The Jorgensen Orthodontics Blog

Need a No-Interest Loan for Your Child’s Braces?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on February 14th, 2012

Can you imagine buying a car and having the dealership offer you a no-interest loan? How about a builder who would finance your new house for no interest at all? Although these scenarios seem improbable, no-interest financing is a reality in many orthodontic offices today. Besides being an incredible bargain when compared to other medical procedures like Lasik or emergency room care (see my article entitled “Orthodontic Treatment is the Medical Deal of the Century”), no-interest financing offered by many orthodontic offices makes getting orthodontic treatment even more affordable. Paying for anything over time costs money. For example, if a…

Can Lasers Make Your Orthodontic Treatment Faster?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on January 23rd, 2012

My orthodontist just scheduled me for a laser procedure. He said it will make my treatment time shorter. What the heck? How are lasers used in orthodontics and how can they help me get my braces off quicker? Lasers are used for many applications in medicine and dentistry. Some are designed for hard tissues like teeth and bone. Others are used only on soft tissues. Those most useful in orthodontics are soft tissue lasers. There are at least five reasons why the orthodontist you choose should use a laser. The first reason is that lasers can help orthodontic patients to…

Do Damon Braces Really Move Teeth Faster?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on January 9th, 2012

We all want everything faster. You may have heard that Damon braces can straighten your teeth faster, with fewer appointments, and without extractions or expanders. What is the Damon System and is it better than regular braces? First of all, I need to make a disclosure. I use Damon brackets and I love them. They are currently in their fourth revision and I’ve been a fan ever since they came out in the early 90’s. Having said that, there are myths about what they can and can’t do, and I’d like to share my opinion based upon 20 years of…

Does the Six Month Smiles Orthodontic Treatment Actually Work?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on December 27th, 2011

It seems we all want everything faster and cheaper. This is true in electronics, in retail, and even in medicine and dentistry. Recently, a company called Six Month Smiles arrived on the dental scene promising orthodontic treatment that is shorter and less expensive. What is it and does it really work? Six Month Smiles is literally a “braces in a box” kit provided to general dentists with all of the parts included. To become a Six Month Smiles provider, a dentist merely pays a fee and attends a two-day seminar. With only one class under his belt, he can then…

3D X-Rays in Orthodontics Are a Game Changer

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on December 12th, 2011

Every once in a while a technology emerges that can be considered a “game changer” (an improvement that completely alters the status quo). Three-dimensional radiograph technology (3D x-rays) is such a technology. The ability to see a patient’s mouth in life-like three dimensions means less radiation, more accurate diagnosis, and better orthodontic treatment. Known officially as Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), three-dimensional x-rays have been around now for about ten years (2001). Only recently, however, have they been affordable enough to allow individual doctors to acquire them for use them in their private practices. Although similar to a medical CT…