facts? Some offices have hidden fees that pop up during treatment. Broken braces, extra visits, treatment that extends past the estimated treatment time, canceled appointments, Invisalign refinements, retainers, and more. All of these issues can trigger hidden fees at many offices, raising the costs to much more than you bargained for. Be sure to read the fine print and don’t be fooled by low treatment fees when the actual total out-the-door cost is much higher. If the office does not openly share this information, they are not trustworthy.

3. Make sure the orthodontist has a good reputation. Do your research! Check social media sites like Google Plus and Facebook to see what others are saying about the office you’re considering.

On Yelp, make sure to look at the filtered reviews. Yelp has historically prioritized certain reviews for pay, so use caution when evaluating the validity of Yelp reviews. Facebook and Google Plus tend to be more reliable: they allow all reviews to be posted visibly, and they are not influenced by payment.

Be sure to ask your friends and neighbors what they have heard about local orthodontists. It is also a good idea to ask colleagues and the Human Resources department at work, as they may provide personal recommendations for orthodontists who are covered by your insurance plan. It is worth your while to do the research and ask the right questions.

Choosing the right office and right treatment for you or your loved ones is a difficult decision, and the ever-growing number of options does not make choosing any easier. When in doubt, get a second opinion. If you get a few opinions that are consistent, chances are that the treatment and the provider are in your best interest. If you’re looking for a more directed experience to help you make the best choice for you and your family, take my Smile Shopping quiz to narrow down what provider is right for you.

If you have been, or are preparing to go, to the orthodontist, it can be overwhelming to see and hear all of the treatment options available. Just google, “orthodontic appliances” and you will see countless metal and plastic pieces that can go in your mouth. To make your life a bit easier, here is your go-to glossary of a selection of the most common orthodontic appliances:

Upper expander: The most common facial growth issue is that the upper jaw is not wide enough. Typically, issues with upper-jaw width are treated with a rapid palatal expander, or RPE. This device works because the upper jaw is actually two halves—right and left—separated by a growth plate. The expander stretches the growth plate, which permanently widens the upper jaw, creating more room for the teeth and helping breathing-related issues that may be a factor in pediatric sleep apnea.

Lower expander: Some orthodontists recommend a lower expander to help with crowding of the lower teeth. This is effective at creating room but is a bit of a misnomer, as the lower jaw is made up of only one bone. An expander only tips teeth wider; it does not actually cause the lower jaw to grow wider. Also, lower expanders are quite a mouthful and interfere with speech and chewing. Think hockey puck. I rarely, if ever, recommend them.

Headgear: The bane of many a person born in the sixties and seventies. Headgear is an appliance designed to correct overbite (buck teeth) by pulling the upper teeth and jaw back. Even though headgear can be effective in correcting an overbite, it is rarely the right choice anymore, as developing the lower jaw is more important than restricting the growth of the upper jaw. Plus, headgear looks like an eighteenth-century torture device, and today’s teen is not likely to wear it, no matter how effective it may be. There are much better options to correct overbite today other than the traditional headgear.

Face mask: The protraction face mask is designed to do the opposite of traditionalo headgear (it is often called “reverse headgear”) and is aimed at correcting underbites by helping the upper jaw grow forward. Face masks should not be confused with regular headgear. Face-mask treatment is also very effective and can often help patients avoid future surgical procedures. The best time to use a face mask is before age ten; effectiveness of treatment falls off significantly after that because the upper jaw stops growing earlier than other parts of the face/jaws.

Functional appliance: The functional appliance is a newer appliance designed to replace traditional headgear. Its goal is to encourage growth of the lower jaw to correct overbites. Deficient lower-jaw growth is the underlying reason in almost all cases of medium or large overbite. Functional appliances come in an almost limitless number of shapes, sizes, and names.

Functional appliances are of two main types: removable and fixed. Removable appliances are removed for cleaning, eating, and the like (and are often removed when the patient doesn’t feel like wearing them). Fixed appliances are secured in the mouth and not removed until treatment ends.

Personally, I prefer the fixed variety. Removable ones automatically lower the success rate of treatment because not everyone is consistent in wearing their appliances. I like to get the best outcomes as often as possible, and I find that appliances the patient cannot remove dramatically increase the quality of the results. Plus, once patient’s get used to wearing fixed appliances, they become no big deal and patients easily continue with their normal routines without having to remember to keep up with wearing their removable appliance.

Invisalign: Invisalign is a series of clear, retainer-like trays called aligners. Aligners are typically worn one to two weeks at a time before the patient switches to a new aligner that is slightly different. After a series of these aligners, the teeth gradually become straight. Many treatments are completed in under a year, but more difficult cases can take two years or more, and that requires discipline to continue wearing the aligners. Of all the clear options to move teeth, Invisalign is the most aesthetic.

Clear braces: Clear braces are like traditional braces but–wait for it–are clear. They are virtually unnoticeable in photos. Although Invisalign is the most aesthetic option, it has its limitations, and clear braces can treat more difficult problems. Most clear braces require clear elastic bands to hold the wire and brace together, and this band can discolor from strong-colored food and drink (spaghetti, coffee, wine) and collect bacteria. Another negative about clear braces is they are prone to the same problems that conventional braces have, such as poking wires and breakage. The Damon Clear braces, are the most esthetic as they don’t require the clear bands which can discolor. They are very esthetic and are my clear brace of choice.

Lingual braces: Lingual braces go on the inside of your teeth. While lingual braces do work, they are technically challenging for even the most gifted orthodontist, so it may be difficult to find a practitioner who offers them. Lingual braces are also much more expensive than traditional braces or Invisalign. While braces on the inside of your teeth might have the advantage of great aesthetics and can be used for more difficult cases, most patients agree that the disadvantages of slurred speech and sores on the tongue far outweigh their good looks.

When it comes to your dental health, floss is arguably the most impactful thing you can use. But, flossing regularly is a common struggle for many of my patients. With so many other things going on, flossing can often fall to the bottom of the priority list.

There are many avoidable problems that can be prevented, and save time and energy in the long-run, by spending a couple minutes flossing your teeth.

Floss can go where no toothbrush has been.

Throughout the day, tiny food particles get lodged between the teeth and gum, forming plaque. This plaque will build up over time to form tartar, a thick build up that must be removed by the dentist. The key is to remove the tiny food particles and plaque on your own. Flossing plays a major role in removing this debris as some of this build-up cannot be reached by a toothbrush. If this build-up is not removed, many dental problems can occur. Tartar buildup can lead to gingivitis and gum disease. Flossing goes the extra mile by getting in the tight spaces and removing much of the food and plaque a toothbrush and mouthwash can’t moving, helping prevent gum disease, cavities and halitosis.

 

Flossing can save you money.

Health care costs are rising and insurance benefits are diminishing, so it pays to take preventative measures to reduce medical expenses. A container of floss costs around two dollars, and it is free if you visit your local dentist! Flossing regularly will maybe cost you twenty dollars, or less, a year. The costs of not flossing are much, much more. If problems described above are not prevented, the procedures to correct gum disease, cavities, tooth decay and more, are not cheap. By flossing, you can avoid the costly dental procedures that are often not covered by regular dental insurance and can add up to thousands of dollars in bills.

You could lose your teeth (if you don’t).

The bacteria-laden tartar and plaque discussed above can spread even deeper below the gum line, causing severe gum disease and gingivitis. Gingivitis, the mildest form of periodontal disease, is often reversible with diligent home care. If left unchecked, gingivitis can progress into more severe periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss. In layman’s terms, flossing can lead to eventual tooth and bone loss.

What if you are already showing signs of gingivitis or other oral diseases?

If you’re showing warning signs, please go and see your dentist. Mild gum disease may be controlled by routine professional teeth cleanings and more diligent flossing and brushing. Gingivitis and early periodontitis can be kept under control but it is better to act now!

Flossing only takes a few minutes every day and adds little to the cost of toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash. Flossing is a small, simple step that can have huge implications for your mouth, teeth, gums and wallet.

Like our pediatrician, many of us are quite particular about our family dentist. We come to trust them with our family’s oral health and get comfortable with their treatment, practices, and advice. But have you considered an Orthodontic Specialist?

While the family dentist is an integral part of the dental system, the reality is that general dentistry doesn’t cover many procedures we’ll encounter. There inevitably comes a time when a decision must be made about the next steps for certain treatments. I’ll relate a story that will help you understand what I mean:

A colleague of mine wanted to take her practice to the next level, and to do it she wanted to generate some marketing collateral to be used in advertisements, on her website, on social media, perhaps even on TV.

She began pricing production companies because she knew she wanted at least one video to promote her practice. She wasn’t sure what to expect from the quotes, but those she was getting were higher than she had in mind. Mulling over the situation, she remembered a photographer she’d worked with to help produce some of her printed promotional materials and gave him a call.

They chatted about the possibility of him helping her produce the videos. Photography was his specialty and my colleague was very happy with the work he’d done for her in the past. Since they last worked together he had taken a few online classes on video editing and felt that his photography instincts would translate seamlessly enough to filming, at least something as simple as a short promo. He didn’t own the necessary equipment, but had friends who would let him rent it at a fair price, and in turn he was able to give my colleague a fair price as well, much less expensive than the professional production companies she’d negotiated with.

It seemed like the shoot went smoothly enough and my colleague was feeling optimistic. Then she received the finished product. It was a perfectly usable video, but she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of video she would have received if she went with the production company. Ultimately, my colleague underestimated the difference a professional production company could make. She was an uninformed consumer and assumed the difference between a photographer and videographer was fungible.

I don’t mean to imply that you need to seek out the most expensive orthodontic provider, or that all family dentists who offer orthodontic work are unqualified. My goal is to help you become informed about what services should fall under the purview of your family dentist, and why a specialist might be the better choice for your needs.

You can’t be too attached. I completely understand the tendency to want to continue working with your family dentist. That comfort level is likely unmatched, regardless of what orthodontist you work with, but you can’t always make that your top priority. Some procedures you need will require the help of a specialist and a family dentist you trust should make that recommendation. They shouldn’t be expected to handle complicated orthodontic work. Many family dentists have close working relationships with orthodontic specialists, and will refer you to their services. Their advocacy should serve as a trusted starting point for the next steps.

You need to know what falls under areas of expertise. Much like your pediatrician, your family dentist’s primary responsibility is the ongoing evaluation of your overall dental care and diagnosing conditions for which seeking the opinion of a specialist is appropriate. All of the family dentists I know are outstanding stewards of their patients’ dental health, and are exceptional at what they do. Diagnostics and overall care is their specialty. Corrective orthodontic procedures aren’t, nor should that be your expectation. Orthodontic work is covered very generally in dental school, but unless your family dentist has received significant specialty training, the two of you should work together to find an orthodontic professional that can best meet the specific needs of you and your family.

Ask the right questions about their training. It’s not uncommon for well-meaning family dentists to add orthodontic work to their list of services in the hope of boosting the bottom line. For the most part, this isn’t a hustle. Many dentists are capable of some simple orthodontic procedures, and if yours is a doctor you trust, it’s worth exploring their service as an option if the procedure isn’t too extensive. However, as a consumer, don’t be afraid to ask them what experience they have with orthodontics. While this still represents a very small number of the profession, I’m noticing a worrisome trend of weekend courses in orthodontics being presented as qualification to perform complex procedures. That being the case, it’s always worth asking about what training your dentist has received. The genuine and forthright professionals whom I have worked with would have no problem being honest about their capabilities and helping you find a specialist.

It’s important to recognize and accept when it’s time to consult with your family dentist about the help of a specialist. Many procedures will demand it. In the meantime, take my quiz to find out what kind of orthodontic provider is best for you and your family: Smile Shopping: Finding the Right Orthodontic Provider for Your Family.

Decoding your bite. It’s an odd sounding, but apt exercise in understanding the precision of our teeth. Our teeth fit together like lines of code or details in a story.

If you’re writing code and a symbol is misplaced, that command isn’t going to perform as expected, and will likely have cascading negative effects throughout the program. Think about when you’re reading a story or watching a movie. Something about the character’s motivation doesn’t align or there’s a continuity error within the plot.

Those minor inconsistencies break the suspension of disbelief and gnaw at you for the rest of the movie or story. The experience is ruined. The same is true for minor issues with our bites.

The way our teeth fit together is very complicated. If you’ve ever had a new filling or a crown off by just a bit, you know that having your bite off by fractions of millimeters can be a big pain—literally.

I use the word “decode” because we don’t readily attribute many of the manifest symptoms of a “bad bite” to our bites being off.

If you’re experiencing the five following issues, know that it’s likely a problem with your bite.

Tooth pain. Usually a result of trauma or imperfect dental work, a tooth that is even slightly misaligned can cause severe pain. Improperly adjusted dental work can irritate the nerve. Tooth pain of this kind is common and treatable, and sometimes even intentional. If you’re receiving orthodontic treatment, your tooth might necessarily be misplaced on its way to the proper position. If you’re noticing this kind of pain, it might be wise to seek an opinion from your dental professional to avoid long-term issues.

Jaw joint (TMJ) pain. The temporal bone and the mandible join together to form the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). For the most part, minor soreness, popping or crackling of this joint is normal and nothing to be alarmed about. However, if you’re having a hard time opening your jaw, can’t open it at all, or have pain during jaw movement, it might mean you need to be evaluated for TMJ problems and correct your bite to alleviate the stress on your TMJ.

Headaches. Headaches are mysterious symptoms, but a common cause of unexplainable headaches—even migraines—is muscle pain associated with bite issues. If you’ve tried everything else and have been unable to relieve the pain, seek the consult of an orthodontist. The anatomy and function of the muscles in the head and neck is complex, and orthodontists are exquisitely trained in this area. That combined with their understanding of the intricacies of the bite can help you determine if your headaches are related to a bite problem.

Tooth wear. If your teeth aren’t fitting together properly, they can grind like mismatched gears. Over time, that grinding can wear down the enamel—the hard, outer casing of the tooth—and expose the softer dentin underneath, which is more sensitive and more prone to severe discoloration. If you’ve noticed tooth wear of this kind, it’s probable that you have an issue with your bite. It’s best to take preventative measures immediately. If tooth wear is allowed to persist for too long, simple procedures like fillings and crowns may not be enough, and orthodontic work might also be needed.

Gum wear. Typically, gum wear is a package deal with tooth wear. Notching of the teeth near the gumline (called abfraction), and wearing away of the gum tissue (called gingival recession) are common among people whose bite is off. These conditions can be extremely painful and expensive to correct. The earlier you can identify symptoms like gum wear, the earlier you can take preventative action and correct your bite before even more costly and painful procedures are needed.

So much of getting the treatment needed and knowing when you need to see a professional depends on how comfortable you are with your orthodontic provider. If you have a good relationship with your provider and trust them to care for you and your family, you shouldn’t hesitate to call for advice or consultation. Do you know if your orthodontic provider is right for your family? Take my quiz to find out: Smile Shopping: Finding the Right Orthodontic Provider for Your Family.

Whenever you eat sugary (highly acidic) foods like candy, baked goods, fruit juices, and soda, it leaves plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque turns into acid that will attack your tooth enamel, eventually breaking down and creating a little hole is your tooth, a cavity.

This Halloween, schools, offices, parties, and neighbors will offer tons of delicious, sweet treats that can wreak havoc on your oral health. To avoid cavities and keep your teeth in the best shape, you don’t have to hide at home and avoid the social gatherings.

Here are my top tips for avoiding cavities this Halloween:

1. Just say no. Before you go to that party, eat a big, healthy meal. Then, brush your teeth, floss, and use mouth wash. Doing this will make it easier to say no to sweets – you’re too full and your mouth feels fresh!

Another option is to bring your own “treats” along. Make a bag of apple slices, berries, or veggies, and snack on them. Trust me, you likely will not be the only one choosing not to eat something sweet.

2. Give your teeth some extra love. It’s best to avoid sugary foods when it comes to your dental health. If, however, you sneak in some sweets, you may want to brush more than you think you should. Added sugar, when it sits on your teeth, turns acidic and can wear down tooth enamel, eventually causing cavities and other problems.

3. Don’t substitute “no sugar added” treats for sugary ones.

Sugar-free diet soft drinks and candies that don’t contain any natural sweetener aren’t necessarily any better for your teeth. While sugar substitutes generally lessen the risk of cavities, sugar-free products still have high levels of acids. These are still potentially damaging to teeth as they strip away layers of tooth enamel. And, citric acid and other acidic food flavorings like  lemon, orange, and other fruit-flavoured sweets, are particularly harmful.

4. Don’t eat candy alone. If you cannot resist that Snickers bar or Reese’s pieces, the best thing to do is eat candy with other foods. If you can, eat your Halloween candy and desserts with meals or shortly after mealtime. During meals, saliva production is increased and it will help cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth, as well as help rinse away food particles.

5. Eat the sweets now and don’t save them for later! This may sound counterintuitive to normal health tips, but go ahead and eat the Halloween candy and desserts now instead of spreading them out across the next couple of weeks (or months).  By continually snacking on those super sugary treats, our teeth will be constantly exposed to these cavity causing acids. Have at the candy rather than saving up and gorging on all the leftovers.

Congratulations, you’ve decided to invest in orthodontic treatment! But, before you begin treatment, it’s important to make sure the right person is straightening you or your loved one’s teeth.

There are many providers of orthodontic treatment, but the right providers make up a small percentage.  Many are confused about the type of professionals out there, and who to choose.

The big question is, “Who is the best provider for my orthodontic treatment?” Use these five tips to make sure the right person is straightening your teeth.

1. The treatment is done in-person, not via mail-order.

A new trend in health care are mail-order orthodontics. These companies are run by businesspeople, not doctors, and treatment is not supervised by a professional. As convenient as mail-order or DIY services sound, moving teeth is a complicated process that requires a trained professional. It’s so important for orthodontic treatment to be supervised as dental appliances can get damaged, teeth don’t always move as planned, and correction involves much more than making teeth look straight.

2. The provider attended a full-time, accredited residency.

The ideal doctor will have completed a full-time, accredited residency. Weekend courses are not sufficient training. A truly qualified provider has consistently and continually pursued education and training over the course of years. Specialized treatment after dental school is necessary to provide the highest possible level orthodontic care. Whether a dentist or orthodontist, it is important they attended a full-time residency.

3. If the provider is a dentist, ask some questions to gauge their expertise.

A family, general, cosmetic, or primary-care dentist has completed dental school but has not completed an orthodontic residency. These dentists are responsible for ongoing evaluation of your overall dental care, diagnosing and treating many dental health conditions, and diagnosing conditions for specialists to evaluate and treat.

4. Check their credentials and experience.
It takes years of training to be able to treat orthodontic cases well. It’s important to find a provider who consistently and continually—over the course of years—pursues education and training. During your visit, ask to look at before-and-after photos. Most doctors who have treated many cases will keep books of before-and-after photos and can show you photos of cases like yours. The goal is to determine the training level of your future orthodontic provider.

5. Ask more about their treatment plan.
In addition to straightening crooked teeth, the treatment plan should be focused on correcting your bite. Many patients, and unfortunately many dental providers, do not have a concept of how important the bite is to overall dental health. If you have crooked teeth, you likely also have a bite problem, and you will benefit greatly from having any bite problems corrected. A bite that doesn’t fit well together can result in long-term consequences like tooth pain, TMJ, muscular pain, tooth wear, and gum wear.

Do your research when it comes to orthodontic treatment! Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions and get a second opinion.

Many more adults are now seeking orthodontic treatment as we keep our teeth longer and want to create smiles we’ve always dreamed of. The question that comes up often is, “Do I have to be a ‘metal mouth’?” The answer is no—there are several cosmetic, or clear, options towards a better smile without traditional braces.

1. Invisalign. Invisalign has become a household name for good reason. Of all the clear options to move teeth, Invisalign is the most aesthetic.

Invisalign is a series of clear, retainer-like trays called aligners. Aligners can be removed for eating and cleaning teeth. They are typically worn one to two weeks at a time before the patient switches to a new aligner that is slightly different. After a series of these aligners, the teeth gradually become straight. Many treatments are completed in under a year, but more difficult cases can take two years or more.

Invisalign can be done by any licensed dentist or orthodontist. The great advantage of having Invisalign treatment performed by an orthodontist rather than a family dentist is that orthodontists can combine treatment methods with the aligners in tricky cases and get some really great results.

2. Clear braces. Although Invisalign is the most aesthetic option, it has its limitations. On a scale of one to ten, Invisalign tops out with cases that are a five or six in difficulty, even under the care of the most skilled orthodontist. In more challenging cases, the best option may be clear braces. There are many types of these and are virtually unnoticeable in photos.

3. Lingual braces. Lingual braces go on the inside of your teeth. They do work; however, they are technically challenging for even the most gifted orthodontist, so it may be difficult to find a practitioner who offers them.

While braces on the inside of your teeth might have the advantage of great aesthetics, most patients agree that the disadvantages of slurred speech and sores on the tongue far outweigh their good looks.

4. Instant orthodontics. Instant orthodontics has been popularized by reality makeover shows. Ironically, instant orthodontics is not really orthodontics at all. Instead, it is a restorative dental procedure involving a combination of porcelain crowns, root canals, and tooth extraction. Teeth are ground down and replaced by porcelain caps or porcelain bridges to give the teeth a straight appearance.

This method can quickly (within weeks) restore worn, broken, or discolored teeth but is typically the most expensive option and may require several replacements in a lifetime.

5. Accelerated orthodontics. By combining state-of-the-art advancements in orthodontic technology with advanced bone modulation, we can now complete almost all treatment safely and effectively in under a year, and many in just four to six months. Plus, you can use clear braces with these techniques. For more information on accelerated orthodontics, visit www.Brasik.com.

Orthodontic treatment without braces? Yes, please! Contemporary orthodontic treatment offers more options than ever before for those looking to avoid metal braces. Find the right provider and they will create a customized plan that fits exactly what you need.