Treatment Options
Invisalign
Our office is proud to offer Invisalign ® to our patients! Invisalign is a great option for those who want straighter teeth without the need for traditional braces. Dr. Behnan can determine if you're a candidate during a free consultation.
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Invisalign is a teeth straightening system that uses invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one will notice you wearing. With Invisalign, you won’t have to worry about smiling and anyone seeing traditional metal braces. These clear aligners are made using a 3D computer imaging technology which has been proven to be extremely effective.
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Invisalign is removable and invisible so during treatment, you can eat and drink whatever you want. Another added bonus is that brushing and flossing is now much easier because there is no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. No metal and no wires also means you’ll be spending less time in our office. While we love to see our patients, Invisalign offers flexibility and convenience to your orthodontic care.
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Each patient plan is different however typically, you wear a set of aligners for about two weeks each. Only removing them to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As treatment continues, you will replace each aligner with the next one in the series and watch as your teeth begin to straighten. Week after week, your teeth will start to align more and more. You will come into the office about every six weeks as prescribed by Dr. Behnan. The average treatment times are 9-15 months, but can vary among each patient. During this time frame you will have worn between 18 and 30 aligners.
Dentofacial Orthopedics
Dr. Scott M. Behnan specializes in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. We find that many of our patients are confused about what the term “Dentofacial Orthopedics” means. All orthodontists have to go to dental school and then further their education in a dental specialty. According to the American Dental Association, there are nine specialties, and one of those is Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. During your consultation, the doctor can discuss with you your Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopedic treatment needs.
Orthodontics: Essentially, orthodontics involves the management of teeth and tooth movement.
Dentofacial Orthopedics: Involves, mainly during childhood, the guidance of facial growth and development.
For both treatment cases, appliances are frequently used. This can include braces, headgear, and expanders, depending on what facial abnormalities are present.
Surgical Orthodontics
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Surgical orthodontics straightens jaw irregularities to improve the patients’ ability to chew, speak, and breathe. Moving the jaws also moves the teeth, so braces are always performed in conjunction with jaw correction. This helps make sure teeth are in their proper positions after surgery.
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Your orthodontist will consider surgical orthodontic treatment for non-growing adult patients with improper bites and those with facial esthetic concerns. Jaw growth is usually completed by age 16 for girls and 18 for boys. All growth must be completed before jaw surgery can be performed. However, the pre-surgical tooth movements can begin one to two years before these ages.
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During your orthodontic treatment, which usually lasts 6-18 months, you wear braces and will visit your orthodontist for scheduled adjustments to your braces. As your teeth move with the braces, you may think that your bite is getting worse rather than better. However, when your jaws are placed into proper alignment during orthognathic surgery, the teeth will fit into their proper positions.
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Surgery is performed in the hospital with an oral surgeon and can take several hours, depending on the amount and type of surgery needed. In lower jaw surgery, the jawbone behind the teeth is separated, and the tooth-bearing portion is moved forward or backward, as needed. In upper jaw surgery, the jaw can be repositioned in any direction. Specific movements may require the jaws to be separated, with bone added/removed to achieve the proper alignment and stability. Other facial bones that contribute to alignment may also be repositioned or augmented.
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When you have completed surgery, you should be able to return to school or work within two weeks. After the necessary healing time (about 4-8 weeks), your orthodontist “fine-tunes” your bite. In most cases, braces are removed within 6 to 12 months following surgery. After your braces are removed, you will wear a retainer to maintain your beautiful new smile.