Understanding Orthodontic Appliances for Jaw Growth Correction

Children and adults who visit orthodontists often feel confused and a little frightened because of the various metal tools and appliances. Knowing the applications of such devices can help ease a patient's mind when undergoing treatment. Dentofacial orthopedics is a specialty that uses appliances to adjust the jaws for ideal compatibility. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends these treatment options for children between the ages of eight and 12 to make adjustments during developmental stages. Adults also experience dental changes throughout their lives and can benefit from dentofacial orthopedic appliances. Some common problems with jaw alignment or development include:

• Underdeveloped lower jaw
• Protrusion of upper teeth
• Malocclusions
• Crossbite
• Overbite

Orthodontic Appliances for Correcting Jaw Growth Problems

Jaw-correcting appliances are either fixed or removable. Fixed appliances are applied to the teeth with the use of cement. Removable appliances require dedication from the patient to wear the devices as instructed. You will receive better results by wearing your orthodontic gear and following the treatment plan designed for your specific needs. Understanding the potential results will help you stay motivated, and parents can help their children to follow recommendations. Some appliances can cause slight discomfort during adjustment periods, but wearing them regularly will help shorten the time frame for treatment. Here are some of the most common appliances for correcting jaw growth problems.

• Headgear: This appliance is removable and consists of a stainless steel facebow and fabric safety strap. The orthodontist fixes metal bands to your upper-back teeth where you attach the facebow. The safety strap wraps around your head and secures the facebow. Headgear affects jaw growth and tooth movement by applying pressure to the upper teeth and maxilla.
• Herbst® Appliance: Typically permanent, these appliances attach to the upper and lower molars to hold the mandible forward. The purpose of this type of treatment is to eliminate an overbite. With expansion screws, the Herbst can also widen the jaw.
• Mara: This appliance pushes the mandible forward to reduce overbite. Crowns are placed on your top and bottom molars, and a metal elbow connects the crowns.
• Bite Corrector: This appliance is combined with braces to correct different malocclusions. Metal bars with enclosed springs apply pressure to both the upper and lower jaws. The placement of such bars will depend on the bite type.
• Bionator: This removable appliance guides the lower jaw so that it grows in proportion to the upper jaw. Children can develop aligned bites by wearing bionators.
• Palatal Expansion: There are two options for placement, fixed, or removable palatal expansions, to fix crossbites. The appliance attaches to the upper-back teeth and widens the jaw.
You will get used to the feeling of most appliances within one month, and the adjustment period is easier if you follow the treatment plan that our staff designs. The average time it takes to correct jaw problems is 12 months, so you can expect to see a more beautiful smile in about one year.

Braces without Embarrassment

Adults who need orthodontic care often share the misconception that they are too old for braces and would rather not deal with the embarrassment. You are probably familiar with horror stories about rubber bands snapping, mishaps with kissing, and unsightly food sticking in metal braces. Many adults believe that braces are just for children, but they are neglecting all the benefits of correcting misaligned teeth. Braces may cause you to feel self-conscious, but they are temporary. Along with straightening your teeth, braces also provide the following benefits:

• Better oral hygiene
• Easier to clean aligned teeth
• Less complicated dental procedures
• Eliminate the embarrassment of crooked teeth

One common reason for not correcting misaligned teeth is the appearance of metal braces. Adults do not want to face co-workers and friends with colored rubber bands and metal laced throughout their mouths. The expert healthcare professionals at SingHealth suggest several alternatives that are just as effective as metal braces. You have three options for correcting your misaligned teeth without the embarrassment, and they include:

• Ceramic braces
• Lingual braces
• Invisalign®

Ceramic braces are like metal ones except that they match the natural color of your teeth. This option is less noticeable and will usually not show up in photographs. Lingual braces are attached to your back teeth only, so no one will know that you have a corrective device. Invisalign consists of clear plastic coverings that you can remove for eating and teeth brushing. All of these options lead to a more attractive smile that you do not have to feel embarrassed about.

If you do choose metal braces to correct your teeth, you should consider the following suggestions for limiting embarrassing moments. The rubber bands holding the brackets in place come in silver, which will draw less attention to your mouth. Changing the removable rubber bands on a regular basis will help prevent the material from wearing down and snapping. If you chew with your back molars and cut your food into manageable bites, you are less likely to get particles stuck in your braces. Following our treatment advice and instructions will limit the time you have to wear corrective devices. Focus on the end result of straighter teeth whenever you feel particularly self-conscious about your braces.

“Am I Too Old for Braces?”

Absolutely not! Orthodontic treatment for adults is becoming more and more common. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! More adults than ever are realizing that orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, and can help improve the aesthetics and health of a smile of any age! In a society where appearance matters and can help make the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing wisely to invest in orthodontic treatment.

Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:

           
• Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart, sometimes as a result of tooth decay or gum disease


           
• Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw


           
• A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly

Most of all though, adult patients come to our office seeking a healthier mouth and a more confident smile! Orthodontic treatment at our office can be successful at any age, and adults especially can appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

As an adult patient, we recognize that you have different needs than our younger patients, and we will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. We understand you have a busy schedule, and will work with you to find a time that is convenient for you. Please visit our website or give our office a call to schedule your appointment today!

Emergency care with Dr. R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

At R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, we know orthodontic emergencies are never convenient nor timely. If you are a patient of record, Dr. Scott Smith and our team are committed to your dental health and are more than willing to see you after hours or over the weekend. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. If you have a orthodontic emergency after regular office hours, please give us a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts to learn how you may be able to solve the problem yourself, or, if you cannot, how to contact Dr. Smith and team.

Common issues include:

*Broken Brace
*Broken Wires
*Tie has come off of a Brace
*Loose Expander
*Poking Wire Tie
*Sharpness Felt on the Tongue Side of a Brace
*Loss of a Separator
*Initial Soreness
*Wire Poking

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you visit our office.

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics, from Dr. Smith

Dr. Smith and his team at R Scott Smith Orthodontics would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at R Scott Smith Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Five reasons to schedule a summer consultation at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

Are you considering scheduling an orthodontic consultation with Dr. R. Scott Smith this summer? Now is the ideal time for you to get started on perfecting your smile!

Here are our top five reasons why summer is the ideal time to schedule an orthodontic consultation:

#1 School is out - no need to miss school for your appointment
#2 It's easier to take time off from work during the summer. Often work schedules are more relaxed.
#3 Summer Hours - we start seeing patients at 7:00am during the summer months. Get in early and still have your whole day ahead of you!
#4 As always, we have the most flexible payment plans. Start now and payments start in September.
#5 It's ALWAYS a good time to take care of your oral health.

How to keep your breath fresh, with R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

Drs. Scott Smith, your Springfield and South Hadley orthodontist, recognizea that many of our patients are concerned about bad breath, or halitosis. While some cases of bad breath are persistent (chronic bad breath), generally bad breath is transient, and can be prevented.

We recently came across this helpful video about bad breath and thought it was worth sharing with our patients. The video explains what might cause bad breath and some ways that it can be avoided. In most instances, bad breath can be prevented by practicing common oral hygiene techniques that you have probably heard us emphasize during a visit to R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, such as brushing and flossing daily. We encourage you to watch this video for additional tips on how to keep bad breath at bay. Enjoy!

Happy Social Media Day, from R. Scott Smith Orthodontics!

It seems like in today’s world, every day feels like social media day. However, June 30th is officially Social Media Day, “a day to celebrate the revolution of media becoming social.” Much like the use of cell phones, checking and updating social media has become a daily routine for many people. We here at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics are particularly grateful for social media because we are able to interact with patients like you.

Recently we found a very interesting study about social media that was presented on May 25, 2011 by Edison Research and Arbitron that presents some very interesting statistics about social media use in America today. One fascinating highlight is that approximately 46 million Americans who are the age of 12 or older check their social media sites and services several times a day. Check out the full study for more interesting information about social media and social networking.

As you might have noticed, we love engaging in conversation with our patients online. It’s a great way to connect with our patients. It also helps us share news, photos, ideas, and upcoming events at the office. We have found that our Facebook fan page and blog are great tools for making this connection.

Dr. Smith and our team want to continue to improve our social networking presence. Let us know how you would like us to be using our social media or what you would like to see posted on the blog.

Happy Social Media Day!

Massachusetts Tornado Relief

Hello,

We hope you are all well and safe following last week's storms. Like many of you, our Springfield office was without power. Our computer and telephone system were both down and we moved many of our patients to our Enfield location. We are sorry for any inconvenience. If you need to schedule an appointment, please give one of our offices a call.

Our thoughts are with those of you who suffered a loss from the tornadoes. Please call if there is something that we can do to help.

We are gathering the following necessities to help those in need:

New packages of socks & underwear, new or gently used sheets, towels, & blankets, Toiletries such as shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and antibacterial hand cleaners and diapers.

These items can be dropped off at any one of our three office locations. Everything will be brought to the Springfield YMCA for distribution.

Be Well,

The Staff of R. Scott Smtih, DMD

Celebrities get braces, too!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? During this time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Dr. Smith and Dr. Raney.

In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces with braces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give R Scott Smith Orthodontics a call.

How important is your smile? From R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

At the orthodontic practice of Dr. Scott Smith, we provide our patients with well-rounded orthodontic care in a relaxed, comfortable setting. Our doctors and staff are dedicated to making sure that you and your family receive the treatments and care that you deserve. Seeing your smile is the most important part of our day!

And speaking of smiling, in a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there are choosing teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Please contact R. Scott Smith Orthodontics for your complimentary new patient consultation. We look forward to working with you!

Thanks to Invisalign®, mom and dad can have a perfect smile, too!

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

R. Scott Smith Orthodontics offers flexible payment options to fit your family

With the slow recovery of the U.S. and global economy, Dr. Smith and Dr. Raney know that many of our patients are still trying to conserve money while putting off necessary treatments. We understand that this is a difficult time for many families, and it is a priority of our practice to offer very flexible payment options to fit the needs of our patients.

Our office has made every effort to meet the financial challenges of this economy head-on by creating payment plans to meet our patients' budgets, accepting lower down payments and stretching out monthly payments over two and three years in an effort to make orthodontics affordable for most everyone.

Our team at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics know that parents want to do what's best for their children, and we will work with them to make this happen. Please give us a call today to schedule an orthodontic consultation, and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Drs. Scott and Raney present: Most Frequent Questions

At R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, we recognize that each orthodontic patient has unique needs, and wants treatment customized for them. There are many questions that new patients might ask, so how do you respond to some of the more common questions? Here are the answers to the most common questions Drs. Smith and Raney receive from patients:

“How will keeping my smile healthy keep me healthy as a whole?”

Straight teeth contribute to healthy teeth and gums, making them less prone to decay and injury.

“I have always been afraid of having work done to my teeth, what do you do to ease patients’ fears?”

Our office is set up with an "open operatory," one big room with the dental chairs arranged in a semi-circle. Since everyone is here for the same reason, no one is afraid. This makes it a fun, relaxed atmosphere. We do offer private rooms as well, but they are rarely requested!

“I don’t see a list of insurance companies on your website, so what is the best way I can find out if you work with my insurance provider?”

We are participating providers with most Delta Dental plans. Kelly, our financial coordinator will take care of the paperwork for all other plans so that the subscriber will be reimbursed.

Another very common question that we are asked is "What payment options does your office offer?" The answer is, in today's uncertain financial world we recognize that our payment arrangements need to be flexible. We do offer a discount for payment in full. We also work with both Care Credit and Chase Health Advance, offering no down payment and interest free payment plans. An additional option is to have our office do the financing. No finance fees are ever charged for this service. Our treatment coordinators will assist with creating a payment plan to fit individual budgets. We are "flex plan friendly" and will design a payment plan to allow the employee to take best advantage of benefits.

At R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, access to your patient account 24/7

Did you know that at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, patients have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week - all through our website. Patients can look up their appointments and all their account details at a time of their choosing and convenience, all from the comfort of their own home! Patients can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

If you're a recent patient of ours, you too may sign up for this convenient service known as Ortho Sesame on our website by clicking the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call at our convenient Springfield, South Hadley or Enfield locations if you have any questions about getting started with Ortho Sesame!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

"Hey, Dr. Smith! What's the deal with retainers?"

Have you recently completed treatment at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics? Our entire team would like to congratulate you again! Now that your braces have been removed, Drs. Smith or Raney will provide—or have provided you by now—with retainers. After braces are removed, our staff will tell you that teeth may shift out of position if they're not stabilized.

Retainers, however, provide that stabilization, and are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until your bones and gums adapt to treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by our team is the best way to make sure your treatment lasts a lifetime.

If you have additional questions about retainers or your treatment at our office, please give us a call and we'll try to answer any question you may have.

Have a great week everyone!

This summer, bring your smile on vacation!

Headed somewhere fun this summer? Then don't forget to bring your smile with you! Whether you're flying overseas, going to camp or just hanging out with friends, our staff at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics want you to take a picture and send it to us!

There will be prizes awarded for the silliest, most imaginative, farthest away and friendliest photos!

We look forward to seeing your beautiful smiles!

Write a review of R. Scott Smith Orthodontics!

Warm, caring, professional - at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, we provide our patients with well-rounded orthodontic care in a relaxed, comfortable setting. Our practice works with patients of all ages and lifestyles to create one-of-a-kind smiles that last a lifetime.

Whether you've visited our office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our practice is faring! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there. Or, you may review us on Yelp if you'd like. After all, reviews help Drs. Smith and Raney create more beautiful smiles in Springfield, South Hadley, Enfield, CT and surrounding areas!

You may write a review here. Thanks in advance and enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day weekend! We look forward to reading your reviews!

R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, bridging the gap between the myths and facts of braces

Trust us, we know there are lots of myths about orthodontics (and also orthodontists) floating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, Drs. Smith and Raney think you should get the facts! We came across a great site that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, feel free to give us a call.

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!

Did you know the month of May is designated National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged Americans to incorporate more activity into their lives, and the reminder is even more significant today as kids are distracted more and more by television, social networking and video games. Kids living an active lifestyle can improve their health, productivity and overall well being, and best of all? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these helpful public health guidelines for your information. The guidelines call for children and teenagers to exercise one hour every day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, we always encourage our patients to exercise or participate in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection - there are plenty - when playing sports. To learn more about how often your child should exercise, we recommend you check out this series of helpful articles about kids and exercise, courtesy of our friends at KidsHealth.org.

Happy Wednesday!