Doctor’s Corner

Standard metal braces are made out of stainless steel.  This is one of the best metals to last long periods of time in the mouth.  This is because stainless steel does not corrode, does not cause reactions when left in the mouth, and can be polished so that they will not irritate the mouth.  Stainless [...]

This is a question that does not have an exact answer.  Everyone’s treatment is personalized and orthodontic treatment time varies from person to person.  It all depends on the type and severity of that case.  Some cases with minor tooth movement can be finished in a year to a year and a half.  More complex [...]

Unlike years ago, when orthodontic visits took place every 3 to 4 weeks, most patients need to see the orthodontist every 6 to 8 weeks.  This is due to better technology in the braces and the wires that move the teeth more gradually.  These gradual movements are better for the teeth, less painful, and allow [...]

An orthodontist is a specialist who has specific training and schooling in tooth movement, as well as jaw growth and development. This gives the orthodontist a distinct advantage over a regular dentist that does braces.  The other advantage is that an orthodontist does tooth movement all day and as a result has greater experience in [...]

Digital X-rays are the becoming the standard of care in dentistry.  The main advantage is that the radiation needed for each X-ray is significantly less than conventional  film X-rays.  Digital X-rays can also be developed more quickly, which leads to less time for each appointment that X-rays are taken.

A Herbst is an orthodontic appliance that helps correct jaw discrepancies in growing children.  Some children have a lower jaw that is deficient in growth and lags behind the upper jaw, even during their adolescent growth spurt.  A Herbst appliance helps reposition the lower jaw forward to stimulate it to grow more in line with [...]

No.  If you attempt to whiten your teeth while they are being moved you might produce ‘shadows’ on the teeth.  This is because as teeth move the gums move with the teeth and end up exposing some areas of the teeth that we’re previous covered by gum.  As a result some areas will be whitened [...]

Spaces between baby teeth might not look the best, but spaces are the optimal way to allow the permanent teeth to fit in the mouth.  Permanent teeth are generally bigger than the baby teeth that they are replacing.  So having space between enables these bigger teeth to come into the mouth without being blocked.  It [...]

Many infants suck their fingers, thumbs, or a pacifier.  This is as part of their normal development.  Unfortunately if these habits are not stopped by a certain age, they can cause damage to developing teeth and jaws.  The general age that any oral habit should stop is age 2, this is the age when all [...]

This is a question that Dr. Galkin gets asked all of the time.  Retainers are given to orthodontic patients at the completion of treatment to keep their teeth from relapsing or shifting out of place.  There is no time during one’s life when their teeth become “set in stone” and do not need need retainers [...]