Types of Appliances

Invisalign

Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.

Invisalign teen

 Let’s face it. With school, sports, dating, and hanging out with friends, getting metal braces is not at the top of your list of favorite things to do. Guess what? With Invisalign Teen®, you can straighten your teeth without metal wires and brackets getting in the way. You’re free to enjoy the things that make these the best times of your life.  Invisalign Teen aligners are made of a smooth, clear plastic that is virtually invisible! Your friends probably won’t even know you’re wearing them. Instead of hiding behind a mouth of metal, you’ll enjoy the confidence of showing that smile every day. And that can make for a better social life overall.

 SPEED Braces:

Speed Braces have revolutionized orthodontics by eliminating the need for the elastics that traditional braces require to straighten teeth. Instead, SPEED Braces use an energy-storing component called a ‘Spring Clip’ to straighten teeth. The SPEED Spring Clip works like a computer chip inside your braces. The Spring Clip is ‘programmed’ by your orthodontist when SPEED Braces are placed on your teeth. The Spring Clip, made of a ‘Super-Elastic’ space age material, then follows the programmed instructions by applying a light continuous force to gently move teeth to their correct position. Only SPEED Braces contain a ‘Super-Elastic’ Spring Clip. The result is greater comfort, and potentially fewer appointments and more ‘SPEEDy’ treatment. SPEED Braces are small; typically 1/3 smaller than traditional braces, and they look great! SPEED’s small footprint results in less food trapping, so good oral hygiene is easier to maintain throughout your treatment.

Elastics:

Wearing elastics improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth.   Wear rubbers bands as instructed and remember that the rubber bands work far more efficiently if they are worn as prescribed.

Headgear:

Headgear is used to treat patients whose teeth are in an overbite, with the upper jaw protruding the lower jaw, or an underbite with the lower jaw forward of the upper jaw.  The headgear gently pulls your teeth to restrict further forward growth of your teeth and jaw.

Palatal Expander:

The palatal expander widens your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made.  Dr. Oliver will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander.  When you attain the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and prevent relapse.

 Separators:

Separators are little rubber doughnuts that may be placed between your teeth to push them apart so that the orthodontic bands may be placed during your next appointment.  The separators will be removed prior to Dr. Oliver placing the bands.  Separators do not mix well with sticky foods.

Retainers:

Retainers may be removable or fixed.  They hold your teeth in their new, correct positions after your teeth have been straightened.  Dr. Oliver will instruct you on how to care for your retainer and how long to wear it for.  Wearing your retainer as directed is essential to prevent regression of your treatment.