Treatments & Appliances 5 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Patients ask me this all the time, usually when they notice a stretchy chain of colored rings appear on their braces partway through treatment: are power chains different from my braces, or a replacement for them? Here's the clear… Continue reading Traditional Braces vs. Power Chains: What’s the Difference?
Category: Treatments & Appliances
Palate Expansion in Adults: Is It Possible and Effective?
Treatments & Appliances 7 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Quick answer Yes, adult palate expansion is possible, but it works differently than it does in a child. Because the seam in the roof of the mouth hardens with age, adults usually need either a bone-anchored expander (MARPE or… Continue reading Palate Expansion in Adults: Is It Possible and Effective?
Filing Between Teeth (IPR): How Interproximal Reduction Creates a Better Smile
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Quick answer Interproximal reduction (IPR), sometimes called filing, slenderizing, or stripping, is a routine orthodontic technique that removes a tiny sliver of enamel between teeth to create space. It is painless, safe when done properly, and often lets us… Continue reading Filing Between Teeth (IPR): How Interproximal Reduction Creates a Better Smile
Braces vs. Invisalign for Teens: An Honest Comparison
7 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics • Treatments & Appliances I have this conversation with parents almost every week, and it usually starts with the wrong question. It is not “which is better, braces or Invisalign?” It is “which is better for this teenager?” Those are very different… Continue reading Braces vs. Invisalign for Teens: An Honest Comparison
Ceramic Braces vs. Metal Braces: An Honest Comparison
6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics • Treatments & Appliances If you have decided on braces but not which kind, the choice usually comes down to ceramic versus metal. Both straighten teeth the same way, with brackets and a wire, but they look and behave differently day to… Continue reading Ceramic Braces vs. Metal Braces: An Honest Comparison
Power Chains for Braces: What They Do and Why We Use Them
5 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics • Treatments & Appliances If your orthodontist mentioned adding a power chain, or you noticed your braces suddenly have a connected stretch of colored elastic instead of individual rings, you are looking at one of the handier tools in braces treatment. Power… Continue reading Power Chains for Braces: What They Do and Why We Use Them
Comparing Clear Aligners: Invisalign, Angel Aligners, and ClearCorrect
6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics • Treatments & Appliances Shopping for clear aligners can feel confusing fast. Invisalign, Angel Aligners, ClearCorrect, and a rotating cast of mail-order brands all promise a straighter smile, so how do you actually compare them? Here is the honest orthodontist’s take: the… Continue reading Comparing Clear Aligners: Invisalign, Angel Aligners, and ClearCorrect
Traditional Braces vs. Lingual Braces vs. Clear Aligners
6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics • Treatments & Appliances When you decide to straighten your teeth, the next question is how. Today there are three main paths: traditional braces, lingual braces, and clear aligners. They all reach the same destination, a straighter, healthier smile, but they get… Continue reading Traditional Braces vs. Lingual Braces vs. Clear Aligners
3D Printed Braces: An Orthodontist’s Honest Look
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Short answer: “3D printed braces” is a catchy phrase for a few different things, from custom-printed brackets to in-office printing of models and retainers. The technology is real and useful, mostly behind the scenes. But a printed part doesn’t… Continue reading 3D Printed Braces: An Orthodontist’s Honest Look