What I loved the best was that they really do care about every step of the treatment, even uneventful things happening during treatment, and the consultation coordination with your dentist if need be. Now that is truly a caring orthodontist. – Melissa M
Very Kind People
Very kind ppl the entire staff are always so helpful & friendly.It feels good to walk into a place where everyone is always smiling no matter what kind of day they are Having. I would highly recommend this place to all my friends & family. – M.D.
How Long do Orthodontic Braces Take?
The length of time that orthodontic braces must be worn varies from patient to patient. On average though, treatment will typically last between 18 -24 months.
There are 3 major factors involved when moving teeth through the use of orthodontic braces: the amount of force applied, the duration that that force is applied and the natural healing process that must take place. It’s important to understand each of these factors.
In order to begin moving a tooth, a light and gradual force must be applied. This force is generated by the ligature wires and applied at the brackets on each tooth.
Teeth are able to move because the periodontal ligament, what holds the tooth to the bone, is elastic. Because these tissues are living, they can be changed and reshaped. While an excessive amount of force will damage these tissues, too light of a force won’t promote any change or movement. So an even balance of pressure is required.
Even if a perfect amount of pressure is applied to a tooth, it won’t move sufficiently unless the pressure is applied for the correct amount of time. This is due to how the body removes and rebuilds the bone surrounding the tooth.
Cells known as osteoclasts remove bone and ligament in order to allow for movement of the tooth. Additionally, osteoblasts rebuild bone, ligament and cementum to maintain the new position of the tooth. An easy way to visualize this is to consider how a hot knife goes through butter. It melts and separates on one side while reforming and coming together on the other side.
Lastly, and most importantly, is the healing process. If a tooth is moved too quickly it won’t be allowed to heal properly. Just like muscle fibers need time to rebuild after a strenuous workout, the tissues, bones and ligaments of teeth need time to heal reform. This healing time is imperative for treatment with orthodontic braces to be a success.
Can I Make My Orthodontic Braces Work Faster?
While we can in fact move teeth at a faster rate, as you have now learned it would be dangerous and damaging to do so. A slow, gradual movement is required to produce a positive outcome from your orthodontic treatment. But there are ways that you can help speed up the process, or at least avoid lengthening it.
The first is to begin orthodontic treatment as early as possible. It has been deemed by the AAO that children should be evaluated by an orthodontist as early as age 7.
Being able to catch oral health problems before they worsen, and cause more issues, makes a world of difference.
Maintaining proper care of your orthodontic braces is crucial to staying within the estimated treatment timeline. You should floss at least once a day, brush your teeth after every meal and before you go to bed. The purpose of this isn’t just to keep your braces clean. The healthier your gums are, the faster your teeth will move. It’s absolutely necessary to avoid candy, chewing gum and other hard foods your orthodontist warns against. These can bend or break the ligature wire and cause the brackets to come off and in turn slow down treatment.
If any part of your orthodontic braces break or come loose, you should contact your orthodontist and schedule an appointment immediately. Lastly, if you’re required to wear elastics, wear them at all times and be sure to change them every 24 hours.
Moving teeth with orthodontic braces is a delicate and complicated process. How long it takes depends on the level of health of the teeth, gums and supporting bone; the distance the teeth must travel, the amount of room available and the severity of the problems present. These are all factors that determine the length of orthodontic treatment. While it’s not safe to move teeth too quickly, you can help the process run more smoothly by properly taking care of your orthodontic braces and following the instructions of your orthodontist. You may not shorten the actual treatment time, but you will avoid costly mistakes and complications that could lengthen it.
Affordable Braces
Understanding which type of braces is most affordable is very important. If you are considering using dental braces to improve the appearance or functionality of your teeth there are a lot of options. Or perhaps it’s your child that requires braces. Most people would agree that a beautiful, healthy smile is a desirable trait and straight teeth can even help the shape of your entire face!
But when researching your options the amount of information to take in can be quite daunting and overwhelming. One concern is likely how much the treatment is going to cost and what the most affordable braces are.
Most Affordable Braces Option
There are a number of braces options that are available but traditional metal braces are the most affordable braces you can be fitted with. Traditional braces are an older technology but they can correct even the most complex tooth abnormalities, are known for their strength and durability and still remain the standard for orthodontics. Metal braces have also become smaller, less noticeable and more comfortable over the years while their price is lower than more sophisticated systems.
Other Braces Options
Invisalign and other braces systems do have certain aspects and features that make them a more pleasant experience than traditional metal braces. The most obvious benefit of Invisalign trays is that they are nearly invisible and hold up well against staining. A patient is also able to remove the aligning trays which makes cleaning and brushing of the teeth a much easier task.
But while these more advanced systems of braces can provide a shorter and more comfortable experience, they are more expensive than traditional metal braces. Also sophisticated 3D imaging equipment is used to take an image of the patients mouth for Invisalign trays. When you consider that most Invisalign treatments consist of upwards of 30 trays, it’s easy to understand the increase in cost.
In the hands of an experienced orthodontist, traditional metal braces can get your teeth just as straight as these advanced systems but at a lower cost.
Whether you or your children need orthodontic treatment, there are a variety of options to choose from. For the more self conscious individual there are clear braces. If you’re looking to have your teeth straightened in the shortest amount time, you can look to braces that make use of self ligating brackets. But if your concern is cost, the most affordable braces are traditional metal braces. They may take a little longer, but they’ll get your teeth just as straight as any of the other more expensive options.
Orthodontic Treatment Improves More Than Just Your Smile
Improving the aesthetics of facial structure is often considered to fall within the realm of plastic surgery. But what if there was another way? It’s a well known fact that orthodontic treatment can straighten teeth and create a beautiful smile. But the work and research of an orthodontist who kept track of his patients over an extended period has shown that an orthodontist can also have a great impact on a patient’s facial growth and in turn create a lifelong improvement to their appearance. After becoming interested in the possibility that orthodontic treatment could have an effect on the aesthetics of a patient’s face, this orthodontist began keeping track of his patients as they aged into adulthood. His findings provided a great deal of insight as to how drastic the changes could actually be. As a result, his work is now considered by the orthodontic community to be monumental and groundbreaking.
Advancements in the field of orthodontics are allowing doctors to literally sculpt a patient’s face during treatment. They do this by looking at how the bones in the face and jaw will grow over time and through an understanding of the dynamic relationship between the teeth, lips and jaw. According to one noted doctor,
an orthodontist will even look at the faces of the patient’s parents to help predict how the appearance could change in the future.
Although all of this is extremely important for children and young adults just beginning to establish a sense of self esteem, they aren’t the only patients benefitting. Upon completing their orthodontic treatments, adults are also seeing positive improvements to the aesthetics of their facial structures.
Orthodontists can also collaborate with dentists to address and correct abnormalities such as flared or oddly shaped teeth, misaligned jaws and uneven gum lines. When combined with braces, such work can provide dramatic results. The dentist’s role is to understand the correct timing for orthodontic treatment. A patient usually sees a dentist before an orthodontist; so they are the first line of defense in recognizing any potential problems that the patient may have. When it comes to children, the decisions of the dentist can have a life-long impact on their appearance.
Plastic surgery is no longer the only avenue towards a more aesthetically pleasing face. Thanks to research and the progress of the dental and orthodontic fields, patients can not only gain the confidence that comes with a beautiful, healthy smile, but also that which comes from the improvements to their facial structure. It’s truly exciting to consider that there is only room for growth in this area of dentistry and orthodontics.
Enthusiasm
“Dr. Taylor, your enthusiasm surpasses our passive culture. I have never been to a facility of any kind in which ALL OF THE STAFF are upbeat. I know this is because of you!”
Very Friendly…
“Their staff is very friendly. They have several rooms where people can wait and one of those is a mini movie theater that always has movies for the kids (Disney/Pixar). Both the lobby and the main room where you get your work done have top 40’s music playing. I really don’t mind waiting when I’m that entertained.
They seem to invest in top of the line equipment. I’ve been going in for Invisalign treatments for months now and am very satisfied. The staff is young (20-30 age group), which adds to their people skills especially since I’ve noticed that most patients are kids, teens, or young adults. Most staff are also bilingual, which is also a plus. The Doctor supervises, guides, and perfects all dental assistant’s work for every session and every patient. I wholeheartedly recommend them.”- R.C.
Free Consultation!
Dr Taylor-Orthodontist
Here at A Perfect Smile Orthodontics, your new smile begins with a thorough examination and a precise assessment of your oral health by Board Certified Orthodontist, Dr. Taylor- at no charge to you!
The first step to take if you are unhappy with your smile or there is something you would like corrected, is to get more information about what exactly the problem is and all possible treatment plans.
We always take the time needed to answer your questions, explain your treatment options and make sure you’re comfortable with your care.
We also offer financing options to help you get the treatment you need within your budget.
Let’s discover just how straight and beautiful your smile can be!
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A Third of Americans Unhappy with Smile?
Smile a BIG smile in the mirror and decide – Happy with your smile? Unhappy with smile? The American Association of Orthodontists recently commissioned Wakefield Research to conduct a study which showed that more than one third of American adults are unhappy with their smile. In fact 36% believe that they would have a better social life if they had nicer teeth! This seems to be especially true of young Americans, because apparently 48 percent of Americans ages 18 to 23 have an untagged picture of themselves on Facebook because they did not like their smile.
Unsurprisingly, bad teeth also represented the biggest dating turn-off among men and women. According to the study, 77 percent of women think crooked teeth are worse than a receding hairline in a potential love interest. The study also found that 22 percent of Americans who are unhappy with their smile think that better teeth would lead to a better love life.
On a professional level, 78 percent of Americans perceive adults with crooked teeth to be unsuccessful. Fourteen percent of those unhappy with their teeth felt that they might be missing out on a better job.
“Professional orthodontic treatments have come a long way in recent years, with innovative options such as clear aligner trays, lingual braces and ceramic braces,” said John F. Buzzatto, DMD, MDS, president of the American Association of Orthodontists. “Healthy teeth can be moved at any age and it’s encouraging that two-thirds of Americans think they are never too old for treatment.”
Are you unhappy with smile you see in the mirror? Come in for a Free Consultation and we can explain to you all possible options to fix it for life.
