Hampton dentist, Dentist in Hampton, NJ

Orthodontics

In our section of the country, very few General Dentists do orthodontics. However, in other parts there are very high percentages that do orthodontics and just like me, they have obtained excellent results.

The reason for this imbalance across the country is unknown to me. However, what I came to understand from the General Dentists who I attended many, many seminars with is that we all share a strong desire not only to learn, but to truly understand all aspects of our profession. It enables us to incorporate this knowledge into our practices in a way that we never could have before.

For instance, a child comes into my practice and I noted a mal-occlusion (crooked teeth). The child is to young for orthodontics but if nothing is done the condition will only worsen. In almost every case I can determine the cause and guide the parents in the direction they should go that can begin the process of correcting the problem. Orthodontics will probably still be needed in the future, but it will take less time because it will not be as complicated a case as it would have been and the chance of re-lapse will be significantly reduced. Besides this, there could be health issues involved such as an upper airway obstruction which can have a negative effect upon growth and development. Last but not least, we all know how children can be to each other, why wait for it to worsen and risk potential ridicule.

The reason I am able to do this is that what I studied, for over 700 hours of continuing education, is Functional Orthodontics. The philosophy behind this is that there is a functional problem behind the mal-occlusion. We identify it, correct it and then use proper functional, along with traditional and progressive orthodontic techniques to make corrections.

Traditional Braces

Beyond their traditional color, the only thing traditional about these braces is that you can see them. Contemporary braces are made of super strong metal alloys derived from the space program. Their strength allows them to be the smallest of all braces and therefore the most comfortable. Their density makes them ultra slippery so teeth move faster than they ever have before. Today's braces, in combination with other high tech materials mean fewer office visits to complete treatment.

Clear Braces

Ceramic braces utilize less noticeable brackets for patients concerned about aesthetic appearances. Ceramic brackets are translucent, so they blend in with your natural tooth color. This means that unlike traditional stainless steel braces, with ceramic braces your smile will not look 'metallic.' In addition, ceramic brackets are designed so that they won't stain or discolor over long periods of time. An orthodontist can let you know if you are a candidate for ceramic braces.