Accelerated Orthodontics

If you are searching for a way to straighten your smile, but you’d rather not wait a year or more, meet accelerated orthodontics, the newest concept in orthodontic treatment. Accelerated orthodontics is pretty much just what it sounds like — a way to achieve straightened teeth in a short amount of time. The great thing is, you don’t have to compromise your smile results. With the right cosmetic dentist, you can get the look you want in a shortened time frame, at a reasonable cost.

The Benefits of Straightening

The purpose of seeking out ways to straighten your teeth should go far beyond simply having a beautiful smile. Straightening your teeth helps create a balanced and healthy bite by encouraging proper jaw alignment. Not only that, but straight teeth are easier to clean, making it harder for bacteria to hide. Teeth that are crooked or crowded tend to have more problems with decay and damage. Crooked teeth on the top may not be lining up with their counterparts on the bottom, and vice-versa. This can cause a number of problems from accelerated tooth wear to chewing or speaking problems to TMJ and neuromuscular problems. In many cases, those with crooked teeth may actually end up spending far more to treat dental problems related to their crooked teeth than they would have spent to straighten them!

What are some signs that braces may be necessary?

You may be a good candidate for accelerated orthodontics if:

• You have several crooked teeth
• You experience overcrowding
• You have a prominent overbite or underbite
• Your upper and lower teeth that do not meet
• Your front upper and lower teeth are not in alignment
• You have difficulty chewing or speech problems
• You have uneven or rapid enamel wear
• Have gaps in teeth

The Fast Track

Accelerated orthodontics can offer the benefits of a comprehensive, traditional braces treatment without the wait. This means fewer office visits and quicker visible results. Traditional braces, the wait can be anywhere from one to three years. By going the accelerated route, you can see results in three to eight months. This method can be used to address all of the problems listed above using modern, safe orthodontic techniques. Patients with minor straightening needs may benefit from porcelain veneers, dental bonding, tooth contouring, or porcelain crowns as alternatives to orthodontic treatment.

Talk to your dentist to learn more about accelerated orthodontics.

Please contact Colonial Dental Group in Chicago, Illinois today to schedule an appointment for a full evaluation of your smile and to determine if orthodontics may be a solution for your dental needs.

Visiting The Orthodontist

Visiting The Orthodontist -- How To Make Braces Affordable And Shorten Treatment Time by Christine O'Kelly

Most of the time, a trip to the orthodontist automatically brings dollar signs to mind. It forces many to look for cheap dental treatments and the most inexpensive experts they can find. This translates into long treatments that turn out being far more expensive than they should be in the first place. Sometimes cutting costs means the treatment produces results that were hardly worth the effort. If you want to find ways to make braces more affordable, you may want to consider some of these points before seeking a provider.

Technology Makes A Difference

SureSmile technology and other new systems used by an orthodontist do add to the cost of braces in the short run, but many experts see it as a valid investment. This technology uses highly detailed 3-D imaging to map out the patient's entire mouth. A robotic machine reads this information, transferring it to a graph and using the information to bend the wires into the precise location.

The resulting treatment doesn't necessarily move the teeth at a faster rate. It calculates the exact position teeth need to sit in as well as the direction the metal needs to exert pressure to reach that point. Each tooth moves as precisely and accurately as possible. Experts have seen this cut five months or more off a treatment. When you consider all of the costs associated with additional visits, care, adjustments, and maintenance, this can be a huge cash savings. The reduced impact on the enamel due to a shorter treatment also helps significantly.

The Experience Level Of The Orthodontist

The experience and expertise of your chosen specialist can have a significant impact on the treatment time and the quality of a treatment. Those who have worked with these treatments longer are more likely to catch a mistake or problem. He or she will likely be more accurate in terms of placement further shortening treatment time. This also reduces the added costs not factored into the original price tag.

The Types Of Braces

The style can have a significant impact on the overall cost of ortho treatments. Invisalign for example, costs far more per patient than traditional styles. Some experts also charge more for selecting custom colored bands and other added features. Any good oral care expert will talk with you about how you can reduce the costs of your treatment and still achieve the desired results.

Don't Overlook Insurance And Payment Plans

In an effort to make orthodontist treatments more affordable, various types of dental insurance and other payment plans will now cover orthodontic treatments. Talk to your existing providers including your medical insurance who may also carry portions of the costs. Flexible spending accounts or investment accounts may also be an option.

When it comes time to choose an orthodontist, Long Island patients and those throughout the country need to keep in mind that a smaller cost initially doesn't always guarantee braces will be more inexpensive in the end. If you need braces, shop wisely and talk with your professional to find the options that will make your mouth and your wallet both smile.

About the Author

Christine O'Kelly is the author for a talented and friendly orthodontist. Long Island's Dr. Gellerman is an expert in Long Island braces as well as other orthodontic treatments to ensure everyone can have a straight and healthy smile.

Professional teeth whitening procedures

Tooth-whitening services are among the most frequently requested cosmetic dentistry procedures, according to a 2004 survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Danielle Gardner/ Staff photographer From a business standpoint, there is little doubt the paradigm has shifted.

Eric Nelson, spokesman for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, based in Madison, Wis., said tooth-whitening services are the most requested and performed procedure in cosmetic dentistry.

In a 2004 survey of 768 dentists, the association found that 29 percent said tooth whitening was the most popular service.

Even dentists whose practice doesn't focus strictly on cosmetic procedures are seeing a shift.

Naperville dentist Tom Brown said the number of cosmetic dentistry procedures he performs has increased from about 10 percent of his patients just six years ago to more than double that today.

"It's all about cosmetic today," Brown said. "Every one of my patients that leaves here wants to be 'white' - from the fillings they get to the brightness of their teeth. Gold is really the best material for fillings, but no one wants it anymore. There are no 'dark tooth' people today."

Brown said the majority of his work continues to be what people think of as more typical dentistry but that the majority of professional journals are filled with stories about cosmetic cases.

"Everyone is looking for that big client, but the fact is, there are not that many cosmetic cases that someone makes $25,000 for veneers or something," he said. "The whole age spectrum is affected - 10-year-olds come in here looking for whitening, which is why dentists across the country are seeing an increase in that type of business."

The cosmetic dentistry association's 2004 survey indicated that patients spend about $455 a year on cosmetic dentistry.

Professional teeth whitening procedures, whether in the office or with take-home trays, can cost anywhere from $300 to $800, Caputo said, which is why many folks opt for over-the-counter remedies. While most products are available for $30 and less, many don't work or offer limited benefits.

But for the budget-conscious, Dr. Kevin Ryan of Naperville said many of his patients have been successful with the whitening strips, which might be a good way to start.

"I offer my patients various levels of whitening procedures, and we have prescribed the strips for many, who have had good success," Ryan said. "There are professional as well as consumer grades of strips, meaning people can't buy the strongest grade at their pharmacy."

Does insurance cover the cost of whitening procedures

Teeth Whitening Gel : A Teeth Whitening Dream come true

Whitening is not permanent. People who expose their teeth to a lot of foods and beverages that cause staining may see the whiteness start to fade in as little as 1 month. Those who avoid foods and beverages that stain may be able to wait one year or longer before another whitening treatment or touch-up is needed.

Tips for maintaining your newly whitened teeth include:

* Avoiding the consumption of or exposure to products that stain your teeth (see first question in this document on what causes teeth to become stained). If you do choose to consume beverages that stain, consider using a straw so that the liquid bypasses your front teeth.
* Brush or rinse immediately after consuming stain-causing beverages or foods.
* Follow good oral hygiene practices. Brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss at least once daily to remove plaque. Use a whitening toothpaste (once or twice a week only) to remove surface stains and prevent yellowing. Use a regular toothpaste the rest of the time.
* Consider touch-up treatments. Depending on the whitening method used, you may need a tough-up every 6 months or after a year or two. If you smoke or drink lots of stain-causing beverages, you may need a touch up more often.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does insurance cover the cost of whitening procedures? No. Dental insurance does not typically cost the cost of the tooth whitening procedure.

Do teeth whiteners damage tooth enamel? Studies of whitening products using 10% carbamide peroxide showed little to no effect on the hardness or mineral content of a tooth's enamel surface.

Do teeth whiteners damage existing dental restorations? Over 10 years of clinical use of whitening products containing 10% carbamide peroxide have not shown any damage to existing fillings. The issue is not "damage" to existing restorations; rather, keep in mind that existing restorations such as tooth-colored fillings, crowns, bonding, veneers, and bridges do not lighten. This means that any preexisting dental work may need to be replaced to match the new tooth shade achieved in the natural teeth, should a bleaching process proceed.

Do teeth whiteners damage a tooth's nerve? There's no evidence to date that the tooth whitening process has a harmful effect on the health of a tooth's nerve. One study reported that at both a 4.5 and 7-year follow up, no individual who used a tooth whitening system needed a root canal procedure on any teeth that had been whitened.