You may have noticed swollen, tender gums if you or your child has braces. Standard braces have many wires and brackets, making it challenging to keep teeth and gums clean and healthy. In addition, some patients’ gums react to new braces by swelling and overgrowing. This blog will explain how …
Braces are an effective and highly versatile orthodontic system. When you have braces, small gaps in your teeth will close relatively quickly, starting at about six to nine months. If you have multiple gaps in your teeth, it may take about 12 months to 2 years to close them with …
Palate expanders or palatal expander devices are common tools in early orthodontic treatment. Children and teens may receive them if they do not have enough room in their jaws for their permanent teeth to erupt. After a palate expander, the next step typically involves putting braces on the patient’s teeth. …
Does your child need a palatal expander device (also known as a PED)? Do you need one? Following the advice of an oral health professional if they recommend palatal expansion is important. That said, if you or a loved one needs a palatal expander, you might have questions regarding how …
Dental misalignments can cause a range of oral health issues if a patient doesn’t receive treatment. They can also have a negative impact on a patient’s smile and appearance. By correcting a misalignment, braces can improve a patient’s smile. However, during the time they’re wearing braces, some patients are less-than-happy …
When you get your traditional braces off or finish using the last Invisalign aligner, you may cheer with accomplishment. Just know that the work is not done. The next step is often a retainer. Depending on whether or not you wear it as you should or how well you care …
Many patients who need orthodontic work face a decision about which type of corrective appliance to receive. Clear braces and Invisalign have much in common, but they each have unique qualities that make them appropriate for different situations. This blog article will explain how clear braces and Invisalign work and …
If you opt for a permanent retainer after completing orthodontic treatment, you may wonder how you’re supposed to floss your teeth. Rest assured, you can continue to floss thoroughly, even with a permanent retainer. Read on for everything to know about flossing your teeth once you’ve had a permanent retainer …
Following orthodontic treatment with Invisalign, clear braces, H4 braces, lingual braces, or traditional braces, all patients need to wear a retainer. Retainers are necessary for keeping the teeth in their new position. But, if your retainer doesn’t fit properly, it isn’t doing its intended job. Here’s how to know if …
If you or your child have just completed a procedure to get braces, or are considering getting braces in the near future, you may be curious what aftercare will be like. While some dietary restrictions may be placed on you or your child by your orthodontist after getting braces put …
Clear braces are a popular choice for teeth straightening. They combine a number of benefits from traditional braces with those of clear plastic aligners. This makes them a terrific choice for patients for whom aligners are not appropriate. At Greater Hartford Orthodontics, we offer our patients clear braces with tieless …
Clear braces are a popular choice for children, teens, and adults who need or want to straighten their teeth in a less noticeable way. Traditional metal braces are still the most common orthodontic treatment, but clear braces are becoming more prevalent. If you’re considering clear braces for yourself or your …
Clear braces have become increasingly popular as the technology behind them has become more advanced and versatile. Clear braces are now equally as effective as metal braces in treating problems such as misalignments, overbites, crossbites, and underbites. If you’re looking forward to the beautiful smile orthodontic treatment can deliver but …
The cost of braces for kids depends on the type of treatment needed and the length of time the treatment is recommended. Just like every person, every mouth is unique, and every child’s straightening needs may be different. But the invaluable results of straighter teeth and a more confident smile …
After completing orthodontic treatment, such as braces or Invisalign, you’ll need to wear a retainer for some time. Retainers are used to keep your teeth in their newly aligned position after you’ve completed treatment. There are a variety of types of retainers, and your orthodontist will let you know which …
If you have worn braces for any amount of time, hearing the word that your treatment is over is cause for celebration. You will gain some freedoms back – and you will do so with a beautifully straight smile. That is, until your orthodontist hands you your new retainer. While …
In order to practice as an orthodontist, a dentist must graduate from dental school and then go on to receive two to three additional years of education and training in orthodontics. This means that all orthodontists meet this basic criteria to provide care for patients. Finding a qualified orthodontist near …
If you’re feeling stuck deciding between clear braces and metal braces, you’re not alone. Many of our patients aren’t sure which option is best for them and conflicting information on the internet or from friends and family members doesn’t help either! Below, we discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages …
When your teeth finally align properly and your braces are removed, your orthodontist will transition you into using a retainer. This is designed to help you maintain your new, beautiful smile. After all, it was your braces that have straightened your teeth, but it is this retainer that will help …
Invisalign® is the perfect option for patients who want straighter smiles, but don’t want to spend a year or two with metal braces. Instead of using brackets and wires to correct misalignments, Invisalign® uses a series of plastic aligners that place gentle pressure on your teeth to shift them into …
Many of our adult patients want a discreet orthodontic treatment option so they can improve their smiles without relying on traditional metal braces. If this describes you, you’re probably already familiar with Invisalign and clear braces, but have you heard of lingual braces? They’re an excellent option for many of …
Are you or your child in need of braces? One of the most popular types of orthodontic care, braces are quite common. In fact, statistics show that nearly 75% of kids/teens could benefit from having their teeth straightened. As braces are recommended for an increasing number of people, many patients …
Invisalign® is quickly becoming as common as braces for orthodontic treatment. For many people, Invisalign® is just as effective as traditional braces for correcting common orthodontic issues from misaligned teeth to overbite. Many patients choose Invisalign® because the clear aligners are less obvious than metal or even clear braces. They …
While there are numerous solutions for straightening your teeth, metal braces are still the most popular choice. Yet many people are nervous about getting braces, as they do not know exactly what to expect. Here are the top 7 braces questions and answers. 1. What Are My Options?Invisalign, billed as “the …
Retainers are an important part of orthodontic treatment. They are often worn after the patient has his or her braces removed. Without retainers, your all of the work that you put into your braces may be ruined. Here is what you should know about retainers after braces. What Do Retainers …
Although many people are now turning to Invisalign or other solutions such as clear or lingual braces, metal braces remain tremendously popular. Yet you may wonder exactly what getting braces will be like. Here is what you should know. The Right Age for BracesWe recommend an initial orthodontics screening around your …
Braces have been the treatment of choice for straightening teeth for over a century. Newer options such as Invisalign are gaining traction, but braces remain incredibly popular. Unfortunately, braces can cause some minor oral trouble. Here are some common problems with braces and how to fix them. SorenessIt is common …
At first, it might seem impossible to brush your teeth if you have braces. How are you supposed to reach your teeth with all those large brackets in front of it? Brushing your teeth is extremely important when you wear braces, as you don’t want food particles to get stuck. …