Early Treatment
While most patients are best treated with one well-timed phase of orthodontic treatment, there are certain bite problems that require early intervention. The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that children be seen by an orthodontist around age 7 to screen for malocclusions (bite problems).
Our office is very conservative about early treatment and we will only recommend treatment if it is necessary for the health of the teeth or the jaw.
Adult Treatment
Orthodontic treatment isn’t just for kids, it’s not too late to have the smile that you’ve always wanted! As long as the teeth and gums are healthy, orthodontic treatment can be done at any age. In our practice, approximately 20-25% of our patients are adults.
We offer various treatment options to fit your needs. We are one of the largest providers of Invisalign in the state of Maine and have experience treating many different types of cases with it. If braces are preferred, we offer clear braces as another aesthetic option.
If you are considering orthodontic improvement to improve your smile or the health and comfort of your teeth, please call our office to schedule a complimentary exam. Our doctors will discuss your teeth and bite with you, make recommendations, and answer all of your questions for you.
Types of Braces
Traditional metal braces: Our metal braces are small, low profile, and comfortable. Patients are able to choose from many different elastic colors each time they come into the office.
Innovation Clear braces: Our clear braces are a very aesthetic way to go through orthodontic treatment and are very popular with our adult and older teen patients. They are made of a translucent ceramic material and don’t stain so they look just as good the day they come off as the day they went on.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a series of clear aligners that are worn to straighten teeth. The first set of aligners closely matches the patient’s teeth and each aligner is slightly straighter than the one before it. The patient will wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks before moving on to the next set. The total number of aligners determines the length of treatment and is based on the severity of the case.
Invisalign is a great way to go through orthodontic treatment. The aligners can be removed for eating so there are no dietary restrictions. They are also removed for brushing and flossing so hygiene is easier to maintain. The aligners are very comfortable to wear and don’t tend to irritate the lips and cheeks. Invisalign is also a very aesthetic way to go through treatment because the aligners are practically invisible!
More Information about Invisalign
Retention
After orthodontic treatment is completed, it is very important to wear retainers to prevent the teeth from shifting. We recommend that our patients wear retainers full time for four months after braces or Invisalign treatment are finished. After four months, retainers should be worn every night for at least a year and then gradually decreased. We follow our patients through the first two years of this process.
For most of our patients, we use clear, Invisalign-style retainers after treatment. Certain patients will require a more traditional retainer (Hawley) to wear at night based on the nature of their bite.
