Dr. Neely Orthodontics - Treatment Specialties

EARLY TREATMENT

Up to twelve months of limited orthodontic treatment at age 8 can shorten and sometimes eliminate Phase II treatment at age 11. Simple appliances like expanders, lip bumpers, springs, and mini-braces can address the main problems early, prevent further crowding and keep the bite from becoming worse.

Early treatment can retract protruding teeth, help with habits harmful to facial development like thumb sucking and open mouth breathing, and reduce the need for extractions.

ADULT TREATMENT

There are many reasons for adult treatment. Some adults have had problems since childhood which are now worsening and are now covered by dental insurance. Others have had treatment that needs to be revised. The loss of a tooth, periodontal disease, and clenching habits can cause teeth to tip or crowd. Orthodontics may be necessary to upright teeth and arrange spacing to prepare for implants or bridges. Patients with TMJ, or temporomandibular (jaw) joint problems, may benefit from orthodontics. Orthodontics in conjunction with orthognathic surgery can make dramatic improvements in facial appearance. Complex problems can usually be corrected in 18 to 30 months, while simpler problems take 3 to 12 months.

INNOVATIONS FOR ADULTS AND OLDER TEENS

Invisible plastic overlays can straighten the teeth of older teens and adults with moderate crowding and make other bite corrections within a range of a few millimeters. Highly accurate impressions are taken of the teeth and these are digitized. Dr. Neely prescribes the sequence of tooth movements and the plan is executed on a computer. A video of the tooth movement is downloaded by satellite internet for approval. Then dozens of numbered pairs of aligners are manufactured by a digitally guided laser sculpting and vacuum forming process. Each numbered set of aligners is worn for two weeks, and exchanged for the next set in the sequence until the teeth are straightened. Truly a twenty-first century innovation!

Dr. Neely has received specialized training in WILCKODONTICS, or Periodontally Assisted Orthodontics (POA), which accelerates the biology of tooth movement. For those who must have their orthodontics completed within a short time frame, it is now possible to activate rapid bone remodeling around the teeth by means of a periodontal surgical procedure at the time of appliance placement. It opens a four to six month window when the teeth move three to four times more rapidly than normal. Adjustment visits are at two week intervals. A treatment that would normally take nine to twenty-four months can often be completed in three to eight months.

22K Gold Braces

STATE-OF-THE-ART APPLIANCES

Among the good looking new braces are Clarity® Self-Ligating Ceramic brackets by 3M Unitek. They’re small, tooth colored, and easy to keep clean. The arc shaped wires that move the teeth snap into tiny titanium clips. These wires are made of body heat activated titanium alloy. They are soft at room temperature but become springy at body temperature and have almost perfect elastic memory. Their light, gentle forces move the teeth quickly and comfortably and require fewer, shorter office visits spaced six to ten weeks apart. But you can still add BLING to your smile with 24K gold plated braces.

"Clarity" Transparent Braces

The way braces are applied to the teeth has changed. With I-BOND, the brackets are extremely accurately positioned with gauges on models of your teeth by our in-house laboratory technician. Then transfer trays that look like mouth guards are molded over them. Your teeth are dried and prepared and the trays are positioned. When we peel them off a few minutes later, all the braces are on the teeth. We use the FReD (Fatigue Resistant Device), which is a titanium spring that clips onto the braces and replaces elastics and headgear for major repositioning of the bite.

RETAINERS

Retainers hold the teeth straight until the bone around the roots has completed remodeling and is strong again and jaw growth has completed. There is a natural rebound tendency when teeth have been crooked that must be resisted to prevent relapse. Long term retainers are the best. To maintain your beautiful smile, we offer several types of retainers: invisible gold and silver wire splints bonded behind the teeth, clear acrylic bite splints to wear at night, and transparent Invisalign or Essix overlay retainers.

Because we have an IN-HOUSE LABORATORY, our patients can custom design their own retainers.