Having straight teeth offers many benefits other than being aesthetically pleasing. The confidence a person gains from a bright, beautiful smile is immeasurable. Furthermore, straight teeth can contribute to the overall health and function of a patient’s bite. In fact, properly aligned teeth are easier to keep clean, which reduces cavities, gum disease, and bone loss. At South Meadows Dental & Orthodontics, we offer many different options for our patients to achieve optimal alignment of their teeth and bite for optimal stability and longevity.
Sometimes, adults need more than merely aligning their teeth to restore their best smile. A combination of orthodontics and restorative dentistry is needed. One of the advantages of pursuing orthodontic treatment at South Meadows Dental & Orthodontics is that our orthodontist and general dentists work hand-in-hand to give the patient the ideal treatment plan. They are able to easily consult with each other about proposed treatment and truly have a “team” approach, which best suits their patients’ needs.
DAMON BRACES
WHAT ARE DAMON BRACES?
The Damon System is a state-of-the-art method of using brackets that no longer need “ties” to hold on to the wire. Instead, they use a slide mechanism, making them self-ligating brackets. When a self-ligating bracket is used, the amount of friction between the wire and the bracket is significantly reduced. Since the friction, or pressure, is what can lead to discomfort for the patient, Damon braces are more ideal in reducing that discomfort.
Learn more about Damon Braces
INVISALIGN®
Crooked, gapped, or uneven teeth often leave patients feeling embarrassed about their smile. For years, traditional braces have been a tried and true method of straightening misaligned teeth, but they are very noticeable. To give our patients an alternative, Dr. Meagan Struby offers Invisalign® for those who want a more inconspicuous way to straighten their teeth. Straight teeth not only provide a beautiful smile, but they also help keep your teeth healthy by unraveling crowding and better positioning them for proper force distribution. This can improve gum health. For a beautiful, straight, new smile, learn more about Invisalign® at South Meadows Dental & Orthodontics.
Learn more about Invisalign®
Fixed Orthodontic Retainer
Removable Orthodontic Retainer
Clear Aligner Technology
Adult Orthodontics Frequently Asked Questions
What types of braces are best for adults?
The degree of complexity of a particular malocclusion (the imperfect positioning of teeth) is the gauge by which Dr. Struby determines treatment options. Certain treatment plans lend themselves well to Invisalign, while others require braces to achieve the desired outcome. In the realm of braces, there are two options—metal or porcelain (clear) Damon braces. nnDamon braces are brackets that incorporate a mechanism that securely holds the wire into the bracket, with reduced friction. There is no need to cinch the wire down with an elastomeric ligature. The appeal for this bracket design is, with reduced friction, crowding of teeth seems to unravel more quickly. Observing crooked, overlapped teeth beginning to line up is very motivating for our adult patients.nnAn additional option for adult patients utilizes an indirect bonding technique. In this technique, a patient’s teeth are scanned into a program using a digital scanner. Once the 3-D representation of the patient’s teeth is available for manipulation, Dr. Struby can set up the case with precision. Brackets are milled to translate the movements that Dr. Struby has made on the model to the actual patient’s mouth. This provides for an extremely efficient tooth movement.nnAt your consultation, Dr. Struby will listen to your goals and help determine which treatment option is best for you.
Can you be too old to get braces?
As long as your teeth and gums are healthy, you can have orthodontic treatment at any age!
Does insurance cover braces for adults?
In many cases, adults have orthodontic benefits through their dental insurance. There are some age limitations, so it is best to present your insurance information to our friendly staff, prior to or at your initial consultation appointment. That way, our team can help you verify your orthodontic benefit, giving you the most accurate information possible. Whether or not your dental insurance has an orthodontic benefit, you never need a referral to have a consultation with Dr. Meagan Struby.
Do teeth move as you get older?
The short answer is, yes, teeth can drift or shift throughout your lifetime.
What causes teeth to shift in adults?
Teeth are held in place by a periodontal ligament that attaches to the bone. Bone, a living tissue, naturally changes and modifies over time. Things that can influence the bone’s support of the teeth are the bone’s density, certain medications, trauma, underlying skeletal conditions, changes in chewing habits, other perioral muscular habit changes, changes in breathing habits, and the loss or wear of neighboring teeth or tooth structure—to name a few. nnIf you have noticed that your teeth are shifting, it may be time to consider treating your orthodontic malocclusion. Alternatively, you may simply want to consider a retainer to prevent further change.
