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There is nothing worse than feeling self-conscious about your smile, whether it means holding back on a grin when photos are being taken or keeping lips tightly closed during a romantic gaze. Teeth can be moved the same way for a 56 year old as they can for a 13 year old, so braces are not just for children or teens.

Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time is from one to two years. Actual treatment time can be affected by rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent upon patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping your treatment time on schedule.

At Dr. Anthony Farrow’s nobody, and we mean NOBODY, is “too old” for braces! In fact, Dr. Farrow and staff read a fascinating statistic recently: adults getting braces has actually jumped 24 percent in the last 14 years!

Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that are placed on your teeth and the arch wire that connects them are the main components. When the arch wire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As it does so, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more ideal positions.

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander, Herbst, Facemask, headgear, or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten.

While mouthwash is not an alternative to regular brushing and flossing, it can help keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy always, but especially while wearing braces. There are several different types of mouthwashes available, and all of them will help do different things for your smile, keep your mouth fresh and clean and help keep your teeth healthy while wearing braces.

Yesterday I went to the dentist for my regular check-up. I also inquired about my options for orthodontics, because the past 3 dentists I’ve been to have suggested that it would be a good option for me – not only to straighten my teeth, but also to prevent problems in the future. I’m kind of borderline though; my teeth aren’t that bad. Looking at my teeth, you probably wouldn’t think I’d need braces. But, I know it is in my best interest to get it done in order to keep my mouth healthy. My teeth are kind of crowded in places and I absolutely know that it is going to cause me problems in the future with my gums.

Went for an initial assessment today with Dr. Farrow who gave me the option of fixed ceramic braces or Invisalign braces.

Braces can be worn for different lengths of time, but most people wear them for 1 to 2 years. After the braces are removed, many kids need to wear a retainer for a while to keep their teeth in place. During this time, you'll still need to visit Dr. Farrow regularly. Every kid wears a retainer for a different length of time. But the good news is, by the time you're wearing a retainer, you'll be flashing a super smile!

Braces correct how your teeth line up by putting steady pressure on the teeth, which eventually moves them into a straighter position. A retainer also applies gentle pressure to your teeth, and it may be used to hold your teeth in a straight position after wearing braces.Sometimes Dr.Farrow may recommend that you have one or more teeth removed to create more space in your mouth. If you need to have teeth removed, the dentist will give you sleepy medicine to keep you comfortable during the procedure.Once your braces are on, you'll visit the Dr. Farrow every 4 to 8 weeks. It's important to remember that you still need to get regular dental checkups during this time to have your teeth cleaned and checked for cavities. On some visits, the orthodontist may simply check to make sure that your braces are in place as they should be. At other visits, Dr. Farrow may adjust wires on the braces to move the teeth into position. Dr. Farrow may show you how to wear rubber bands, which are stretched between two teeth and help...