When a significant orthodontic problem is detected between the ages of 7 and 10 years old, an early interceptive treatment (also known as Phase 1) is recommended. This is a limited treatment because there are still primary (baby) teeth present. It often includes a palatal expander and top front braces. The treatment length is typically 9-12 months. The goal of Phase 1 treatment is to correct the orthodontic problem when timing with growth is ideal. Phase 1 sets up the jaws and teeth for success. This allows for a simplified and efficient Phase 2 (comprehensive) orthodontic treatment that results in a more ideal and stable outcome.

Clear aligners straighten your teeth without wires and brackets. The system uses a series of clear, customized, removable appliances. It’s virtually undetectable, hardly anyone will know that you’re aligning your teeth.

Clear aligner systems utilize advanced 3D computer graphics technology to plan your individual treatment in incremental steps to deliver the teeth to their final positions. 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 for a complementary exam to determine if clear aligner treatment is right for you. Our team of doctors and staff will explain your particular case as well as your options. Depending on your case, aligners are worn for one to two weeks and only taken out to eat, drink, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually until the ideal result is attained. You will be amazed how quickly you will begin to notice the transformation.

To ensure the best possible results, only an orthodontist can determine if clear aligner treatment is an effective option for you. To see if clear aligners can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, please contact our staff to schedule your first appointment.

If a permanent tooth has not grown into the mouth normally it may be impacted. When a tooth is diagnosed as impacted, it means the tooth is trapped within the surrounding bone. Often, impacted teeth can be successfully brought into the dental arch and aligned. Our orthodontists accomplish this by first preparing the dental arch with braces. A referral is then made to an oral surgeon or periodontist to surgically uncover the impacted tooth and place an attachment on it. This attachment allows the orthodontist to then gradually guide the tooth into position using the braces and wires as an anchor.

Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment is best started when the majority of permanent teeth have erupted. This is usually around the ages of 10-13 years. This treatment includes braces on all the teeth, and can take anywhere from 18-30 months, depending on the complexity of the case. Every treatment is custom tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Orthodontists can correct the alignment of teeth and, when timed appropriately, can encourage favorable growth of the jaws to create an ideal finish. However, there are some skeletal jaw disharmonies that are too severe to be corrected with orthodontics alone. In these situations our orthodontists closely collaborate with oral surgeons to achieve the best possible outcome. Surgical orthodontics begins with braces for about 9-18 months to prepare the teeth for surgery. Then, with the braces still on, an oral surgeon positions the jaws to create an ideal relationship. After the orthognathic surgery is complete, the orthodontists continue the braces treatment for several more months to perfect the details.

Impressionless
Remember those goopy dental impressions? The type that has runny material in a tray that then is inserted in your mouth and needs to sit in there for a few minutes before it hardens? Well, needless to say, most people do not enjoy having dental impressions made! Luckily our office is now impressionless! This means that instead of impressions, our office uses a digital scanner. The scanner is a wand that hoovers over the teeth to create a 3D digital replica of the mouth. This technology has replaced impressions and is comfortable and accurate while also being a more pleasant and clean experience.

3D Printing Lab
We are very excited to present our state of the art, in-house 3D printing lab! This lab uses the latest technology in dentistry. We are now able to send our digital scans securely through the cloud to our 3D printer. The LuxCreo printing system can then take the 3D scan, design and directly print clear retainers, clear aligners, nightguards and sports guards.