Orthodontist in Stamford CT

Orthodontics and Braces

Providing Stamford with Quality Care

Learn About Our Orthodontic Services

Orthodontist In Stamford Ct

What Is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a specialty field of dentistry that caters to facial irregularities pertaining to teeth and jaw misalignment. Orthodontists receive three years of residency training in addition to four years of dental school. At the Stein Dental Group, our orthodontist, Dr. Crew has been trained to assist children and adults seeking alignment corrections.

Why Should You Visit an orthodontist?

The alignment of the teeth impacts functional tasks such as speaking and chewing, in addition to facial development. There are number of malalignment issues such as an overbites, underbites, open bites, etc., that can develop as primary teeth are lost throughout childhood to make way for permanent teeth. More specifically, crowded and misplaced teeth can impact one’s ability to brush all of the surfaces of the teeth effectively, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. If upon routine and examination, it is discovered that overcrowded teeth, asymmetrical teeth, malocclusions or a misaligned jaw is beginning to affect your oral health, one of our Orthodontic Spealists in-house will provide you with further information and a possible treatment plan.

Orthodontic Treatment What Is Our Treatment Approach?

Every person has a unique smile, that’s why we do not believe in a one size fits all approach. Our team at The Stein Dental Group is committed to providing premier quality care while customizing and personalizing your plan of care. During initial examinations, you can expect the following from our dentists.

  • An in-depth review of your dental/medical history
  • Examination of the alignment of your jaw and face
  • X-ray and impressions to create customized molds of your teeth
  • A personalized treatment plan designed to meet your goals
Braces In Stamford Ct

Types Of Orthodontic Solutions We Offer

Traditional Braces

Traditional braces have existed for over 100 years and with continual advances in technology remain the most common type of braces. Traditional braces consist of individual metal brackets that are bonded to each tooth and connected by an archwire that runs through each bracket. The archwire is held in place by small elastic rubber bands fitted around the metal brackets known as ligatures. Ligatures provide a colorful look to someone’s braces when they smile. The job of the ligatures is to provide external pressure to the archwire, and this helps move the teeth into the desired alignment. Traditional braces are commonly tightened every 4-6 weeks on a case by case basis.

Ceramic Braces

Like traditional braces, ceramics braces are comprised of brackets, archwire and ligature bands, which require tightening every 4-6 weeks. The brackets differ from traditional braces in that they are made of clear, composite materials. The clear brackets allow ceramic braces to adopt a natural appearance for a more discrete look compared to traditional braces. Ceramic braces are most commonly favored by the older adolescents and adults desiring esthetically pleasing alternatives; however, ceramic braces are known to be more affected by staining than other types of braces, which requires caution with certain types of foods.

Self-Ligating Braces

Self-ligating braces offer aspects of traditional and ceramic braces. They are available in both metal and ceramic materials. Unlike their counterparts, self-ligating braces use clips as opposed to ligatures to connect the archwire to the brackets. Due to the lack of ligature bands, the rigidity of archwire is altered to help shift the position of the teeth. Some of the benefits of self-ligating braces include lower maintenance, quicker appointment times, and decreased discomfort after checkups.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are the most uncommon form of braces offered in orthodontic clinics. Lingual braces require specialty training beyond training of standard orthodontics. Lingual braces use brackets, archwire and elastic ligatures similar to traditional braces; however, the hardware is attached to the lingual, or back side of the teeth. The benefits of lingual braces are that they are completely unnoticeable; however, they have been known to cause occasional speech impediments and tongue irritation because of where they are placed on the teeth.

What Will Getting My Braces Tightened Consist Of?

Braces typically require servicing to be tightened every 4-6 weeks. The duration of each appointment averages around twenty minutes. During your appointment, several processes will occur. The first step is removing the ligatures. Over time, ligatures lose their resistance, which decreases pressure placed on the archwire. Next, the archwire is removed. Removing the archwire allows Dr. Crew to inspect the current position of your teeth. Depending if the archwire is bent, or if it fits into the grooves easily, the archwire may be swapped out for a more rigid wire to continue to shift your teeth to their desired positions. Lastly, new ligature bands will be added on top of each bracket to hold the new or pre-existing archwire in place.

Will I Be Sore After Tightening My Braces?

Typically, one can experience soreness for up to three days. It is not uncommon for you to experience similar levels of soreness for the first six months. On the contrary, some individuals may not have any discomfort much sooner. In the event that you do experience some discomfort, it is advised to avoid harder foods such as nuts, granola, or dense fruits such as apples. Softer foods such as smoothies, soups, oatmeal and eggs may decrease overall tooth sensitivity. In the event that soreness is persistent, Tylenol, Advil and ice packs may also be used for pain management.

Additional Infomration Other Common Question Around Braces

Alternative to Traditional Braces: Invisalign!

Unsure how you feel about the look of braces? Invisalign is a newer technology that foregoes metal wiring altogether. Invisalign uses 3D images of the mouth to create a series of clear, plastic removable aligners. Invisalign is designed to be worn 22 hours/day and differs from braces in that the aligners can be taken out of your mouth for eating and brushing/flossing your teeth. The number of aligners necessary to complete a treatment vary patient to patient, and each aligner may require up to two or three weeks of wear before the next aligner can be administered. Regular check-ins with our Stamford office allow for close monitoring on the movement of your teeth. Our Orthodontist will also update Invisalign, so you can see the progress you are making.

How Long Will I Need Braces?

During your initial check in with our Orthodontist, we can give you an estimation of how long we believe your treatment plan will last. An average treatment plan typically takes around two years. However, due to each person having unique alignment issues, the length of each treatment plan varies per person.

Can Adults Get Braces?

Yes, orthodontists treat people of all ages, including children, teens and adults. However, it is important to note that treatment plans for an adult can be longer than those of a child or teen as the jaw and teeth have commonly reached full maturity.

When Should My Child See An Orthodontist?

We typically recommend that children visit an orthodontist around the age of 7. Children begin to start losing teeth around the age of 6, and this is also when permanent teeth start to erupt.

How Do You Clean Your Braces and Maintain Good Oral Hygiene?

It is imperative to continue to prioritize oral hygiene when you have braces. Braces can cause tartar to build up more easily because of the additional hardware one needs to maneuver around. Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day will help keep the food from building up in your braces and on your teeth. Flossing with braces is similar to regular flossing, except one will need floss and a floss threader. The floss threader is inserted above the wires of your braces, which will enable you to floss as you normally would.

If you are dealing with alignment issues but aren’t sure what option would be best for you, give our Stamford, CT office a call! We can point you in the right direction and help you achieve the smile that you want!

I am so blessed to have been referred to this office. Everyone from the front desk (Melissa) to my hygienist (Stephanie) to my dentist (Dr . C) were so professional, kind & considerate. I’ve never been so at ease at a dental office before… I wish I had known about your office sooner. Thank you soooo much!

Wendy C.

Orthodontics Image

Orthodontics is be a good choice if you suffer from any of the following:

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