Category Archives: Braces - Page 2 of 5

January 25, 2017October 6, 2021

Is Invisalign for Adults Right for You?

Are you an adult considering orthodontia to straighten your teeth but are concerned about your appearance while undergoing treatment? At Atlanta Smile Studio in the Lovejoy, GA 30250 zip code area, we customize a personal plan of teeth-straightening care that best fits your orthodontic treatment goals and your cosmetic concerns, whether that be braces or Invisalign for adults. Advancements in orthodontic care technology such as Invisalign or other types of clear braces may be the right course of treatment for you.

Is Invisalign for Adults Right for You?

But, which form of treatment is more effective? The answer is subjective, as is the needs and tastes of every patient at Atlanta Smile Studio. Here are some differences between the treatment plans of traditional braces and Invisalign for adults that you should know about:

Traditional braces are not removable by the patient. This type of teeth-straightening braces consist of brackets and wires that are fixed onto your teeth and worn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because they are not removable, patients using this treatment plan must take the proper precautions, such as avoiding certain foods or playing rough in contact sports).
Invisalign for adults is removable and essentially invisible to the human eye. Invisalign is a clear plastic tray that fits over your teeth. They may be taken out during the day for eating, brushing your teeth, and flossing. A removable appliance, however, requires extra care to ensure that they stay clean and hygienic. Invisalign is easy to remove and to keep clean.
Traditional braces are made of metal brackets and wires. They provide stability and are effective at straightening teeth. However, the sides or “wings” of the brackets might cause sores and pain during mouth movements.
Invisalign is made of a strong, medical-grade, thermoplastic material. The Invisalign trays are fitted snugly around your teeth. They are clear and removable, so they are not very noticeable. They cause less discomfort than metal braces but might not be as effective as traditional braces in treating vertical adjustments.
Traditional braces can sometimes be less costly than Invisalign. It is difficult to state definitively whether traditional braces or Invisalign costs more than the other. The price of both treatments depends on the individual patient’s needs. The amount of work needed, the length of the treatment, your insurance coverage, and the course of treatment worked out with Smile Studio Orthodontics all factor into the price of your treatment.
Traditional braces are cheaper, easy to clean, and more effective in raising or lowering misaligned teeth.
Invisalign clear aligners are removable, lighter, and more convenient to wear during day-to-day activities.

Trust Atlanta Smile Studio in the Lovejoy, GA 30250 area to help you choose the right course of treatment for your individual needs and lifestyle, whether that is Invisalign or adult braces. They can help you make the best decisions for you and your smile and will help you in choosing the right orthodontic treatment for you. Contact Atlanta Smile Studio today at: 770-892-3833

Dr. Leroy Venn and the team at Atlanta Smile Studio are experts in Invisalign for adults. If you have any questions pertaining to braces, clear braces, Invisalign, or Invisalign Teen in Lovejoy, GA, Jonesboro, GA, Stockbridge, GA, Riverdale, GA, or the 30250 zip code area, or would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Leroy Venn contact Atlanta Smile Studio at: 770-892-3833

December 28, 2016October 6, 2021

Besides Braces, What is “Orthodontics”?

Dr. Leroy Venn and the team at Smile Studio Orthodontics near Stockbridge, GA offer their patients a variety of orthodontic treatment approaches, including braces, that help ensure the best possible treatment outcomes.

When someone mentions orthodontics or an orthodontist, people’s minds often race to images of a mouth full of traditional metal braces. But, orthodontists today can offer their patients more than just traditional braces. Advances in technology, specifically in the field of the alignment of teeth or the repositioning of the jaws, have given orthodontists many treatment options and approaches to fix these common problems.

Yes, Orthodontics Includes Braces

One of the main treatment approaches orthodontists use to align and straighten teeth are traditional metal braces. Traditional braces are comprised of brackets, wires, and bands that straighten your teeth and which are continually tightened over a prescribed amount of time. Dr. Leroy Venn also offer patients near Stockbridge, GA treatment with light-colored ceramic braces (for patients who do not want their braces to be noticeable) and even fun clear-colored bands for his youngest patients. Braces can also be indicated for patients with overbites, underbites, or overcrowded or gapped teeth. Braces are used by many patients to achieve a perfect-picture smile.

Space Maintainers

When baby teeth are lost earlier than normal, space fillers are used so that the neighboring teeth do not grow into the space meant for the adult tooth to grow into. These space maintainers are used to keep the gap open until more childhood teeth fall out and the adult teeth begin to grow in. Fixed space maintainers work with a band that is attached to one tooth and a wire that is extended across the gap to the tooth on the other side to stretch and keep the gap open.

Aligners

Like braces, aligners help to straighten and align teeth, and they are indicated in treating common problems like:

underbites
overbites
open bites
cross bites
crowded teeth

Aligners like Invisalign are clear plastic trays that fit around your teeth and apply consistent pressure to straighten your teeth and contribute to your perfect smile.

Jaw Repositioning Appliances

Jaw repositioning appliances, sometimes called splints, are used to adjust either the upper or the lower jaw so that the whole jaw structure performs more naturally. Most often, this appliance is prescribed for patients with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

Lip and Cheek Bumpers

Sometimes, patient’s lips and cheeks can put pressure on their teeth and cause pain or discomfort. Dr. Leroy Venn recommends lip and cheek bumpers for these patients to help keep the lips and cheeks away from the teeth and thus reduce or eliminate the pressure, pain, or discomfort that the patient is experiencing.

Palatal Expander

A palatal expander is used to widen the curve of the upper jaw. It is a plastic tray which fits on the roof of the mouth and helps to better align the bones and joints in the mouth.

Removable Retainers

After orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign, using a retainer to keep the teeth from shifting back to their original positions is often indicated. Retainers are a plate that is placed on the roof of the mouth; a wire runs across the outside of the front teeth. Retainers may also be constructed as a plastic aligner. More often than not, these aligners are worn during the night.

Headgear

Headgear, usually, is a strap placed around the back of the head which is attached to a metal wire in the front of the mouth. Orthodontists prescribe headgear for patients who need to slow the growth of their jaw and to make sure that the patient’s teeth are in the right place and fit nicely within the jaw.

The pros at Smile Studio Orthodontics wants to make sure you receive the perfect orthodontic treatment with braces near Stockbridge, GA, and finding the most appropriate plan of orthodontic treatment is the first step. Orthodontists today offer a lot more treatment options than just traditional metal braces. The professional team at Smile Studio Orthodontics prescribe treatment plans for a variety of oral health care-related issues, including the alignment of teeth and the repositioning the jaw. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Leroy Venn and Smile Studio Orthodontics, please call: 770-892-3833

December 14, 2016April 2, 2019

How Old Is Too Old for Treatment with Braces?

Dr. Leroy Venn and the team at Smile Studio Orthodontics near Hiram, GA don’t want prospective orthodontic patients to think that they are “too old” for treatment with braces. Starting from the moment you lose your last baby tooth and even after all of your adult teeth have grown in, you may be a candidate for braces. Braces can help improve your smile no matter what your age may be. Dr. Leroy Venn will be able to assess your orthodontic needs and determine the best orthodontic treatment plan for you.

Why do I need treatment with braces?

A healthy mouth and teeth contribute to your overall well-being. Braces are used to help correct or restore the alignment of your teeth, fix crooked or crowded teeth, overbites or underbites, or an incorrect jaw position. Dr. Leroy Venn knows that patients with orthodontic problems at any age can benefit from orthodontic treatment.

How long will I need braces?

Your treatment with braces last anywhere from 18 to 30 months, in order for your teeth and jaw to properly align. Patients with more extreme malocclusions may need to have their braces on longer. The goal, however, is for you to have the straight teeth and perfect smile you’ve been working so hard toward.

How do I clean my braces?

Adjusting to life with braces includes learning how to properly clean your teeth now that you have braces.

Brushing: Brush carefully with your manual toothbrush at least twice a day.
Flossing: Clean between the teeth and along the gums. Take extra care when working around the archwire to avoid damaging it.
Interproximal Brush: Clean the archwire of your braces and all around your teeth. Use this every time you brush your teeth to get rid of any food substances stuck within your braces.

How will I look with braces?

Dr. Leroy Venn has given many adults treatment with braces, and assures you that they are completely normal, as more people than you’d think have braces today. When you’re wearing braces, all you should think about is how amazing it will feel to have a new straight and healthy smile. All of your hard work toward keeping your braces nice and clean will pay off in the end, and you will have that bright healthy-looking smile you’ve always wanted.

Don’t let your age or insecurities about your appearance with braces get in the way of fixing your teeth. Contact us today and make an appointment to see Dr. Leroy Venn and the team at Smile Studio Orthodontics near Hiram, GA. Call us at: 770-892-3833

November 23, 2016April 2, 2019

Six Of The Best Foods to Eat During Your Treatment with Braces

(and eight you shouldn’t eat)

Many orthodontics patients going through treatment with braces are unsure of what foods are restricted in their diets. Many also believe the list of foods to avoid is longer than it actually is. Dr. Leroy Venn of Smile Studio Orthodontics shares some ideas about what foods are safely enjoyed and which foods are best to avoid eating while wearing braces or during orthodontic treatment near Dallas, GA.

It is true that during your treatment with braces there are limitations on what you can eat. But the time (and money) invested with braces is well worth coping with these limitations. The payoff is a perfectly straight, healthy, and attractive smile.

What foods can be enjoyed during your treatment with braces?

There are many delicious food options that can be eaten while wearing braces including:

Bananas
Yogurt
Soup
Cheese
Pasta
Mashed Potatoes

Dr. Leroy Venn wants to make sure that every patient, child or adult, with braces eats healthy food and gets enough daily nutrients. Here are some meal ideas that are safe for patients who are wearing braces. Perhaps there is a family favorite among some of these delicious meal options:

Lasagna. Lasagna is a great dinner because it provides many food groups in one dish, is tasty, and is soft on your braces.
Grilled Chicken and Vegetables. While meat from a bone can cause damage to your braces, deboned meats like chicken breast can be eaten. Chicken pairs nicely with vegetables like broccoli.
Chicken Noodle Soup. Chicken noodle soup gives you many necessary nutrients because of the variety of ingredients that can be added. Soup is also a filling and tasty meal and will not damage your braces.

What foods should be avoided?

During treatment with braces, the three types of food that should be avoided are hard, sticky, and chewy foods. These types of food should be avoided because they can get stuck in your braces easily and be difficult and sometimes painful to get out. Some food categories that should be avoided are:

Gum
Popcorn
Ice
Caramel
Pretzels
Raw vegetables
Steak
Hard candies

Some of these foods do not have to be completely avoided, however. Foods like vegetables, steak, and pretzels can be broken or cut up into smaller pieces and then eaten safely.

There are many foods which are nutritious, delicious, and are friendly to your braces. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Leroy Venn and Smile Studio Orthodontics near Dallas, GA, or for more information, please call: 770-892-3833

November 16, 2016April 2, 2019

How Often Should I Get an Orthodontic Check-Up?

Orthodontic treatments like braces can help a patient achieve a life-long healthy and straight smile. The length of treatment is always as different as each patient and their treatment goals. Dr. Leroy Venn and the team at Smile Studio Orthodontics near Dallas, GA can help give you a better understanding of the processes of orthodontic treatment and which approach may provide their patients with the best outcomes possible.

Schedule an orthodontic consultation

During the consultation, Dr. Leroy Venn will complete a new-patient exam and diagnose your orthodontic treatment needs. This assessment usually lasts about an hour and allows the doctor to evaluate your needs as a patient and answer all of your questions about your proposed course of treatment. X-rays and/or photographs of your teeth may be taken and will help Dr. Leroy Venn identify which treatment option is the best for you.

Once you’ve decided on a course of orthodontic treatment, Dr. Leroy Venn will provide you with an estimated cost of treatment, a timeline for how long the course of treatment will take, and any options for finishing your treatment.

The time that you have to actually wear your braces will vary depending on your needs and the type of treatment indicated. The typical treatment time is 23 months. Some patients have their braces on for only six months, while other patients can have them for longer than three years.

Getting your braces

Dr. Leroy Venn and his team will walk you through the entire course of treatment from beginning to end, schedule a series of appointments to get you started, and can discuss with you options for funding your treatment. The team will review your dental records and show you samples of braces, Invisalign aligners, and other appliances that may be integrated into your treatment.

The appointment to affix your braces to your teeth takes about 2 hours and can be scheduled almost immediately after your consultation. A Smile Studio Orthodontics associate will first prepare your teeth for the brackets, and then your orthodontist will carefully position each bracket on each tooth. Because this is such a critical step in the process, Dr. Leroy Venn invests a lot of time sweating the details (including bracket type, positioning, and wire selection) to help each of his patients achieve the best treatment outcome possible.

Throughout your treatment, the Smile Studio Orthodontics team will help you schedule routine checkups; brief appointments to adjust your brackets, answer questions, and check your progress. These meetings usually average 15 to 20 minutes and take place every 8 to 10 weeks. If you’re using Invisalign aligners, these checkups occur every 4 to 6 weeks.

Concluding Treatment

When your course of treatment with braces is coming to an end, your doctor will schedule you for a “debanding.” Removing your braces will take a little over an hour, and you will be pleased at how easy and comfortable the process is. It is then important that you arrange with your dentist to have a thorough cleaning, check-up, and fluoride treatment after the removal of your braces.

To hold your teeth in their new position, Dr. Leroy Venn will evaluate which retainer is appropriate for you and make you a set of retainers and recommend a practice for wearing them. Most patients are advised to wear their retainers indeterminately in some capacity. The general rule is, “Wear your retainers for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight.”

Go show the world your healthy, gorgeous smile!

Before you leave the office after your final treatment, you will be given a photo of how your teeth looked before you had braces so that you can compare how your beautiful smile looks now.

If your dentist recommends braces for you, then Dr. Leroy Venn and the team at Smile Studio Orthodontics near Dallas, GA can help. Give them a call: 770-892-3833

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Category: Braces

Is Invisalign for Adults Right for You?

Is Invisalign for Adults Right for You?