09 September

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Do Adults Need Teeth Pulled Before Getting Braces?

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Adult Orthodontics, braces, Ortho Questions

Adults Need Teeth Pulled Before Getting Braces

Dear Dr. Stosich.,
I’m 41 and am tired of my bad smile. I’m worried about getting braces at my age, though. My brother had braces recently, and his orthodontist had to pull teeth before starting treatment. Do all adults need teeth pulled before undergoing orthodontic treatment?

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22 August

5 Comments

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Invisalign or iDentity Clear Aligner Treatment Affordable?

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Invisalign, Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. Stosich.,
My teenage daughter needs braces, and has her heart set on Invisalign or iDentity Clear Aligners because she doesn’t want to draw attention to her mouth during her treatment. But I’m worried the treatment will be too expensive and we won’t be able to afford it. How does Invisalign or iDentity Clear Aligner treatment compare to metal braces?

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22 August

4 Comments

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What to Expect During Invisalign or iDentity Clear Aligners Treatment

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Invisalign, Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. Stosich.,
I’ve been looking into Invisalign or iDentity Clear Aligners and everything I’ve read sounds great. But I spoke to a co-worker recently who used it and she said she wouldn’t recommend it. She said it took longer than she expected, and it impacted her life a lot more than she thought it would. Now I’m worried it isn’t the best option for me. What do I need to know before choosing the right treatment for me?

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01 July

4 Comments

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What Causes Crooked Teeth?

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Adult Orthodontics, Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
Someone told me recently that crooked teeth can be inherited from their parents. Is that true? If my parents had braces as a teenager, does that mean I’ll need them, too?
Sincerely,
Kelly M.

Dear Kelly,
It’s true, in some cases, crooked teeth are a genetic trait. Just as you inherited your brown eyes or blonde hair from your mom or dad, you can also inherit an imperfect smile. But, that doesn’t mean just because one or both of your parents had braces that you will need them, too. It does mean, though that you should be seeing an orthodontist regularly to monitor the growth of your jaw and how your permanent teeth are erupting.

16 April

8 Comments

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Be Sure Your Invisalign Treatment is Done by the Best

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Invisalign, Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
I love the idea of Invisalign. I’m not in your area, and am unsure how I can find the right provider for me. What is your advice on how to find a skilled Invisalign provider?
Sincerely,
Martha P.

Dear Martha,
That’s a great question. Finding the provider that is right for you takes some research and effort. You can start by going to the Invisalign website and searching on their site for Invisalign providers in your area. You can see providers with different statuses, such as Elite or Premier. These refer to how often the provider uses Invisalign as a treatment option.

16 April

6 Comments

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Invisalign by iDentity Can Treat More Patients

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Invisalign, Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
I love the idea of Invisalign. But I have a pretty severe overbite, and I’ve read that Invisalign probably won’t work for me. Why not?
Kelly T.

Dear Kelly,
When Invisalign first came on the market, it was limited in the types of malocclusions it could correct. It provided great results, but was only really used for mild orthodontic issues.But there is good news. In the hands of the right orthodontist, Invisalign aligners can treat a host of malocclusions.

16 April

8 Comments

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Is Invisalign Teen Right for Your Teenager?

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Invisalign, Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
My son needs braces for a mild crowding issue. His dentist thinks that Invisalign Teen is the right way to go. It sounds great, but honestly, I’m not sure my teenager is responsible enough to use it properly. What is your advice?
Sincerely,
Paula H.

Dear Paula,
Invisalign Teen is a great treatment option for many teens. We all know that teens can be self-conscious, and they already may be embarrassed by their smile. Invisalign allows them to straighten their smile invisible, without drawing more attention to their problem. Another great advantage of Invisalign is that it is removable. And for many, especially busy and forgetful teens, that can also be one of its biggest drawbacks.

17 March

6 Comments

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When Invisalign Requires More Than an Aligner

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Invisalign, Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
I’m considering Invisalign to perfect my smile. I have a friend in Invisalign treatment, and she was talking to me about the buttons her orthodontist is using. I thought Invisalign was just a series of aligners, similar to retainers, and made straightening your teeth easy and almost unnoticeable. What are these buttons?
Sincerely,
Pat R.

Dear Pat,
Invisalign is a treatment option for some orthodontic problems. Simply pop your aligner in, wear it for 22 hours a day, taking it out to brush, floss and eat. Then, as prescribed by your orthodontist move on to a new set of aligners until your teeth are beautifully straight. Seems easy, right? And it is, in a perfect world. But as we all know, we don’t live in a perfect world, and sometimes treatment is more intensive than that.

15 March

2 Comments

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Does Jaw Size Affect Your Bite?

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
My son’s orthodontist says that it appears that his mouth is simply too small for his permanent teeth, which is why the orthodontist is recommending we remove some a couple permanent teeth to make room for braces to help the remaining teeth find the right location. Removing permanent teeth sounds like a big step to me. What should we do?

Sincerely,
Joe R.

Dear Joe,
A common reason why teeth get crowded in a patient’s mouth is in fact a jaw that is too small. While in many cases, braces alone are enough to correct a malocclusion, in a patient with severe crowding, and in whom the jaw has stopped growing, removal of one or more permanent teeth might be a way to correct the issue.

09 February

6 Comments

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Do I Really Need to Wear My Retainer?

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Ortho Questions, Retainers

Dear Dr. S.,
I just had my braces removed and it was such an exciting day! I love the way my teeth look, but I don’t love my retainer. My mom says I have to wear it or my teeth will move back. Is she right, or just trying to scare me?
Sincerely,
Amy P.