For many people, the thought of braces might immediately conjure images of children with metal brackets and wires on their teeth. The natural connotation between children and braces may, in part, be due to the fact that orthodontic treatment is often prescribed in a child’s early years. Problems with a child’s occlusion (the way teeth fit together) and bite balance can become exponentially worse as the jawbone and teeth continue to grow. With a wide variety of options and designs for children’s braces, Beverly Hills orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, can help straighten your child’s teeth early, preventing potentially serious orthodontic issues that might require invasive procedures to correct as an adult. Continue reading Why Do Children Need Braces?
Los Angeles Orthodontist Blog
Understanding Good Hygiene with Braces
With today’s impressive array of technological and dental advancements, there are few oral health issues that cannot be effectively corrected with the appropriate treatment. Nevertheless, given the extent of damage that unchecked dental diseases can cause, prevention remains the most effective method for preserving your smile, especially since teeth can’t repair themselves when compromised. Practicing good hygiene at home is the cornerstone of excellent dental health, but without regular professional care and maintenance, your toothbrush and floss may fall short of protecting your smile from dental diseases. Patients with misaligned teeth, or who wear braces to correct malocclusion, are especially at risk for dental issues, which stem from plaque that can hide between braces and the odd crevices created by crooked teeth. As Beverly Hills orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, warns his patients, good hygiene while wearing braces is a vital part of successful orthodontic treatment. Continue reading Understanding Good Hygiene with Braces
Beverly Hills Orthodontist Offers Braces for Adults
If you are an adult with misaligned teeth, chances are you’ve wanted to straighten them for a long time. While traditional metal braces may be fine for teen-agers and young adults, at this stage in your adult life, metal braces may not be a viable option. Many adults would rather hide their crooked teeth than live with a mouthful of metal – even temporarily. Luckily, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles orthodontist Dr. David Alpan offers several alternatives to conventional metal braces: Damon Clear Braces, Incognito Hidden Braces, and Invisalign. Continue reading Beverly Hills Orthodontist Offers Braces for Adults
“How Much Do Braces Cost?”
It is never too late to perfect your smile, and straight teeth can improve an adult’s social and professional life. Still, many adults are apprehensive when making a decision to undergo an orthodontic procedure. Because of this, Dr. David Alpan seeks to address your concerns and questions regarding braces.
Aren’t I too old for braces?
People of all ages rely on orthodontic treatment to help them achieve the straight, beautiful smile they’ve always wanted. Properly aligned teeth increase confidence, but braces help patients attain more than an aesthetically pleasing smile. Crooked teeth can have adverse effects to the way you chew and talk. The effects worsen over time, and crooked teeth can contribute to periodontal disease and premature wear of tooth enamel. Many adults choose braces to straighten their teeth. In fact, one-third of our patients are adults. Continue reading “How Much Do Braces Cost?”
Beverly Hills, CA Orthodontist Offers Braces for Children
Orthodontic work corrects irregularities in the teeth, and moves them into an optimal position. Once a procedure many considered only for adolescents and teenagers, many people that did not receive orthodontic work when they were younger opt for braces later in life. However, children are still among the top candidates for braces. Dr. David Alpan, your orthodontist in Beverly Hills, CA, will explain some of the options available for children’s braces.
Traditional Braces: A Classic
Traditional braces may not make people jump for joy, but they have a history of straightening and aligning smiles that cannot be argued. You have probably seen them so often on teenagers that you hardly notice a tin grin when you see one. Comprised of brackets and wires, braces are designed to exert constant gentle force on teeth, which will alter their position over time. The brackets on braces can be made of metal or ceramic material. Ceramic brackets blend in to the color of the child’s teeth to make them less visible, but the wire going through the brackets will still have a silver appearance. The average amount of time traditional braces are worn is two years. Continue reading Beverly Hills, CA Orthodontist Offers Braces for Children
Los Angeles Orthodontist Answers Questions About TMJs
What to Know About TMJ Disorder
Most crooked teeth are inherently visible when patients smile, their unevenness disturbing what should be a perfectly balanced arrangement of teeth. However, not all of the effects of malocclusion (crooked teeth) involve visual appearance. When left untreated, a disproportionate bite can prove devastating by forcing the components of a patient’s mouth to absorb more pressure than they were designed to withstand. Often, it can lead to debilitating discomfort in the form of TMJ disorder, which describes damaged, inflamed, and/or misaligned jaw joints. As a dedicated orthodontist in Los Angeles, Dr. David Alpan has helped many patients find TMJ relief by correcting malocclusion, and by educating patients about the jaw dysfunction.
What does TMJ stand for?
TMJs are the temporomandibular joints that connect the lower jaw, or mandible, to the temporal bones in the skull. Located in front of each ear, TMJs move in tandem as the jaw opens and closes, and rely on proper balance to repeatedly absorb bite pressure without sustaining damage. Continue reading Los Angeles Orthodontist Answers Questions About TMJs
Beverly Hills Dentist Answers Questions About Affordable Orthodontics
For many people, crooked or crowded teeth are a source of embarrassment. Unfortunately, some people with misalignment assume they won’t be able to afford orthodontic treatment. At Aesthetic Orthodontics, we strive to provide affordable orthodontics. In today’s blog, your Beverly Hills orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, answers questions about our financing and payment plan options.
Continue reading Beverly Hills Dentist Answers Questions About Affordable Orthodontics
90211 Orthodontist Offers Clear Braces
Despite the desire for a gorgeous smile, many people are hesitant to receive metal braces. Between the appearance and discomfort, often people would rather endure a smile filled with crooked or crowded teeth. Thankfully, at Aesthetic Orthodontics, we offer practically invisible alternatives to traditional braces. In today’s blog, your 90211 orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, discusses the benefits of Invisalign and Incognito lingual braces.
What You Should Know About Invisalign Braces in Beverly Hills
Older teen and adult patients who exhibit malocclusion are often motivated to seek treatment by the visual effects of crooked teeth. When one or more teeth aren’t aligned properly, a patient’s entire smile can seem odd and off-balanced. Unfortunately, some patients decide to neglect orthodontic treatment due to the metal brackets and wires that many of them believe are inevitable. Your Beverly Hills orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, offers a wide variety of discreet orthodontic options for image-conscious patients, including Invisalign clear braces, which don’t require brackets and wires at all.
About Invisalign Clear Braces
Invisalign clear braces aren’t what most people consider braces. They don’t consist of brackets and wires, instead using a series of clear acrylic aligners that are designed to gently force teeth into their optimal positions. The aligners are changed every couple of weeks, and each new aligner moves teeth closer to their goals than the previous one. By utilizing plastic aligners instead of metal components bonded to teeth, clear braces provide the utmost discretion and convenience. Continue reading What You Should Know About Invisalign Braces in Beverly Hills
Los Angeles Orthodontist Discusses Children’s Braces Options
Early dental and orthodontic treatment is vital for many children whose teeth and jaws are still developing. When detected early, issues like malocclusion (crooked teeth) and imbalanced jaw growth can be corrected relatively easily, and can prevent the need for extensive treatment later in life. To help correct alignment problems and guide children’s oral structures through proper growth, Los Angeles orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan offers a choice of children’s braces to address a wide variety of needs and preferences.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional braces consist of metal brackets that are attached to each tooth and metal arch wires that are positioned over the brackets. The arch wires are periodically tightened to produce the consistent force necessary to move gently move teeth. Metal braces are highly successful at repositioning crooked teeth, and are the most cost-effective braces option we provide.
Self-Ligating and Incognito Braces
Self-ligating braces are smaller and more discreet than traditional metal braces, and do not require the addition of elastics to hold the arch wire in place. Instead, they utilize a slide mechanism that eliminates friction and moves teeth faster and more comfortably. We also offer clear self-ligating braces for improved discretion. Incognito braces, or lingual braces, braces involve brackets and wires placed behind teeth, instead of on their front surfaces. Continue reading Los Angeles Orthodontist Discusses Children’s Braces Options