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Orthodontic Technology: Great Innovations of our Time
There never was a better time for orthodontics and orthodontic technology. We are living in a century of amazing innovations and advances. This truly is a New Age of Braces. Treatment today is quicker, more precise, more efficient, more convenient, and more patient-friendly. Watch your smile transform before your eyes, but decide if you want anyone else to see the apparatus behind it all! Invisalign, Incognito, and Clear Ceramic Braces are today’s braces of choice! Learn what treatment option is best for you.
Dedicated to the Best Orthodontic Technology of Today
Belmar Orthodontics invests in your current and long-term health with the best orthodontic technology out there. Here are just a few of the amazing products that we provide:
Invisalign
Invisalign® clear, removable aligners straighten your smile–invisibly. Hesitating to have orthodontic treatment because you don’t want to deal with metal brackets and wires in your mouth? Invisalign gives you a metal-free option. Gradually move your teeth into their proper position, or correct malocclusion (bites that don’t close correctly), without the discomfort and presence of metal braces.
Invisalign Teen™
For some teenagers, the process of straightening their teeth with traditional metal braces can make eating, speaking, and maintaining clean teeth challenging which is why Invisalign Teen has become the choice of so many.
Incognito™
With Incognito™Lingual Braces, with 3M technology, you can achieve the same results as traditional braces with a hidden treatment apparatus on the tongue-side of your teeth. Lingual braces can achieve the same results as traditional orthodontics in a manner that is inconspicuous and undetectable. By discreetly attaching the braces to the back of the teeth, we can help you achieve healthy, straight, beautiful-looking teeth. With lingual braces, you don’t have to choose between having the orthodontic treatment you need or putting it off due to aesthetic concerns.
Temporary Anchorage Devices
Temporary Anchorage Devices, also known as TADs, are used in some orthodontic cases to help shift the teeth into a straighter position when braces can’t do it on their own, resulting in much more efficient treatment. Combined with braces, the titanium mini-screws (sometimes called mini-implants, and micro-implants) provide a fixed object that can be used to push, pull, lift, or intrude teeth that are being straightened.
Clear Braces
Clear braces function similarly to traditional metal brackets but they use ceramic brackets that are made to match the color of your teeth. Matching the bracket system to your teeth offers a cosmetic benefit to your treatment that many of our patients appreciate. Ceramic brackets used in the treatment are also also more resistant to staining, helping to protect your smile and keep it looking its best during treatment.
High-Tech Alloy Wires
NASA developed one of the 20th century’s most dramatic orthodontic innovations: heat-activated nickel-titanium alloy wires. They found that at room temperature, these heat-activated nickel-titanium arch wires become very flexible. Gradually, as they adjust to your body’s temperature, they become active and steadily move the teeth into the desired position. The high-tech properties of these innovative wires help them retain their tooth-moving capabilities longer than ordinary metal wires. This translates into reduced treatment times and less visits to the orthodontist.
Digital X-Rays
Digital x-rays are faster, provide better image quality than traditional, and safer for the environment. Digital x-rays expose you to 80 percent less radiation than traditional radiography. Digital x-rays are more environmentally-friendly than traditional x-rays because they rely on digital computer uploads for viewing instead of chemical development. Less chemical produced, means less chemicals in our planet! Digital x-rays save storage space and also offer a better tool for diagnosis and treatment. Unlike traditional x-rays, digital x-rays can be enlarged, transposed, and highlighted to better show what is going on in your mouth!
Digital 3D Impressions
Digital 3D impressions with Planmeca PlanScan® intraoral scanner enables us to forego traditional, messy impressions to create your orthodontic products with ease and precision. Digital impressions give us a more complete view of your teeth and mouth. This allows us to make treatment more comfortable, more precise and more immediate.
Cone Beam Computed Tomography (3-D imaging)
Planmeca ProMax 3D Max technology is the first of its kind! It brings together a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) image, a 3D facial photo, AND a 3D model scan combining them into one image. The result is a virtual 3D patient–a near perfect tool for diagnostic success. Dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography is a high-tech x-ray option that is used when regular x-rays just don’t provide enough data. CBCT creates three dimensional scans of your teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways and bones so we get the full picture. Planmeca ProMax 3D units offer a unique, Planmeca Ultra Low Dose imaging protocol, enabling CBCT imaging with an even lower effective patient dose than standard 2D panoramic imaging.
Clear Retainers
After you have obtained your beautiful smile with orthodontic treatment at Belmar Orthodontics, you need to commit to using your retainer to preserve your smile and avoid relapse. Retainers have come a long way from where they were just a decade ago. We offer both Hawley and Essix retainers for your post-treatment needs. Essix retainers are removable retainers that are made entirely of transparent plastic–which makes them much less noticeable than traditional wire retainers. Essix retainers promote good dental hygiene. They give you the freedom to remove the retainer when you brush and floss. Unlike some wire retainers, Essix retainers cover the entire arch of the teeth. But like the traditional Hawley, each one is uniquely molded to the shape of the patient’s mouth.
Call for an Orthodontic Treatment Consultation
If you are considering braces, but aren’t sure which method to use, call for a consultation today. We can evaluate your need for orthodontics as well as discuss your options for orthodontics today. Belmar Orthodontics is dedicated to helping you obtain a healthy, functional, attractive smiles. Think you need braces? Our online patient education can help answer any questions you may have, and our friendly staff is always available to help. Call 303.225.9016 today to learn more about braces or to schedule an appointment. Dr. Hardy is committed to your care and will help you reach your smile goals as quickly and efficiently as possible.