Appliances

Description:

The Headgear appliances are comprised of a stainless steel Facebow and a nylon strap that attaches around the top of the head or the back of the neck with elastic modules to deliver the light, continuous force necessary to aid in modification of a patient’s skeletal growth and dental development.

Usage:

The body does most of its daily growth roughly between at night, so Dr. Turner will ask that it be worn at night time only on a nightly basis.

Cleaning:

The Facebow can be cleaned with toothpaste and a toothbrush and the head/neck straps do not usually require cleaning.

What to Expect

As with any appliance, there is a short adjustment period as the teeth may experience some minor soreness as the body acclimates to the appliance. We suggest increasing time with the appliance gradually starting with 30 mins- 1 hour and adding an hour per day until the patient is comfortable with wearing the appliance for the desired interval. Any standard pain medication can help during the adjustment period but is not necessary thereafter.

Description:

A Hawley retainer is a removable retainer made from a combination of sturdy acrylic and metal. This retainer is specially made from a 3D impression taken in our office so that the acrylic fits snugly and comfortably in the roof of your mouth and the wire sits against the six front teeth with loops towards the canines. Hawley retainers can be custom made for each arch and can be personalized with colors and patterns. The purpose of a Hawley retainer is used to maintain a previous orthodontic result, to make minor adjustments to alignment/spaces or to simply prevent undesirable movement of the teeth. Dr. Turner will prescribe the best retention regimen to meet your personal needs.

Care:

Because of these plastic and wire components, this retainer can be distorted or damaged from heat or hot water, so please handle with care. Never place the retainer in a napkin, on a lunch tray, or in your pocket. Trust us when we say, that's the easiest place to toss them in the trash or washing machine. Also, cats and dogs love to chew on retainers, so avoid leaving them out. We suggest always storing your retainer in a retainer case when not in your mouth.

Cleaning:

We encourage you to clean the appliance with luke warm water, dawn dish soap and a soft bristled toothbrush. For a deeper cleaning, you can soak it in a cleaning agent called Retainer Brite which is similar to denture cleaner a few times a week to freshen and kill germs that sit in the grooves of the plastic. Do no use mouthwash. Hot water should be avoided to prevent distortion of the plastic.

What to Expect

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in a few days. Practice reading aloud for five minutes a day—your speech will be perfect in no time.

Important:

Retention is as important as the treatment and essential to long-term maintenance of your new bite and smile.

Turner Orthodontics uses the iTero 3D Scanner which is a special piece of machinery that takes highly detailed images of your teeth and bite. This high-tech scanner replaces the outdated, uncomfortable putty molds of your teeth. The scanner looks similar to a wand, which we wave over your teeth to take the capture 3D images of your mouth. We then use the 3D images to map out the path that your teeth need to travel to create our custom Invisalign aligners, appliances and most retainers & night guards.

Turner Orthodontics will typically take this scan 3-4 weeks before an appliance is delivered to patient.

Description:

Clear or (Ceramic) braces are placed on the upper arch and used in combination with stainless steel (metal) braces that will be placed on the lower arch. Both types of brackets are bonded with composite resin (dental adhesive) directly to the enamel surfaces of the teeth. A protective layer of dental “sealant” is applied to ensure safe placement and removal of the appliances, thereby preserving the enamel. In most cases, bands (stainless steel rings with braces welded to the steel) will not be used unless Dr, Turner is using an appliance in combination with your treatment. Another exception may come into consideration when patients have existing crowns. The braces alone do not move teeth; they are simply stable guidance mechanisms that allow wires and other orthodontic appliances to affect the actual tooth movement (wires, chains, elastics, coil springs, and other devices).

Cleaning:

Careful brushing is advised two to three times a day. Brushing all around each and every brace is essential to the maintenance of dental health during the orthodontic process. Flossing – threading the floss under the wire at each point of contact – is advised at least once a day. A fluoride mouth rinse or toothpaste may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear. We suggest seeing your dentist a minimum of two times a year and in some cases, additional cleanings per year may be beneficial. Please talk to your dentist so they may customize the best cleaning regimen for you. Our office does suggest the use of a Sonicare toothbrush and or a Waterpik. Please ask a member of our staff if you would like to purchase one while at the office.

What to Expect:

Patients can expect the first appointment to place braces to take approximately 90 mins. Before your orthodontist puts on your braces, your teeth should be very clean. We suggest a professional dental cleaning to have taken place in the past 6 months and in cases where fair/poor oral hygiene is present or it has been over 12 months since your last cleaning, we may ask a current cleaning and full dental exam take place before our office starts treatment.

Important: If you plan on having your teeth cleaned less than a week prior to your treatment start, please let us know. The toothpaste used to clean your teeth may interfere with how well the appliances bond (stick) to your teeth. We will give you a special cleaning paste for that particular dental appointment.

The day of your "START" appointment, please expect the appointment to take approximately 90 mins. During your visit with us, we will clean the surface of each tooth. To attach the brackets, Dr. Turner places a small amount of glue in the center of each tooth, carefully places the bracket on the surface of each tooth and then we shine a blue curing light on your tooth to set the glue. Once the brackets are firmly in place, Dr. Turner will advise the assistant on what arch wire to use and our assistant will place a wire and clip the ends of the wire to be sure it doesn't touch the gums at the back of your mouth. Make sure the wire feels comfy and nothing is poking. Your mouth is much more sensitive than our fingertips, so we will ask you to make sure your are comfortable before we are done. You should feel little to no pain during this process. However, after the first few hours you can expect to experience soreness of the teeth and possible irritation of the lips and cheeks. We advise you take ibuprofen or Tylenol for any discomfort. Wax is your best friend and can be used to ease the discomfort of your new appliances. Softer foods are advised for the first 3-4 days. This tenderness may last for approximately 1-2 weeks, but usually improves after 3-4 days. Thereafter, the appliances tend to become “invisible” to patients. Adjustment visits are scheduled at 4-8 week intervals as needed to affect the desired changes. A patient can expect 2-3 days of MINOR soreness in the teeth after each future adjustment as the teeth respond to the changes implemented.

Remember

The patient and orthodontist are partners in this adventure and helpful participation by the patient can make the process proceed as planned. Careful oral hygiene, care of appliances and compliance with all prescribed appliances, especially elastic “rubber band” can help to make the process a raging success!

Description:

"Traditional" braces are comprised of small stainless steel squares (“brackets”) that are bonded with composite resin (dental adhesive) directly to the enamel surfaces of the teeth. A protective layer of dental “sealant” is applied to ensure safe placement and removal of the appliances, thereby preserving the enamel. In most cases, bands (stainless steel rings with braces welded to the steel) will not be used unless Dr, Turner is using an appliance in combination with your treatment. Another exception may come into consideration when patients have existing crowns. The braces alone do not move teeth; they are simply stable guidance mechanisms that allow wires and other orthodontic appliances to affect the actual tooth movement (wires, chains, elastics, coil springs, and other devices).

Cleaning:

Careful brushing is advised two to three times a day. Brushing all around each and every brace is essential to the maintenance of dental health during the orthodontic process. Flossing – threading the floss under the wire at each point of contact – is advised at least once a day. A fluoride mouth rinse or toothpaste may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear. We suggest seeing your dentist a minimum of two times a year and in some cases, additional cleanings per year may be beneficial. Please talk to your dentist so they may customize the best cleaning regimen for you. Our office does suggest the use of a Sonicare toothbrush and or a Waterpik. Please ask a member of our staff if you would like to purchase one while at the office.

What to expect:

Patients can expect the first appointment to place braces to take approximately 90 mins. Before your orthodontist puts on your braces, your teeth should be very clean. We suggest a professional dental cleaning to have taken place in the past 6 months and in cases where fair/poor oral hygiene is present or it has been over 12 months since your last cleaning, we may ask a current cleaning and full dental exam take place before our office starts treatment.

Important: If you plan on having your teeth cleaned less than a week prior to your treatment start, please let us know. The toothpaste used to clean your teeth may interfere with how well the appliances bond (stick) to your teeth. We will give you a special cleaning paste for that particular dental appointment.

The day of your "START" appointment, please expect the appointment to take approximately 90 mins. During your visit with us, we will clean the surface of each tooth. To attach the brackets, Dr. Turner places a small amount of glue in the center of each tooth, carefully places the bracket on the surface of each tooth and then we shine a blue curing light on your tooth to set the glue. Once the brackets are firmly in place, Dr. Turner will advise the assistant on what arch wire to use and our assistant will place a wire and clip the ends of the wire to be sure it doesn't touch the gums at the back of your mouth. Make sure the wire feels comfy and nothing is poking. Your mouth is much more sensitive than our fingertips, so we will ask you to make sure your are comfortable before we are done. You should feel little to no pain during this process. However, after the first few hours you can expect to experience soreness of the teeth and possible irritation of the lips and cheeks. We advise you take ibuprofen or Tylenol for any discomfort. Wax is your best friend and can be used to ease the discomfort of your new appliances. Softer foods are advised for the first 3-4 days. This tenderness may last for approximately 1-2 weeks, but usually improves after 3-4 days. Thereafter, the appliances tend to become “invisible” to patients. Adjustment visits are scheduled at 4-8 week intervals as needed to affect the desired changes. A patient can expect 2-3 days of MINOR soreness in the teeth after each future adjustment as the teeth respond to the changes implemented.

Remember:

The patient and orthodontist are partners in this adventure and helpful participation by the patient can make the process proceed as planned. Careful oral hygiene, care of appliances and compliance with all prescribed appliances, especially elastic “rubber band” can help to make the process a raging success!

Description:

A Bonded Lower Lingual Retainer Appliance is comprised of a braided stainless steel wire that connects to the lingual (back) surfaces of the front teeth. Composite resin (dental restorative material) is used to adhere the appliance to the teeth. Turner Orthodontics will take a 3D scan of your teeth to ensure a custom fit. Please expect 3-4 weeks for fabrication of your bonded retainer.

Usage:

The Bonded Lingual Retainer Appliance is used to maintain a previous orthodontic result or to simply prevent undesirable movement of the teeth.

Cleaning:

We encourage patients to clean the appliance with toothpaste and a toothbrush each and every time the teeth are brushed. Flossing can be a bit tricky with your bonded retainer. Consider using a Waterpik, floss threader, or a special orthodontic dental floss to help you keep this area clean. Floss under the appliance at each point of contact is advised at least once a day. Be thorough but also be gentle to ensure you don't damage the wire. A fluoride mouth rinse may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear.

Care:

Avoiding directly biting into hard foods such as ice, crunchy or sticky foods is best. Keep seeing your dentist to ensure they can properly clean around the wire. If they advise you that the bonded retainer needs to be removed, a new removable retainer will be needed to maintain alignment. At Turner Orthodontics, most patients will receive an additional clear Essix retainer that should be used if the lower bonded retainer is removed and broken. The lower teeth are very susceptible to movement, so retention is very important.

What to Expect:

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days.

Remember:

Retention is as important as the treatment itself and is essential to the long-term maintenance of your new bite and smile.

Description:

A Bonded Retainer on the upper arch is comprised of a braided stainless steel wire that connects to the lingual (back) surfaces of the front teeth. Composite resin (dental restorative material) is used to adhere the appliance to the teeth.

Usage:

The Bonded Upper Retainer is used to maintain a previous orthodontic result or to simply prevent undesirable movement of the front teeth.

Cleaning:

We encourage patients to clean the appliance with toothpaste and a toothbrush each and every time the teeth are brushed. Flossing – threading the floss under the appliance at each point of contact – is advised at least once a day A fluoride mouth rinse may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear.

What to Expect:

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days.

Please Note:

The upper bonded retainer has a greater frequency of debonding (breaking off) as the lower teeth often contact the appliance. It may be helpful to wear a removable retainer while sleeping to prevent trauma to the bonded retainer while preserving the appliance.

Remember:

Retention is as important as the treatment itself and is essential to the long-term maintenance of your new bite and smile.

Description:

The Haas Expander is bonded appliance that can not be taken in and out of the mouth. It is comprised of stainless steel rings (bands) that are glued around the permanent first molar teeth, acrylic that sits on the roof of the mouth and an expansion mechanism in the midline of the palate (roof of the mouth). This appliance will be customized for the patients mouth. To start the process, our staff will take a easy 3D itero scan to ensure the appliance is custom fitted to your mouth. This 3D scan is then sent to a lab and fabrication takes 3-4 weeks. Spacers will be placed before the appliance is delivered to make space for the bands to comfortably fit over molars.

Usage:

The Haas Expander is used to slowly and carefully broaden the upper jaw by exerting lateral pressure on the two halves of the maxilla (upper jaw) in patients with a constricted maxilla (narrow upper jaw). If done properly, bone grows in the middle and a once-constricted maxilla can attain proper width to improve the bite. Expanding the maxilla may also help to create space for eruption of permanent teeth.

General Instructions:

Please avoid sticky/chewy candies, gum or hard foods.

Dr. Turner's Tips:

Read your favorite book to yourself in front of the mirror for five minutes a day – your speech will be perfect in no time.

Read your favorite book, magazine, etc. to yourself in front of the mirror for five minutes a day – your speech will be perfect in no time.

Cleaning:

We encourage patients to rinse with water or a Waterpik after eating to help clean the appliance. Brush and floss as usual, taking special care to clean around the bands, the expansion mechanism, and the palatal bars. A fluoride mouth rinse may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear.

What to expect:

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days. You may notice your child has excess saliva for a couple of days. This will improve within a 5-7 days.

Remember:

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days. You may notice your child has excess saliva for a couple of days. This will improve within a 5-7 days.

Description:

A Haas expander with Reverse Pull Headgear is used to treat skeletal Class III malocclusions in children. It is most effective between the ages of 8-10 years of age. The appliance is comprised of clear acrylic bite blocks molded to the primary (baby) teeth and an expansion mechanism in the midline of the palate (roof of the mouth) connected by palatal bars. Headgear tubes and/ or protraction hooks may be incorporated (as needed) to allow the appliance to be worn with the appropriate headgear that we called a “Facemask”. The Facemask Appliance is a one-piece unit comprised of a stainless steel framework with adjustable forehead and chin pads as well as a “cross piece” that attaches directly to an intra-oral (in the mouth) appliance to bring the upper jaw forward and downward. The Facemask Appliance is used in patients that present with a “Class III malocclusion” or “underbite”. The body does most of its daily growth at night—the Facemask will be worn during sleep only. Placing the appliance before bed each night will optimize results. Total treatment time is estimated at 9-12 months.

Cleaning:

The Facemask can be cleaned with a damp cloth or with any kind of disinfection pads (“Wet Ones ®” and the like). The forehead and chin pads can be replaced with new pads and are often more comfortable when lined with “Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin®”.

What to Expect:

As with any appliance, there is a short adjustment period as the teeth may experience some minor soreness as the body acclimates to the appliance. Dr. Turner suggest increasing time with the appliance gradually starting with 30 mins and adding an additional time per day until the patient is comfortable with wearing the appliance for the desired interval. Please avoid sticky/chewy candies, gum and hard foods

Cleaning:

Turner Orthodontics encourage patients to rinse with water or a Waterpik after eating to help clean the appliance. Brush and floss as usual, taking special care to clean around the acrylic bite blocks, the expansion mechanism, and the palatal bars. A fluoride mouth rinse may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear. Please continue seeing your general dentist on a regular basis.

What to Expect:

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days.

Dr. Turner's Tip:

Read your favorite book, magazine, etc. to yourself in front of the mirror for five minutes a day – your speech will be perfect in no time. Increased salivation is expected initially and should subsides in 48-72 hours.

Remember:

The teeth in direct contact with the appliance may be sore for a day or two following an adjustment. Normal NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication—Advil® or Tylenol®) may be helpful

Description:

The T-REX appliance is comprised of rings (bands) around the maxillary (upper) permanent first molar teeth, stainless steel occlusal rests (wires) that sit passively in the grooves of the middle teeth, composite resin (dental glue made from the same material as sealant or filling mate- rial) that helps to anchor the appliance, an acrylic (plastic) frame that sits on the roof of the mouth, and springs that attach to the bands.

Usage:

The T-REX appliance causes posterior (backward) movement of the molar teeth to create space for permanent teeth to erupt naturally while also improving the bite (fit and function of the teeth).

Cleaning:

We encourage patients to rinse with water or a Waterpik after eating to help clean the appliance. Brush and floss as usual, taking special care to clean around the bands, the palatal acrylic, and the springs. A fluoride mouth rinse may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear.

What to Expect:

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days.

Dr. Turner's Tip

Read your favorite book, magazine, etc. to yourself in front of the mirror for five minutes a day – your speech will be perfect in no time. You may notice that this appliance increases salivation for several days. This is normal and will gradually subside.

Remember:

The patient may experience some minor soreness for a day or two in the areas of the molar teeth as the molars begin their movement and following an adjustment. Normal NSAID (non-steroidal anti- inflammatory medication—Advil® or Tylenol®) may be helpful if necessary.

Description:

The Trans-Palatal Arch is comprised of stainless steel rings (bands) around the posterior teeth (usually molars) and a looped wire that spans the palate (roof of the mouth) without touching it.

Usage:

The Trans-Palatal Arch is used to hold upper molars in place, stabilizing the position of these teeth after, or during, the movement of other teeth. The TPA can also be used to rotate molars into more ideal positions to improve the bite and to help the molars move as a unit when working together with TADs.

General Instructions:

Please avoid sticky/chewy candies, gum and hard foods

Cleaning:

We suggest that patients rinse with water or a Waterpik after eating to help clean the appliance. Brush and floss as usual, taking special care to clean around the bands and the palatal arch. A fluoride mouth rinse may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear.

What to Expect

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days.

Dr. Turner's Tip:

Read your favorite book, magazine, etc. to yourself in front of the mirror for five minutes a day – your speech will be perfect in no time.

Remember

This appliance may be small, but it is essential to the success of treatment.

Description:

A Lingual Holding Appliance is comprised of stainless steel rings (bands) around lower 6 year molars and a stainless steel wire that passively contacts the inside (lingual) surfaces of the teeth.

Usage:

The LLHA appliance serves to hold upper 6 yr molars in place to allow other adult teeth to properly erupt. The appliance is placed on the lingual (tongue) side of the mandibular (lower) teeth.

General Instructions:

Please avoid sticky/chewy candies, gum and hard foods

Cleaning:

We suggest patients rinse with water or a Waterpik after eating to help clean the appliance. Brush and floss as usual, taking special care to clean around the bands and the palatal arch. A fluoride mouth rinse may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear.

What to Expect

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days.

Dr. Turner's Tip:

Read your favorite book, magazine, etc. to yourself in front of the mirror for five minutes a day – your speech will be perfect in no time.

Remember

This appliance may be small but it is essential to the success of treatment!

Description:

A Nance Holding Appliance is comprised of stainless steel rings (bands) around upper back molars and a looped stainless steel wire that ends in an acrylic “button” on the roof of the mouth. This button is usually the size of a nickel.

Usage:

The Nance appliance serves to hold the upper 6 year molars in place to allow other adult teeth to properly erupt.

General Instructions:

Please avoid sticky/chewy candies, gum or hard foods to prevent loosening the bands and causing distortion of the appliance.

Cleaning:

We suggest that patients rinse with water or a Waterpik after eating to help clean the appliance. Brush and floss as usual, taking special care to clean around the bands and the palatal arch/acrylic button. A fluoride mouth rinse may also be helpful to make sure that all exposed surfaces of the teeth are protected during appliance wear.

What to Expect

Upon initial placement, there may be some tongue obstruction, but your speech will be back to normal in just a few days.

Dr. Turner's Tip:

Read your favorite book, magazine, etc. to yourself in front of the mirror for five minutes a day – your speech will be perfect in no time.

Remember

This appliance may be small but it is essential to the success of treatment!