Friday, December 21, 2012

Widely Spaced Teeth: Is Invisalign an Option?

Wide spaces between your teeth can make your smile less attractive. If you are self-conscious about gaps between your teeth or the overall alignment of your smile, Invisalign can be a viable orthodontic option that will restore your appearance and self-confidence.

Choosing an Orthodontic Treatment

Choosing the right treatment is vital to the success of your orthodontic treatment. Depending upon how large the gaps are between your teeth or how severe your misalignment is, your orthodontist will recommend Invisalign or traditional braces.

Your choice of orthodontic treatment begins with a consultation. Our team will evaluate your teeth, making molds as well as digital photographs to demonstrate what your teeth look like now and what they will look like after your treatment is completed. Based on your individual goals and needs, we will recommend a treatment and explain how it will work, how long it will take, and what to expect after treatment is completed.

How Invisalign Works

Orthodontic treatment is usually associated with traditional braces, which uses metal braces and rubber bands to gradually move your teeth into proper alignment. With Invisalign, metal and bands are replaced by trays made of clear plastic.

These trays are carefully formed to move your teeth a small amount while you are wearing them. You usually wear each tray for about two weeks then switch to a new tray that is slightly different than the previous tray. The new tray moves the teeth again, until, by the time you use the last tray, your teeth are in their proper position.

During your treatment, you must be careful to follow your orthodontist’s instructions for care of your trays. You should wear them for about twenty-two hours of each day. During meals, they should be removed to keep them clean. They also should not be exposed to hot beverages to keep from warping the plastic. Foods and darkly colored drinks could discolor your trays, so you should also avoid exposure to these types of staining agents. With proper care, and by using your trays according to instructions, you’ll achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.

To find out if Invisalign is the right treatment option for you, contact Newman Orthodontics today to schedule an appointment.

Thursday, December 13, 2012



Orthodontics for Children and Adults

Advancements in the field of orthodontics include innovative orthodontic treatments that address dental anomalies effectively, with least discomfort for the patients. Utilizing these effective, comfortable treatment options children and adults can straighten their misaligned teeth, and benefit from a charming, dazzling smile as well as improved facial appearance.

Dental Anomalies that Can Be Treated with Orthodontic Procedures

Crooked teeth, protruded teeth, crossbites, openbites, overbites and underbites can be successfully corrected with orthodontic braces. With dental irregularities out of the way, children and adults can also improve their physical fitness by avoiding tooth loss, abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, gum diseases, chewing problems, digestion disorders and speech impairments.

Thorough Evaluation Necessary to Finalize the Treatment Procedure

Before prescribing orthodontic procedures, orthodontists examine the structure of the teeth, face and jaws of their patients through X-rays, photographs and bite impressions. Metal braces, ceramic braces or Invisalign braces will be recommended on the basis of this evaluation.

Traditional metal braces are usually recommended for children. These braces are strong and also cost-effective. Clear ceramic braces, known as tooth-colored braces are very smooth, translucent and are completely stain resistant.

Invisalign invisible braces are mostly favored by adults and teens. Invisalign clear plastic aligners are specially designed using advanced 3D imaging technology. The patient has to wear one set of aligners for two weeks and replace it with a fresh set, to speed up the teeth straightening.

Invisalign braces promote good oral hygiene. Patients can eat, drink, brush and floss normally. Moreover, these braces are virtually invisible, so the treatment can be completed without the knowledge of others.

An Experienced Orthodontist Is Most Important

Only an experienced orthodontist can correctly determine the braces that are most suitable for children and adults. Besides, your orthodontist should be able to educate you on the orthodontic options available, and why a particular procedure is most suitable for you. In this technology age, the doctor can even show you the after treatment images on the computer, so that you can have a clear idea of the results you can expect.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Look Good at Work with Clear Braces

Adult orthodontic patients often want to undergo treatment without looking like a teeny-bopper, especially in professional settings where they have to maintain their credibility. Having visible braces can be a drawback in the workplace, a concern that may cause some patients to avoid treatment altogether.
If you want to straighten your teeth without attracting attention to the fact that you’re doing so, consider invisible braces.
Patients who want to take advantage of invisible braces have a number of options that an orthodontist can use to treat any patient’s case and fit into any budget.
Ceramic brackets are made of translucent material, allowing them to blend in with the teeth. This is a good, affordable option for invisible braces for many patients, but these brackets do have some drawbacks. They’re slightly more fragile than conventional braces, and they can become discolored. Also, the wires that connect the brackets are still visible, although the overall effect on the smile is still much less noticeable than with traditional metal brackets.
Incognito braces are another alternative for patients who are concerned about their appearance during orthodontic treatment and not just after. With this method, the brackets and wires are placed on the back of the teeth and customized to your unique situation.
The Invisalign system is yet another option for orthodontic patients who don’t want to obscure their smiles during treatment. This approach repositions the teeth through a progressive series that apply varying forces to the teeth, just as regular braces do. But these trays are much less intrusive, and they can be removed at mealtime and for brushing and flossing.
The Invisalign system eliminates many of the concerns associated with bracket-and-wire techniques, whether they are on the front or back of the teeth. With Invisalign, patients can maintain a normal oral hygiene routine without the worry that their appliances will get in the way of brushing and flossing or trap leftover food particles close to the teeth, providing a food source for oral bacteria.
Invisalign patients also don’t face the same dietary restrictions as those with standard braces.
If you’re reluctant to pursue orthodontic treatment due to aesthetic concerns, consider one of the forms of invisible braces instead. You’ll get a beautiful smile in the long-term without having to sacrifice your appearance in the short-term.