Services

DAMON®

The Damon System is an innovative teeth-straightening system that offers the same benefits as traditional braces but with increased comfort and efficiency. Damon braces are tieless and therefore require fewer adjustments than their traditional counterparts. The Damon System allows for patients to correct their smiles without extractions or rapid expanders and in a shorter period than traditional braces.

Damon Q Braces are made of stainless steel and offer the most strength and durability. Meanwhile, Damon Clear Brackets are the most aesthetic option within the Damon System because these braces are barely noticeable! Whichever option you choose, you will get all of the Damon System benefits!

To learn more about the Damon System including Damon Q Braces and Damon Clear Brackets, visit the Damon System portion of our website.

Damon System

Damon® Q Braces

Damon® Clear Brackets

Invisalign

The Invisalign® system is a state-of-the-art teeth-aligning solution that works by having the patient wear a set of clear aligners. These clear aligners apply gentle pressure to the teeth, shifting them little by little with each aligner change until the treatment is complete and the teeth have reached their optimal position. Invisalign is great for all ages because they adapt to each patient’s lifestyle. The virtually invisible aligners are removable for eating, brushing, and flossing.

Invisalign has a specific product designed specifically for teens, Invisalign Teen. This version of Invisalign includes compliance indicator dots that will let parents and Dr. Prose know if the patient wore the aligners for the prescribed number of hours. Invisalign teen also comes with a couple of free aligner replacements.

To continue learning about Invisalign for all ages and Invisalign Teen, visit the Invisalign section of our website.

Invisalign For Teens

Invisalign For All Ages

Itero Digital Imaging

Our practice now offers the iTero Impressionless Scanner in our office. The innovative iTero Impressionless Scanner is an advanced technology used to take oral impressions for braces, Invisalign®, Appliance and retainers. Impressionless scanning uses confocal imaging to digitally capture the shape of teeth and gums, providing a multitude without the use of traditional impressions. Traditional impression techniques require a patient to be uncomfortably seated while having a messy substance in their month. However, with the iTero Impressionless Scanner it takes 1/3 the time to take an impression and we get a much more detailed result.

iTero Impressionless Scanners have several benefits over traditional impressions. First, a patient’s movement does not distort the scan while eliminating the invasiveness and discomfort caused by impressions. Second, the real-time digital display of scans allows for immediate adjustment, assuring accurate scans the first time. Finally, the image quality of impressionless scans is superior to conventional impressions.

ProMax X-Ray

The ProMax X-Ray machine is the latest addition to our office, giving us the ability to optimize treatment plans and maximize the safety of our imaging procedures. This unit complies with the “best practices in dentistry” by following the American Dental Association’s ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) radiation principal. The unique features of the ProMax X-Ray Machine allow us to focus imaging on specific teeth and facial anatomy, significantly reducing unnecessary exposure. This unit, in conjunction with state-of-the-art software, provides you with the best patient care possible.

Life With Braces

When you are first fitted with braces, there will be a few things you will need to get used to. The following information should address any concerns you may have, and make your orthodontic experience as pleasant as possible!

Eating With Braces

It’s not going to be easy at first and, in the beginning, foods you can eat will be limited. You’ll want to stick to foods that are soft, fluffy, and easily mashed up. Pancakes, oatmeal, bananas, soups, cooked vegetables, applesauce, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and soft ice cream – just to suggest a few. Stay away from foods that are hard, crunchy, sticky, or tough.

Foods to Avoid

Please avoid these foods while wearing braces.

Sticky: Gum, caramel, tootsie rolls, peanut butter, toffee, taffy, granola bars, frozen candy bars
Hard: Apples, carrots and other raw vegetables, chewing ice, nuts
Crunchy: Popcorn, chips, hard tacos, celery
Tough: Bagels, corn on the cob, sandwiches, steak, ribs, beef jerky
General Soreness

Your mouth is going to feel sensitive and a bit sore when you first get your braces put on. To help alleviate the soreness, you can rinse your mouth with a salt-water solution or take an over-the-counter analgesic. If your braces are rubbing or poking your mouth, you can use dental wax (available at the office or your local drugstore) to cover problem areas and prevent blisters.

Loosening of Teeth

Part of the process of creating your new, beautiful smile is moving your teeth; to move them, they need to loosen up first. “Loose teeth” are a natural part of the process. Once your teeth are in the right place, they will settle into their new position.

Loose Wire, Bracket or Band

Inevitably, something is going to come loose. A bracket will loosen or a wire may pop out of place. If it’s a flexible wire, you might be able to push it back into place using tweezers. If you can’t move it with tweezers, you can use a pencil eraser or the back of a pen to push the offending wire down. Dental wax will also be your friend; place a small amount on the spot to cover the problem area. Next, schedule an appointment to have the wire, bracket, or band repaired.

Care of Appliances & Brushing

It is always important to brush and floss your teeth to keep them clean and healthy – with braces, it’s more important than ever. Consistent brushing and flossing will ensure that your gums and teeth remain healthy throughout your treatment.

Brushing and Flossing

Brushing

Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small, circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth, between braces and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing the surface of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.

Especially during orthodontic treatment, brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles in your teeth and braces:

In the morning after breakfast
After lunch or right after school
After supper
At bedtime

You will need to replace your toothbrush more often due to your appliances. As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. It may be difficult for your toothbrush to reach some areas under your archwire. Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash and fluoride treatment throughout your orthodontic treatment and beyond for optimal oral hygiene.

Flossing

For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, use dental floss to remove food particles and plaque. Flossing takes more time and patience when you are wearing braces, but it is important to floss your teeth every day.

Use the reusable floss threader provided by our office to floss under your archwire daily. Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser through the threader and slide it up and down along the front of each tooth. You will be able to feel when the tooth is clean and hear the squeak of the floss against your clean teeth. Use care around your archwire and do not floss too forcefully around it or put too much pressure on it. After you floss between your archwire and braces, floss between your other teeth and gums.

If you are flossing without the floss threader, pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.

Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing around your braces, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, inform a staff member at your next appointment.

Life After Braces

Congratulations on getting your braces off! Now you will receive retainers that will maintain your teeth’s new position and prevent them from moving. But your final orthodontic result will depend on your retainers being worn ~ so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far, and WEAR YOUR RETAINERS! During orthodontic treatment, we do everything possible to give you long-term results. After treatment, it is your responsibility to wear your retainers as instructed to ensure that your teeth remain straight and to keep your beautiful new smile for a lifetime!

For your upper retainer:
Clear Essix retainer – is a removable clear plastic-type material that fits over your teeth like a glove. Besides preventing your teeth from moving, they also help protect your enamel from being worn down from minor grinding.
INSTRUCTIONS

For your lower teeth:
Lower Bonded Wire – is a small wire that is bonded to the back or tongue-side of your lower front teeth. It is not noticeable to others, is comfortable, and will hold your lower teeth in place without having to wear an additional removable retainer.
INSTRUCTIONS