Who needs orthodontics?
What is the right age for orthodontics?
What about adult orthodontics?
What diagnostic methods are needed to get started?
How do braces work?
How long will treatment take?
What makes SureSmile different?
Is my orthodontist still in charge of my treatment?
How does the OraScanner work?
How long does it take to do a scan?
What are SureSmile Shape Memory Alloy wires?
Is there a risk of damaging my teeth because they are moving faster?
Is headgear still used?
What is Invisalign?
How can mini-screws help my orthodontic treatment?
Will I need permanent teeth extracted?
What is included in a whitening kit?
More Questions?

Who needs orthodontics?
Everyone appreciates the importance of a winning smile. It makes a pleasing appearance, promotes self-esteem, and is valuable to social and career success. Creating beautiful smiles is what orthodontics is all about. Today, orthodontic treatment is convenient and affordable, so that individuals from childhood through retirement can enjoy its important benefits. We offer a free initial examination. Orthodontics is important not only to a great smile and improved self-confidence, but to better dental health. Teeth in correct alignment are easier to clean, and that can make them more resistant to decay and less susceptible to gum disease. Alignment may also prevent tooth and jaw discomfort that can come from uneven wear. By choosing to wear braces, you are taking a positive step in improving your overall dental health and comfort.

What is the right age for orthodontic treatment?
Early examination allows us to discover when your child's teeth should be treated for maximum improvement. Certain early treatment techniques provide significant benefits for patients seven to ten years old. Treatment during these growth stages can achieve results not possible once face and jaw structures have finished growing. Full orthodontic treatment is generally started when most of the permanent teeth are in place, usually at ages eleven or twelve. The best time to start treatment in your case will be discussed with you at your free initial examination. We have found that by starting orthodontics at the right time we can achieve the best results. You can be sure that our doctors will always answer this important question with your child's best interests in mind, just as he would for his own children.

What about adult orthodontics?
Adults now account for nearly 35% of our patients. Advanced technology, including more gentle wires, and clear, less visible braces, have allowed many more adults to enjoy the health and appearance of a comfortable bite and a beautiful smile. Braces are successful at any age.

What diagnostic methods are needed to get started?
After your free initial examination, a complete set of diagnostic records will be gathered, including a facial profile analysis. This information will enable our doctors to confirm your diagnosis, and develop a customized, individual treatment plan to achieve the best results.

How do braces work?
Orthodontic appliances are made of stainless steel or clear, ceramic materials. Individual braces are attached to each tooth. Orthodontic wires connect all the braces together and provide the forces to move teeth. All corrective appliances have one aim, to use gentle pressure to move teeth into proper alignment. You will appreciate the convenience and comfort of all the latest developments in orthodontics.

How long will treatment take?
Treatment time is usually between 18 months to 30 months depending greatly on the severity of the situation and the patient's cooperation. You will discover that the active, honest, and friendly relationship that exists among our patients, parents, doctor, and staff creates the best opportunity for efficient, on-time results.

What makes SureSmile different?
Advanced technology is what separates the SureSmile system from conventional treatment. With SureSmile, our orthodontic assistant uses the handheld OraScanner to capture 3-D images, allowing our doctors to build a precise 3-D computer model of your teeth. Treatment planning occurs on the computer, where our doctors are able to precisely map out your entire treatment and design target positions for your teeth. With this information we can determine the most efficient way to move them to the desired positions more directly, reducing treatment time. Archwires are typically bent by hand at chairside. WIth SureSmile, a robot creates each patient's unique wires by precisely reproducing our doctors' design. These Memory Alloy wires deliver more efficient tooth movement because they permanently retain the custom bends.

Is my orthodontist still in control of my treatment?
Absolutely. SureSmile allows our doctors to treat patients using the same fundamental process and tools that they have used for years. In fact, our doctors have greater control over treatment thanks to the 3-D visualization tools that SureSmile provides.

How does the OraScanner work?
Using a flashing white light- not x-rays or lasers- the OraScanner takes a series of digital pictures that are used to make 3-D computer models of your teeth.

How long does it take to do a scan?
A scan takes 45 minutes on average. Factors such as tooth crowding and the size of your mouth may affect the length of time that a scan takes.

What are SureSmile Memory Alloy wires?
The alloy used to make SureSmile archwires has been used in conventional orthodontics for some time. However, until the introduction of the SureSmile robotic process, doctors have been unable to customize these wires to an individual patient's needs due to the high temperatures required to bend these wires. The material characteristics of these archwires and their permanent customization enable them to deliver efficient, constant forces as they move your teeth to the target positions.

Is there a risk of damaging my teeth because they move faster?
SureSmile wires do not move teeth any faster that the same wires used in conventional orthodontics. However, thanks to 3-D tools, our doctors can move your teeth along a shorter path to the target position. Your overall treatment is shorter due to the shorter distance.

Is headgear still used?
In some practices, but not in ours. We have found other methods to make the same corrections with appliances that fit comfortably inside the mouth.

What is Invisalign?
A series of clear plastic trays that can provide tooth movement, in some instances, similar to that of braces. An evaluation would need to be done to see if this method would be most effective for you.

How can mini-screws help my orthodontic treatment?
They can maximize our mechanics to efficiently move teeth, in some cases to avoid surgical procedures. They can also provide a temporary replacement for someone who is missing teeth.

Will I need permanent teeth extracted?
In some instances. The need for extractions has been dramatically decreased due to advances in orthodontic technology. Very severe skeletal asymmetry or surgical treatment sometimes makes extractions an option. Crowding is very rarely a reason that extractions would be needed to complete our treatment.

What is included in a whitening kit?
Our kit includes three products to help whiten your smile: 14% hydrogen peroxide Crest whitening strips only available in dental offices; an Oral-B Vitality power sonic rechargeable toothbrush; and prescription strength flouride gel to strengthen and protect enamel after completion of whitening treatment. The Crest whitening strips have more than 3 times the strength of over the counter whitening strips.

More Questions?
If you have more questions, please give us a call our Oneida office at (315) 363-2480 or our Norwich office at (607) 334-6280. You can also e-mail our Oneida office at mail@cnyortho.com and our Norwich office at cnyortho@roadrunner.com.