The Jorgensen Orthodontics Blog

Archive for the ‘Limited Treatment’ Category

Are You Too Old for Orthodontic Braces?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on February 27th, 2017

When most people think of braces, they usually think of teenagers. The ideal age to get orthodontic treatment is usually after the 12-year-molars have erupted and the last of the baby teeth are gone. As you can tell from several of my other posts about two-phase treatment, I believe in providing an interceptive phase of treatment in 7 and 8-year-olds if they have complex crowding, crossbites, excessive overbites, or underbites. But what about at the other end of the spectrum. How old is too old? Why would someone get braces later in life? And what are the differences in treatment…

How Long Will My Braces Be On?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on March 14th, 2016

The estimated time that your braces will be on is not just an average quoted by your orthodontist to every patient, nor is it a number that is determined by the kind of braces or specific treatment technique employed. How long you’ll have your braces on is dependent upon the problems that exist in your mouth at the beginning of treatment and the goals that you and your orthodontist have for how you want them to look at the end. Here are some of the important things that will affect the length of your treatment. Let’s start at the end…

What Does an Ideal Bite Look Like?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on July 21st, 2015

Many patients are referred to the orthodontist by their dentist because their “bite is off.” Often when they arrive in my office however, they are confused because they are already happy with the appearance of their smile. What does an ideal bite really look like? The best way to describe a healthy bite it is by looking at it from three different views. Let’s start from the front. The front view is what patients first see when they look in the mirror. Ideally, the edges of the upper front teeth should parallel the top of the lower lip. If the…

Does Six Month Smiles Really Move Teeth Faster Than Regular Braces?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on May 23rd, 2015

Summary: Dentists offering Six Month Smiles cannot move teeth faster than orthodontists The braces used in Six Month Smiles are the same as those used by orthodontists Treatment time is shorter with Six Month Smiles because typically only the front teeth are moved Six Month Smiles is not less expensive than conventional braces I have recently had several patients who have asked me about ads they’re hearing on the radio and TV about a “new” orthodontic technique that can straighten teeth in only six months and do it cheaper than regular braces. What is this “new” technology? Can it really…

My Thoughts on Do-It-Yourself Orthodontics

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on February 15th, 2015

I have received several questions about advertisements for do-it-yourself home aligner treatment. The slogan on their website is “Invisible aligners done at home” and their claim is “Identical results for less than 50% of the others.” In a nutshell, their process involves taking a set of impressions and photos of yourself at home, mailing them away to their company, and then receiving a set of aligners that you wear to sequentially move your own teeth until you have a “perfectly straight smile” in 4 to 8 months. Could it be that easy? Does it work? Here are my thoughts on…

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