Ceramic Braces | Invisalign | Damon | Lingual/iBraces | In-Ovation C | Herbst | TAD's
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are made of translucent (clear) material. They are most popular with adult patients, due to their cosmetic appeal. The only drawback to ceramic brackets is that they are more fragile, and the elastic ties can discolor between orthodontic visits.
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Invisalign
The Invisalign System is a series of clear overlay templates called aligners that have been generated by computer simulation to gradually move the teeth. This system is available to adult patients with certain orthodontic bite problems. Ask us if you are a candidate for the Invisalign system.
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Damon
Damon braces were invented by Dr. Dwight Damon. The Damon bracket utilizes (sliding-door) technology known as "self-ligation" that allows the wire to slide back and forth within the bracket.
No elastic or steel ties are used with Damon brackets. This technology creates less friction and results in greater comfort for the patient. In addition, Damon braces often reduce both treatment time and the number of adjustments that are usually performed.
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Lingual/iBraces
iBraces are a new generation of orthodontic braces for teens and adults. They are the only 100% customized orthodontic braces available on the market today. Because no two people are alike, no two sets of iBraces are alike.
iBraces are 100% customized.
iBraces are placed behind your teeth so no one will know that you are wearing braces unless you tell them. These unique braces are created using state-of-the-art technology and are 100% customized to the shape of your teeth and to your dental situation. iBraces have the unique prescription that your orthodontist creates for you built-in to ensure you get the results that you want. With iBraces, you get efficient, effective tooth movement and great aesthetics.
Almost anyone can wear iBraces.
iBraces have been used to treat men and women ranging from the age of 13 to 60+. Most people who can be treated with regular braces can be treated with iBraces, but only your orthodontist can tell you if iBraces are the right treatment option for you.
Who wears iBraces?
- Adult professionals
- People who want to avoid damage to the front surfaces of their teeth
People who are concerned about wearing braces that show
- Musicians who play wind instruments
- Adults and teens playing contact sports
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In-Ovation C
In-Ovation “C” is a self-ligating bracket, which allows more control during treatment than more traditional brackets. The difference is that they are smaller in size but also stronger and more efficient because they have a built-in clip that holds the archwires in place without the need for wire or elastic ties. This allows for greater overall attractiveness, increased comfort and a more reliable product.
In-Ovation C braces provide patients with a beautiful, healthy smile in less time than traditional braces. Their special design also provides for greater comfort and fewer appointments. Plus their ceramic translucency helps to camouflage the appearance of braces allowing you to maintain the natural beauty of your smile.
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Herbst
One of the most common problems orthodontists treat is the discrepancy that occurs when the upper teeth protrude beyond the lower. Ordinarily, when we see a patient with the upper teeth protruding, we tend to think that the upper jaw and teeth are too far forward; but, more often than not, this condition is due to a small lower jaw that is further back than it should be. With these patients, we would like to encourage the lower jaw to catch up in growth, and braces like the Herbst appliance help this happen.
Even though the Herbst appliance prevents the lower jaw from moving backward, opening and closing movement still occur easily, and patients do not have any problems learning to chew their food with their lower jaw in this new position.
As with all kinds of braces, patients with Herbst appliances need to be careful about what they eat. For instance, cold foods such as ice slushes, Popsicles and ice will freeze the cement and make the brace loosen. Sticky foods such as caramels, bubble gum and candy suckers will pull the brace away from the teeth. Hard foods like crisp vegetables and hard candies will bend and loosen the Herbst appliance, too. So stay away from these foods during your orthodontic treatment.
Your Herbst appliance will be checked and adjusted at your appointments. If, sometimes between appointments, you develop some sore areas on the inside of your cheeks, please do not try to adjust the appliance yourself. Call for an appointment so that the necessary adjustments can be made.
Wearing the Herbst Appliance
At first, your mouth will feel unusually full and speaking will be awkward. But if you practice reading aloud, your ordinary speech will return quickly. You may also notice more saliva than normal, but this will decrease as you become accustomed to the appliance.
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TADs
One of the many important advances in orthodontics has been the development of temporary anchorage devices, or TADs. Made of a bio-compatible titanium alloy, TADs are miniscrew anchors which are inserted into specific places in the mouth to be used as a fixed point from which teeth can move. Before TADs, orthodontists who wanted to move some teeth while keeping others still, or to achieve orthodontic movement in a mouth with missing teeth, had to rely on headgear for their fixed point. But TADs now provide an option for that fixed point that is smaller, more discrete, more efficient and requires significantly less work for the patient.
Temporary anchorage devices may not be recommended for everyone, and in fact, anchorage devices at all may not be needed in all cases. Contact us if you’d like to know more about TADs and how they can potentially prevent you from needing orthodontic headgear.
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