As an adult, you want the most attractive and best functioning smile possible. Yet, your dental alignment has been noticeably off since childhood. Do you need orthodontic correction? Why not consult expert orthodontist, Dr. A. Stuart Loos? He has been evaluating patients of all ages for braces in his Canton, GA office for years. He can eliminate your smile problems and give you great oral function and aesthetics.

Do adults get braces?

Yes, in fact, the Harvard Medical School says that one in five orthodontic patients in the United States are adults who want straighter smiles which:

• Are more attractive
• Are easier to keep free of plaque and tartar
• Have proper bite (fully and equally meet together)
• Develop fewer cavities and gum issues
• Do not cause oral irritations such as biting the inside of the cheeks
• Allow ease of biting and chewing and clear speech

Additionally, many people need braces because they have chronic headaches and ear pain due to TMD, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction (jaw joint problems). Other individuals rest poorly or snore because of sleep apnea related to improper dental bites or crowded teeth. Braces also alleviate excessive and premature wear and tear on tooth surfaces, and orthodontics may address habitual teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism).

Finally, orthodontic care corrects what we all think of as typical smile issues:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Openbite
• Crowding
• Gaps
• Congenital absence of teeth
• Tooth rotation and tooth tipping
• Protruding front teeth
• Orthodontic relapse (teeth shift to their previous positions after braces are removed)

How can you know?

Dr. Loos and his dedicated team can evaluate your mouth to see if Canton braces can help your oral health issues. He'll visually inspect your teeth and take digital X-rays and other kinds of imaging as needed. Then, he'll devise an individualized treatment plan, outlining his findings, kinds of orthodontic appliances needed and more.

In his office, Dr. Loos offers traditional braces (bonded on brackets and arch wires), ceramic braces (which can be tooth-colored and less noticeable) and lingual braces mounted to the tongue-side of teeth. Also, he offers selected adult and teen patients Invisalign clear braces. These amazing invisible aligners correct a variety of orthodontic issues in less time and with fewer inconveniences normally associated with conventional braces.

Learn more

When you decide to straighten your teeth with orthodontic care, you have several options to choose from in terms of treatment plans. However, only one orthodontic treatment can straighten your teeth without the hassle of brackets or wires. Invisalign takes a different approach to renewing your smile, using aligner trays to carefully move the teeth into their final positions. Find out more about Invisalign with Dr. Stuart Loos at Loos Orthodontics in Canton, GA.

Can Invisalign help me? 
While Invisalign can help in many situations, not everyone is a good candidate for this treatment. Invisalign works best for patients over the age of 12 and adults who wish to straighten their smile and correct their bite issues. Invisalign requires excellent at-home dental care. Patients should brush twice daily and floss at least once to avoid tooth decay and gum disease which could hinder their Invisalign treatment. Patients should also be fully committed to their Invisalign treatment, wearing their aligner trays for at least 22 hours a day, then wearing their retainer for the recommended amount of time after treatment.

Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces
Invisalign uses clear plastic aligner trays which provide a totally different treatment experience than traditional metal braces. The most noticeable difference between the two treatments is that Invisalign’s trays are clear, blending into your look without being as obvious as metal brackets or wires permanently affixed to the teeth. Additionally, patients remove Invisalign to eat or perform their at-home oral care routine. This eliminates the need to avoid certain foods which could damage your traditional braces and use special floss to thread through each wire to floss your teeth every day. Decreasing the time required to eat or clean your teeth will increase the odds that you will remain diligent in your oral care routine.

Invisalign Treatments in Canton, GA
If you think you could benefit from Invisalign, you should consult with your orthodontist. If Invisalign is the best treatment for you, your orthodontist will take a 3D model of your mouth to send to Invisalign’s dental laboratories. Before creating any actual aligner trays, lab technicians will create a customized video based on the 3D model to show you exactly how your teeth will move and what your end result will look like. After approval, the lab sends the trays out to your orthodontist’s office where you will get a quick lesson on how to insert and remove the trays. After this initial visit, you will wear each tray in the series for about two weeks before switching it for the next tray. You will see your dentist about once every six weeks for check-ups.

For more information on Invisalign, please contact Dr. Loos at Loos Orthodontics in Canton, GA. Call (770) 345-8300 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Loos today!

Clear braces offer a more attractive alternative to ceramic or metal braces. Our Canton, GA, dentist, Dr. Stuart Loos, discusses how the braces work and shares a few unique advantages of wearing clear braces.

Clear braces eliminate the wires

Removable aligners, not wires, change the alignment of your teeth when you wear clear braces. The aligners look a little like the mouthguards you may have worn to play sports, although they offer a much snugger and comfortable fit. When you visit our Canton office, we'll create a computerized 3D model of your teeth using impressions, X-rays and photographs of your teeth. The 3D model allows Dr. Loos to create aligners that will fit your teeth perfectly and realign them. Changing the aligners every two weeks gradually repositions your teeth. You'll wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day.

Clear braces are the ideal solution for many orthodontic issues

Whether you dislike your underbite or have difficulty eating due to an open bite, clear braces can correct your orthodontic issues. They are an excellent option for most orthodontic problems, including spacing and bite issues, although metal braces may be the best choice if your issues are severe or complicated.

Clear braces are extremely convenient

Eating can be complicated when you wear traditional braces. You have to avoid foods that might damage the wires, and cleaning your teeth can be a time-consuming process. When you wear clear braces, you won't have to worry about these issues. You'll remove your aligners when you eat and will also take them out when you brush and floss your teeth.

Unlike traditional braces, clear braces can removed occasionally for short periods of time. They're an excellent choice for people who play sports. Because they aligners are removable, you can wear a standard mouthguard during a game or practice. Your aligners can also be removed if you'll be attending an important event and would prefer not to wear them for a few hours.

Clear braces offer impressive results without wires and brackets. Call our Canton, GA, dentist, Dr. Loos, at (770) 345-8300 to schedule an appointment to find out if clear braces are the right choice for you.

As with any long-term commitment, making the decision to get braces is a big one, whether it's for yourself or one of your children. Dr. A. Stuart Loos, your orthodontist in Canton, GA, wants his patients to understand all the benefits that come with wearing braces and completing an orthodontics regimen. He's listed the main benefits here.

Enhanced appearance

With crooked, gapped or crowded teeth, you may find yourself strategically placing your hand over your mouth when you smile, or worse, avoid smiling altogether. When you have your teeth straightened with orthodontics. However, you'll feel much more confident about the way your smile looks. This is especially important if you're on a job search or have a career that requires a lot of face-to-face networking; a first impression is invaluable in these situations, and Dr. Loos, your Canton orthodontist, can help you achieve your best appearance through braces.

Better dental health

Crowded and overlapping teeth have "nooks and crannies" that can easily trap food, but removal can be difficult or impossible even with the most sophisticated of dental hygiene tools. Over time, this can lead to decay and gum disease. Properly aligned teeth, however, are much easier to clean with a toothbrush and floss.

Improved health overall

Not only will your teeth be more attractive and healthier with orthodontics, but you may find that other health problems improve as well. Many people with misalignment have headaches, earaches or other jaw-related pain associated with their condition. By straightening your teeth, you can change the way your teeth meet together, how you chew and hold your mouth in a resting position. Many patients of Dr. Loos, your Canton orthodontist, find that having straightened teeth makes it easier to eat foods that might otherwise be difficult to chew - in particular, meat or raw vegetables. These foods contain important nutrients that your body needs for optimal health.

Are you ready to make a positive step toward better health? Contact Dr. Stuart Loos in Canton, GA to schedule a consultation about braces or other orthodontic treatment today!

It's impossible to hide the fact that you're wearing braces when every smile reveals a flash of metal. Thanks to innovative dental technology, the world doesn't have to know that you're straightening your teeth. Dr. Stuart Loos, your Canton, GA orthodontist, explains how Invisalign offers a more subtle approach to orthodontic treatment.

What is Invisalign?

When you wear traditional braces, your Canton orthodontist attaches brackets to your teeth and threads wires through them. Adjusting the wires, which must be done every four to six weeks, moves your teeth into alignment. The Invisalign system uses removable aligner trays that look similar to mouthguards to change the position of both your upper and lower teeth. Since the aligners are clear, they're practically invisible.

How does Invisalign work?

Your orthodontist creates a 3D image of your teeth using impressions, photographs and X-rays. Viewing the image allows him to custom design your aligner trays and your treatment plan. You'll wear your new aligners 20 hours per day and will usually only take them out to eat.

What are the benefits of Invisalign?

The fact that the aligners are transparent is one of their most important advantages as far as many people are concerned, but that's not the only advantage. Invisalign also offers other important benefits, including:

• Flexibility: Playing sports is easy when you wear Invisalign trays. Since the trays are removable, you don't have to buy a specially made mouthguard. You'll simply remove your trays and reinsert them when your game or practice is over. Your trays can also be removed if you'll be attending a special event and would prefer not to wear the trays for a few hours.
• Easy Oral Hygiene: Have you ever watched a friend try to remove food or popcorn kernels from their braces? Wires and brackets trap food, making oral hygiene a complicated procedure if you wear traditional braces. Because your aligner trays are removable, brushing and flossing remains an easy process.
• Shorter Treatment Time for Adults: If you're an adult, you may only need to wear your aligner trays for about a year. Children and teenagers spend the same amount of time in treatment, whether they choose traditional braces or Invisalign.

Interested in learning more about Invisalign? Call Dr. Loos, your Canton, GA orthodontist, at (770) 345-8300 to schedule an appointment.