Orthodontics Services

Metal braces (stainless steel) are the most popular type of braces used throughout the country. If you choose metal braces for your treatment plan, Hendrix Orthodontics utilizes the most comfortable, efficient, and technologically advanced metal braces available.

Many patients enjoy having different colors placed on their braces as a means of personal expression and fun. Because it's so simple to change the colors, feel free to swap them at every visit.

Clear ceramic braces are an aesthetic alternative for those who don't want their braces to show as much. Clear braces move your teeth in exactly the same way as metal braces do. Like metal braces, they are extremely comfortable to wear and very efficient at moving teeth.

Introducing Invisalign. The invisible way to straighten your teeth, without braces.

A brand new millennium technology has been developed which uses computer scanners and virtual reality to plan the gradual movement of teeth by clear overlay retainer appliances.

Invisalign works through a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. The overlay appliances are constructed via computer with only mm movement of the malposed (crooked) teeth for each clear overlay appliance.

The treatment consists of a series of these clear overlay retainer appliances.

The number of appliances required to straighten the teeth completely varies according to the severity of the malocclusion (bad bite). They are designed to be worn 24 hours per day, with the exception of eating and oral hygiene.

Invisalign can give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. So, now you can smile more during treatment as well as after.

What is Invisalign?

• Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.
• Invisalign uses a series of clear removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets.
• Invisalign has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide.
• Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

How Does Invisalign Work?

• You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
• As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the final position Doctor has prescribed.
• You'll visit Doctor about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
• Although the time and total number of aligners needed will vary from patient to patient, total treatment time averages 9-15 months, and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30.

When a primary tooth is lost prematurely the teeth can drift into the new space crowding out the permanent tooth that is supposed to erupt into that space in the future. A space maintainer keeps baby teeth from shifting into the space where the tooth was lost so the permanent tooth can erupt in its natural proper space. As the permanent tooth erupts, Dr. Sokolina will remove the appliance. Space maintainers can help eliminate the need for extensive orthodontics in the future.

The lower lingual holding arch appliance will hold the permanent molars in place while baby teeth are falling out and permanent teeth are erupting.

Two bands (braces) are cemented to two lower molars. Attached to the bands is a U-shaped bar. The patient may experience slight discomfort when first placed. Use Tylenol, Advil or Motrin of appropriate dosage to relieve pain.

The Herbst consist of four chrome crowns covering you back molar teeth-one in each corner of your mouth. Attached to the upper crowns are two metal cylinders or sleeves. Attached to the lower crowns are two metal bars running parallel to your lower back teeth, and two metal rods that slide into the sleeves hanging down from the upper crowns. Your appliance may also have an expansion screw located in the middle of your palate.

How does it works?

The appliance works by using the metal sleeves and rods to hold your lower jaw forward to correct your overbite. In the next few months, your lower jaw will grow into this new correct position, and your overbite will disappear! It takes about 9 to12 months for this to occur. The expansion screws are used to make room for crowded teeth by making the dental arch larger.

Problems and solutions

The lower bar will sometimes irritate the cheek or lip in the lower front corner of your mouth. Place cotton rolls there to cushion the area for the first 1 to 2 days. The metal attachments on the outside of the upper chrome crowns can sometimes rub the cheek in the back of your mouth. Try to keep some wax on these areas, especially the first 1-3 nights. The expansion screw may irritate your tongue at first. Be careful not to rub your tongue against it constantly-this will only keep your tongue upset.

Speech difficulties, sensitivity and excessive salivation (drooling) Talking a lot with your friends and family as well as reading aloud will solve speech difficulties in a couple days.

Gum around your crowns will be sensitive, warm salt water rinses will help.

Excessive salivation (drooling) will decrease after first 2 days.

HERBST APPLIANCE WILL COME APART WHEN LOWER ROD COMES OUT OF THE UPPER SLEEVE PLEASE AVOID OPENING YOUR MOUTH TOO WIDE TO AVOID IT

Our expander works by making your dental arch larger. This will help to straighten your crowded teeth, and also create room for the rest of your permanent teeth to erupt without them also becoming overcrowded. It can also work by correcting the way your teeth fit together-this is sometimes called "correct your bite".

The Hyrax expander consists of two rings (bands) or chrome crowns covering your back molar teeth on each side of your mouth. Welded to these bands or crowns are strong wires that are attached to a rectangular shaped expansion screw. For the upper expander, the screw is located in the palate. The upper expansion screw is usually activated one or two turn each day for two weeks, preferably the same time of day each day. Our Orthodontist will examine you in two weeks to see if you need more expansion.