METAL BRACES
Metal braces are the most common type of braces for our orthodontic patients. Today's metal braces or brackets are much smaller, flatter and more comfortable than braces in the past. Cool colour ties can be added to your braces. You can choose from a variety of colours. You can mix and match the colours depending on your favourite sports team colours, or choose colours for special holidays such as red and green for Christmas, black and orange for Halloween, or red and pink for Valentine's Day!
CLEAR BRACES
Clear braces are different than traditional metal braces and are made of ceramic. They are designed to produce excellent results without anyone even noticing you are wearing them. At Oak Hill Orthodontics, we use Clarity Advanced ceramic brackets by 3M.
INVISALIGN®
Invisalign treatment involves a series of clear, removable aligner trays designed to gradually straighten and align your teeth and correcting your bite. With Invisalign® treatment, you can straighten your teeth without anyone around you even knowing! This is a great options for patients who want straight teeth without showing that you are undergoing orthodontic treatment.
PALATAL EXPANDER
A palatal expander is used when the upper jaw is constricted or more narrow compared to your lower jaw. An expansion appliance is custom made for you and cemented in your mouth through bands placed on the back molar teeth. A small key is used to turn the device, which slowly widens the upper jaw. This treatment is more effective in younger patients whose top jaws are easier to expand than an adult’s. By the time you become an adult your jaw is not as easily manipulated, which can make the expansion more difficult.
TONGUE CRIB
A tongue crib appliance is used to prevent the tongue from coming forward. Our tongue is a strong muscle. For some of our patients the tongue has developed a habit of coming forward while the patient is talking or swallowing. When the tongue continually comes forward between the teeth, the teeth get pushed forward by the tongue resulting in an open bite near the front of the mouth or sometimes the side of the mouth, causing the front teeth to not touch. By using a tongue crib appliance the tongue is held back and retrained to not protrude forward.
FACEMASK
Facemask appliances are mainly prescribed for patients with an underbite. An underbite is when the lower jaw and teeth are in front of the upper jaw and teeth. The upper jaw may be retrusive and set farther back compared to the lower jaw, or the lower jaw may have a tendency to grow more than the upper jaw. In cases where the patient is still growing, this jaw discrepancy can be treated early with facemask therapy.
MARA
(Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance)
In cases where the lower jaw is retrognathic, or behind the upper jaw, a functional appliance can be used to correct the misalignment. A custom fabricated appliance called a MARA is bonded to the first permanent molars and the lower jaw is repositioned in a more anterior or forward position. This appliance helps to stimulate growth of the lower jaw and is usually recommended while the patient is still growing.
ELASTICS
Elastics are used in combination with braces and Invisalign treatment. They help to correct the biting relationship of the teeth and are used in different combinations. They are sometimes worn full time or part time.
RETAINERS
Retainers are issued after orthodontic treatment is complete and braces have been removed. To prevent teeth from relapsing and returning to their original position, retainers need to be worn to maintain the stability of your new smile and bite.
