FAQs

Braces use brackets and archwires to shift teeth into the correct position. The archwires, which are firmly tied to the brackets, are made of an alloy of metals with a remarkable particularity. These wires recover their original shape after being deformed, so when tied to the misaligned teeth, they slowly recover their shape, producing the desired teeth movement.

Nobody is too old to get the smile they've always desired. As long as your teeth are in good periodontal conditions, anybody can receive orthodontic treatment - no matter their age!

The Invisalign system is a discreet and modern method to straighten misaligned teeth and correct unbalanced bites. For this purpose, it uses a series of clear, plastic aligners, which patients should wear 20 to 22 hours a day and change every 7 to 14 days.

Absolutely! Dr. Naidu is one of the few Invisalign Teen certified providers in the Pembroke Pines, FL area. Your teens will be thrilled about the possibility of straightening their smiles without wearing braces!

RPE stands for Rapid Palatal Expander. This appliance "expands" (or widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Dr. Naidu will instruct you on when and how to adjust the expander. When the desired expansion is achieved, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and prevent regression.

Not all patients need a palatal expander. This orthodontic appliance is reserved for patients with a narrow palate, which typically results in posterior crossbites.

Separators are little rubber doughnuts placed between teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands can be placed in the near future. The separators are removed on the same appointment we place the bands.

Unfortunately, the space created by the separators is quickly consumed, so if you lost one of them, you might need to have them placed once again and reschedule the posterior placement of the bands. Remember, separators do not mix well with sticky foods, toothpicks, or floss.

Tongue tamers train patients' tongues to adopt the correct position when swallowing. In a normal situation, the tongue rests on the roof of the mouth, but some patients push against the front teeth when they swallow. This incorrect position can lead to an open bite over time, so dentists place this appliance (small and harmless spikes) behind the lower front teeth to guide the tongue.

Patients usually have the tongue tamers installed for 9 weeks, but this might vary according to the child's needs.

The Herbst is an appliance used in patients with deep overbites. It reduces overbite by encouraging the lower jaw forward and the upper molars backwards. This fixed appliance is used mostly for younger, growing children and is worn for about 12-15 months.

Although eating can be a bit awkward when this appliance is recently installed, it gets better over time. The oral cavity gets used to the device eventually, so we advise patients to eat soft meals in the meantime.