17 March

Sticky

When Invisalign Requires More Than an Aligner

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

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

Sticky

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

Sticky

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.

28 January

3 Comments

Sticky

Why Your Child Should See an Orthodontist By 7

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

in Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
My son’s dentist told me I should schedule an appointment with an orthodontist. My son is only 7 – that seems way too early to me. Can’t I wait a few years?
Sincerely,
Maureen B.

12 January

5 Comments

Sticky

DIY Orthodontics – Don’t Try This at Home

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

in Blog

Dear Dr. S.,
I recently saw a YouTube video where a woman closed the gap in her smile with just rubber bands. It sounds great, and would save me time and money at the orthodontist. Is it as easy and successful as the video claims?
Sincerely,
Tamara L.

31 December

7 Comments

Sticky

Your Orthodontist Can Treat Sleep Apnea

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

in Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
My wife says I snore at night, and I’ve been waking up not feeling rested at night. My wife is worried I might have sleep apnea, and thinks an orthodontist might be able to help me. I think she’s crazy – how can an orthodontist help a snoring problem?Sincerely,
James M.

19 December

6 Comments

Sticky

I Want a Perfect Smile

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

in Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,I’m thinking of getting braces. I’m 43, so I’ve waiting a long time to have a more beautiful smile. How can I guarantee my smile will be perfect when my braces are removed?

Sincerely,
Maggie R.

10 December

4 Comments

Sticky

Accelerated Tooth Movement Debunked

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

in Orthodontics

Dear Dr. S.,
My orthodontist recently suggested a device called Acceledent to speed up my orthodontic treatment. I don’t know much about it, and it seems crazy that putting something that vibrates on my teeth will help them move, but he’s convinced it works. I’d love to get out of these braces as soon as possible, so is my orthodontist right – will Acceledent speed up my treatment?Sincerely,
Alex G.

15 November

0 Comments

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Are Damon Self-Ligating Brackets Really All They’re Hyped to Be?

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

in braces

Dear Dr. S.,
Yesterday, I had a consultation with an orthodontist who told me he’d like to use Damon Braces for my treatment. This orthodontist said these braces can move my teeth 30 percent faster than regular braces, and my treatment could be done three to six months faster than. Is that true?
Sincerely,
Stephen P.

Dear Stephen
It sounds like the orthodontist you saw has fallen prey to the marketing hype surrounding Damon Braces and the so-called technology of self-ligating brackets. The company, and then many orthodontists, claim that Damon Braces move the teeth quicker, and often with less pain.

04 November

0 Comments

Sticky

Invisalign versus Braces: Which is Better?

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

in braces, Invisalign

Dear Dr. S.,
I’m a 45 year old who has been embarrassed by my smile for many years. My dentist suggested Invisalign because I don’t want to draw even more attention to my smile with metal braces. Can my dentist straighten my teeth with Invisalign as well as an orthodontist could with braces?
Sincerely,
Sarah T.

Dear Sarah,
Thanks for your question – it’s one I get asked a lot, and it’s important that you do your research before undergoing orthodontic treatment. Invisalign took the orthodontic world by storm when it was first introduced, and because of that, more providers are clamoring to use it, thinking it keeps them ahead of the curve.