Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!


Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and we at Green Orthodontics are thankful for all our wonderful patients and friends that make each day extraordinary!

Since the holiday season is about to begin, what are you thankful for?

Share a response in the comments section, or head over to our Facebook Fan Page to join the conversation!

Happy Thanksgiving,

--Green Orthodontics

Friday, November 20, 2009

What’s so special about an Orthodontist?



"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Green started out in dental school and earned a DDS (dental degree), just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Green decided he wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics; which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a dental expert here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Braces 101, from Dr. Green

Should you need to call Green Orthodontics in case you sustain any damage to your braces, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.



Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Did you know?

You've learned a little bit about Dr. Green here on the blog and the Green Orthodontics web site. But did you know that he's an avid South Carolina Gamecocks fan? Dr. Green graduated from Wofford College, and in 1993 he received a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the South Carolina School of Medicine in Charleston.

In addition, Dr. Green attended the Advanced Damon Seminar in Atlanta the weekend of October 23rd. For more information on what he learned or about Damon braces, give us a call or stop by our offices!

Have a great weekend,

From Dr. Green and staff