Braces Quality

IPR and ARS are acronyms that are commonly used in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, but they are generally unknown outside of orthodontics. Just like in the acronym filled military, orthodontists have their own language and acronyms. So what are IPR and ARS?...

Today, Invisalign is a household name and everyone knows what it is, but it wasn't always this way. The concept of incremental tooth movement is not new, and the inventor of Invisalign did not really invent anything. What he did do was see how technology could be...

Once we get the braces off or finish treatment with clear aligners and move to retainers, we tend to think that treatment is completed. This is not completely accurate. The active part of treatment where the teeth are being moved into place is done, but retention is...

It is not uncommon for us as patients to get lazy with our retainer wear. Once we get lazy and start to move away from consistent retainer wear, it doesn't take long before we are never wearing our retainers. If the orthodontist has done their job and finished the...

Cross-bites are a common problem in young kids and if not corrected, they can cause real problems with facial growth and development, jaw joints, and oral function. Obviously, some cross-bites are more detrimental than others, but none of them are good. You may be...

Many types of early treatment are labeled “Phase I” or may also be presented as a “Limited Treatment.” The purpose of a Phase I treatment plan or a limited treatment plan is to provide a problem focused treatment that is limited in scope and duration. This approach to...

There are a multitude of appliances that are designed to help break, control, or prevent habits that are detrimental to oral development and function. Appliances have been designed to encourage and support normal oral functional development from infancy through...

There is a lot of information out there about dental bleaching and tooth whitening. Let's look at this interesting topic and try to get a better understanding of what it is, the options for bleaching and whitening, what it can and cannot do, and when it is indicated...

Almost everyone gets to wear elastics at some point in their orthodontic treatment. Elastics are used for an extremely wide variety of reasons and they are one of the most versatile auxiliaries used in treatment. The main reason they are used is to adjust the bite....

Pokey wires are not fun, and they seem to appear at the most inconvenient times. Although painful, they are usually not a true orthodontic emergency, and can be treated easily and quickly at home with a little orthodontic wax.Whenever a patient starts orthodontic...