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The Damon® System of Braces

July 18th, 2013

Until recently, the only option for people who need braces was the traditional type in which a wire threads through a bracket that attaches to each tooth. Both the wires and the brackets extend across the breadth of the mouth. Pressure from the wires moves the teeth into the proper position.

For most patients, traditional braces are far from ideal. They are often very uncomfortable for the patient because the ties that connect wires to the teeth prevent them from moving. Ties are used to create heavy force, but the force cuts off the blood supply between the root of the tooth and the bone surrounding it. Teeth can’t move until the blood flow is restored.

The Damon System aims to guide teeth gently and continuously, and reduce the use of force. Patients have reported that the entire experience of wearing braces is a lot more comfortable. Proud to offer the Damon System to patients, Dr. Karen Seder can help you better understand if it’s right for you.

How the Damon System Works

Unlike traditional treatment with braces, the Damon System doesn't require the removal of teeth or the use of palatal expanders. The system uses unique self-ligating braces, in which a specialized clip with a “door” replaces elastics or other ties. The “door” guides the archwire, and allows the teeth to move gently into the proper position. Because of the increased flexibility of the self-ligating brace, it exerts less pressure on individual teeth, and this means you won’t have to get adjustments as frequently.

Another advantage is the fact that the gentler, low-friction force means you won’t experience the long-term discomfort from intense pressure on your teeth, or the tight wires that are so common with traditional braces. Because there are no ties, Damon braces are also much easier to clean.

Three Components of Damon System

There are three components of the Damon System that create faster results, require fewer appointments, and cause less discomfort for patients.

  1. Because the Damon System doesn't use metal or plastic ties, there is no need to tighten the wire on the braces.
  2. Lightweight shape-memory wires allow teeth the freedom to move faster, without the need for as many adjustments as occur with traditional braces.
  3. The Damon System realigns teeth and enhances facial appearance without extracting teeth or using rapid palatal expanders. The slide mechanism of Damon braces facilitates faster, more comfortable repositioning of your teeth.

Damon System technology can offer you the option of braces that require fewer adjustments, with less pressure on the teeth and the entire mouth. A discussion with Dr. Karen Seder will help you determine whether the Damon System is the best option for you or your child.

Patient question: What is AcceleDent™?

July 12th, 2013

If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment with Dr. Seder, we bet you would probably welcome any innovation that could reduce the time you spend wearing braces.

Our team at Seder Orthodontics is proud to offer our patients AcceleDent, an innovative device designed to increase your rate of tooth movement as well as potentially decreasing your overall treatment time.

AcceleDent is a comfortable, lightweight, hands-free device that is held between your teeth for 20 minutes a day while you undergo treatment with Dr. Seder. Using microvibrations that help stimulate bone movement, AcceleDent complements the controlled force braces provide to help bring your teeth into ideal alignment.

AcceleDent, which is easy to use and clean, is compatible with both teen and adult patients, and allows patients to enjoy everyday activities during the 20 minutes each day. Simply press the removable mouthpiece into the activator, bite down firmly enough to hold the device in place, and turn on AcceleDent.

A study has indicated that AcceleDent is an effective treatment in safely speeding bone movement, and can even reduce the time you spend wearing braces 38%-to-50% faster than usual.

To learn if AcceleDent is right for you, please give us a call at our convenient Chicago, IL office to schedule an initial appointment with Dr. Seder.

Is Invisalign Teen® right for me?

July 11th, 2013

At Seder Orthodontics, we know that for most teens, the thought of having metal brackets and wires attached to their teeth for a period of time may be more than enough to delay orthodontic treatment. But thanks to innovations in technology and the recent wave of celebrities undergoing treatment, the days of “metal mouth” are all but gone. Teens today have more options than ever before, including high-tech, removable option called Invisalign Teen.

Invisalign Teen is a method of straightening your teenager's teeth using a series of clear, almost invisible, removable aligners. Invisalign combines the treatment plan recommended by Dr. Karen Seder with proprietary 3-D, computer-generated software to move your teenager's teeth in very precise increments. Invisalign Teen is designed with “compliance indicators” that fade from dark to light during a period of time and let your child know when to change trays. And because we know kids tend to be forgetful sometimes, each aligner comes with replacement aligners in case the original aligner ends up lost or broken.

If you would like to schedule an initial consultation to talk with Dr. Karen Seder to find out if Invisalign Teen is right for your child, we invite you to give us a call at our convenient Chicago, IL office.

Happy Fourth of July!

July 4th, 2013

Happy Independence Day from Dr. Karen Seder and team! The Fourth of July celebrations in America may have changed a lot over the years, but there is no doubt that we Americans love to celebrate the anniversary of our country's independence! Today we're devoting the Seder Orthodontics! blog to some fun facts about the Fourth!

  • My, how we have grown! This year the United States Census Bureau estimates that our country has 313.9 million residents celebrating the Fourth of July this year, but back in 1776 there were just 2.5 million members of the country.
  • Our country loves to show how proud that we are of our independence. Did you know that there are 31 United States places with the word “Liberty” in their names? The state of Iowa actually has four towns with the word Liberty in the name: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty, and West Liberty.
  • The United States loves Fourth of July food! It is expected that around 150 million hot dogs are eaten on the Fourth each year. One of the Fourth's most popular sides, potato salad, goes just perfectly with the hotdogs and hamburgers that are standard Fourth of July fare. Some people choose potato chips instead, but we wouldn't have such a plethora of potatoes if not for the prodigious production of the states of Idaho and Washington -- they provide about half of all the potatoes in the United States today!
  • Americans love celebrating the Fourth outdoors: About 74 million Americans fire up their BBQ grill every Fourth of July.
  • The Chinese contribution: Did you know that Americans have spent more than $211 million on fireworks that were imported from China?

No matter how your family chooses to celebrate the Fourth, stay safe, take precautions, and don't forget to brush after your fabulous Fourth feast!

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