Orthodontics Explained

About 80% of adolescents and 65% of adults have malocclusion in some form. This results in teeth being crooked and misaligned, and the upper and lower teeth may not match up correctly.

It is never too late to improve your smile and bite! With so many advancements in orthodontics we can treat all types of cases utilizing our high-tech treatment methods. Getting orthodontic care can help you achieve the following:

• Closing gaps in between teeth
• Aligning the tips and roots of the teeth
• Straightening crooked teeth
• Straightening rotated teeth
• Improving speech
• Improving chewing ability
• Improving long-term oral health of teeth and gums
• Preventing long-term damage or trauma of teeth
• Treating an improper bite

Fixed Appliances:

Braces

Brackets are securely bonded to your teeth in their optimized position. Flexible orthodontic wires in the shape of an arch are snapped into the brackets, and, over time, reposition and straighten your teeth to align with the wire. We use the latest, high-tech treatment components- there is NO wire tightening or wire bending. Follow up adjustments are fast and are usually scheduled every 6 weeks. Treatment times can range from a few months to a couple years.
You can choose from ALTA Tech™ metal braces, or ALTA Clear™ braces.

Removable Appliances:

Aligner Therapy

Aligners are custom fabricated clear “trays” that are fitted to the patient’s teeth. The orthodontist uses sophisticated software to design your ideal smile and create a sequence of trays that gradually reposition teeth. Patients will progress through a series of trays that gradually reposition teeth- typically changing them every 2-3 weeks. Aligners should be worn for 22+ hours each day and are only to be removed for brushing, flossing and eating or drinking anything other than water.  Treatment times range from a few months to a couple years.

Palate expanders

(only utilized for select cases)

This is an appliance that is used prior to some orthodontic treatments when it is neccesary to widen the arch of the upper jaw. A plastic plate is placed on the roof of the mouth. A turnkey on the plate is turned to widen the plastic plate at different time increments. This puts slight pressure on the joints in the bones, expanding the size of the upper palate. Palate expanders are discrete and cannot be seen from the front of the mouth.