Types of Braces
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.
Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces are made from the same materials as traditional braces. However, self-ligating braces do not require the use of elastics, meaning fewer appointments and less friction being placed on the tooth. Self-ligating braces come with traditional metal, ceramic, or clear brackets. They are the same size as metal braces, but use a specialized clip in place of elastics to help the archwire guide teeth into place. The clip helps reduce the amount of pressure being placed on the tooth, and requires fewer adjustments because there are no elastics to replace.
Clear (Ceramic) Braces
Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable acrylic trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are hidden behind the teeth and are therefore “invisible” when you smile. Lingual braces are 100% customized to match the shape of your teeth; the metal appliances are created uniquely for you. Lingual braces are a very reasonable option for athletes, models, actors/actresses, musicians who play wind instruments, and adult professionals.
GLO® Teeth Whitening
Boost your self-confidence and empower your smile with GLO whitening!
GLO teeth whitening can give you the whitest, brightest smile with flexible options to whiten in our dental office or the comfort of your own home. The best part about GLO? In clinical studies, none of the patients who used the GLO Science whitening system experienced painful “zingers” commonly associated with other professional teeth whitening procedures.
In-Office Whitening
- Fast appointments using patented GLO technology with the most dramatic results and little to no sensitivity.
- In-office treatments are fast and don’t use impressions or messy trays. In about a half an hour, your teeth can be up to five times whiter!
Take-Home Whitening
- You can use professional GLO technology in the comfort of your own home, or for ongoing maintenance of your white smile after in-office whitening. Simply charge your GLO device, attach the mouthpiece, apply the whitening gel, and you’re good to GLO! At-home whitening with GLO takes just eight minutes!
On-the-Go Whitening
- Brush on our safe whitening agent anytime, anywhere for the newest and easiest way to whiten on the go. Forget about strips, trays, and sensitivity!
What makes GLO so special?
“GLO”: Guided Light Optic Technology
GLO’s patented mouthpiece combines LED light and heat resistors in a closed device. With each application, the mouthpiece warms up to the optimal temperature to accelerate and activate the whitening gel for quicker, more efficient results. You get optimal whitening results without the sensitivity!
G-Vial Whitening Gel Delivery System
The patented GLO Whitening G-Vial has a unique brush tip that allows for a precise application that targets only the teeth. The uniquely formulated gel stays on the teeth and does not transfer onto the soft tissue and gums, which are often more sensitive than teeth.
Invisalign® Treatment
There’s never been a better time to straighten your teeth with the most advanced clear aligner in the world. Our office is proud to be a certified provider of Invisalign clear aligners, which give you a clear, convenient, and comfortable option to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.
Why Invisalign treatment?
- Faster treatment: With weekly aligner changes, you’re on your way to the smile you want even faster. Depending on your response to treatment, particularly in mature adults, we may consider longer periods between aligner changes.
- Proven results: SmartTrack® material and SmartForce® features are clinically proven to improve control of tooth movement with Invisalign clear aligners.
- Better fit: Aligners made from SmartTrack material are comfortable, fit well, and are easy to put on and take off.
- Effective: Invisalign clear aligners can treat a wide range of teeth-straightening conditions, including crossbites, crowding, open bites, gapped teeth, overbites, and underbites.
- Virtually invisible: Most people won’t even know you’re going through treatment, because Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible!
- Comfortable: Invisalign clear aligner trays are not only smooth and comfortable to wear, but they’re also removable. That means you can continue doing all the things you normally would, from brushing and flossing to eating whatever you like.
- Convenient: Invisalign treatment is ideal for your busy schedule, since you only need to visit our office every six weeks.
The Invisalign Treatment Process
Your First Consultation
At your initial consultation, we will discuss your orthodontic needs and evaluate whether Invisalign treatment is right for you.
Your Custom Treatment Plan
We will use a scanner such as the iTero® digital scanning system to create fast, precise 3D digital images of your teeth. Then we will map out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth and how long your treatment will be. You’ll even get to see how your teeth will move and preview your new smile.
Your Invisalign Clear Aligners
Your custom-made aligners will be made of Invisalign’s proprietary SmartTrack® material. They’re virtually invisible, so most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them during your teeth straightening.
Wear your Invisalign clear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day for the best results, and take them out only to eat, brush, and floss.
Your Progress
As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth will gently and gradually shift into place. We may recommend that you begin wearing a new set of aligners every week and schedule checkups every six weeks or so.
Taking Care of Your New Smile
When your treatment is complete, ask us about a Vivera® retainer. Vivera retainers are custom-made using the same state-of-the-art technology as Invisalign clear aligners.
To learn more about the Invisalign system and all your orthodontic treatment options, please feel free to schedule an appointment at our office. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve a smile that’s made to move!
Invisalign and the Invisalign logo, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc., and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Invisalign® Treatment for Teens
No two teen cases are the same, which is why Align Technology is constantly advancing its Invisalign digital treatment solutions. This allows our office to deliver a unique, customized teeth-straightening solution that’s more precise and keeps your teen moving forward.
With the Invisalign system’s proprietary innovations, such as SmartTrack® material, your teen’s smile can transform up to 50% faster.* And as your teen becomes the person you’ve always seen, he or she will continue to enjoy the things that make your teen unique.
The Treatment
Your teen’s smile journey begins with a scan or impressions. We will work closely with Invisalign treatment specialists to develop a complete digital treatment plan to plot your teen’s best smile with care from start to finish.
The Aligners
Your teen will receive Invisalign clear aligners created with the Invisalign system’s proprietary SmartTrack material. Throughout treatment, you can monitor your son’s or daughter’s compliance through an indicator on the aligner. Your teen will wear the aligners for 22 hours per day, but can easily remove them so there are fewer interruptions to his or her lifestyle.
The Transformation
As your teen progresses through treatment, his or her smile and life will transform through a series of small, expertly designed shifts. And with the Invisalign Teen Guarantee, you have the option to switch to wires and brackets if your teen decides against Invisalign treatment within the first six months.
They keep moving. Make sure their smile keeps up.
Invisalign treatment gives both you and your teen a better teeth-straightening experience when compared to traditional braces.
- Corrects both simple and complex teeth-straightening cases
- Covered by orthodontic insurance
- Proprietary innovations provide up to 50% shorter treatment times*
- No pain from rubbing brackets or broken wires and fewer unexpected orthodontist visits
- Continue to enjoy all of the foods and activities they love
- Removable trays for easy brushing and flossing
- Two times more likely to have a boost in self-esteem**
* With weekly aligner changes, compared with two-week aligner wear
** The Invisalign Teen Confidence Survey was conducted in 2014 and polled 3,577 U.S. teenagers ages 13–17 and 2,118 U.S. mothers of teens ages 13–17; plus an oversample of 101 mothers of teens ages 13–17 who wear or have worn Invisalign clear aligners. The survey was conducted by Kelton, a leading global consumer insights and research firm.
Invisalign and the Invisalign logo, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc., and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.
iTero® Digital Impression System
Conventional vs Digital Impressions
No more goop, gagging, or discomfort. Using an iTero scanner, your orthodontist can take a highly accurate digital impression of your teeth and jaw. The new technology completely eliminates the tray and putty impressions, where the experience is comparable to stuffing a big wad of gum in your mouth. The old technique is incredibly unpleasant and frequently results in taking multiple rounds of impressions that can be rejected, broken, or misplaced. The iTero scanner ensures a more accurate impression from the start, resulting in improved treatment and a more comfortable patient experience. Digital impressions also give you the ability to see your teeth instantly in 3D, improving communication during the consultation and treatment process.
How Does it Work?
The iTero scanner digitally captures the structure of the teeth and gums using the latest optical technology. The scanner is a compact, hand-held wand. Once your orthodontist begins the scanning process, it can be stopped and started as many times as necessary.
Your mouth is scanned with a radiation-free laser, and in as little as two to three minutes, the laser renders a digitally perfect, 3D impression of your teeth and soft tissue structures. Through digital software, you'll then be able to follow the progress of the scans, including a 3D model of your teeth on our computer screen. The iTero scanner can be used for any orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign®.
Carriere® Motion 3D Appliances
The Carriere® Motion 3D™ Appliances are used to correct either an overbite or an underbite. Traditional treatment for this type of occlusion can include headgear, surgery, and extractions, all of which are eliminated by the non-invasive, sleek, and aesthetic Motion 3D Appliances.
Which Motion Appliance is Right for You?
Regardless of your occlusion, the Motion 3D Appliance creates an aligned bite before your braces are even put on. By doing this, your orthodontist can shorten your treatment time for the most efficient experience possible.
The Motion 3D Class II Appliance is designed to help the lower jaw move forward to correct an overbite.
The Motion 3D Class III Appliance helps the lower jaw move backward to correct an underbite.
Benefits of Motion 3D
- Fast: Correcting bite problems at the beginning of orthodontic treatment can shorten overall treatment time by up to four months!
- Gentle: The low force, low profile design of the Motion 3D Appliance eliminates poking of the lips and cheeks.
- Aesthetic: Unlike bulky headgear, the Motion 3D Appliance is discreetly hidden inside your mouth.
- Personalized: Make your treatment unique by selecting the Motion 3D Appliance in one of your favorite colors: blue, green, purple, silver, gold, multicolor, and even clear!
For the best results…
- Replace your rubber bands every four hours, or at the interval recommended by your orthodontist.
- Only remove your rubber bands to eat and brush.
- Avoid eating sticky or hard foods, as they may dislodge your appliance.
- Maintain your scheduled appointments to allow your orthodontist to monitor your treatment and adjust it to achieve your best smile results.
Carriere Motion Appliance for Class II Correction
Carriere® Motion™ Appliance for Class III Correction
Forsus™
Efficient, Reliable Class II Correction
The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device promotes growth in adolescents, helping to eliminate excessive overbites, improve the fit of teeth, and possibly prevent the need for jaw surgery.
Simple
Your Forsus appliance is installed in one appointment and doesn't require any additional lab work, so you won't have to wait to begin your treatment. There are no daily adjustments to make because the appliance provides a continuous, light force to move your jaw and teeth into their correct positions.
Comfortable
The Forsus appliance has a low profile and does not bow into the cheek like other Class II correction appliances. Plus, it allows for a full range of motion so your speech and eating habits won't be affected. The best part about the Forsus appliance is that there is no external apparatus (headgear) required. It sits in the back of your mouth, so no one will even notice it's there.
Convenient
The open coil spring is designed to be easy to brush clean and there are no gaps to trap food. You'll be able to continue your oral hygiene habits as usual without having to worry about cleaning around a bulky appliance. As with any orthodontic appliance, hard and sticky food should be avoided and brushing is always recommended after every meal.
Effective
The constant force given by the Forsus appliance means that it works without you having to do anything. Even while you sleep, Forsus is helping to move your jaw and teeth into alignment. The appliance works with your existing braces and wires, so there is no need to interrupt your planned treatment.
Feel free to contact our office to learn more about the advantages of the Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device.
