- Dental ExaminationYou do — in fact, it's more important than ever! Keeping teeth free of plaque (and potentially, decay) can be challenging when you're wearing braces. Your dentist can help you avoid these problems with frequent cleanings and exams.
- X-rays
- Teeth CleaningYou know how important brushing and flossing are for keeping a healthy smile — especially now that you're in orthodontic treatment. But sometimes it's harder to clean your teeth effectively around an appliance's brackets and wires. Here are some tools and tips you can try for better tooth cleaning.
- Fluoride TreatmentDepending on your situation, we may recommend an in-office or at-home supplemental fluoride treatment to boost your cavity resistance. An antiseptic rinse may also be recommended, to ease minor gum inflammation or irritation.
- Fillings
- VeneersThis remarkable tool uses blue wavelength light so that we can precisely capture the unique nooks and crannies of your tooth's surface to make a highly accurate 3D digital model. It enables us to instantaneously examine a tooth and your bite. Another advantage of this process is that we can immediately identify any additional prep work required for new crowns, veneers and fillings; implement those changes; and rescan the tooth to create a new series of images and 3D model.
- CrownsA wire engaged in orthodontic attachments, affixed to the crowns of two or more teeth and guides the direction of tooth movement.
- Dental Bonding
- DenturesTo stay fresh and germ-free, all retainers need proper cleaning. A Hawley-type retainer can be brushed gently with a regular toothbrush — but a brush may scratch the clear aligner types. Denture cleaners, in powder or tablet form, as well as special retainer cleaners, can be used to clean most removable retainers. Fixed retainers are cleaned by brushing and flossing; a floss threader or interproximal brush can also be a helpful cleaning tool when needed.
- Dental ImplantsTemporary Anchorage Devices (TADS) are small, screw-like dental implants made of a titanium alloy. As the name implies, they're temporary — they usually remain in place during some months of treatment, and then they are removed. Their function is to provide a stable anchorage — that is, a fixed point around which other things (namely, teeth) can be moved. But why is anchorage so important?
- Oral SurgeryOne is severe crossbite, a condition where many or all of the upper teeth close inside the lower teeth. To treat this problem, a device called a palatal expander can be used, which gradually and painlessly widens the upper jaw; it's especially effective when the jaw itself hasn't fully developed. If we wait too long, a more complicated treatment — or even oral surgery — might be required to correct the problem.
- Tooth ExtractionsCrowding — Even before all of a child's permanent (adult) teeth come in, we can tell when there will not be enough room to accommodate them. Widening the upper jaw can create the necessary space without the need for tooth extractions.
- OrthodonticsThe greatest complement that our patients can give to Dr. Criswell and the team at Monterey Bay Orthodontics is the referral of a friend or family member. We take extreme pride in our reviews. Please see "what patients are saying" and feel free to review us as well.
- Invisalign OrthodonticsThere's a new technology that's (literally) putting a smile on plenty of young faces: A system of clear, removable aligners made especially for teens called Invisalign Teen ®! If you (or a teenager you know) are a candidate for this treatment, you might find it's the best fit for your lifestyle: It lets you eat what you want, makes it easier to clean your teeth — and best of all, it's virtually invisible.
- BracesWhile you are wearing braces, please avoid eating hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar. Hard foods can break or damage the wires and brackets, and sticky foods can get caught between the wires and brackets. Minimize the amount of sugary foods you eat; the sugar can cause tooth decay and other related problems.