The Jorgensen Orthodontics Blog

Posts Tagged ‘interproximal reduction’

What is Invisalign and How Does It Move Teeth (Part 2)?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on December 30th, 2016

(This is Part 2 of a 2-part Invisalign post. Part 1 of this article discussed the design and manufacturing of Invisalign aligners.) After your Invisalign aligners have been designed by your orthodontist and manufactured by Align Technology, the entire set is shipped to your doctor’s office. There is more to achieving a successful result however than merely handing a box full of plastic shells to a patient. If that were not the case, Align would merely ship the aligners directly to the patient and cut out the “middleman.” There are three additional procedures provided by your orthodontist at the delivery…

Why Are My Braces Having Trouble Closing the Spaces Between My Teeth?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on October 18th, 2016

One of the most frustrating problems that occurs during orthodontic treatment (or reappears afterwards) is space between the teeth that just won’t close. This may be due the teeth themselves, the bone around the teeth, or interference from teeth in the other arch. Let’s look at each of these possible causes. The most common reason spaces don’t close (or stay closed) is the size, shape, or position of the teeth themselves. A tooth may be too narrow at the top, too narrow at the bottom, or just too small overall. Such a tooth just can’t fill the entire space between…

What Causes Dark Triangles Between the Teeth?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on June 19th, 2016

Why do some patients have little dark triangles (spaces) between their teeth before, during, or after orthodontic treatment? In an ideal smile, teeth are aligned in a smooth row with each tooth touching the one next to it and healthy gum tissue in between. After treatment, some patients notice that the gum tissue between their teeth doesn’t look the same as it did before. Why is that? Does orthodontic treatment change the shape of the gum tissue? Can anything be done to correct or improve it? The place on the teeth where they touch each other when they are side…

What Is Interproximal Reduction In Orthodontics?

Posted by Dr. Jorgensen on May 24th, 2011

The size and shape of the teeth can have as much to do with the appearance of your smile as anything that the orthodontist does with braces during treatment. Sometimes the teeth themselves must be altered to give the best orthodontic result. Interproximal reduction is one procedure that your orthodontist may use to make the teeth fit and look their best. Interproximal reduction (IPR) is a simple procedure during which your orthodontist uses very precise tools to change the shape and size of your teeth, primarily on the sides where they touch each other. This is done for three reasons.…

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