Helpful Hints for Wearers of Lingual Orthodontics

Dr. Andolino provides custom-made appliances and braces, designed to address your individual needs. Appliances may be removable or fixed (cemented and/or bonded to the teeth). They may be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. By applying light, continuous forces in a carefully controlled direction, braces move teeth through their supporting bone to a new desirable position with precision.

Dr. Andolino offers a variety of metal and ceramic braces to choose from, including Tip-Edge Plus® and 3M Unitek's SmartClip™ brackets as the appliances of choice for traditional looking braces. These bracket systems combine the advantages of pre-adjusted systems with self-ligating forces to produce unparalleled results - shortening treatment time, increasing patient comfort and improving esthetics. Not only are the braces used by Dr. Andolino smaller and more efficient, but the wires are made of alloys of nickel, titanium, copper and cobalt, and some of the wires are heat-activated. These wires cause the teeth to continue to move during certain phases of treatment, which may reduce the number of office visits and adjustments.

How will you know if braces are right for you?

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The technical term for these problems is “malocclusion,” which means “bad bite.” Children and adults can both benefit from orthodontics, because healthy teeth can be moved at almost any age.

Because monitoring growth and development is crucial to managing some orthodontic problems well, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have an orthodontic screening no later than age 7. Some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of some problems more difficult.

About 4.5 million people in the United States are wearing braces or other appliances to achieve a beautiful smile and healthy teeth, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Most people do not have naturally straight teeth; in fact, the AAO estimates that up to 75 percent of people could benefit from orthodontic care.

Heredity and environmental factors are the two causes of crooked teeth and bite problems. Too much space between teeth and upper teeth that don't match lower teeth when biting down are usually inherited. Accidents, as well as habits such as tongue thrusting and thumb sucking, can cause crooked teeth as well.

Contact our practice and schedule an appointment with Dr. Andolino, and find out if braces are the right option for your orthodontic treatment.