Braces  •  Invisalign  •  Expanders  •  Herbst Appliance  •  Retainers  •  iBraces

Do I Need Braces?
A beautiful healthy smile is a powerful part of looking and feeling your best. The great news is that orthodontic treatment has never been easier, more efficient, or more affordable. Our advanced techniques and materials have increased your comfort while reducing your treatment time. And, as you weigh the costs of orthodontic treatment, you should consider the benefits of this lifetime investment: a more beautiful, healthy smile resulting in a more confident you!
 
If you still aren't sure that you and your family can benefit from orthodontic treatment, just think about your answers to the following questions:

• Do you feel awkward or self-conscious about your smile? Your childs' smile? 
• When the camera shutter opens, do your lips close? 
• When you look at your smile, do you like what you see? Your childs' smile? 
• What does your smile say about you?
• Successful Orthodontic treatment will unlock the power in your smile!
• If you notice that you or your child has any of these concerns, please call our office for a free exam!

Braces
Types Of Braces
Each person has his/her own style and personality that make him/her unique and special! Our staff feels that this fact should be applied when selecting orthodontic appliances! At our office we offer two types of braces: traditional silver (metal) and crystal clear (ceramic) as well! We are also now working with the Invisalign system that provides straight teeth without braces! Read below to find out more about each kind, and when you visit our office for the first time, we will offer you a free exam at which time Dr. Rayburn and his team will review each of the options in detail with you.

Traditional Silver Braces (metal)
These are the most common and most popular style of braces. The brackets are state-of-the-art and provide the most efficient & precise movement of the teeth and can be decorated to reflect each person's sense of style and personality! You can try new color combinations and patterns at every visit!

Clear Braces (ceramic)
Have you been thinking about getting braces but are concerned with the appearance that traditional metal braces offer? Perhaps you should consider clear braces- the latest, greatest, state of the art aesthetic orthodontic appliances. Clear braces are made from a ceramic material, which virtually appear invisible on your teeth!

Get the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.
Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten teeth using a series of custom-made, nearly undetectable aligners. This method has proven effective in both clinical research and in practices nationwide. So whether your teeth are crowded, too far apart or have shifted since wearing braces, you’ll have a new reason to smile!

The latest technology makes it possible.
Upon an initial examination, your doctor decides if Invisalign is right for you. Your doctor will write a treatment plan and take an impression of your teeth, which are submitted to Invisalign. Using the latest advances in 3-D computer technology, Invisalign carefully translates your doctor’s instructions into a series of precisely customized aligners. You then wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, moving your teeth, gradually – week by week, millimeter by millimeter – until you’ve achieved the intended result: straight teeth. Generally, you visit your doctor no more often than you would with braces and the length of treatment is about the same.

No braces. Nothing holding you back.
Because there are no metal wires and brackets, Invisalign is comfortable. And it’s removable - eating, brushing and flossing are no problem! You can still enjoy your favorite foods and smile without holding back. With Invisalign, there’s nothing to hide!

Expanders (Palatal dividers)
Sometimes the patient's upper jaw needs to be altered orthopedically. In such cases, the orthodontist may widen the upper jaw with an expander, or "palate divider." This device painlessly spreads the halves of the upper jaw apart. New bone then fills in between the two halves and the upper jaw remains permanently wider.

 
There are several designs for these expanders, but all have a center screw that must be turned with a key as instructed. The screw is usually turned up to six weeks. The expander is "activated" by placing the key into the keyhole in the center screw and then gently pushing the key toward the back of the mouth one notch.

The first noticeable effect of the expander is that the front teeth begin to separate. This is a sign that the appliance is working properly. The space will close naturally when the key turning is stopped. After the dividing screw has been opened a proper amount, the patient will continue to wear the appliance for three months. This allows new bone time to fill in and ensures that the widening will not relapse. After the three months the Expander is replaced by a retaining bar, which is called a Trans Palatal Arch (TPA).

One of the most common problems orthodontists are asked to treat is the discrepancy that occurs when the upper teeth protrude beyond the lower. Ordinarily when we see a patient with the upper teeth protruding, we tend to think that the upper jaw and teeth are too far forward; but, more often than not, this condition is due to a small lower jaw that is farther back than it should be.

With these patients, Dr. Rayburn would like to encourage the lower jaw to catch up in growth, and braces in combination with the Herbst appliance help this happen. Even though the Herbst appliance prevents the lower jaw from moving backward, opening and closing movement still occur easily and patients adapt to the new jaw position within a short period of time.

Combination Treatment
It is often necessary to expand the upper jaw while the lower jaw advances. The Herbst/Expander combination treatment has many advantages:

• Headgear appliances/external devices are eliminated.
• Herbst can be adjusted to advance the lower jaw and/or retract the upper teeth.
• Extractions are eliminated in most cases.
• Expanders may be used on the upper or lower to develop space in the arches for crowded teeth.
• The need for jaw surgery is eliminated in all but the most severe cases since orthopedic correction of the jaws is accomplished via the Herbst appliance.
• The Herbst is a very efficient appliance. It works 24 hours a day while eating, sleeping, playing sports or going to school. 
• Since the appliance is fixed to the teeth, like braces, patient compliance is reduced to a minimum.
• For all the above reasons, Herbst appliance therapy is the most conservative, least invasive and most advanced form of treatment for many cases.

Expansion and Advancement
These two movements can be done simultaneously by combining the Herbst appliance with a Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE). The RPE must be turned with a special key for several weeks until the upper jaw is wide enough. Dr. Rayburn will advise you about using the key and what to expect from this combination appliance.

Retainers
Retainers hold the teeth straight after the braces are removed or hold certain teeth in position while other nearby teeth erupt. During treatment with the braces, the bone and gums around the roots of the teeth are loosened; this is normal. It takes six to twelve months after the braces are removed for the bone and gums to solidify in the new positions of the teeth. During this time the teeth have a high tendency to move somewhat. Wearing retainers prevents this. Retainers should be kept and used from time to time throughout your lifetime to ensure that shifting does not occur.

Why Choose iBraces?

• Completely aesthetic and invisible
• Minimal discomfort and speech interference
• 100% customized for the best results
• Fewer appointments and adjustments

• You may finish treatment more quickly than with conventional braces
• Immediate results may be seen
• Decalcification (white spots) eliminated on the front side of teeth
• Can correct more difficult cases than Invisalign or Orthoclear

Thank you for choosing us!

Dr. Rayburn & Staff