New technology must fit the patient

Sparta - You hear the ads on the radio and on television all the time for the latest in Orthodontic Technology- SureSmile, Invisilign, Memory Wire. They all promise straight teeth in less time than traditional braces. Father and son team, Orthodontists Douglas and Larry Harte don’t claim that any one of the new technologies is superior to the others, but that each one has its merits and their patients have to do what is right for their particular teeth situation. To help their patients receive the best care, the doctors make it a point to keep up with not just one, but all of the latest techniques and technologies. “We offer a full line of products. There is nothing I don’t have, something to suit everyone,” said Douglas Harte. Today’s patients spend 40 percent less time in their braces because of all the new methods and technology. When a patient comes in, whether they are a child or adult, they all start with x-rays. Once the x-rays have been taken, then the decision making process begins. The world of orthodontics has changed greatly from what it was 20, even 10 years ago. The options out there can be overwhelming, but the doctors are there to help you sort through the chaos of choices. According to Larry Harte, only about half of the orthodontists out there are taking advantage of the new technologies available to them. At their practice, they not only offer the variety to patients, but they do so at no increase in price. “It definitely costs more, but we charge the same as traditional braces. The new systems require less chair time, so it all balances out,” he explained. Today’s braces, whichever style you choose, are smaller- and with the smaller size and the lack of rubber bands it’s much easier to care for your teeth. In the past, it was easy for food to get stuck in the braces and cause cavities or staining to occur. No longer is this the case. The bonding that’s used now is much stronger, too, so braces rarely fall off and need to be replaced. Traditional braces are a friction based system. “They are not the most efficient way to move the teeth. They use the rubber bands and a stainless steel wire,” said Douglas Harte. They require more appointments to change the rubberbands and adjust the wire. Their practice does still offer them, though, for those who want them. Frictionless braces look similar to traditional braces, but without those rubberbands around each one. The rubberbands of old used to pull on our teeth moving them into place, and making each monthly adjustment quite uncomfortable. Instead of stainless steel wires they use Memory Wire, which is much thinner and no matter how you bend or squish it, it goes right back into the shape it is molded to by the orthodontists. “Some orthodontists have the wire bent for them. We’ve tried that, but wound up altering it and bending it ourselves anyway, so we do it in here,” said Larry Harte. The braces themselves are placed on your teeth using a computerized individual prescription for each tooth to get the job done faster. Without the rubberbands, and with the benefit of the computerized teeth models, visits for adjustments are less frequent, every eight weeks instead of every two to three weeks for the traditional braces. The braces also come in clear colored with a tooth colored wire. The team also offers Invisilign Braces. Invisilign is basically series of clear invisible retainers that are worn to align the teeth. Douglas Harte said, “They’re good minor for cases, and you have to be done growing, so it’s not for kids. You put in a new shell every two weeks. Your teeth are digitized in the computer, and then the shells, or retainers, are made from the model.” The wearers of these braces don’t need to come into the office as often. When they do, they are given a bunch of the shells in the order they are to be put in. “It’s a slightly slower process. They’re very comfortable, which tends to make up for the longer time spent in them.” They also use Insignia software which helps design the patient specific treatments and prescriptions for each individual tooth and I-Braces, which are braces worn behind the teeth. “We try to be as progressive as possible in this practice,” said the younger Dr. Harte. Even the accessories involved in teeth straightening have changed. The head gear of yesterday that often makes one think of the movie “Better off Dead” is rarely used now. “If I have one or two patients who need to use it a year, that would be a lot,” said Larry Harte. “Appliances are smaller now and geared for noncompliant therapy, it’s great for kids.” Expanders are smaller, too, and made of titanium. Both doctors agreed that children should be brought in early in age as possible for consultation. Their consultations are free of charge, and they’d rather see the child at ages 7 or 8 and not do anything for 4 years, than miss something that might be important to a child’s quickest and easiest treatment. “We see them early and treat them as late as possible.” For more information, call Harte Orthodontics at 973-729-5277.