About Orthodontics
For most people, achieving a healthy, beautiful smile is the reason for going forward with orthodontic treatment. If you are self-conscious about your smile, correcting your concerns will significantly improve the way you look and feel. When orthodontic treatment is complete, you will have a new smile and the confidence to show it off!
There are an EXTENSIVE array of orthodontic appliances on the market. They can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. They can be removable or temporarily bonded to the the teeth.
Braces consist of bonded brackets (to each individual tooth) and wires that go through each bracket. Initial archwires are small and flexible, delivering constant, gentle forces in a carefully controlled direction. New technological advances have given rise to appliances that are less bulky, more aesthetic, and less painful. Today, any age is a great age to wear braces!
Treatment time can vary depending upon the method of treatment. There are many factors such as age, case difficulty, and patient compliance that can affect the time estimation of treatment. The biggest factor in a successful treatment is YOU!! The more involved and diligent you are in following Dr. Sandifer’s instructions, the more efficient your treatment will be. Check this out if you’re a new patient.
Traditional metal braces are the most common type of orthodontic treatment. These consist of brackets individually bonded to the teeth. A metal wire is then placed to align the teeth. There are options to add color rubber bands as needed during treatment.
Ceramic Appliances
Ceramic brackets are made of translucent (clear) material. They are most popular with teens and adults due to their cosmetic appeal. The clear braces do require more attention to oral care as they are more brittle than the metal braces.
Clear Aligners
Clear overlay templates, called aligners, are generated by computer simulation to gradually move the teeth. This treatment option is available to teens and adults with certain orthodontic problems.
Though an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, there is an optimal time period to begin treatment. Beginning treatment at this time ensures the greatest result and the least amount of time and expense. 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.
Why is age 7 considered the optimal time for screening?
By the age of 7, the first adult molars erupt, establishing the back bite. During this time, an orthodontist can evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships. For example, the presence of erupting incisors can indicate possible overbite, open bite, crowding or gummy smiles. Timely screening increases the chances for an incredible smile.
What is the advantage of two-phase orthodontic treatment?
The purpose of two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, and aesthetic result that will remain stable throughout your life. Putting off treatment can result in a need for more invasive treatment later in life that may not completely fix your smile. Early treatment is most effective for achieving lasting results.
The goal of early, or Phase 1, treatment is to help the jaw develop in a way that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and improve the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. An upper jaw that is growing too much or is too narrow can be recognized at an early age. If children over the age of six are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are candidates for early orthodontic treatment. Also, if children around the age of eight have crowded front teeth, early treatment can prevent the need to extract permanent teeth later.
Planning now can save your smile later. Children benefit tremendously from early phase treatment. Receiving early treatment may prevent the removal of permanent teeth later in life, or the need for surgical procedures to realign the jaws. Orthodontic records will be necessary to determine the type of appliances to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits.
It is not too late! There are many different presentations of ill-fitting bites and Dr. Sandifer uses a variable assortment of treatment options to assess a myriad of problems. She offers clear braces, metal braces, and Invisalign Teen clear aligners. She can discuss different options to see what is the best fit for each family whether it be a removable option such as Invisalign or a fixed option such as braces. Call to schedule your consult today!
We offer a wide selection of treatment options to meet the individual needs and desires of each of our adult patients. Whether you choose traditional metal braces, clear braces, or clear aligners (Invisalign), we are confident we can help you achieve and maintain a beautiful and healthy result! Do not ever feel it is too late to enhance your smile! Call to schedule your consultation today!
Using the latest in digital imaging technology, we will demonstrate the overall functional and aesthetic benefits of orthognathic surgery. Computerized treatment planning minimizes treatment times, recovery periods, and the overall efficacy of your surgery. State-of-the-art materials such as titanium plates and miniature screws provide stability, strength, and predictability to your treatment. These advances in technology, procedures, and equipment reduce post-surgical recovery time, thus allowing patients to return to their normal routines soon after the surgery.
Orthognathic surgery may be unnecessary if orthodontic treatment can correct the problem. With the latest advances in orthodontics, this is sometimes the case. We will determine if orthognathic surgery is the correct treatment option for you.
Self-ligating braces — A world without elastic ties!
Self-ligating braces use a specialized clip in place of elastics to help the archwire guide teeth into place. These clips help reduce the amount of pressure being placed on the tooth and require fewer adjustments because there are no elastics to replace.
The Damon System facilitates healthy tooth movement with complete control. By combining passive self-ligation and high-tech archwires, we can minimize discomfort and create beautiful smiles that last a lifetime!
Braces are the beginning, but the system makes the smile!
The Damon System is not just about revolutionary braces and wires; it’s a whole new way of treating patients.
Clearly Different
The Invisalign System combines advanced 3D computer graphics technology with the science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth 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. Each aligner is changed weekely 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!
To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, contact us to make an appointment.
Need to schedule an appointment?
