Diamons

braces

Photography by Dr. Padval

The New Way to Straighten Teeth

With Invisalign® Ever wish that you could have perfectly straight teeth…without months of wearing those geeky metal braces? And wouldn’t it be nice to get your teeth straightened without anyone outside the family even knowing about it? Believe it or not, there’s a new way to straighten teeth—invisibly. And our office can walk you through it! The process is called Invisalign, because it uses a series of nearly undetectable aligners instead of brackets and wires. Even up close it’s really hard to see that [...]

By |2023-12-22T15:01:35-08:00January 16, 2024|Orthodontic Dentistry|

Can a Musical Instrument Affect Teeth?

Ever think of asking your dentist which musical instrument you should play? Few people do. But especially for young people, an early dental analysis–before selecting a musical instrument–can be important. Surprisingly, some instruments–woodwind or brass–can actually help some children who have an overbite problem. Yet, the same instrument can make the problem worse in another child. Each case must be judged individually. Consider Michael who wants to play a saxophone in the school band. His parents think it's time for braces, but Michael wonders [...]

By |2017-08-15T00:00:07-07:00August 15, 2017|Children's Dentistry|

The Makings of a Better Smile

One of the best things about today's cosmetic dentistry is how dramatically your smile can be enhanced with very simple, conservative procedures. All of us differ in terms of our appetite for cosmetic improvement. But a custom plan can be developed that fits your own particular desire—and comfort level—to a "T." A great smile is the sum of its components. These include color, tooth spacing, size, straightness, gum line, and more. As we age, all of these components can be negatively affected: teeth darken, [...]

By |2017-02-07T00:00:20-08:00February 7, 2017|Cosmetic Dentistry|

Do You Commit Tooth Abuse?

Especially for Braces Wearers Do you absent-mindedly commit Tooth Abuse? These are habits definitely off limits for the health of your teeth: Don't chomp on a toothpick—it can wear teeth down and get caught in your braces. Stop chewing your nails, pens and pencils—it's hard on teeth and gums. Leave the ice in your drink? Chewing ice can crack teeth and fillings, and pop wires in braces. Don't consume something very hot just after something very cold. The rapid expansion and contraction can crack [...]

By |2016-12-13T00:00:29-08:00December 13, 2016|Patient Education|

Impression Material

What is that goo? Whether you need a new denture, braces, or a single inlay restoration, you'll encounter the "goo" dentists use to make an impression - the first step to a perfect likeness of your mouth. In effect, the material you bite into registers a "negative" image, like a photograph. To make a positive model, a plaster-like "stone" is poured into the impression and allowed to set. And there you are. Impression material, to work properly, must reproduce oral structures accurately, and be [...]

By |2016-12-06T00:00:52-08:00December 6, 2016|Patient Education|