Orthodontics
Orthodontics in Morgan Hill, CA
Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry that involves changing the position of teeth in your mouth, using braces or other orthodontic technologies. Using either brackets & wires or clear aligners, orthodontics can reposition your teeth in a variety of ways. It can straighten rotated teeth, separate crowded or overlapped teeth & close gaps between teeth.
Improve Your Smile With Orthodontics
Improving your smile with orthodontics can increase your confidence & self-esteem. But straight teeth are beneficial for more than just your appearance. When teeth are not properly aligned, they can be difficult to clean well enough to prevent tooth decay. If you can’t get floss between your teeth to clean out plaque, you risk unchecked tooth decay & gum disease.
Additionally, orthodontics can be used to treat problems with how the teeth of your upper & lower jaws line up, known as your bite. Called malocclusion by dentists, you might have an underbite, overbite or crossbite that can cause a host of issues. For example, misaligned teeth may rub against each other or collide, wearing them down unnecessarily; or a misaligned jaw may cause TMD symptoms, such as pain in the head, neck or shoulders.
The Best Time For Orthodontic Treatment
The best time to get orthodontic treatment is between the ages of 10 & 14 while the teeth are still moving into their final places. However, teeth move throughout life, so there isn’t a bad time to get treatment. In fact, adults are straightening their teeth more commonly these days due to the benefits to both appearance & functionality of straight teeth, as well as the increased options available to them.
Traditional braces, using metal brackets & wires, are still common, but cost & treatment times have gone down over the years. Some braces systems were created to be quick, with treatment as short as six months. There are even ceramic or plastic options that are less visible than the metal brackets. And, of course, clear aligners are very popular because they are not visible & can be removed.
While orthodontic technologies work moving your teeth, it’s important to keep up with regular cleaning habits & visits to your dentist. If you have traditional braces, you might be tempted to skip flossing, but because food easily gets stuck in the hardware & between moving teeth, it’s even more important to floss every day, or even after every meal. Your dentist will show you how to thoroughly clean around your braces, including how to use threader tools to get floss behind the wires.
Cleaning your teeth is much easier with clear aligners, as you simply need to remove the aligners to brush & floss your teeth like normal.
Orthodontic treatments can give you the beautiful & straight smile you desire, but they can also benefit your oral health. So while you’ll certainly have a more beautiful smile at the end of your orthodontic treatment, you’ll also have a more functional, healthier smile!
We are proud to offer a range of orthodontics options for our patients. If you are interested in orthodontics for either cosmetic or functional reasons, please start a discussion with us about your options.
Searching for the right orthodontics choice near you? We may have the answer! We are proud to offer Fastbraces® – & we’re offering this orthodontic option for both adults & children.
Our practice is your certified provider of Fastbraces® right here in the local community. That means no more searching for a separate orthodontic practice. We are trained to apply & maintain your Fastbraces® for as long as you may need them.
We want you to have that perfect smile. Contact us today to set up a free Fastbraces® consultation. Together, we can decide if Fastbraces® are exactly what you’ve been searching for. It could be that you & Fastbraces® are the perfect fit!
What Are Fastbraces®?
Fastbraces® are an affordable alternative to traditional braces. Originally designed in 1992, Fastbraces® are available through trained & certified dentists at locations nationwide. We are proud to be a member of this growing group.Fastbraces® work differently than traditional braces. Ordinarily, orthodontic devices move tooth roots first & then crowns in a long, multi-step process. The unique design of Fastbraces® enables us to move those roots & crowns at the same time, drastically reducing treatment time. With Fastbraces®, you can expect to find success in months, not years.
If you’re looking for a straight smile without the metal-mouth, clear aligners may be the solution. Invisalign® is a set of transparent (see-through) aligners that fit over your teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign® aligners are removable & replaced every two weeks for the entire course of your treatment.
The restrictive brackets & wires of traditional metal braces can trap bits of food & make cleaning your teeth more difficult. If you don’t thoroughly clean your teeth while wearing metal braces, you may end up with stains when they’re removed.
With Invisalign®, there is no need for fixed wires & brackets, so you won’t have to worry about food stuck in your braces. Plus you can smile confidently without trying to hide a mouthful of metal! Placing & removing Invisalign® aligners is seamless & convenient, & they can be easily removed before meals or social engagements. Even when you’re wearing them, they are discreet & blend in with your smile.
What Is Invisalign®?
Invisalign® uses a series of clear aligners to straighten your teeth. Each clear aligner only shifts your teeth slightly, so you need to “upgrade” them every two weeks. You’ll wear around 20 to 30 sets of aligners before your treatment is finished. Some patients need to wear more sets & others need to wear fewer. It all depends on your specific case!It is a powerful tool for treating minor to moderate orthodontic problems. If your problem is severe enough, we may not be able to treat your case with Invisalign® aligners. Traditional metal braces are a reliable alternative that can correct most bite issues. To find out which treatment is best for you, please call for a consultation today!
Metal braces aren’t the most attractive option for straightening teeth, but they are the most effective. What metal braces lack in aesthetic quality, they make up for in their ability to correct most bite issues.
Forgoing prettier or more discreet options like clear aligners can improve treatment time & results. In more complicated or severe cases of misalignment, traditional braces may be the only orthodontic option that can do the job. Fortunately, recent advancements in orthodontics have also given us better-looking, more affordable & more effective metal braces.
What Are Traditional Braces?
Metal braces use a small square metal bracket that is attached to the front of each tooth with special bonding cement. Some teeth, such as your back molars, may need a metal band that wraps around the whole tooth instead of a bracket. Wires are then placed onto the brackets, tightened & kept in place with colored rubber bands called ligatures. You may also need separate removable rubber bands that move your jaw into place. At each appointment, the orthodontist will check your progress, adjust the wires & replace your ligatures.Procedure Overview
If you are not sure braces are worth the cost, consider this: Orthodontic treatment serves more purposes than simply creating a better-looking smile. Teeth that are overcrowded & misaligned can cause more severe dental issues in the future. For example, upper & lower teeth that don’t fit together can grind against each other & eventually lead to damage or even tooth loss. Furthermore, crooked & crowded teeth may be harder to keep clean due to areas that are difficult or impossible to access with a toothbrush or dental floss. Because of this, braces are an important tool for enabling oral hygiene & may be necessary to prevent tooth decay & gum disease.On the other hand, wearing metal braces can also harm your dental hygiene if you do not maintain a rigorous hygiene routine. Food & plaque can easily become stuck in the brackets, so brushing your teeth after every meal & flossing at least once a day is highly advisable. Yes, you still need to floss your teeth even though you have a metal wire in the way! Your orthodontist can give you some tips, & there are appliances that help you “thread” the floss around the wire. You also need to come to your regularly scheduled dental cleaning appointments, of course.
If you want to prevent gunk from getting in your braces in the first place, you can start by following a few dietary restrictions. Avoid foods that are chewy, sticky, crunchy or hard. Caramel, chewing gum & popcorn are a few of braces’ worst enemies. They can get stuck in your brackets, loosen a wire or even damage your braces. As usual, sugary foods & drinks that cause cavities should be kept to a minimum.
Failure to keep your teeth clean while wearing braces can lead to stained teeth, tooth decay & gum disease. Despite being traps for plaque & food particles, braces do have one hygiene benefit—they will force you to overcome any poor brushing & flossing habits! Keep in mind that the difficulty of cleaning teeth with metal braces is a small price to pay for a healthier & more attractive smile.
Meet Your Award Winning Dentist
Dr. Jaswinder Ghuman, DDS
Oz Simel, DDS, MD
The Proof is in Our Patients
MOST INSURANCES WELCOME AND MAXIMIZED!
Contact us and schedule your visit today.
Most Insurances Welcomed and Maximized
We’ll make the process of paying for your dental care as simple as possible! Our office accepts a wide variety of insurance plans, and we’re always happy to file your claim for you so that you can be sure to receive the maximum benefits available to you. Cochrane Plaza Dental Care is in network with Delta Dental, Cigna, Metlife, Aetna, Guardian, Ameritas, Principal, United Healthcare, United Concordia, Assurant, GEHA, Careington, Humana, TDA, BlueCross BlueShield and more! Call us today to find out how we can maximize your insurance plan!
Monday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Tuesday | 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Thursday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Friday | 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Saturday | 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Sunday | CLOSED |