ORTHODONTIC BRACES AND APPLIANCES

     At Dr. Mehan's office, we offer our patients the latest state of the art orthodontic braces and appliances.  Currently we offer these three types of braces:

IN-OVATION ("S-L") SELF-LIGATING BRACES (Formerly called "R" Braces)

                                                         "Metal"                                                        "Clear"

"Clear and Metal"

A combination of Clear on the upper arch and Metal on the lower arch may be used depending on how your teeth bite together.

  Our office offers wide choices of the latest hyper-efficient fast acting braces.  Dr. Mehan particularly likes the new frictionless braces as they are smaller, cleaner and faster acting. A built-in trap door not only holds the arch wire in place, but allows for a continuous force on the wire.These braces are available in metal or clear. Our young patients can still have the colors they love on their front teeth.    "S-L" braces are very new and are now the most widely selected braces that we have.  Our patients love them. 

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.

"Gold Braces"

    Gold color braces give an interesting appearance to the smile.  Some people like the "Midas" appearance of gold and are proud to show off this unique type of orthodontic appliance.  Please note that the Gold Braces are not self-ligating and are the standard form of braces.

Archwires and Colored Elastic Ties

Dr. Mehan utilizes the latest orthodontic technology in the wires that move the teeth.  They are called "Super Elastic" and "Thermal Sensitive".  Tooth movement has traditionally been done with stainless steel wires.  These are very effective, but are stiff and only let the orthodontist move teeth in small increments.  The newer wires are a "Nickel Titanium heat created alloy".  These are very soft and pliable.  These allow teeth to be moved more comfortably and more effectively with fewer adjustments.  Our patients and parents love these wires as the get more done with fewer visits to the office.  They usually result in a shorter treatment time.

The "trap door" on the self-ligating brace locks the archwire into the brace. Colored elastic ties (if you so desire) are then placed over the braces   As you can see, there is a variety of color available and glow in the dark!!!

Separators and Bands

Separators, which are small elastic rings, are placed in between teeth that may require a band (metal ring that goes around the entire tooth).  Patients say that separator "feel like having a piece of meat stuck between your teeth".  They push the teeth apart slightly so it is easier to slide the band down around the tooth.

Bite Blocks

Bite Blocks are small mounds of blue or tooth colored cement.  They are usually placed on the back bottom teeth or behind your top front teeth.  Bite Blocks are used to open a bite temporarily while teeth are moving.  This way, the top teeth aren't biting off the bottom braces and it gives your teeth a temporary place to rest.

Invisalign TM

    InvisalignTM can be used to treat some types of orthodontic problems.  There are limitations but the benefit of not seeing the braces appeals to many people.  The doctor will need to evaluate your particular problem before offering Invisalign TM as a treatment option.  Dr. Mehan is trained and certified by InvisalignTM to provide care should you choose this option.

ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES

Each patient has an individual treatment plan that may or may not involve the use of some type of expansion or distallizing appliance.  These are some examples of the types of orthodontic appliances Dr. Mehan uses:

RAPID PALATE EXPANDER

(The design may vary for each patient.)

Used to widen the upper jaw.

DISTALLIZER

A Rapid Palatal Expander that also moves the 6 year molars back.

      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.

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.

                                *Carriere Distalizers are cemented to several side teeth in the upper dentition.

                                *An elastic is worn from the upper bar (distalizer) to the lower braces on each side.

                                *With good elastic wear the bite corrects (in approximately six months).

                                *Once the bite has corrected, the bars are removed from the side teeth and upper braces are placed

                                  (like the lower braces) to finish aligning the teeth.

    FORCUS SPRINGS

Forcus Springs are "Bite Jumpers".  That is, they encourage the lower jaw to reposition forward into the correct bite.     They need to act for at least 4-6 months.

Headgears

These are called Extra Oral Appliances.  There are many types.  The allow us to use a portion of the skull (neck, chin, forehead, and outside of the mouth) as an anchor to help us move dental bones and teeth.  With the development of implants and newer orthodontic appliances, the use of headgears has been reduced dramatically.  Headgears are most commonly used to affect growth.  Subsequently when indicated, in our office they can be used with young pre-adolescent children.

Cervical Headgear

High Pull Headgear

Reverse HG or Face Mask

Chin Cup

RETAINERS

All of Dr. Mehan's patients will wear retainers following orthodontic treatment.  To maintain the finished result, it is imperative that you adhere to your retainer schedule.  If the schedule is not followed, your teeth may shift to the extent that the results we both worked so hard to obtain will be compromised, and retreatment, with additional expense, would be involved.

ESSIX RETAINERS

HAWLEY

LOWER ALIGNER

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Email:drmehan@drmehan.com