OUR SPECIALTIES
Orthodontics
What is an Orthodontist?
Orthodontic Specialist in Tarzana, CA
An orthodontist is a dental professional with 2-3 years of specialized training beyond dental school and is a specialist at straightening teeth. The orthodontic specialist is concerned with the diagnosis and guidance of corrective treatment for malocclusions (Latin for “bad bite”). Orthodontists are specially trained in the corrective treatment of the misalignment of teeth and jaws to promote long-term oral health.
This includes various methods of teeth straightening, such as traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, and clear aligners. Orthodontists are required to study at an accredited orthodontic residency program as part of their extended education. They limit their practice to orthodontic treatment only unless they have training in another dental specialty.
If you live in or around Tarzana and are looking for an orthodontist to assist with teeth straightening, please give us a call today! Our team is dedicated to providing personalised care tailored to your specific needs, helping you achieve the smile you've always desired. With our expertise, we’ll guide you through the process, ensuring your journey to a straighter smile is as comfortable and effective as possible.
ORTHODONTICS FOR CHILDREN
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects irregularities of the teeth, jaws and face.
The orthodontist re-positions teeth and jaws that are not in their correct alignment and position. Orthodontists specialize in not only the cosmetic appearance of your child’s teeth but also in the overall health and long-term functionality.
It is important to address orthodontic dental issues early on. Left untreated orthodontic problems can result in tooth decay and the loss of teeth. Without a healthy tooth and jaw structure, normal speech developments are negatively affected along with additional health issues.
If you live in or around Tarzana and considering dental braces for your children, call us today!
ADULT ORTHODONTICS
Adults often question if they are candidates for orthodontics and the answer is a definitive yes; it is never too late to address neglected teeth that are in need of orthodontic treatment.
Crooked, misaligned teeth are more difficult to take care of and keep clean. With straight teeth, the results include healthier teeth with reduced chances of gum loss and decay. Also when the jaw is misaligned, teeth do not line up properly and can result in advanced wear of the tooth surfaces eventually leading to possible denture need. Straight teeth reduce or eliminate many additional oral health risks.
One way in which adult orthodontics is different from children’s orthodontics is that unlike children, adult’s bones are not in a state of change. Because of this difference there is slight increase in treatment time for the bones to shift. To counteract the increased treatment time, there are many advancements in orthodontic braces that result in reduced treatment time and are still esthetically pleasing. If you live in or around Tarzana, call to schedule an appointment with us today to find out more about adult orthodontics and if they can improve your oral health.
Types of Appliances
There are various types of removable dental appliances that support the treatment of crooked teeth or misaligned jaws. Listed below are a few of the most popular ones.
A bionator is an appliance that encourages lower jaw growth. It fits over the top and bottom teeth and puts pressure on the lower jaw in a forward position.
Mouth guards are removable, plastic appliances that fit over the teeth to protect them during sports. They also protect the tongue and jaw and can prevent head injuries such as concussions.Another form of a mouth guard is that of a night guard (or splint). While sleeping, some people have a tendency to grind their teeth, a condition known as bruxism. A night guard can be worn to reduce the grinding damage.
A thumb appliance, known as a habit crib, can be worn to curb the thumb sucking habit in small children. The appliance makes it difficult to keep the thumb in the mouth.
Headgears are a removable appliance generally worn at night or during sleep that treats overjet and overbite and restricts upper jaw growth. It generally consists of a facebow that attaches to the teeth along with a strap that fits around the head or neck.
After braces are removed, the teeth still have tendency to move around a bit as a natural part of the growth process. Retainers are removable appliances that are used to prevent this kind of shifting. A removable retainer attaches to your upper and/or lower teeth and holds them in their positions.
A wire or piece of plastic connected to the teeth which serve to preserve or create space for other teeth where a tooth has fallen out. These appliances prevent future crowding or misalignment.If you live in or around Tarzana and would like to learn more about different type of braces we offer, please call us today!
Types of Braces
There are various types of braces available to choose from. Read below to find out the various types available today but make sure to talk to one of our orthodontic professional to find out which braces are the right fit for you. Call or make an appointment today for a consultation.
The type of braces you get depends on a number of factors:
- The severity of your condition
- The recommendation of your orthodontist
- How much you are willing to pay
- How long you will be in braces
- Your own personal preference
Ceramic braces are made of very strong materials and are very similar to metal braces. The brackets are tooth colored and are nearly as strong as metal and can be used to treat nearly all of the same cases.Ceramic braces are a solution for adults who are looking for orthodontic solutions that blend in with the teeth and aren’t as evident as metal braces. Patients also report less irritation of the gums when compared to metal braces.The ligatures (tiny rubber bands) that hold the arch wire on to the ceramic brackets are often white or clear. One downside to having ceramic braces is that the ligatures stain over time and can become more noticeable.Treatment is usually more expensive than metal braces and it can take a bit longer. Schedule a consultation to find out if Ceramic braces are your orthodontic solution.
Is another treatment option for people who seek unobtrusive orthodontic treatment. Instead of brackets bonded to the tooth, dental treatment is mapped out through a series of plastic dental trays designed to move the teeth in incremental movements over weeks. The clear, plastic trays are virtually invisible and are difficult to detect. With Invisalign there is no irritation to the gums and they can be removed for aesthetic reasons over small periods of time.
Invisalign is a solution for patients who are not in need of severe orthodontic treatment and is not a solution for everyone. In some cases, patients may require additional treatment if they have more dental malocclusions. Please schedule a consultation today if you want to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign.
Metal brackets are made of metal brackets along with an elastic rubber band called a ligature to hold the wire onto the bracket. These types of braces are very strong and can withstand most types of treatment. They also tend to be the most inexpensive and can treat the most severe cases. Metal braces also tend to have the least amount of treatment time when compared with other orthodontic solutions.
Some of the drawback to having metal braces is that they cause irritation to the cheeks and gum but patients often adjust to the feelings after a few weeks. Metal braces are a solution to nearly all patients who need braces. Schedule an appointment with our orthodontist to find out more about metal braces today.
Self-ligating braces are metal braces without the elastic ligature. Using a “trap door” technology, the brackets allow the wire to slide back and forth resulting in fewer adjustments and less appointments. Schedule a consultation to find out if self-ligating braces are right for you.
With Lingual Braces, the brackets are placed behind the teeth and are virtually invisible to others and are most commonly made of metal.
Patients report irritation to the tongue along with an initial adjustment to speaking. Lingual braces may not be for patients in need of severe orthodontic treatment. Schedule a consultation to find out if lingual braces are your orthodontic solution.
If you live in or around Tarzana and would like to know more about the type of braces we offer, please call us today!
Emergency Care
If braces are causing extreme pain or if something breaks, you should call our office. Are you in need of an emergency appointment? We will schedule one for you. Be sure to reference the list below for some immediate solutions.
Immediate Relief Solutions:
Using the tip of a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the irritation.
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If a wire is loose, try using tweeters to put it back into place. If this does not help, place some wax over it.
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days following the adjustment. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. Another option is to use Orabase as a temporary covering to the affected area. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.
The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated during the adjustment process. They toughen as you get used to the feeling of braces. Put wax on the braces to ease the pain associated with this process.
If you live in or around Tarzana and are in need of urgent orthodontic care, give us a call today!
Invisalign
Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten teeth without braces. Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten teeth, without metal or wires.
Invisalign uses 3-D computer imaging technology to depict the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position from which a series of custom-made, clear "aligners" are produced. Each "aligner" moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then is replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.
- Invisalign is clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.
- Invisalign is removable. Unlike braces, you can eat and drink what you want during treatment. You can also brush and floss normally to maintain good oral hygiene.
- Invisalign is comfortable. There are no metal brackets or wires as with braces to cause mouth irritation, and no metal or wires means you spend less time in the doctor's chair getting adjustments.
- Invisalign allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan before you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.
Aligners are made of clear, strong medical grade plastic that is virtually invisible when worn.
Aligners are clear and look similar to tooth-whitening trays, but are custom-made for a better fit to move teeth. Some orthodontists and dentists have referred to them as "contact lenses for teeth."
For years, orthodontists and dentists have used removable appliances for limited treatment. Today, with the application of computer technology and custom manufacturing, Invisalign treats a broader range of cases with greater precision.
Align Technology, Inc., the company that manufactures Invisalign, was founded in 1997. Since then, Align has manufactured over 10 million aligners and 250,000 patients have received treatment.
In 1945, Dr. H.D. Kesling envisioned that one day modern technology would enable the use of a series of tooth positioners to produce the kinds of movements required for comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Technology has made this vision a reality. Using advanced computer technology, Align crafted Invisalign®, a series of customized clear appliances called "aligners." Each aligner is worn sequentially by the patient to produce extensive tooth movements in both upper and lower arches.
Worldwide, almost 250,000 patients have been treated with Invisalign. The number grows daily.
While Invisalign can be used with virtually any treatment philosophy, specific training is needed. All orthodontists and dentists interested in treating patients with Invisalign must attend training before cases will be accepted from their office. Close to 30,000 orthodontists and dentists worldwide are certified to use Invisalign.
Like brackets and arch wires are to braces, Invisalign aligners move teeth through appropriate placement of controlled force on the teeth. The principal difference is that Invisalign not only controls forces, but also controls the timing of the force application. At each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move, and these movements are determined by the orthodontic treatment plan for that particular stage. This results in an efficient force delivery system.
Yes, the FDA has reviewed our application and in August 1998 determined that Invisalign is exempt from 510(k) pre-market notification.
Invisalign Express is an orthodontic treatment designed to correct mild orthodontic problems such as minor crowding and spacing. Since it's designed for mild problems only, treatment time is generally less than six months. If you live in or around Tarzana and are considering Invisalign treatment, call us today!
Two Phase Treatment
Two phase orthodontic treatment is a process that addresses physical and facial developmental changes over a period of time. Two-phase treatments seek to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal orthodontic results that will last you throughout your life.
At the beginning of the first stage, an orthodontic assessment is made and a diagnosis/treatment plan is established. During this time, certain appliances are used to promote the second phase of treatment when the permanent teeth emerge.Between both phases, the patient undergoes a resting period in which all permanent teeth are allowed to erupt.
The second phase is initiated when all permanent teeth have erupted, and usually requires braces for about 24 months. Retainers are worn after this phase to ensure that the teeth don’t shift. The second phase ensures that permanent teeth end up in their final position. When this balance is established, the teeth will function together properly, resulting in a healthy, straight, confident smile. If you live in or around Tarzana, call or make an appointment today for a consultation to learn more about specialized two phase treatment and if it is right for you.
Preventive Orthodontics
Preventive Care
Orthodontists specialize in treatments to prevent or reduce the severity of developing malocclusions by maintaining the quality of an otherwise healthy developing oral structure. When an issue is noticed earlier, treatment can be shorter and less expensive compared to future developments that are left untreated.
Common preventative treatments include:
Primary teeth assist in guiding permanent teeth into position. When lost early due to accidents or dental disease, a space maintainer may be required. If the space is not maintained, other neighboring teeth may shift and drift into their place, preventing the permanent tooth from erupting or causing crowding and/or misalignment when it does.
A space maintainer is an orthodontic appliance that keeps the space open so that the permanent tooth can erupt into its natural position. It is a simple device that can save your child many months of future orthodontic treatment.
Crowding may be prevented or reduced if treatment begins while the permanent front teeth are erupting (around six years of age). This can be done by creating more space for the teeth and allowing natural alignment to occur. Ask our doctors about a space analysis to find out if this is a preventative option for your child.
Occasionally a primary tooth does not fall out when it supposed to or simply does not fall out on it’s own at all. In these cases, the permanent tooth can grow in the wrong location because it does the primary tooth has not been pushed out of the space. If this is the case, then it may be necessary to extract the primary tooth to allow the proper eruption and spacing location of the permanent tooth.
Extensive thumb sucking can cause the upper teeth or jaw to tip forward and can result in a serious overbite that requires extensive orthodontic treatment. With the use of a dental appliance that discourages thumb sucking, future costly orthodontic treatment may be prevented.
Headgear is a preventive option used is to correct the way the upper and lower molars fit with each other. It can also be used to create additional space for permanent teeth alignment. Headgear is primarily worn in the home and at night during sleep
.If you live in or around Tarzana and considering preventive orthodontic treatment, call us today!
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