Braces are for adults too!

So you think because you are a mother or father that you are too old to get braces? Or you are in college and don't want them because of your active social life? Well, no one is too old for braces!
The truth is that teeth move through bone, so the fallacy of teeth not moving when you stop growing needs to be removed. Growth does not matter if you just want to move teeth (yes, growth is helpful when we want to use it in our ortho treatment!).

There are many ways high schoolers, college students, and adults of all ages can get braces:
1. Damon clear braces are a great alternative to the traditional braces because they are made of ceramic, which blends into the tooth. You can still see the wire, but it is pretty nice and not very obvious. My atients love how clear they are. They DO NOT yellow or stain, even in smokers.

2. Invisalign is a clear alternative to braces. There are no braces involved; it is merely a series of clear trays that are worn for 2-3 weeks at a time. They are removed to eat and brush the teeth, which results in excellent hygiene. It is an excellent product and gives a great result. Not everyone is a candidate for invisalign; however. I do a full examination to let you know if you would be a good candidate. There are instances where the teeth are too severe that Invisalign will only give mediocre results and can better be handled with braces.

3. Incognito, or lingual braces are braces located behind the teeth, so NO ONE can see your braces! It still offers the same advantages of braces, where tooth movement is very controlled, but also offers the wonderful advantage of no one seeing the braces (and not having to remove them to eat). These are 100% customized to YOUR teeth by CAD-CAM technology, along with robotically bent wires to accurately move your teeth. It is also a very efficient form of treatment.

I personally love doing all 3 of these types of braces and would love to show you and explain all the options to you!

Invisalign - Common Questions about Invisalign

Invisalign is a modern approach to moving teeth-it uses a set of clear plastic aligners that can be removed to eat and brush. This is a luxury for many adults who are very meticulous with their hygiene and don’t want the hassle of trying to clean around the braces. Each tray is worn for 21 hours per day for a total of 2 weeks, then the next tray is started. Wearing the aligners will gradually move your teeth into the desired position based on the exact movements planned out by the orthodontist.

There are some advantages and disadvantages of Invisalign that should be discussed so we are all on the same page!

Advantages of Invisalign:

They are removable, clear, can be removed for excellent hygiene, NO POKEY WIRES or BROKEN BRACKETS (which means less trips you have to make), and they move the teeth at the same rate as braces do.

Disadvantages of Invisalign:

The fact that they are removable is ALSO a disadvantage-they can be thrown away/misplaced after they are removed, you may forget to put them back in, therefore teeth are not moving (which slows treatment down), and Invisalign is NOT FOR EVERYONE.

Candidates for Invisalign are determined on a case-by-case basis by Dr. Danielle Bauer. Sometimes, a more in-depth case will just be treated better with braces. There are times where Dr. Danielle has done Invisalign and the results are not where we wanted them to be and traditional braces have been placed after Invisalign is completed. This MAY add to the cost of treatment, and also makes treatment longer to get a satisfactory result. This will need to be discussed with Dr. Danielle. If we decide Invisalign is not right for you, we will explain why, and don’t worry-there are other alternatives, such as LINGUAL/HIDDEN BRACES, and also DAMON CLEAR BRACES, which are extremely esthetic alternatives to metal braces!

WHAT TO EXPECT during Invisalign:

1. Teeth are moving, so discomfort is to be expected. Depending on your pain tolerance, you may or may not need to take Ibuprofen or Tylenol.

2. When the aligners are removed to eat and brush, the teeth may feel as though they are loose – this is totally normal. It is due to the tooth movement.

3. If you have ANY dental work that needs to be done (other than cleanings), such as fillings, crowns, bridges, etc, this must be done prior to beginning Invisalign so that the trays fit perfectly.

4. If any dental work needs to be done during Invisalign, we will speak to your dentist about when to take care of this, as it may be able to wait until completion of Invisalign.

5. When you are finished with a tray after wearing it for 2 weeks, always KEEP THE TRAYS!!! Sometimes, we need to backtrack to a previous tray and will need your old ones. We will give you baggies to put them in to keep them safe.

6. When going out to eat, remove your aligners BEFORE entering the restaurant and place them in their case. If not, you run the risk of wrapping them up in a napkin and throwing them away. Trust me, it happens all the time. This slows down treatment because we have to wait a few days for a replacement to come in.

7. When treatment is over, you will wear retainers, just like with regular braces. Please see my blog on retainers to have a better understanding for this.

Please visit the our website for more information on Invisalign. You may also visit the Invisalign website for videos and testimonials.

Thanks for reading!!!

Trauma to front teeth? What can orthodontics do?

I am sure many of you have heard of or seen firsthand the stress of a child getting hit in the face in a sport and the front tooth either completely comes out (in dental terms-AVULSION), or the tooth significantly moves due to a fracture in the tooth.  While these teeth can be saved, there are chances that the tooth can become fused to the bone (ankylosis) and will eventually need to be taken out.  There are also chances that the tooth just cannot be saved if it was out of the mouth for too long.  Here is a great article on how new technology can  "replace" these teeth with another tooth. 
This process is called AUTOTRANSPLANTATION.  What does this mean???

Well, read the article, but in a nutshell, it means taking another tooth in the mouth (like a wisdom tooth or a premolar) that is still forming and removing it and replacing it in the front tooth that was lost.  I had the pleasure of doing this procedure during my orthodontic residency program and the outcome was amazing. 
I will share those photos as well in this post.

http://www.ajodo.org/article/S0889-5406(12)00448-9/fulltext

Here is my case:  9 year old boy with his upper left front tooth still not in his mouth

So, you just finished braces, NOW WHAT? (ALL ABOUT RETAINERS)!!!

Most of you have heard that when your braces come off, you will wear a retainer. This is intended to help you understand the importance of retainers and what they are.

Retainers are custom-made devices, made usually of wires or clear plastic, that hold teeth in position after any method of straightening teeth. They are most often used after braces to hold teeth in position while allowing the gums and bone to remodel itself around the newly positioned teeth. Most patients are required to wear their retainer(s) 24 hours a day at first until further instructed, then you may wear the retainers at night only to hold the teeth. There are three types of retainers typically prescribed by orthodontists and dentists: Hawley, Essix, and Bonded (Fixed) retainers.

A Hawley is a retainer with acrylic on the palate (roof of the mouth) and a wire going across the front of the teeth. Kids love these retainers, as they can pick their favorite color for the acrylic (shown in white here). It is removable only to eat and brush (until instructed to wear at night only)

An Essix retainer looks just like an Invisalign tray or a bleaching tray. It is made of a hard plastic that will hold the teeth in place just as the Hawley retainer does. It is also removable with the same instructions as the Hawley retainer.

A Fixed retainer, or permanent retainer is a different type of retainer than the 2 above. A fixed retainer typically consists of a passive wire bonded to the tongue-side of the teeth (usually on the Lower teeth only, depending on the bite). Unlike the previously-mentioned retainer types, fixed retainers cannot be removed by the patient. Some doctors prescribe fixed retainers regularly, especially where active orthodontic treatments have effected great changes in the bite and there is a high risk for reversal of these changes. This retainer is often kept in place for life. Fixed retainers may lead to tartar build-up or gingivitis due to the difficulty of flossing while wearing these retainers. As with dental braces, patients often must use floss threaders to pass dental floss through the small space between the retainer and the teeth. We will help you understand how to take care of this retainer!!

OK, now I know you have questions:

How long do I wear these retainers? Well, the answer is NOT simple. Truthfully, retainers are for LIFETIME, because our teeth continue to shift throughout life (whether we have had braces or not), and when you have had braces, you do risk relapse even several years after braces come off. So, to make it easy for you, my plan for retainers is to do a fixed retainer on the bottom teeth (since those are always first to relapse), and the clear Essix retainer on the top. After about 4-6 months, you will only be required to wear the essix at night, so it is not too bad having to wear the retainers.

So my answer to the question is: You wear your retainers AS LONG AS YOU WANT YOUR TEETH TO STAY STRAIGHT!!!!

If I have braces, when should I wear a mouthguard?

Many patients and parents ask me when it is appropriate to wear a mouthguard.
First of all, here is my favorite mouthguard for braces.  It is designed to fit over the braces, so no need to boil it and bite into it.  It is very comfortable and also adjustable.  They also come with football straps for the football players.  You can buy these online or at Dick's Sporting goods.

Now for the question "How do I know if  I need to wear a mouthguard?"
Basically, everyone in sports should be wearing them.  You need to PROTECT YOUR TEETH AND SOFT TISSUES (lips, cheeks, etc)!!!

What sports?
1.  Hockey
2.  Football
3.  Basketball
4.  Soccer


These are the more obvious sports and are required in order to play football or hockey.  For basketball and soccer, there are chances you can get elbowed in the face, hot with a ball, so best be safe than sorry!!!


In addition, I would recommend wearing a mouthguard for:
1.  Baseball/softball
2.  Gymnastics
3.  Rigorous cheerleading (practices only)
4.  Any other sport/hobby in which there is a danger to your face


I cannot stress enough that it is not worth NOT being safe and risking a potentially serious injury.  The mouthguards are nice and breathable, adjustable, and they feel very comfortable, so getting used to it is the only tough part.


Let us know if you have any questions!

Danielle Bauer DDS, MS

630-665-5495

Bauer Orthodontics
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Orthodontic jaw surgery - ALL THE INFO!!!

All you need to know about Jaw Surgery and Orthodontics

Sometimes you head to the orthodontist with thoughts of getting braces to fix your "crooked teeth" or your "bad bite."  Well, sometimes people leave the orthodontist full of information they have NEVER heard of, like JAW SURGERY.
You think to yourself "I only came here for braces and she is telling me I need surgery."  In order for teeth to properly align, the jaws must properly align, which is no easy task in a non-growing adult.
The jaw misalignment you have probably seen is the "Underbite" where the lower jaw jets out in front of the upper jaw.  That is just one of many misalignments that may warrant a surgical correction.












Another one is if the lower jaw is much further BEHIND the upper jaw.  Sometimes the upper jaw is too far forward or too long.  These are all things that make it difficult for us to correct the teeth when we don't have a proper bony base to place the teeth.
 

If you are a candidate for Jaw surgery, there is a great deal of planning involved with the orthodontist, oral surgeon and general dentist.  We all work as a team to achieve the best result!
You will get braces IN CONJUNCTION WITH SURGERY.  Why?  Because teeth want to touch each other, so they do whatever they can to get to one another.  For example, in the more familiar underbite case, the upper teeth will lean as far forward as they can, and the lower teeth will lean as far backwards as they can in attempts to touch.  This is unhealthy for the underlying bone and gum tissue, so to set up for surgery, we must decompensate these effects, and it ends up making the bite look worse prior to surgery.  Here is an example of what I am talking about:














So you can see the upper teeth and lower teeth TRYING to meet and touch.  The angle of the lower teeth is too far backward.  The teeth need to be put back in the correct place in the bone so we can achieve the best surgical results!

Here, I am going to give you the typical process/sequence of treatment on how braces set up for jaw surgery

1.  Consultation/x-rays, photos, models of the teeth with orthodontist and oral surgeon to finalize the treatment plan whether it will be a 1 jaw or 2 jaw surgery
2.  Braces will be placed (approximately 1 year time to prepare for surgery)
3.  You will take a trip or 2 back to the oral surgeon to determine whether you are ready for surgery yet (again-we must all work together for optimal results)
4.  Once ready for surgery, the orthodontist and surgeon take more records (impressions, photos, etc) and get you set up for the surgery
5.  Surgery happens (can either be in the hospital or in the surgeon's office, depending on what the surgeon tells you)
6.  Follow-ups with surgeon
7.  4 weeks after surgery, back to the orthodontist to check the bite and continue with adjustment appointments and finishing up for about another year
8.  The process takes 2-3 years total time (it depends on the severity of the case)
9.  Once braces come off, there will be RETAINERS!!

Please read this INFORMATIVE ARTICLE by a very experienced orthodontist who really explains thins and shows pictures, steps, and much more!
 
Visit our website for more information on orthognathic surgery as well!  If you have any questions, call us today!!!

Danielle Bauer DDS, MS

630-665-5495

Bauer Orthodontics
Rate us here!