The latest innovation in high tech brackets is the Damon bracket, which connects to the wire by sliding a door over it. This method creates very little friction on the wire, so the teeth are free to move with low pressure, and therefore they move faster with less sensitivity. (The earlier method involved tying the wire to the bracket, which put a binding force on the wires. This caused more friction, and movement was slower.)

Clear braces have evolved over the past several years. The earliest clear braces were plastic, but were hard to tie to the wire and wore down excessively from chewing forces. The earliest hard clear braces (made of sapphire) were very difficult to remove from the teeth. Modern clear braces are hard and durable, but easy to remove when treatment is finished.

Clear braces are the obvious choice for most adults who are concerned about the metallic appearance of braces. Also, some children select clear braces.

The appeal of gold braces is that, if you have to wear metal braces, they might as well look like jewelry! And they really do! They are very popular among teenagers, especially girls who are not reluctant to show off!

What is the Invisalign System?

For decades, traditional braces had been the only option for adults who wanted straighter teeth. The Invisalign System™ is a high tech alternative utilizing advances in 3-D imaging technology to create a series of customized clear plastic aligners to straighten your teeth.

Is Invisalign Right for You?

Invisalign has helped many patients achieve straighter teeth. Dr. Eckhart is Invisalign-trained and certified to determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. Invisalign is available for teenagers and adults, but is not appropriate for everyone.

Overview of the Align Procedure:

At your consultation, Dr. Eckhart will help you decide on your course of treatment. Impressions of your teeth will be taken and sent to Invisalign with a precise set of instructions. Invisalign will use advanced computer technology to create a sequence of clear, plastic aligners.

During your next visit with Dr. Eckhart, you will receive your aligners. You will wear each for about 2 weeks. There are usually 18 - 30 aligners in the series, but this depends on the individual treatment. They are removed only when eating, brushing, and flossing. As you replace each aligner with the next one, your teeth will move gradually, until they reach the final alignment prescribed by Dr. Eckhart.

You'll quickly discover a number of important advantages over metal braces:

• They are Invisible: no one can tell you’re straightening your teeth. So now you can smile more during treatment as well as after.
• They are Removable: You can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem.
• They are Comfortable: There is no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor’s office getting adjustments.

Most people experience temporary, minor discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure. It is a sign that the Invisalign™ aligners are working-sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination. This discomfort typically goes away a couple of days after you insert the new aligner in the series.

As with traditional orthodontic appliances, there is an initial adjustment period for every patient.

Dr. Eckhart has developed an overbite corrector that attaches to the back teeth and guides the patient to hold the bottom teeth forward. Held for a year or so, the teeth actually migrate into the new, correct position and remain there permanently. This method works on children and adults. The device is now the second most-used overbite corrector of this type in the country.

The common method for widening is to place a turn-screw device in the roof of the mouth, which the parent is expected to turn once per day for several weeks. We noticed that many parents were uncomfortable being asked to do any treatment themselves, because their eyesight is inadequate or because their hands tremble, or because they are just squeamish about putting their fingers in their child’s mouth.

Looking for a jaw widener which does not require parent help, we found one that does the widening itself, automatically, and that stops when it reaches a predetermined width. This has been a big relief for parents in our practice.