The Damon System at Whitlock Orthodontics: What's the advantage?

A lot of our patients, (especially you parents!) come to Dr. Whitlock thinking traditional braces are the only answer to straight teeth. Here at Whitlock Orthodontics, we offer the Damon System, a revolutionary new braces system that can give you better results in less time!

Am I right for the Damon System?

Whitlock Orthodontics will evaluate your eligibility for the Damon System, and the procedure can be performed for children and adults alike!

What makes Damon braces better?

Probably the biggest advantage of Damon braces over traditional brackets is the amount of time and effort involved. Whitlock Orthodontics can often cut months off of the total treatment time for patients using the Damon System, and less visits to our office are necessary to make adjustments.

In addition, the Damon System brackets are:

• Cleaner- Damon brackets don’t have the elastic of traditional brackets, and are less prone to all the plaque buildup that your dentist warns you about!
• Discreet- Damon braces are smaller and have fewer parts than traditional brackets, making them less noticeable and more comfortable.
• No tightening- With the Damon system, Dr. Whitlock and our team can position your teeth and avoid frequent adjustments. This also reduces the need for complicated tooth extractions or surgery.

If you have been thinking about an orthodontic procedure, come see us at Whitlock Orthodontics for an assessment to see if the Damon System is right for you!

Ask Dr. Whitlock: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Many parents assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Whitlock Orthodontics, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Whitlock to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age 7, give us a call at Whitlock Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

Whitlock Orthodontics want to know: What are you up to in January?

BRRRRR! It may still be chilly outside, but can you believe we’re only a couple of months away from spring? Dr. W and our team at Whitlock Orthodontics want to know: What are you doing in January? Any big mid-winter break plans? Anything exciting going on in your life?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call one of our offices and ask how! Have a great rest of the week, from the entire team at Whitlock Orthodontics!

The Magic of SureSmile® at Whitlock Orthodontics

Dr. W and his team know the thought of having braces gets a lot of people down. At Whitlock Orthodontics we offer a variety of different orthodontic treatments designed to help give our patients the beautiful smiles they deserve. While there are so many effective treatments available, SureSmile is the top treatment in our office!

SureSmile gets our patients out of braces twice as fast, and with less discomfort than with most conventional treatments. Patients also spend less time in our office and more time smiling. We are very proud to be the only orthodontic practice in Arkansas that offers SureSmile.

Dr W. first introduced SureSmile in April, 2005, and has been using the system ever since. Today, many of our patients who wear braces are being treated with SureSmile.

With SureSmile’s specially programmed archwires, your teeth move more directly into their intended positions. The result for our patients is shortened treatment time and a more comfortable experience in braces. Once the braces are on it’s only a matter of time before they are taken off revealing beautiful, straight, healthy teeth. With traditional braces a patient is expected to schedule 18 to 20 office visits over two years. With SureSmile, patients average seven to 10 visits and can have their braces off within half the time!

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, or if braces are on the horizon, give us a call!