Discover Your Smile
May 16th, 2012
In most cases, the need for braces will be obvious. Crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, and a misaligned bite are all common reasons that people seek out braces. Sometimes, a person’s bite problems are so severe that they cause physical pain, but others may have such mild symptoms that they don’t realize they need teeth straightening.
Even if you are able to chew and eat easily, or you aren’t bothered by the appearance of your smile, braces may be important for your health. A badly aligned bite can make your teeth wear down prematurely, and twisted teeth can force food to get stuck in small crevices, eventually leading to tooth decay.
If you have any of the following problems, you should probably be evaluated by an orthodontist:
- Crowded teeth
- Jaw discomfort
- Gaps between teeth
- Speech or breathing problems
- Facial asymmetry
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Protruding teeth
Our experienced Denver orthodontist Dr. Robert Rudman can examine your bite to identify whether or not you are a candidate for braces. Some milder cases of gapped teeth and tooth crowding are often correctable using Invisalign®, a convenient alternative to traditional metal braces.
If you have further questions about braces, please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Rudman. Cherry Creek Orthodontics serves patients in the Denver and Stapleton areas of Colorado.
Posted in braces | No Comments »
April 11th, 2012
Not everyone will need braces, but for many people, straight teeth and a perfect bite do not come naturally. If you take your child in for early orthodontic treatment, braces can sometimes be avoided. Dr. Rudman can help preserve space for your child’s permanent teeth, preventing them from growing in crooked. However, even with these precautions, braces may still become necessary later in life.
Around 45% of children end up needing braces to fix functional problems with their teeth, and 75% of children can benefit from braces simply to improve the shape of their smile, their facial symmetry, or to prevent future issues. Apart from having your child screened by an orthodontist at around age 7, consider seeing an orthodontist if you notice that your child:
- Has trouble chewing or swallowing
- Lost their baby teeth too early or too late
- Breathes mostly through their mouth
- Sucks their thumb
- Jaw makes sounds
- Top and bottom teeth don’t touch, or touch at a strange angle
- Teeth seem out of proportion with their face
If you have further questions about braces, please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Robert Rudman. Cherry Creek Orthodontics serves patients in the Denver and Stapleton areas of Colorado.
Posted in braces | No Comments »
March 13th, 2012
Nitinol is a metal alloy – or mixture – of nickel and titanium. This type of wire is also known as “memory wire” or “smart wire,” and it can be used as one of the parts of braces.
What is so smart about it? When heated, nitinol wire changes back into its former shape. To illustrate the properties of this wire, consider this scenario: Take a strand of the wire and bend it into a curved shape. If you try to straighten the wire back out, you won’t be able to; however, if you heat the wire, with a hairdryer for example, you will find that the wire reforms itself into the exact shape it was before you bent it. The wire “remembers” its former shape.
Nitinol relates to your braces treatment in a couple of ways:
- Instead of using stainless steel, nitinol can be used for your arch wire – the wires connecting the braces brackets.
- Traditional stainless steel wires have a tendency to lose tension over time. When the wire becomes slack, you must go to the dentist to have the wire adjusted.
- To use nitinol for your arch wire, your orthodontist will mold the wire to the current shape of your teeth. After the wire is placed in your mouth, it will begin to heat up. As it heats up, the wire will try to reform into a straighter shape.
- As the memory wires tries to straighten out, it will exert gradual pressure on your teeth. Pressure over time is how teeth are moved in orthodontia.
The primary advantage of the memory wire in orthodontia is fewer trips to the dentist for adjustments.
If you live in Colorado and would like to find out about your braces options, please contact experienced Denver orthodontist Dr. Robert Rudman at Cherry Creek Orthodontics to schedule a consultation.
Posted in braces | No Comments »
February 10th, 2012
For the right candidates, Invisalign can be a great alternative to metal braces. Your teenager may feel insecure about wearing metal wires and brackets, and Invisalign offers a way to straighten teeth without attracting attention.
There are several benefits of Invisalign, including:
- Removable. The aligners are taken out to eat, drink, brush and floss, making oral hygiene easy to maintain.
- Less visible. Most people will not be able to tell your teen is wearing Invisalign.
- Track your teen’s use. The Blue Dot Wear Indicator used for Invisalign Teen lets you see if your teen has been wearing the aligner as instructed.
- Free replacements. With Invisalign Teen, the manufacturer provides up to six free replacement aligners in the event that an aligner is lost.
- Lifestyle. Your teen can still participate in athletics, playing musical instruments and eating favorite foods, which may not be possible with metal braces.
If your teen is interested in Invisalign, the first step is to schedule a consultation. Not everyone is a candidate for the Invisalign System, and some cases of malocclusion require other types of braces.
Dr. Robert Rudman is in the top 1 percent of Invisalign orthodontists deemed an Elite Preferred Provider. Dr. Rudman will take x-rays and impressions of your child’s teeth and bite to determine if Invisalign is the right solution.
For Invisalign in Denver and Stapleton, please contact experienced Colorado Invisalign orthodontist Dr. Robert Rudman at Cherry Creek Orthodontics to schedule a consultation.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
January 2nd, 2012
A new year can be especially rewarding if your new smile will be revealed in the coming months. Take a moment to congratulate yourself on your progress, and remember that your patience and commitment to life with braces will provide you with straight teeth and a properly aligned bite.
For the most part, the only thing you have to do to prepare for having your braces removed is stay committed to practicing good oral hygiene and avoiding certain foods. Your orthodontist will perform the procedure to remove your braces. This appointment should not involve any pain, and the actual removal of the braces will be completed quickly.
As part of the process of having your braces removed, you can expect:
- An appointment in which your orthodontist removes your braces. This process should not be painful, although it may be a bit uncomfortable.
- Use of a retainer. After your braces are removed, your teeth are naturally inclined to shift. To prevent losing the results of your braces, be sure to follow the instructions your orthodontist gives you for wearing a retainer.
After wearing braces, most patients wear a retainer 24 hours a day for up to a year. The next stage usually involves wearing the retainer every night for up to a year. After that, it is recommended to wear a retainer a few nights a week. Lifetime use of a retainer has been shown to keep teeth straight and smiles beautiful.
For braces in Denver, please contact experienced Colorado orthodontist Dr. Robert Rudman at Cherry Creek Orthodontics to schedule a consultation.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 28th, 2011
Braces themselves are not painful. We find that when we initially move teeth, there is some discomfort. We like to equate it to working out or skiing for the first time in months. You will find that you are sore for the next couple of days. The same applies to braces.
On average you will be sore for 3 to 4 days. We recommend drinking cold water to allow some relief since the wires tighten with the heat of your mouth. We also will provide you with a tool that you chew on. When you chew, blood will flow back into area of the tooth, by doing this you will find that the soreness will lessen. The brackets may create some sore areas on your gum tissue. Your mouth will build up resistance or callus’ and you will find it won’t irritate as much. A warm salt water rinse can help alleviate any discomfort as well.
Posted in braces | No Comments »
December 20th, 2011
It is very important to practice good oral hygiene while in orthodontic treatment. We provide our patients with adequate supplies to use so that their teeth and gums stay healthy. We suggest that you brush 3 times a day and floss at least once a day. Make sure when brushing that you brush each side of your bracket and tooth. We find that a three headed tooth brush helps with this. An electric tooth brush such as Sonic Care or Oral B, is a great addition and makes keeping your teeth and gums healthy much easier.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 12th, 2011
Treatment time is determined on an individual bases. We have to take into consideration exactly what goals we are trying to accomplish and then determine treatment time. Thanks to today’s new technology, such as the Synergy-R bracket, we are finding treatment time is significantly lower. Treatment can average from 15 to 18 months for less complicated cases.
Please schedule your appointment today to see how long your treatment will take!
Posted in braces | No Comments »
December 5th, 2011
Sugary, crunchy, savory and sweet treats are all hallmarks of the holiday season. Life with braces around the holidays can be particularly difficult because you are surrounded with treats you should be avoiding. Sticky, hard and crunchy foods can damage the wires and brackets of your braces, and eating sugary foods can make your teeth more vulnerable to decay.
Unfortunately, many holiday treats have the characteristics of foods to avoid while you are wearing braces. These treats include:
- Candy canes
- Caramels
- Toffee
- Taffy
- Jelly beans
- Nuts
- Pies
You can still have holiday goodies, but try some softer treats and reduce the amount of sugary snacks you enjoy. This year, indulge in these braces-friendly delights:
- Soft chocolates
- Peanut butter cups
- Soft cookies
- Pudding
- Thinly sliced fruit
Fruit like apples should be cut into small pieces before eating so you don’t have to bite into the crisp surface.
If you live in Downtown Denver or Stapleton and are interested in braces, please contact the experienced Colorado braces dentist Dr. Robert Rudman at Cherry Creek Orthodontics to schedule a consultation.
Posted in braces, orthodontics | No Comments »
December 2nd, 2011
An energy chain is used to close space and move teeth along the archwire. It’s most commonly used in the latter half of your treatment when we are preparing the final adjustments before your braces come off.
If you’d like more information, just give us a call or ask at your next appointment!
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Entries (RSS) | Comments (RSS).
