Holiday Hours

Please note our holiday hours. 

We will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day. 

Regular hours will resume on January 4, 2016.

Parts of Braces

Our patients experience different emotions when beginning their journey with braces. Most are excited and eager to start the process of braces, while others may be nervous or intimidated about such a new experience. At Beim Orthodontics, we want to ease your mind about your treatment by breaking down different parts that make up braces, and explaining more about how they will help build your new, straight smile!

What are brackets?

The brackets are the little squares that hold the archwire against each tooth. The archwire fits into a slot in the bracket. Brackets are attached directly to the outside surface of the teeth using a special bonding material, or glue.

What is an arch wire?

The main wires, or archwires, are shaped specifically to fit into the bracket slots. Teeth move from the pressure that is applied by the braces. That pressure comes from the archwire, which guides the direction in which the teeth move. You will have one wire connecting the top braces and one wire connecting the lower ones.

What are elastics, or rubber bands?

An elastic is a tiny rubber ring or band that attaches to specific hooks on the brackets. They are designed to correct the bite.

What are hooks for?

Hooks are small pin attachments that fit into the brackets. They are where your rubber bands attach to.

By giving you more insight about each appliance, we hope you can be less apprehensive about wearing braces. If you have any further questions, please give us a call at (407) 323-0600 or visit our website www.beimortho.com. We look forward to seeing you smile!

Your Dentist VS. Your Orthodontist

Recently there has been a lack of understanding about who should be providing your orthodontic care. Most patients contemplate on whether they should seek treatment for braces or clear aligners from their general family dentist, or a certified orthodontic specialist. Making the decision to get orthodontic treatment is an important one that will affect your dental health for a lifetime, so it’s important that consumers are informed of the significant differences in care between a certified orthodontist and a general dentist.

In reality, just like not all doctors are the same, the same fact is true when it comes to dentistry. Did you know that all orthodontists are dentists, but only 7% of dentists are orthodontists? This is determined by training, as all general dentists complete 8,000 hours of dental training for their dental degrees, orthodontists start with this same training and continue on with over 4,000-6,000 hours in an accredited residency program to learn orthodontic basics. A general dentist is wonderful for routine dental work, but the scope of their practice is preventive, cosmetic, and restorative. Orthodontists, on the other hand, are trained specialist and have the expertise in smile and facial esthetics, jaw function, facial growth and development, tooth movement, alignment of teeth and jaws, and straightening of teeth. Thus, orthodontists have the best experience, judgement, and certifications to give the best orthodontic treatment for all patients with braces.

You will notice today several general dentists are advertising orthodontic care such as Invisalign, as well as offering special discounts for these treatments. We urge you to recognize that these general dentists are not orthodontic specialists recognized by the American Dental Association.

At Beim Orthodontics we understand that your smile is priceless and want you to be confident in knowing that our orthodontic office is the clear choice for braces.