Florida Orthodontic Institute Moving Teeth

Since we specialize only in orthodontic treatments at Florida Orthodontic Institute, our top priority is the comprehensive movement of your teeth. When we begin your treatment, we start with the alignment of your six upper front teeth. This alignment is essential for cosmetic and functional improvements when you bite down. We also move the side teeth into alignment so that when you bite, your upper and lower teeth interlock with each other, like the gears of a car's engine. In addition to moving the front and side teeth, we move the second molars into alignment with the rest of the teeth. We feel this is an important feature in finishing your orthodontic treatment.

		Ceramic Braces Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene and diet as ceramic braces are more easily stained and broken than their metal counterparts. Ceramics are also more abrasive and stronger than the enamel of the tooth. If ceramic braces are placed onto the lower teeth, the overbite and overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower teeth could cause excessive and irreversible wear of the enamel of the upper teeth. For this reasons, we use ceramic braces on upper-front teeth only. Click on the image on the left to see a close-up.

		Metal Braces Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. We use high-grade, nickel-free stainless steel metal braces. They are used for patients who have an allergy to nickel. Traditional braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. Click on the image on the left to see a close-up.

		Teeth Aligners Teeth aligners are removable appliances for minor movement of teeth. Tooth movement is incorporated into the fabrication of the tooth aligner. Tooth aligners can achieve only limited orthodontic movement such as minor relapse of crowding or spacing. They have limitations in correcting overbite, overjet, and closure of extraction spaces. Since these appliances are removable, cooperation in wearing tooth aligners is necessary for the success of treatment. Click on the image on the left to see teeth aligners in action.

		Invisalign® uses a series of virtually invisible, removable, and comfortable tooth aligners to straighten your teeth. No one can tell you are wearing Invisalign® because the are almost invisible! Not only are the aligners clear, they are also removable. This means you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, and brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. Click here to learn more about Invisalign®. Click on the image on the left to see a close-up.

		Teeth Expanders Teeth expanders come in different designs and colors. They all try to achieve one goal: to widen or expand the dental arch to make space and unravel dental crowding. Expanders work well when the teeth are still erupting. When the teeth erupt with the expander in place, they assume the expanded arch form, and bring the bone support with them. As a result, the dental arch is expanded. In some instances, the suture in the middle of the palate can be separated by an expander before the suture is totally calcified in late teen years. In such a case, the dental arch is expanded to make space to straighten out teeth.

		Teeth Retainers Teeth retainers are passive appliances designed to hold or "retain" the teeth after braces are removed. Since teeth tend to move back to their original position throughout your lifetime, retainers can be used to counteract the natural tendency of "dental relapse".

If you have any questions about the orthodontic appliances or services we offer, please contact us .