Solutions

           With over thirty years of experience, Dr. Mehan has been committed to having our office use the most current technologies available to provide contemporary orthodontic care for our patients.

INVISALIGN™

Dr. Mehan has also been well trained by Align Technology, the creators of Invisalign® (clear-"no brace" aligners) to straighten teeth.  These can be quite effective for certain orthodontic tooth movements.  There can be limitations in this approach dictated by the severity or skeletal nature of the dental problem.  Ask Dr. Mehan for his opinion as to whether the "no braces" approach can work for you.  We will be glad to compare the two types of care (costs, time, quality) to help you decide. Invisalign and Invisalign/Teen are the "invisible" alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign aligners (retainers) are clear and no one can tell you're wearing them.  They can also be removed for eating and when you brush which makes them even more desirable.

Self-ligating Braces

 We have been moving teeth exclusively using the new high tech self-ligating braces.  Self-ligation is not just a new type of brace but a philosophy of tooth movement, using very light forces provided by these low friction braces and high tech shape memory wires.  Tooth movement is now affected with light continuous force.  In the past, traditional orthodontic care used heavy intermittent force.  Research has shown that this gentle, low friction force appears to be more biologically sensible.  The result is a greater emphasis on not removing teeth to attain our goal of healthy teeth and a beautiful smile that is matched with the patient's facial form.

Self-ligating braces and the continuous low force system they provide can deliver faster treatment with fewer appointments, greater comfort, and routine high quality results.

                                          Self-ligating braces                                                    Clear (tooth-colored) Self-ligating braces

Dr. Mehan has spent several years evaluating the self-ligating systems that are available.  He believes in the light force, low friction philosophy and has selected the system which he feels offers the most advantages for our patients.  Should you come to our office and braces are indicated, we will show you the self-ligating Innovation-R brace offered by GAC International. Less noticeable are the clear (tooth-colored) braces. At this stage of the new technology, it is our appliance of choice.                                                                 

CARRIERE DISTALIZER

The Carriere Distalizer is a newer orthodontic device developed to correct a malposed bite without removing permanent teeth.  It has a dental effect similar to a headgear (pushing upper teeth back to correct the bite) but, without the obvious cooperation problems.  The distalizers do not work by themselves and the patient must place the elastics on them (as shown in photo).  This is markedly easier and less of a cosmetic problem, then wearing a headgear.

               Braces are placed on the lower teeth to create an anchor unit, which the elastics can pull against.  The distallizers are cemented to several side teeth on the upper arch.  An elastic is worn from the upper bar to the lower back molars. With good elastic wear the bite is corrected in about six months, then the distallizers are removed and upper braces are placed to finish correcting the bite and aligning the teeth.

   TADS

Dr. Mehan, in his training, has placed TADS and, to experience what his patients might expect, has had them placed in his own mouth (see above photo).

Patient has a TAD (purple) with a spring attached to a hook placed on the archwire.  The force of the spring will close the space on the upper arch.

Dr. Mehan has recently completed training in the placement of the newly developed mini screws to help in orthodontic tooth movement.  He received training in Montreal, Canada in April of 2008 and recently in Boston in November of this year.

We will now offer this new technology to our patients that might benefit from it.

Tiny titanium screws, about twice the size of an eyeglass screw, have been developed to act as  anchor devices to assist in difficult tooth movements.  They are called TADS (temporary anchorage devices).  They are placed into the dental bone and pulled against to allow the orthodontist to provide movements that we have been unable to do in the past.  Frequently they can be used to avoid tooth removal or even jaw surgery that would have been required prior to TADS.  Once their use is over, they are simply unscrewed and discarded.

This new technology allows modern orthodontic care to provide treatments that we have been incapable of accomplishing in the past.

Diode Laser

Our office has recently purchased a diode laser.  This type of laser is able to painlessly and without bleeding remove excess soft tissue (gums).  This can be very useful in placing braces exactly where they can be most effective. 

Dr. Mehan has become certified by the World Clinical Institute of Lasers in this new technique. He feels that it will offer our patients more precise and efficient orthodontic care.

Gum tissue around a canine tooth exposed using the laser allows efficient placement of bracket.

Inflamed tissue due to poor oral hygiene is removed with the laser.  Two weeks following treatment.

For more information please contact our office to schedule a complimentary consultation visit

(603)623-8003

Email:drmehan@drmehan.com