Blog Archive
Also called orthognathic surgery, surgical orthodontics uses state-of-the-art techniques to correct structural issues that affect the way your jaws work. That includes problems that affect the way you bite, chew, and speak, as well as conditions like temporomandibular joint disorder, facial trauma or birth defects, and some types of sleep...
If you think braces are just for teens and preteens, think again. Today, about a quarter of braces-wearers are adults, and that number is increasing, thanks to a greater awareness of the benefits associated with straighter teeth and better bite alignment. Plenty of adults visit Freedom Orthodontics in Cedar Park,...
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
Invisalign® is a popular alternative to traditional braces, thanks to the aligner system’s clear, comfortable design. But just because Invisalign seems like a simpler alternative to metal braces, that doesn’t mean they don’t involve any effort at all. The most important thing your teen can do is wear their aligners...
Orthodontic treatment realigns your crooked teeth to improve your smile and your bite function. Most people know the benefits of this popular treatment, but they’re less sure about how those benefits actually happen. Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, and our team at Freedom Orthodontics in Cedar Park, Texas, want our patients...
Orthodontic treatment offers plenty of benefits for your smile and your oral and overall health. But it’s also a big commitment — and once your braces come off, you want to be sure you do all you can to maintain your beautiful results. Wearing a retainer is part of that...
Braces offer plenty of important benefits beyond having a more beautiful smile. With braces, you can improve bite issues, reduce your risk of oral health problems, and avoid more serious complications in the future. But to get the most from your treatment, you need to take special care of your...
Millions of Americans wear braces, and most of those patients are teens. Orthodontic treatment is a great way to improve your teen’s smile aesthetics, their oral health, and their confidence. Better still, those benefits last a lifetime, giving your child a head start on a healthier, happier life. The benefits...
Having impressions made is one of the first steps in orthodontic treatment and one of the most critical. That’s because your impressions serve as molds or models of your teeth, helping your orthodontist map out your treatment based on your unique needs. Not too long ago, getting impressions meant biting down on...
Even though orthodontic treatment offers loads of benefits, it’s safe to say that most patients can’t wait for treatment to be over so they can start enjoying their beautiful results. But just because your braces come off doesn’t mean your treatment has ended. You still need to wear a retainer....
Most parents know that getting braces can help improve their child’s bite mechanics, smile aesthetics, and confidence — and even help avoid tooth issues in the future. But what parents might not know is when their child should begin treatment. Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, and his team at Freedom Orthodontics...
About a quarter of American adults are undergoing orthodontic treatment right now, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, and that means there are lots of adults wearing braces. If you’re one of them, you recognize the important benefits braces can offer for your smile and your oral health. As a...
Once your braces are removed or your aligner treatment is done, you might think that’s the end of your orthodontic treatment. But there’s another phase of care — the retainer phase — that’s designed to lock in your results and help your teeth maintain their new positions. While many people...
When people think about orthodontics, they tend to think about braces, aligners, and retainers. But orthodontics encompasses other treatments too, including surgical treatments aimed at correcting more serious and complex issues affecting your facial anatomy. Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, is an experienced, trusted provider of surgical orthodontic treatment (or orthognathic surgery) in...
Millions of people have flocked to Invisalign® to enjoy straighter teeth, more beautiful smiles, improved oral health, and, of course, greater self-confidence. Featuring clear, almost invisible aligners instead of the traditional metal wires and brackets, Invisalign achieves the same results as braces without all the hassles. In Cedar Park, Texas, Brendan Smith, DDS,...
Orthodontics can dramatically change the way your smile looks and improve your bite mechanics too. With so much resting on a single treatment, it’s not surprising that a lot of planning goes into getting those beautiful results. Digital impressions play a big role in that planning, helping your orthodontist map...
When most of us think of orthodontics, we think of braces and aligners used to straighten teeth. Although those may be the most common types of orthodontic treatments, surgical orthodontics also plays an important role for people with specific types of jaw problems. As a leading orthodontic specialist in Cedar...
After the drama and excitement of finally getting your braces off, wearing a retainer can seem kind of like an afterthought. But actually, your retainer plays a big role in maintaining your beautiful results. Orthodontics is all about aligning your teeth, and that includes your tooth roots. Your retainers maintain...
If you think orthodontic treatment is just for kids and teens, we’ve got some news for you: According to the American Association of Orthodontists, about a quarter of all orthodontic patients are adults — and it’s a trend that’s on the rise. Why? Because more and more adults are realizing that braces...
There are lots of reasons why millions of people turn to orthodontic treatment: To improve their smile To boost their confidence To fix a bite problem To treat jaw pain, grinding, or other issues Even though the underlying reason for treatment can vary, there’s one thing all patients agree on:...
For most people, the word orthodontics is synonymous with braces. But orthodontics includes lots of other treatments as well — including surgical orthodontics. Also called orthognathic surgery, surgical orthodontics uses special techniques to correct jaw alignment and bite problems that can’t be corrected with traditional orthodontics alone. As a leading...
Millions of people wear braces, enjoying not only the aesthetic benefits of straighter teeth but the oral health benefits too. Straight, evenly spaced teeth aren’t just more attractive — they can decrease the risks of tooth wear, bite imbalances, and other oral health problems. Today, when people think of orthodontic treatment, they tend...
Orthodontic treatment offers lots to look forward to: Straighter teeth, a more beautiful smile, and reduced oral health risks are just a few benefits. But there’s one aspect of treatment that most patients don’t look forward to: gooey, sticky, gag-inducing impressions. Impressions act as stand-in models of your teeth, and...
More than 10 million people have been treated with the Invisalign® orthodontic system, a popular alternative to braces. One major reason so many people turn to Invisalign: The aligners are clear which means that while you’re wearing them, they’re pretty much invisible. Another reason: The patented design means the aligners...
When you think about orthodontic treatment, what do you think of? Braces? Aligners? Retainers? Yes, they’re all a big part of orthodontic care. But for many people, jaw surgery is also a part of their treatment. Also called orthognathic surgery or orthodontic surgery, jaw surgery helps address serious alignment issues...
Millions of American kids and adults have orthodontic treatment every year, and even though their treatment plans will vary, they all have one thing in common: They had impressions made before their treatment began. Impressions play an important role in orthodontic treatment — but until recently, having impressions made meant biting...
Think braces are just for kids and teens? Think again. More than four million Americans wear orthodontic braces, and that includes about one million adults. In fact, braces are designed to work for patients of all ages who have all or most of their adult teeth. As long as your jawbones and teeth...
Your braces are off! Finally, your orthodontic treatment is over — right? Not quite. You still need to wear your retainer. Retainers help hold your teeth in their new positions while your roots stabilize and “take hold.” Wearing your retainer as directed is an important part of orthodontic treatment, “locking...
There’s no time like the New Year to make a commitment to a healthier, more beautiful smile, and for plenty of people that means straightening their teeth with the Invisalign® clear alignment system. If Invisalign is on your list of resolutions, you’re probably wondering, “How long will my treatment take?” ...
Mmmm, there’s nothing so tasty as a big tray full of soft, sticky putty — said no one ever. But until recently, biting down on a couple of putty-filled trays was the only way for your orthodontist to get impressions of your teeth, and those impressions were (and still are)...
More than 4 million Americans wear braces, including about a million adults. Those numbers show the importance of having a great-looking smile, no matter what age you may be. On top of that, more than 10 million teens and adults have had Invisalign® treatment since the clear aligners were first...
When most people think of orthodontics, they think of braces and aligners. But orthodontics includes other treatments too, depending on the issues that are causing poor alignment and bite problems. Surgical orthodontics is a good example. Also called orthognathic surgery, surgical orthodontics focuses on special orthodontic treatments designed to correct...
A lot of people think of orthodontics as a cosmetic treatment. And while braces and aligners can certainly make your smile look better, the benefits of straighter teeth go far beyond what you see in the mirror. When it comes to orthodontic treatment, Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, and the team...
If you’re one of the millions of Americans with braces or aligners, one thing’s for sure: Getting straight teeth and a gorgeous new smile is going to be a fairly big investment of your time. Once your initial phase of treatment (the straightening part) is over, you want to be...
More than 4 million Americans wear braces. If you’re one of them, you’re probably wondering how long it will be before you can enjoy your final results. At Freedom Orthodontics in Cedar Park, Texas, Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, and our team customize your orthodontic treatment from start to finish. That...
Everyone knows having straighter teeth can drastically improve the way your smile looks. But aesthetic benefits are just one reason to consider braces or aligners. There are plenty of other benefits as well. Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, and the team at Freedom Orthodontics in Cedar Park, Texas, help their patients...
As many as 20% of school-age children have dental anxiety. In short, that means they’re afraid of going to the dentist. But what exactly is dental anxiety? Dental anxiety is a term that encompasses anything from nervousness about seeing the dentist to a debilitating phobia that makes it nearly impossible...
When most people think of orthodontics, they think of braces and invisible aligners. But orthodontics also involves more complex treatments, like orthodontic surgery, to improve the shape and function of your jaw. Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, is a leading provider of orthodontic surgery, also called orthognathic surgery or surgical orthodontics....
More than four million Americans are undergoing orthodontic treatment right now — that includes kids, teens, and adults. Regardless of their age or their reason for seeking orthodontic treatment, they all have one thing in common: They all need to learn some new techniques for keeping their teeth, gums, and...
About 4 million people in the United States have braces — that includes kids, teens, and adults. And it’s almost certain that every one of those people had impressions made before their treatment began. Impressions are three-dimensional models or molds of your teeth that enable your orthodontist to develop a...
Orthodontic care is important not just for the beautiful smile it provides, but also for helping you enjoy years of better oral health. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has kept many people away from the orthodontist, despite the fact that practices remain open. That’s not surprising — many people are worried...
More than 4 million people in the United States wear braces, and that includes about a million adults. At Freedom Orthodontics, Brendan Smith, DDS, MS, and his team offer a variety of braces options for teens, preteens, and adults in Cedar Park, Texas. If you’ve been wondering if braces might...
Braces help millions of Americans — kids, teens, and adults — enjoy beautiful, more confident smiles, along with better oral health. As sturdy and durable as today’s braces may be, that doesn’t mean problems can’t happen, and broken brackets are one of the more common orthodontic issues patients face. At...
Orthodontic treatment is one of the best things you can do to improve your smile aesthetics and oral health. But wearing braces or aligners is definitely a time commitment, and by the time this part of your treatment is complete, you’re probably ready to put orthodontic treatment in the past...
When it comes to orthodontic treatment, a lot of people tend to associate it with teens and preteens. But in recent years, more and more adults have been turning to orthodontics as well. That might be because they missed out on having braces as a kid, or it might be...
Are braces in your future? Then dental impressions are too. In fact, in the United States alone, about 4 million people have braces at any given time — and it’s a safe bet that every one of them began treatment with impressions, or molds, of their teeth. Impressions provide your...
As you already know, Invisalign® is an incredible system that provides you with the same results you’d get from metal braces, but with a cleaner look and less hassle. Once you start on Invisalign, you’ll be on your way to a straighter, more beautiful smile. Yet while Invisalign does most...