1. Who should get braces?
In fact anyone, at any age can benefit from orthodontic treatment. Crooked teeth are a common dental problem. Some experts have estimated that up to seven people out of ten would benefit from orthodontic treatment at some point in their lives.

You are never too old for a beautiful smile. If you have been living with a bite problem, or teeth hiding your smile, it is now time to find out how adult orthodontics can transform your smile and improve your lifestyle. For more information visit Orthodontics San Antonio

2. What are the benefits of orthodontic treatment?
• You will have a nicer smile
• Better looks will increase your self confidence
• Your teeth will be easier to take care of – you will be less likely to have tooth decay, gum disease and tooth decay
• Your teeth will be less likely to chip or break

3. Will my child’s teeth straighten as they grow?
The space available for teeth in a child’s mouth does not increase with age, therefore is they are crowded then there won’t be any opportunity for your child’s teeth to straighten without the need for orthodontic intervention.

Below the ages of 7 – 10 years, some permanent teeth have already appeared. And during this time the bones and muscles are growing rapidly. This is when we can influence their growth to create the best bite and facial aesthetics – things can be accomplished now that cannot be accomplished easily later. Early treatment may prevent future bite problems from developing.

Insert: Open bite photo Picture of a smiling child Or before and after early tx

4. Can my family dentist do orthodontics?
Your family general dentist may have taken some additional weekend training seminars to do orthodontics. Your general dentist is obliged to assume professional dental care for all his or her patients. Each dentist knows what he or she is adequately skilled to do. You can trust your general dentist to do what he or she does well and to refer you to a specialist for work beyond or outside his or her competency and training.

5. How much does orthodontic treatment cost?
No two orthodontic problems are the same. The cost of orthodontic treatment will depend upon the severity of the problem.

The orthodontic fee covers the entire treatment including the fitting of braces, periodic adjustments, removal of braces and later visits to assess the results of treatment.

A beautiful, healthy smile is one of the best investments you can make in you or your child’s lifetime.

To help you fit this investment into your budget, we offer a variety of payment methods.

Getting cited for a traffic violation is an extremely common occurrence in New York state as speed limits and other VTL laws are strictly enforced along the Thruway I-87, Interstate I-90, and other highways and public thoroughfares in 518 counties. Albany and Columbia County are particularly stringent with their traffic enforcement, particularly along the Taconic State Parkway. Fines can be very grievous and points on your Driving History can not only increase your auto insurance prices, but make it all that more likely your next ticket results in a conviction. If you are ticketed for speeding, or any of the many possible violations of New York state Vehicle & Traffic law, you do have options available to help protect your license and save you time and money. To discuss the details of your case, contact us today.
Get Started Now Defending Your Traffic Ticket Case in the 518
Points
Part of the penalty issued for traffic violations includes the addition of points to a motorists driving record. Points can be reported to your auto insurance company, triggering increases in premiums paid. Accumulation of points can also trigger special assessment fees issued by New York state, including the Driver Safety Assessment fee, and driver’s license suspensions. Below is a table explaining various traffic violations and the points assigned when a conviction occurs. New York does provide for the elimination of up to 4 non-speed points when a driver completes a DMV certified Point Reduction Course.
Reckless Driving – 5 points
Failed to Stop for School Bus – 5 points
Followed too closely (tailgaiting) – 4 points
Inadequate Brakes (private car) – 4 points
Inadequate Brakes (employer’s vehicle) – 2 points
Failed to Yield Right-of-Way – 3 points
Disobeying Traffic Control Signal (Stop or Yield sign) – 3 points
Railroad Crossing Violation – 3 points
Improper Passing, Changing Lane Unsafely – 3 points
Driving Left of Center, in Wrong Direction – 3 points
Leaving Scene of Property Damage Incident – 3 points
Child Safety Restraint Violation – 3 points
1144 A Ambrose-Searles “Move-Over Act” – 3 points
Cell Phone Violation – 2 points
Texting While Driving – 2 points
Any Other Moving Violation – 2 points
What are Typical Fine Amounts for Tickets in 518 Counties?
Fines and surcharges are assessed with any traffic ticket conviction, even when a court agrees to reduce the case to a parking ticket (1201 A). New York Vehicle & Traffic Law gives local courts the power to assess fines within certain limits, and the fine amount you pay will usually depend on the particular court’s policies, your past driving history, and the original charge. To get a better idea of what to expect in your case, we will be posting some of our closed cases on our website NY Speeding Ticket Fines. There, you can view details of real traffic ticket cases handled in 518 courts.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children see an orthodontist by age seven and sooner if something is obviously wrong before age seven. Fortunately, many young patients don’t need anything more than observation while the permanent teeth are growing into place, however, some young patients may have problems that will not, or should not wait. Most orthodontic problems are inherited and cannot be totally prevented however something can usually be done before these problems become more difficult and more expensive to manage.
It is advisable to consult with an orthodontist prior to having your dentist remove any baby teeth or permanent teeth. To ensure the best overall dental and facial development all patients shaould have an orthodontic consultation sometime between the ages of three and seven. By age 7, the first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in and cross-bites, crowding and protrusions can be evaluated. The orthodontist can identify current or anticipated future dental problems and determine the best time for treatment. Any ongoing oral habits can also be evaluated at this time such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing, or finger sucking.

What are the benefits of early treatment?
If there are obvious problems which exist that could be intercepted or prevented from getting worse your orthodontist may advise you to have your child undergo a First stage-Orthopedic Treatment. Orthopedic treatment can be initiated on many types of bite problems before all of the permanent teeth are present. Orthopedic treatment is necessary in many cases when the child’s teeth, lips or jaws don’t look normal for their age. Some reasons from considering orthopedic treatment are to:

Minimize severe malocclusions

Improve facial appearance and self-esteem

Correct functional problems

Minimize the effects of abnormal growth patterns

Reduce protrusion so that front teeth are less susceptible to injury

Reduce the need for or minimize the number of permanent teeth extracted

Reduce a serious mismatch in the growth of the upper and lower jaws

Eliminate adverse habits such as thumb/finger sucking

Make the treatment with braces easier and shorter

What are some of the orthodontic appliances used in growth guidance?
Orthopedic treatment may involve expanding appliances, retainers, a limited number of braces or headgear. We will use whatever is best to help shape and widen the dental arches. A larger more appropriately shaped dental arch can mean more room for adult teeth coming into the mouth, as well as a more natural smile. Here are a few of the common appliances used today:

Herbst: The Herbst appliance can help correct severe protrusion of the upper teeth by holding the lower jaw forward. It is affixed to the upper and lower molar teeth by the orthodontist.

Palatal Expansion Appliance: This appliance can widen the upper jaw to allow more room for the upper teeth and create a broader smile. This is usually used on patients with a crossbite that occurs when the upper jaw is too narrow for the upper teeth to fit properly with the lower teeth.

Bionator: This removable appliance holds the lower jaw forward and guides the eruption of the teeth while helping the upper and lower jaws to grow in proportion with each other.

What is an orthodontic specialist?

An orthodontist is a specialist in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The practice of orthodontics involves the design, application and control of corrective appliances and braces which are used to treat and correct these problems so that optimum dental function and stability are achieved. An orthodontist is required to first attend college, then complete a four-year graduate dental program and finally complete an additional two-year orthodontic residency program. Only about 6% of dentists hold these qualifications. When deciding which orthodontist to choose, make sure they have these qualifications and are members of the American Association of Orthodontists.

What’s new in orthodontics?

Orthodontics has changed a lot in the past years. New technology is allowing orthodontists to produce better results with fewer visits and shorter overall treatment times. Technology such as nickel-titanium-alloy archwires, developed by NASA, have replaced the traditional stainless steel wires of the past, providing patients with a temperature-sensitive wire that allow for continuous movement of the teeth over longer periods of time. For patients this means enhanced comfort, decreased treatment time and less trips to the orthodontist.

Cosmetic advances are also being made in orthodontics making braces less visible and more comfortable than in the past. The brackets used in orthodontics today bond directly to the teeth and are much smaller and more comfortable than those of old. If you are looking for braces that don’t show, you may want to consider Lingual orthodontics. Lingual orthodontists use brackets that are custom-made and fit behind each tooth. You may also want to consider asking about the new tooth colored brackets now available.

A new technology that allows tooth alignment without braces has been recently introduced to the orthodontic community. It is called InvisAlign™. For decades, traditional braces had been the only option for adults who wanted straighter teeth. The Invisalign System™ offers the first true alternative, by utilizing advances in 3-D imaging technology to create a series of customized plastic aligners. It all begins with a visit to an InvisAlign™-certified orthodontist, who will help you determine what you’d like to correct. Next, the orthodontist sends InvisAlign™ your precise treatment instructions. InvisAlign™ then uses its proprietary computer technology to create a sequence of finely-calibrated clear plastic aligners-as few as 12 or as many as 48, depending on your particular case. You’ll wear each aligner for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will move-little by little, week by week-until they reach the final alignment your orthodontist has prescribed.

To date, it has been used primarily on adults for minor alignment procedures and is not yet effective for more severe cases requiring extensive jaw movement. To find our more about this procedure ask your orthodontist or click on one of the links below.

For more information on orthodontics, check out these links:

www.aaortho.org
www.invisalign.com
www.bracesinfo.com

Expect more clinical advances to be made in orthodontics as technology allows orthodontists to straighten teeth with fewer visits, shorter treatment times, more comfort, and less visible procedures.