Monday, March 22, 2010

The History of Braces


Even Ancient peoples wanted straight teeth. Braces have been discovered on Egyptian mummies with metal bands wrapped around their teeth and catgut wires used to close gaps! In the early 18th century, the French were working towards modern orthodontics. Pierre Fauchard invented a “bandeau” which widened the arch. Numerous other dentists expanded on his work, but no real advances came to braces until the 20th century.

In America, the first braces were used from all types of materials but gold was especially common. Because gold is soft and malleable it was the perfect metal to wrap around individual teeth to move them. In 1929 the American Board of Orthodontics was born, and nine years later came the first synthetic toothbrush. Stainless steel was not used in mouths until the early 60’s, nor were x-rays used in orthodontics until that time.

In the 70’s new technologies were employed to hide braces. Amongst them were lingual braces that were placed on the inside of the teeth. During the 80’s tooth colored braces came into play. But today Brooklyn Invisialign makes all of these practices look dated. Brooklyn Invisalign was developed by a couple of Stanford MBA’s who had braces in high school and wanted to make the process easier. Today Brooklyn Invisalign technology is just ten years old and using computer imaging will continue to advance making Brooklyn NY braces smaller, less visible and more comfortable.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Brooklyn Invisalign Makes A Perfect Smile In No Time

My smile was okay, but I always had little bits of food stuck in my teeth. It was really embarrassing and so eventually I went found an NYC braces orthodontist. I really didn’t want Medicaid braces, but I did want straight teeth. So when I talked to my Medicaid orthodontist, he recommended Brooklyn Invisalign. He took some pictures of my teeth and when I came back a few weeks later to get my first cast, I was already on my way.

I was still able to eat what I wanted because I took out the aligners whenever I ate and drank. Brushing and flossing was a cinch and the whole while no one even knew that I was straightening my teeth. I went to my NYC braces orthodontist about every two months to pick up my new casts for my teeth and switched them every two weeks. I was actually able to watch my teeth shift from aligner to aligner. Finally about a year later, I was done with the treatment and I had the smile I always wanted.

I’m so happy that I got Brooklyn Invisalign because now my smile is perfect, and I never had to experience the traditional discomfort of braces.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Why Headgear?

Headgear was once more commonplace than it is today. It was, and still is sometimes used for severe bite problems. It is traditionally used in conjunction with braces and attaches to them with metal hooks to pull the jaw forward. While your NYC braces orthodontist will most likely spare you the stigma attached to these appliances with a different form of Medicaid braces, it’s good to know about what once was a more prevalent option in the orthodontic world. Most headgear alternatives take the form of temporary anchorage devices to help shift teeth.

As a whole, adults are ineligible for headgear treatment and so it is important that children be diagnosed as soon as possible. If they are not, corrective surgery may have to occur. The ideal age for a screening is 7. By then the first adult molars have emerged and begin to impact the adult bite. Today Brooklyn NY braces can help malocclusions (bad bites) the same way that headgear once used to.

So for any bite, whether it’s an overbite, underbite, crossbite or openbite, it’s best to see your Medicaid orthodontist if you have any concerns. If you’re looking for Brooklyn NY braces, you can rest assured that you will be happier than if you were wearing headgear.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Correcting Overbites With NYC Braces Orthodontist

While ideal overbite is 10%, more extreme overbites can be deleterious to dental health and the aesthetics of your smile. Sometimes teeth can wear unevenly, which can provide issues down the line. Other times, the covering of the bottom teeth by the top can be unattractive and the bottom teeth can hurt the palate from rubbing against it. While most overbites are passed on genetically, others can be caused during infancy from thumb sucking or excessive bottle or pacifier usage. Luckily the solutions for this problem are relatively easy.

With Brooklyn NY braces or a NYC braces orthodontist, overbites are easily remedied through teeth straightening and braces. Once these procedures are in effect, they fix the jaw to prevent more serious symptoms like TemporoMandibular Joint Syndrome, which often causes neck and jaw pain, migraines, and sleeping issues. To prevent the overbite from recurring, check in with your NYC braces orthodontist regularly to ensure that your jaw doesn’t return to its original placement.

While it’s better to take care of issues like these during adolescence, they can be fixed at any time in order to prevent problems later in life. So if you’re worried about an overbite, underbite, or any dental problem at all, visit your NYC braces orthodontist today!

Monday, February 22, 2010

So You’re Braces are Off? Time for Retention!


If you finally got your brooklyn ny braces off, you probably can’t stop smiling.

You love the way your new smile looks and want to keep it that way, so proper retention methods are of utmost importance.

The retainer can be one of the most important aspects of your orthodontic treatment. You don’t want all that hard work and money to go down the drain after you’re braces are off, so wearing your retainer for the amount of time prescribed by your nyc braces orthodontist is crucial to preserving your beautiful smile.

In most cases, after the braces are taken off a retainer must be worn 24/7 or the teeth will shift. Many orthodontists don’t tell their patients they must wear the retainer at all times after the first few months of brace-freedom.

Your teeth still aren’t used to their new position and in the first few months after your braces are removed, they still want to shift back to their natural position. Retainers are crafted to hold them in their new place.

After the first few months of wearing your retainer all day, most people can usually start wearing it only at night, for quite a while. Many adults still wear that their nyc braces orthodontist gave them in their teenage years. And why not! It won’t hurt and it will only help your teeth stay put.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Going for the Gold: 24-Karat Brooklyn NY Braces


Some people need a little help getting excited for their braces. It's true that Brooklyn NY braces are the first step in obtaining straighter, healthier teeth, but for some folks this goal is simply too far away. They need something to get psyched about now. If this sounds like you, don't worry — you can get excited for orthodontic treatment today with gold braces.

Gold? That's right. Stainless steel braces are currently available with a coating of 24-karat gold, which patients find appealing for a number of reasons. First, gold braces allow people with stainless steel allergies to finally get the oral treatment they deserve. Additionally, many patients think than gold looks less jarring over teeth than the color of regular stainless steel. And of course, some people just like gold.

Remember, gold and stainless steel are but a few of the options your NYC braces orthodontist has to offer. You might also consider mini diamond braces, which are smaller and more comfortable than traditional braces. Another option is Brooklyn Invisalign — the metal-free way to straighten your teeth.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

NYC Braces Orthodontist News: i-CAT Cone Beam 3-D Imaging System

Most of us are familiar with CT scans. They’ve been used in the medical field for over 30 years. But one of the latest advances in diagnostic technology, the revolutionary i-CAT system, has also become a leader in diagnostic tools and is now regularly used at Hanson Place Orthodontics.

If you’re unfamiliar with i-CAT technology, the i-CAT differs from traditional CT scans in that it produces quality 3-D images in as little time as one minute. This more detailed three-dimensional view offers Orthodontists a better view of the hard and soft facial tissues and structures and can lead to a faster and more accurate diagnosis.

Another important feature of the i-CAT Cone Beam is that is uses 90% less radiation than a tradition X-Ray, while providing your nyc braces orthodontist with clear, crisp accurate images.

i-CAT technology is most commonly used in TMJ assessment, Surgical Planning, evaluation of cleft lip and palates, impacted tooth position, facial analysis and placement of dental implants.

If you’re interested in being evaluated with the latest and most modern dental Imaging system, then contact the ultimate NYC braces orthodontist, Hanson Place Orthodontics and set up an appointment today.