Modern Orthodontics

Retainers re-position teeth by producing a tilting movement. They are primarily used to create more space for the teeth or to guide jaw development in an appropriate way.

Conventional removable retainers are made of plastic and wire components. Built-in screws and springs are used to move the teeth into the desired position.

For cases of jaw misalignment, it is common to have an orthodontic appliance consisting of a retainer for the upper jaw and one for the lower jaw.

To ensure that the treatment is successful, the retainers must be worn for the time specified by your orthodontist. Equally important are regular check-ups at the practice to monitor progress.

Information about wearing retainers:

During the active treatment phase, retainers are worn both at night and during the day, according to the instructions the patient receives. The general rule of thumb for wearing retainers is: the longer, the better.

After active treatment when the teeth are being stabilized to prevent shifting, it is sufficient to wear the retainer at night.

Retainers can be removed while eating or playing sports.

We offer highly cosmetic treatment options for adults and teenagers, so that a corrective procedure won't impact presentability.

Fixed braces feature multiple brackets which are attached to the teeth. Standard braces of this type are usually made out of stainless steel or titanium. After preparing the surface of the tooth, the brackets are bonded to the teeth. The brackets are used to secure a thin wire, known as the archwire, which is used to move the teeth into the desired position.

In this manner, gradual pressure can be applied to the teeth via the archwire, gently encouraging the task of repositioning.

Fixed braces need to be checked regularly during treatment, so that necessary adjustments guiding the pressure of the archwire can be made.

Super-elastic wires are extremely flexible, so they are also well-suited for situations where teeth require a lot of movement to attain their ideal positioning.

The specially designed materials of these archwires enable them to exert consistent, gentle pressure on the teeth. In addition to requiring less visits for check-ups and adjustments, this option offers patients with relatively severe misalignment a considerably more pleasant alternative to traditional archwires made of rigid steel.

With this technique, the friction on the archwire is reduced by a special locking mechanism on the bracket. There is no need to enhance the archwire with other elements such as elastics. The brackets themselves are sleek and cosmetically appealing.

Because of their construction, self-ligating braces make it easy for patients to maintain excellent dental hygiene.

Self-ligating braces offer a gentle and relatively painless treatment through the use of gentle tension.

The aesthetic qualities of brace components can be enhanced by using tooth-colored brackets and white-coated archwires, making them more inconspicuous than their metal counterparts.

An even more discreet option is the transparent, self-ligating plastic bracket. The clear brackets are completely free of any metal parts and can hardly be noticed, even at short distances.

Lingual braces are fixed braces which are attached to the back of the teeth, hiding them from view.

Lingual braces are an effective treatment for all degrees of misalignment, from mild to severe. The placement on the back of the teeth aids the body's biomechanical process of movement, correcting even severe misalignments quicker than braces placed on the front of the teeth.

The preparation of lingual braces involves extensive lab work and requires more in-practice time for the placing of the brackets and adjustments of the archwire. This expenditure of time and effort is reflected in the higher cost of lingual braces. Therefore, this modern and highly aesthetic option is mostly chosen by adults and teenagers for whom cosmetic appearance plays a key role.

Adaption Phase: Patients may feel a bit awkward at first while wearing the braces, since there may be some slight interference while speaking or chewing. Normally, patients find it easier to adjust to the braces on the top row of their teeth as on the bottom. However, after a few weeks, patients are typically used to the braces.

The Invisalign system re-positions teeth with a series of thin, transparent plastic aligning trays which the patient wears sequentially. There are no metal components or wires in the aligners, so they are virtually invisible. Patients can remove the aligners to eat or drink and to brush and floss, allowing for optimal dental hygiene during treatment. The customized aligning trays do not interfere with speech.

This option is suitable for treatments where a minor or moderate correction for permanent teeth is required.

The process begins by taking impressions of the teeth using a precise molding technique. Then, aided by a 3-D computer imaging process, a presentation of the projected end result is generated. Using this information, a step-by-step treatment plan is developed.

For each step in the treatment plan, a custom-made aligner is created using modern laser technology. Each aligner is worn for two weeks. The number of aligners required for the treatment depends on the patient's individual case of misalignment. Each aligner is designed to gently move the teeth towards the projected end result. Patients can view computerized images of their end result in our office. We check the progress of the repositioning in regular intervals until the treatment has been completed.

We will gladly assess whether this option is an appropriate treatment for you in a personalized consultation.

Even though tooth decay and periodontitis can be avoided, 90% of the population still suffer from these dental diseases. By taking advantage of the knowledge and technology of modern dentistry, you can provide yourself and your children the opportunity to maintain healthy teeth for life.

Our motto is: “A clean tooth remains a healthy tooth”. Even with very good dental hygiene practices at home, only 60% of the surfaces of your teeth are reached. Niches, gaps and interdental spaces are often left uncleaned, which encourages the development of plaque and tartar. With a professional dental cleaning, 100% of your teeth surfaces can be effectively cleaned.

Especially at risk for developing cavity producing bacteria are patients with crowded or crooked teeth. Patients wearing fixed braces are also prone to these issues, because the structure of brace components creates additional crevices which can encourage bacteria to grow while the brackets and archwire can limit the mouth's self-cleaning abilities. Additionally, cleaning the teeth with a toothbrush becomes a more time-consuming task, and the risk of decalcification (loss of calcium from the teeth's visible outer surfaces) increases.

Our special prophylactic program consists of the following:

Instructions for proper dental hygiene with tips on how to care for teeth while wearing braces.

Analysis with an organic two-component dying agent to expose areas which aren't sufficiently being cleaned.

Professional dental cleaning, which not only removes tartar, but thoroughly cleans all tooth surfaces above and below the gumline.

Fluoride varnishing to strengthen and protect the tooth's enamel.

Anti-bacterial varnishes to minimize the presence of cavity-causing bacteria.

Plus other preventitive treatments to protect your teeth from caries and periodontitis, such as treating them with a sealant before brackets are bonded to the teeth.

In order to be effective for the long-term, prophylactic treatments should be carried out regularly to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar.

During an in-office whitening session, the gums are protected with a special mask before a powerful whitening gel is applied to the teeth. Lightening of the teeth occurs much quicker with this method than with whitening trays, because the gel is in a highly concentrated form and is used in combination with an LED light device. This procedure can only be done at a dental practice. How many shades lighter the teeth become depends on how long the whitening gel is left on the teeth. The procedure can be repeated if the patient desires a lighter shade.

For more information about this procedure, please visit our page about whitening. Please click here.

Tooth decay can be likened to an iceberg – 90% of it remains hidden under the surface. The tooth is destroyed from the inside, and this destruction often can't be detected from the outside. In an examination with a traditional dental probe, the presence of caries which are hidden in the tooth pits or interdental spaces can often be overlooked.

The laser also enables us to evaluate the size of the cavity and counter the tooth decay with a prompt and appropriate treatment. It is especially useful for inspecting at-risk tooth pits before the application of a dental sealant.