We are proud to offer the following services to achieve the smile of your dreams:
Traditional Braces
Even though there are many types of braces, traditional braces are still the most popular option. Great strides in technology have been made since they were first used, so they are becoming more comfortable and effective.
Traditional braces use stainless steel brackets and archwires to move your teeth into their proper position. Many teenagers like to decorate their braces with different colored rubber bands to give them a colorful and unique smile. You can choose a new color (or colors) during every adjustment!
Clear Braces
Most teens and adults are reluctant to get the orthodontic care they need due to the appearance of orthodontic appliances. That’s why we offer clear braces, which are much less noticeable than metal braces, but still give patients a smile they deserve.
Clear aligners are not the same as clear braces. Clear aligners are plastic trays that you wear over your teeth, like a shell. Clear braces are just like metal braces, but they are almost invisible. Clear braces have many advantages. They are almost invisible, giving patients who do not want the look of traditional braces another alternative.
Despite all of the advantages, there are some disadvantages to consider, too. They are typically more costly than traditional metal braces, though we offer payment plans for all patients. They can also become discolored by tea, coffee, wine, and other foods. Smoking can also cause discoloration.
Clear Correct
Clear Correct is a wonderful, modern alternative treatment to braces. You can straighten your teeth without installing metal in your mouth. Instead, we use plastic trays (also known as aligners) to move your teeth back into place. Each aligner is custom made to fit your mouth so you don’t have to worry about mouth irritation or anything else that traditional braces can cause.
Since the aligners are removable, they are easier to keep clean. You can also continue to brush and floss your teeth without trying to avoid harming your braces. Clear Correct is also popular because the aligners are clear, so most people don’t even know you are wearing anything unless you tell them.
Early Treatment
The earlier we catch problems with your child’s bite, the simpler they are to fix. The results are often better than if we wait and will require significantly less work. We may not need to keep braces on your child for as long when they are younger, which means less expense for you.
The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that children visit an orthodontist as soon as their dentist notices that there might be a problem, or before they are seven years old. We may not have to do anything at this age, other than monitor the child’s mouth. However, if we continue to watch your child, we can start treatment right away if something arises.
Early intervention can be beneficial. We will watch how your child’s mouth and teeth grow and develop, so if we see something that needs to be done, we can do it as soon as possible. We will also know exactly when to start treatment, if needed.
Adult Treatment
No matter your age, you deserve a smile that gives you confidence. Braces are not just for children anymore. With the latest advancements in technologies, we can get you the smile you deserve! Here at Pinnacle Orthodontics, we work hard to give you the smile you’ve always wanted. We offer several different treatments that can be effective no matter how old you are. More and more orthodontic treatments are becoming available to give adults the smile that they want.
Orthodontic treatments are not just for your smile. Fixing your teeth can also dramatically change your oral health. When you have crooked teeth or a malocclusion (uneven bite), you may be prone to oral health problems such as gum disease and tartar buildup.
Adolescent Treatment
Many adolescents do not realize that there are several different options to get them a beautiful smile. Here at Pinnacle Orthodontics, we specialize in helping adolescents receive orthodontics. There is no better time than now to begin orthodontic treatment!
Orthodontics can improve their appearance, self-esteem, and oral health problems. Crooked teeth can cause tartar buildup as well as other diseases. Straight, evenly spaced teeth can correct this problem, since brushing can be difficult when teeth do not line up properly.
After reviewing the results, we will discuss various options for treatment and help you decide what works with their lifestyle and your budget. We want to make sure you feel comfortable with the cost as well as the time frame and type of treatment. If your insurance plan covers all or some of it, we are happy to work with them.
Getting a dazzling smile that they are proud of will last the rest of their life.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at (479) 877-6565 to discuss any of these options. We want to give you a reason to smile!
Types of Braces
Here at Pinnacle Orthodontics, we are proud to offer many different types of braces to give you the smile you’ve always wanted.
By offering different types of braces, we can work with you and your lifestyle to choose the best treatment that works for you! We are dedicated to giving our patients the orthodontic care they deserve.
Braces work by moving your teeth back into the correct position. You need to continue to visit the orthodontist regularly to ensure that your braces are working the way they should. They will need to be adjusted every so often to continue to do their job.
Even though there are many types of braces, traditional braces are still the most popular option. Great strides in technology have been made since they were first used, so they are becoming more comfortable and effective.
Traditional braces use stainless steel brackets and archwires to move your teeth into their proper position. Many teenagers like to decorate their braces with different colored rubber bands to give them a colorful and unique smile. You can choose a new color (or colors) during every adjustment!
Self-ligating braces
Self-ligating braces are metal just like traditional braces, though you won’t need to use elastic bands. This means that you will require fewer follow-up appointments and have even less friction on your teeth, which means less discomfort.
Some self-ligating braces use ceramic or even clear brackets. They use a specialized clip instead of elastic bands to keep the wires in place. The clips decrease the pressure on the teeth. With less appointments needed, and typically faster treatment times, self-ligating braces are a popular choice for teenagers and older patients.
Clear braces
Clear braces are less visible on your teeth than traditional braces are. Because of this, they are very common with teenagers and adults seeking treatment.
Clear braces are more likely to break than metal braces. Brackets are usually broken when patients eat certain foods. Ceramic braces are more commonly used on the upper front teeth than on lower teeth so that they are less likely to break.
Clear aligners
Clear aligners are the newest and increasingly popular choice for aligning teeth. The aligners are invisible and removable, making them a top choice for teenagers and adults. The system uses clear, acrylic trays that straighten teeth just like braces and are much more comfortable.
Clear aligners are nice because you can remove them to eat, drink, brush, and floss your teeth as normal.
Clear aligners need to be worn as much as possible and need to be cleaned and adjusted regularly for optimal results.
Retainers
After the braces have done their job, you will need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in the right position. Your orthodontist will develop a timeline specific to you regarding how long to wear your retainer.
There are many different types of braces that will get you the smile you deserve. Before we decide what you need, we will do a thorough examination, which may include X-rays. Once we have all of the necessary information, we will work with you and talk through your treatment options to help you choose what’s right for you!
For more information or to request an appointment, contact us today at (479) 877-6565.
MyoBrace
It is our goal to stay up to date with the latest advances in dentistry so that we can help our patients maintain healthy smiles as efficiently as possible. To do this, we offer Myobrace®.
Myobrace® is used to straighten your teeth and jaw without using braces. This treatment addresses the underlying causes of crooked teeth, instead of just working to move your teeth.
Instead of being painful, it uses light, intermittent forces to straighten your teeth. This treatment involves using removable dental appliances that look similar to mouthguards. Instead of wearing them constantly for months or even years, you only need to wear them for a few hours during the day and while you are sleeping.
If you are interested in learning more about Myobrace® or would like to schedule an examination to see if they will work for you, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (479) 877-6565.
Retention
After you have worn your braces for the appropriate amount of time, we move into the retention stage of your treatment. It is VERY important not to skip this step, or all of your hard work will not pay off as you had hoped. Your teeth may shift around or move back to where they were instead of staying in place.
During retention, you will have to wear retainers as your teeth adjust to staying in their new place without braces. You should wear your retainers as recommended by your dentist. Some should be worn only at night, while others need to be worn almost all of the time.
Brushing your teeth is easier in this phase, since the retainers are removable. All you have to do is remove your retainer, and then you will be able to brush your teeth better than you were able to when you had braces. You should also brush your retainer thoroughly before placing it back to your mouth.
For more information or to request an appointment, contact us today at (479) 877-6565.
Myofunctional Disorders
Children, teenagers, and adults may suffer from OMDs. OMDS may interfere with normal growth and development of the muscles and bones of the face and mouth. OMDs may also interfere with how the muscles of the face and mouth are used for eating, talking, and breathing. People who have an OMD may also have problems with talking, swallowing, and breathing through their nose. Some children push out their tongue when they talk, drink, or eat. This is called tongue thrusting or fronting, and it is one type of OMD.
Signs and Symptoms
Just because a person has some or all of these symptoms does not mean that they have an OMD. Always see a professional for more information. To find an SLP, use ASHA’s ProFind.
Some signs of an OMD may include the following:
- Someone who always breathes through the mouth or has difficulty breathing through the nose.
- Limited tongue movement.
- Eating may be messy or difficult. Keep in mind that it is normal for babies to stick their tongue out and push food out of their mouth. Over time, they do this less.
- An overbite, underbite, and/or other dental problems.
- The tongue pushing past the teeth, even when a person is not talking or using the tongue.
- Difficulty saying some sounds, like "s" in "sun," "sh" in "ship," or "j" in "jump."
- Drooling, especially beyond age 2.
- Difficulty closing the lips to swallow.
Causes
There is not a known, single cause of OMDs. OMDs may be caused by several factors:
- Blocked nasal passages because of tonsil size or allergies. When the nasal passages are blocked, people may need to breathe through their mouth instead.
- Anything that causes the tongue to be misplaced at rest or makes it difficult to keep the lips together at rest.
- Sucking and chewing habits past the age of 3 years.