Why Damon Braces?
Salem, OR
Damon Braces provided by Dr. Amborn
in Salem, OR at Amborn Orthodontics
The use of braces is a common dental practice. Most patients are aware of the aesthetic benefits that come from braces, but orthodontists, like Dr. Amborn, will also stress the therapeutic benefits of having a good bite. We understand the importance of having a beautiful smile, and we encourage our patients in having a healthy smile too. The downside of traditional braces is having them tightened, and committing to wearing them potentially for years. Damon Braces are a modern take on traditional braces, offering patients many advantages. Our team at Amborn Orthodontics can examine your smile, and help you determine if Damon Braces could save you time in the chair, money, and the number of necessary office visits.
The use of braces has increased dramatically; this is mostly due to increased knowledge in dentistry, improving our oral health, people in general living longer, and wanting to keep their teeth throughout their life. As dental practices have advanced in the last century, so has the health and longevity of patient's teeth. Dental education has been spreading, and increasingly, patients want to take better care of their teeth. Braces improve the health and aesthetics of your teeth. Though a patient may be focused on wanting an attractive smile, we also want them to have an attractive smile, but for a different reason. Bad bites are more than unattractive; they are a set-up for poor dental health. Teeth that are overcrowded or out of alignment lead to increased tooth decay, bruxism, and other severe problems such as TMJ dysfunction.
Traditional braces use the combination of brackets, wires, and bands. This set-up allows dentists to pull teeth into the desired position in a controlled fashion. By pulling, we can move the teeth into the correct spots, improving your bite. The downside of traditional braces is that they require frequent dental visits, they can be uncomfortable, some patients report severe pain, and the process takes around two years. Braces are a huge commitment. As dentistry has advanced, and popularity of having a healthy smile has increased, other options have been developed. A patient who is seeking orthodontic work today can make choices that will allow them to straighten their teeth faster, with fewer dental visits, less pain, and more discretion. Damon Braces are one of those options.
Do I need braces?When determining if a patient needs braces, we tend to look for one of five different factors about their bite. We look to see if the patient's teeth are:
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Overcrowded: Overcrowded teeth are one of the most common reasons for braces. If your teeth are unable to line up in your mouth because there is a lack of space, this is a reason to seek orthodontic treatment. Teeth that are overlapping, or pushed forward are subject to increased problems with decay. Overcrowded teeth are more difficult to brush around and between, they are also more difficult to floss between to remove debris. |
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Open bite: Patients with an open bite should seek orthodontic treatment. An open bite is a term used to indicate that the front teeth do not touch when the patient closes their mouth. Patients with an open bite may find it more difficult to breathe correctly, and they may experience some speech issues or a lisp. |
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Crossbite: A crossbite is defined as an upper tooth that falls behind a lower tooth when the patient closes their mouth. A crossbite can lead to the patient experiencing severe wear on the teeth that are crossing, along with excessive gum recession. The long-term results can be asymmetric jaw development. |
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Overbite: An overbite is characterized by the top arch protruding over the bottom arch. Depending on the severity, an overbite is a somewhat normal condition. An excessive overbite can be problematic. Patients with an excessive overbite are more likely to experience tooth trauma as a result of a fall or impact injury. |
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Underbite: An underbite is characterized by the bottom arch protruding out, coming up over the front teeth when the jaw is closed. This particular orthodontic issue may be due to an aspect of the patient's jaw being disproportionate. Patients who have an underbite may find chewing to be more difficult, and the effects of a crossbite can be wearing on the patient's facial shape, often giving them an older appearance. |
If you are diagnosed with one of the above bite problems, you are a candidate for braces. The style, length of time, and techniques involved will be discussed with you during your consultation with Dr. Amborn. One option that we recommend is the use of Damon Braces.
What are Damon Braces?Damon Braces are similar to traditional braces except for one major change; they are self-ligating. This modern take on traditional braces are similar in style and look, but uses a self-tightening system. You do not need to schedule as many appointments because we do not need to tighten your wires. Instead of Dr. Amborn tightening your wires, Damon Braces use a slide mechanism, which is attached to each bracket. This sliding mechanism is in constant motion, moving as it pulls your teeth. The results are dramatic. In a shorter time than you can achieve with traditional braces, you can improve your bite.
Damon Braces are different from traditional braces. The differences are small, but the effects are significant. This system uses a different method to move your teeth. Damon Braces use slide brackets that are then attached to a memory wire; this reduces the amount of pressure that patients feel from traditional elastic bands over their brackets. The slide is set to gradually move your teeth continuously, tightening over time. Due to the constant slow movement, the process behind Damon Braces overall uses less force than a traditional brace. This difference means less pain or discomfort for the patient, and in many cases, we can straighten your teeth without requiring additional work such as tooth extractions or the use of a palatal expander.
What is memory wire?Self-ligating is the real achievement that sets Damon Braces apart from other braces. The brackets use a clip that allows the wire to slide. The wire, a memory wire, is an incredible technological advancement, and it is what makes this system unique. Memory wire is trying to return to its normal length, pulling your teeth as it does so. This pulling has been found to do more than move your teeth; it also allows your jaw to expand, pulling your palate into a better position to fit your teeth.
Patients love the Damon Braces system. By combining the self-tightening system, along with memory wire, Dr. Amborn can provide patients with braces that are better. Damon Braces provide our patients with a considerable number of benefits including:
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Comfort: Damon Braces are more comfortable to wear than traditional braces. This is due to their self-tightening system. Since the braces are continuously tightening little by little, your braces do not need to be tightened in office to pull them all at once. This means less pain for you, in fact, patients have reported 60% less pain than with traditional braces. |
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Require fewer dental appointments We will want to see you to ensure that progress is moving forward, but, on average, we will be able to schedule half as many dental office visits wearing Damon Braces vs. traditional braces. |
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Appearance: The Damon Braces system offers clear brackets. Also since this system does not use elastics, your braces can appear nearly invisible in your mouth. |
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Decrease your overall treatment length of time: Studies have shown Damon Braces to do the job in a shorter amount of time, decreasing your overall wear time. This is due to the work being continuous. |
How are Damon Braces attached?Attaching your Damon braces begins with a thorough dental exam with Dr. Amborn. Together, you will discuss your current bite status and what improvements you would like, in addition to what improvements are best for your oral health. This exam will include viewing your bite with the assistance of digital x-rays. With a treatment plan in place, we can then proceed.
The teeth are cleaned, we want the teeth and gums to be healthy and free of decay, plaque, tartar and gum disease. This process can be fast for some patients and longer for other patients. Unlike traditional braces, we do not need to take the preparatory steps of extraction or using a palate expander with the Damon Braces system.
Once the teeth are clean, healthy, and prepared, we can then place the brackets. The process of placing your brackets and wires is painless and does not require anesthetic. The brackets for the Damon Braces are different from traditional braces. They are designed using a clasp system that will allow the memory wire to move freely. The brackets are cemented onto the surface of the tooth where they will firmly stay in place. Unlike traditional braces, this system does not use elastics to hold the wire in place. The wire is placed in the brackets between the clasping system, and the braces are on.
Though patients have expressed some initial discomfort in the first few days, the overall discomfort will be considerably less than with traditional braces. This is because the pulling is not done with every office visit, but is continuously being done little by little.
Damon Braces are available in clear-colored options, meaning you can have your teeth straightened more discreetly without a mouth full of metal. Our team at Amborn Orthodontics can show you the clear options and help you determine if they are right for you.
Some common questions about the Damon Braces include:
Are Damon Braces used on adults?
Yes! Damon Braces can be used in adolescents and adults alike. We can treat our adult patients the same way we can treat our adolescent patients.
Will my mouth or teeth hurt after adjustments?
The Damon Braces technique is different from traditional braces. Though you will meet with Dr. Amborn for adjustments, they will be much less frequent than for patients with traditional braces. There may be some discomfort after an adjustment, but the technique used in this system applies a continuous small amount of pulling versus a larger amount of pulling done at the time of adjustment.
Since the Damon Braces work faster, does that mean the treatment is harsher?
No. The treatment is done more quickly, but not harsher, in fact much more gently. Treatment is done by continuous small pulling.
Are the brackets big and bulky?
No. A common trend among all braces is the reduction in the size of brackets, including the Damon Braces. The brackets we use are much smaller than the brackets used for braces years ago. Besides being smaller, there are now clear options available, helping you get the orthodontic treatment you need more discreetly.
Caring for Your Damon BracesCaring for your braces, whether traditional braces or Damon Braces can take a bit of skill. Patients will need to use extra caution when brushing and flossing, while at the same time making sure that they do brush and floss. Tooth decay can be an issue when patients have brackets and wires on their teeth; this is due to it being more difficult to remove food particles and plaque as it develops.
Brushing your Damon Braces can take time. We recommend that you carefully angle your toothbrush toward the bracket of each tooth and adequately brush on all four sides around each bracket. Proceed to brush the other areas of your teeth as normal. Once you have brushed, you will want to floss. You will quickly become skilled at flossing between and through your wires. Flossing is a complicated yet necessary step for all patients who wear braces. We do not want your oral health to decline while wearing them. Taking some extra time, and using a good deal of caution will protect your oral health while wearing your braces.
If you would like more information on traditional braces, Damon Braces, or other options for straightening your teeth, we would love to talk with you. Our staff at Amborn Orthodontics, along with Dr. Amborn, can help you find the solution that is ideal for your needs. The process begins with scheduling an appointment. Contact our front office staff at Amborn Orthodontics by calling us at (503) 967-9887. |
