Treatments & Appliances 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics People come into our offices all the time and tell me they want Invisalign. Most of the time, what they actually mean is clear aligners. They just don’t know there’s a difference, because for a lot of folks the… Continue reading Why Everyone Says Invisalign Wrong
Category: Treatments & Appliances
Self-Ligating Braces: Really Worth It?
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Start researching braces and "self-ligating" shows up quickly, usually wrapped in words like advanced, faster, and more comfortable. It's a real technology with real advantages, and also a lot of marketing piled on top. I use these braces when… Continue reading Self-Ligating Braces: Really Worth It?
Damon Braces: The Truth Behind the Hype
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Damon braces get marketed hard. Faster treatment, fewer appointments, wider smiles, no tightening, sometimes even "no extractions." Patients bring me the brochures. So let me give you the straight version, because I use self-ligating braces when they fit and… Continue reading Damon Braces: The Truth Behind the Hype
Is Invisalign Worth It? A Comprehensive Guide
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics "Is it worth it?" is the question I get once patients hear the price. Fair question. Clear aligners cost about the same as braces, so what you're really asking is whether the convenience and the look are worth choosing… Continue reading Is Invisalign Worth It? A Comprehensive Guide
Spacers for Braces: What You Need to Know
Treatments & Appliances 5 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics If you're about to start braces, you might get spacers first, and they're usually the part people ask the most nervous questions about. The good news: spacers are a small, temporary step, and the mild pressure you feel means… Continue reading Spacers for Braces: What You Need to Know
Can You Get Braces or Invisalign with a Crown?
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Short answer: yes. Having a crown almost never rules out braces or clear aligners. I straighten teeth with crowns all the time, and the crown itself is rarely the real issue. What changes is how we attach the hardware… Continue reading Can You Get Braces or Invisalign with a Crown?
Orthodontic Headgear: How It Works and When Kids Need It
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Quick answer Orthodontic headgear is a growth-guiding appliance worn mostly outside the mouth. It uses gentle, steady force to hold back or move the upper jaw and teeth while a child is still growing, which helps fix severe overbites,… Continue reading Orthodontic Headgear: How It Works and When Kids Need It
Orthodontic Elastics: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics At some point in braces treatment, we'll hand you a little bag of tiny rubber bands and ask you to hook them between your upper and lower teeth. These are orthodontic elastics, and here's the thing patients don't always… Continue reading Orthodontic Elastics: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Can You Drink Water With Aligners On?
Treatments & Appliances 5 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Short answer: Yes. Plain, cool or room-temperature water is the one thing you can drink with your aligners in, and you should drink plenty of it. Everything else, coffee, tea, soda, juice, alcohol, even hot water, means taking the… Continue reading Can You Drink Water With Aligners On?