Orthodontics at a Glance

Regular Metal Braces

Traditional braces are stainless steel, sometimes in combination with nickel titanium, and are the most widely used. These include conventional braces, which require ties to hold the archwire in place, and newer self-tying (or self-ligating) brackets. Self-ligating brackets may reduce friction between the wire and the slot of the bracket, which in turn might be of therapeutic benefit.

Esthetic/Clear Braces

“Clear” braces serve as a cosmetic alternative to traditional metal braces by blending in more with the natural color of the teeth or having a less conspicuous or hidden appearance. Typically, these brackets are made of ceramic or plastic materials and function in a similar manner to traditional metal brackets. Clear elastic ties and white metal ties are available to be used with these clear braces to help keep the appliances less conspicuous. Clear braces have a higher component of friction and tend to be more brittle than metal braces. This can make removing the appliances at the end of treatment more difficult and time consuming.

Invisalign®

Progressive, clear removable aligners (examples of which are Invisalign , Originator, ClearCorrect) may be used to gradually move teeth into their final positions. Aligners are generally not used for complex orthodontic cases, such as when extractions, jaw surgery, or palate expansion are necessary.

Appointments and Scheduling Guidelines

Your scheduled appointment time has been reserved specifically for you. We request 24-hours notice if you need to cancel your appointment. We are aware that unforeseen events sometimes require missing an appointment, and appreciate your cooperation. We would like to offer after school appointments to everyone. However, there are not enough of these later hours to go around. To help treatment progress quickly, please remember: • Typically, appointment intervals will be between 4-6 weeks, but there may be instances during treatment that require you to be seen in shorter intervals. • Longer appointments are scheduled in early morning to midday when the patient is fresh. The more difficult appointments are much easier if the patient is not tired from a busy day. • School authorities regard orthodontic appointments as excused absences. Please note that school excuses are only provided to the patient with an appointment on that specific day and will not be provided to siblings and/or friends. • If an appointment is missed or changed on short notice, a new appointment will need to be rescheduled as soon as possible, within the constraints of our schedule. Missed appointments will prolong treatment. • Our goal is to be on time for each and every patient; therefore, late arrivals can pose a problem. In fairness to other patients, we may need to reschedule or alter the amount of work planned for that appointment.