So you want your braces off sooner…

There are some ways you can actually speed up your treatment and get your braces off sooner.  In a recent study, results have shown that taking ibuprofen or aspirin slows tooth movement down.  After getting braces on for the first time or after an adjustment, teeth can get sore.  It is recommended to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help with soreness.   

Poor oral hygiene can slow dowBraces stock photon your treatment.  Good oral hygiene will also give better results when braces are removed.  One of the best ways to shorten treatment time is to wear elastics when and as you are instructed. 

Poor cooperation slows treatment tremendously.  That includes breakage due to eating improper foods or other habits causing you to loose brackets.  Halloween is a prime example of foods (candy!) causing loose bands and brackets and slowing treatment.  So be careful this Halloween and throughout your treatment to protect your braces from breakage.

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by OzarksOrthodontics on September 9, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by OzarksOrthodontics on September 9, 2013

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Now’s a Great Time of the Year to Start Invisalign Treatment

Now that the school year has come to an end and we look forward to the summer season, we’d like to remind people that this is a great time of the year to start Invisalign treatment!

Maybe you’re an adult who has always wanted straight teeth and a beautiful smile but haven’t bothered making an orthodontic appointment. Perhaps you’re a parent who wants to find out if Invisalign Teen is right for your child. Well now that the summer season is upon us and kids are out of school, it’s the ideal time to set up an appointment with our Harrison and Berryville, AR orthodontic office. Many of us have time off from work at this time of the year. This is also when parents typically start enjoying having more free time, as the kids don’t have nearly as many activities to drive them to and from. We’re always accepting new patients and we look forward to meeting every new patient who walks through our doors!

Ozarks Orthodontics invisalign-header

Invisalign for Adults

Many of our patients are adults who have decided to have their smiles improved using the amazing Invisalign System. Invisalign clear aligners provide adults with certain bite problems an effective way to straighten teeth while remaining virtually invisible. By wearing the comfortable, custom-made aligners, your teeth will gradually shift into their correct position. You’ll be instructed to wear each set of aligners for approximately two weeks wherein you simply move onto the next set in the series. Invisalign offers comfortable, effective and efficient tooth straightening while providing the wearer with orthodontic treatment that is very discreet. This is what makes this exciting teeth straightening system a top choice for adults of all ages who wish to improve the beauty and health of their smiles!

 

Invisalign for Teens

InvisalignTeenPhotoInvisalign for Teens is very similar to Invisalign for adults with a few differences. Invisalign Teen is designed especially with growing youngsters in mind. Each smooth Invlsalign Teen aligner features a discreet “Blue Dot” wear indicator that is there to tell your teen when it’s time to switch to a new set of aligners. Invisalign Teen is a very popular way for young people to straighten their teeth, as the clear aligners are virtually invisible. Invisalign Teen provides teenagers with a boost to their self-confidence and self-esteem throughout the treatment process.

 

No Messy Impressions with the Revolutionary iTero Scanner

Ozarks Orthodontics IOC Scanner 2

At our Harrison, Arkansas orthodontic offices, we provide our patients with the latest technological advancements in thefield of orthodontics. We use the iTero scanner at our practice to take digital images of our patients’ teeth. This means that you don’t have to sit through uncomfortable, messy and gooey impressions. Instead, you can sit back and relax while we simply wave a wand over your teeth to capture them in precise detail.

The iTero digital scanner is a cutting-edge technology that allows Dr. Bowers to digitally capture the exact contours of your teeth so he can see where the tooth movement needs to be. This helps us achieve the maximum results for your Invisalign treatment.

 

Dr. Joe Bowers is a preferred Invisalign provider in Harrison and Berryville, AR. If you would like to find out if Invisalign is right for you or if Invisalign Teen is something for your child, please give us a call at our Harrison or Berryville office so we can set up an appointment time. We look forward to seeing you real soon!

Harrison Office                                                        Berryville Office

1405 McCoy Drive                                                  303 Eureka Avenue

Harrison, AR 72601                                                 Berryville, AR 72616

Ph: 870-741-5030                                                  Ph: 870-423-3148

http://www.OzarksOrthodontics.com

 

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by OzarksOrthodontics on June 12, 2013  •  Permalink
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Faith Hills Knows The Importance of Wearing Your Retainer

Country music star Faith Hill was all smiles for the cameras at the 2013 Grammy Awards earlier this month as she Ozakrs-Orthodontics-Faith-Hill-Wears-Braceswalked the red carpet, flashing her new braces. When asked by the press why she needs to wear braces, she said that she had braces when she was a child but that she “forgot” to wear her retainer. In other words, she needed a second round of orthodontic treatment because she did not wear her retainer, as she should have when she was younger.

No Excuses! Wear Your Retainer!

Dr. Joe Bowers and his team at Ozarks Orthodontics would like to remind our patients of the importance of wearing your retainer. While Faith Hill is a beautiful woman, she would not have had to wear braces again if she would have worn her retainer as instructed by her orthodontist following her first round of orthodontic treatment. Faith did what many young people do after their braces come off. That is, she didn’t wear her retainer and the result was that her teeth shifted or moved out of their new positions.

Why You Need to Wear Your Retainer as Instructed

You have probably been told that once your braces come off that you’ll need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in their new positions. We can’t stress enough how important it is to wear your retainer as much as you are told to. If your orthodontist tells you to wear it at least 12 hours per day, do it. If you don’t, your teeth will move out of place and back into their original positions. Braces put pressure on your teeth, forcing them to move into a straighter position. Once your braces come off, a retainer is necessary to hold your teeth in place while they settle. If you don’t wear your retainer, there won’t be anything there to keep them in their new positions, which result in them moving.

Considering the cost of your braces, the many months you wore them and the reason you got braces in the first time, it makes little sense not to wear your retainer as directed. The money you have spent on your braces will go down the drain, your teeth will not look their best and your confidence and self-esteem may plummet. So, this shout out is just a friendly reminder to our patients and their families of the importance of wearing your retainers!

If you have not been wearing your retainer, do so now or give us a call so that you can get a new one.

Types of Retainers We Offer

Once your braces come off, we’ll begin the retention stage of your treatment through the use of a retainer. Wearing your retainer as directed is key to ensuring that your orthodontic treatment wasn’t in vain.

Ozarks-Orthodontics-Essix-RetainersThe Essix Clear Retainer we offer is a transparent, removable retainer that fits over the entire arch of the teeth. This retainer covers the teeth completely, using no metal clasps or wires. The Essix Clear Retainer is cosmetically appealing because it’s virtually invisible and it provides the added benefit of being lightweight, comfortable and flexible.

Ozarks-Orthodontics-Retainer

The Hawley Retainer we offer is the most commonly used retainer. This removable retainer is to be worn daily for a specified period of time but can be worn just in the evenings later on to ensure that your teeth stay where they should be.

Ozarks-Orthodontics-Bonded-Retainer

The Bonded or Fixed Retainer is a small wire that’s placed on the backside of your bottom teeth. The wire is bonded into place so that it maintains the position of your teeth. Since a Bonded Retainer cannot be removed without an orthodontist, it’s important to floss your teeth using a special “flosser” to be sure that you can get floss between your bottom front teeth.

Please feel free to contact our Berryville or Harrison, AR orthodontic office if you have any questions about retainers. We urge each of our patients to wear their retainer so that they can achieve the smile they deserve which is a straight, beautiful and healthy one!

Ozarks Orthodontics

Harrison Office:

1405 McCoy Drive

Harrison, AR 72601

Phone: (870) 741-5030

Berryville Office:

303 Eureka Avenue

Berryville, AR 72616

Phone: (870) 423-3148

http://www.ozarksorthodontics.com

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by OzarksOrthodontics on February 28, 2013  •  Permalink
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About the Innovative iTero Scanner We Use

Dr. Joe E. Bowers and his staff here at Ozark Orthodontics make it our priority to provide you with the latest orthodontic technological advances like Invisalign and the latest computer technology to ensure that you get the best care possible. We would like you to know that we use the iTero Scanner to take digital impressions of teeth. This is a new piece of technology that few orthodontists are trained to use and it’s perfect for our Invisalign patients.

iTero Invisalign Scanner

Features and Benefits of the iTero Scanner

It’s imperative that an accurate impression is made prior to fitting a patient with braces. With the iTero Scanner, we can get the most consistent, superior results possible. There are no messy impression materials to deal with, nor do we have to spend time preparing impression trays and cleaning up.

High Level of Accuracy for Better Orthodontic Results

The iTero Scanner is very accurate. There is absolutely no distortion from patient movement to concern ourselves with. We can use the onscreen visualization technology to make immediate adjustments to create the ideal scan the first time. There is no more gagging for the patient when this technology is used and with iTero Scanner, the patient can become involved in the process as they can see their dental work on the screen.

When the iTero Scanner is used, a digital impression of the teeth is instantly available so that it can be reviewed by our office and the patient for preciseness during the same office visit. This scanner produces an exact digital dental record, which we can use throughout the entire orthodontic treatment process.

Increased Patient Comfort with iTero Scanner

One of the most important benefits of the iTero scanning technology is the fact that patients no longer have to deal with the goopy mess of traditional impressions. That means no gagging, unpleasant taste and extended sessions sitting in a dental chair. Our patients also benefit from the single-use disposable shields, which protect them and ensure maximum protection from the possible spread of infection.

The iTero Scanner is highly accurate, it improves the patient experience and it streamlines workflow, which reduces Invisalign aligner delivery time. The team here at Ozark Orthodontics has embraced this new technology that can be used for both adults and kids. We are proud to be among the few orthodontic offices to use the revolutionary iTero Scanner and we are thrilled to be able to offer this cutting-edge technology to you.

 

Harrison Office                                                        Berryville Office

1405 McCoy Drive                                                  303 Eureka Avenue

Harrison, AR 72601                                                 Berryville, AR 72616

Ph: 870-741-5030                                                  Ph: 870-423-3148

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by OzarksOrthodontics on February 14, 2013  •  Permalink
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Happy Halloween!

    

     Ghouls, ghosts, and goblins might be the scariest things of the Halloween holiday for most.  At our office, we fear the sticky, chewy, and crunchy candy!  The temptation will be easy. We want to remind all of our patients in braces that this delicious, sweet or sour candy is a “NO-NO.”  The candy is loaded with sugar, that breaks down the bond we have on your teeth for your braces.  Once the bond is broken, you have to schedule an appointment with us to have the bracket or band replaced, and in turn could prolong your treatment.  We don’t want this for you.  So to help satisfy your sweet tooth this Halloween, we have attached some “spook-tacular” braces-friendly recipes! Have a safe and happy Halloween.

AAO Halloween Recipes

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by OzarksOrthodontics on October 29, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by OzarksOrthodontics on October 29, 2012

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Importance of Early Orthodontic Treatment

At Ozarks Orthodontics, we believe that it’s essential for children to have their first orthodontic examination at an early age, as it is easier to prevent and correct orthodontic problems when children are young. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children receive orthodontic check-ups no later than age seven.

Why is an Early Exam Important?

By the time your child is seven years old, an orthodontist can identify subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some of the baby teeth are still present. The early identification of problems can prevent more serious problems from arising in the future and may make treatment at an older age less complicated. In some cases, the orthodontist can achieve results, which would not be possible once the child’s face and jaws have finished growing.

What You Can Look for

There are a few warning signs to be aware of that may indicate that your child needs orthodontic treatment. They include:

  • Early or late loss of baby teeth
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Breathing through the mouth
  • Thumb or finger sucking
  • Crowded or misplaced teeth
  • Shifting jaws
  • Protruding jaws or jaws which make sounds
  • Biting the inside of the mouth
  • Teeth that protrude or don’t meet correctly
  • Facial imbalance
  • Grinding of the teeth
  • Perfectly aligned and occluded baby teeth usually indicate crowding will be present in the permanent teeth

If you notice any of these warning signs in your child you should schedule an orthodontic appointment so that your child can be fully evaluated.

Malocclusions Should Be Treated Early

In addition to improving the aesthetics of your smile, orthodontic treatment can also improve a malocclusion or bad bite. If a malocclusion is left untreated it can cause further problems in the future such as affecting the way you smile, chew food, clean your teeth or feel about your smile.

By receiving early treatment, an orthodontist can guide jaw growth, lower the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth, correct harmful oral habits, improve your child’s appearance & self-esteem and improve the way the lips meet. When you provide your child with an early orthodontic exam, you will be providing him or her with the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile.

At Ozark Orthodontics, we are 100% committed to helping your child obtain the healthy, attractive smile he or she deserves. Because no two patients are alike in their development and treatment needs, Dr. Bowers will provide your child with the most appropriate treatment at the right time. He looks forward to meeting every young patient and promises to provide you and your child with high quality orthodontic care in our friendly and comfortable environment.

To schedule an early orthodontic screening so that Dr. Bowers can evaluate your child, please contact us either by telephone or via our email address at your earliest convenience. We have two locations to serve you – our Harrison Office on McCoy Drive in Harrison, AR and our Berryville Office on Eureka Avenue in Berryville, AR.

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by OzarksOrthodontics on October 24, 2012  •  Permalink
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Welcome

Welcome to the Ozarks Orthodontics Blog

Dr. Bowers and his staff of friendly professionals would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our blog! Located in Harrison and Berryville, Arkansas, we specialize in the most advanced technologies in the industry along with the latest in computer technology to ensure that you receive the best care possible.

Meet Our Doctor

Dr. Joe Bowers completed his dental and orthodontic training at Louisiana State University after graduating from Arkansas Tech University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Dr. Bowers then entered the specialty practice of orthodontics in his hometown of Harrison. The Berryville office was added to his practice in 1990.

Dr. Bowers is fully committed to delivering the highest quality orthodontic care available to both children and adults. His goal is to help you achieve the smile you deserve – a healthy, beautiful one!

Our Staff

The friendly team of professionals at Ozark Orthodontics strives to help you obtain a beautiful smile. With over 80 years of combined experience with orthodontic treatment, you will be helped with all facets of your care. We make sure that each of our patients feels right at home and we focus on individualized care, as no two patients are alike.

Types of Braces We Use

The new techniques and appliances we use greatly reduce discomfort levels, cut down on the number of visits necessary, shorten your overall treatment time and may allow you to choose from several options. The metal braces we use are smaller and more comfortable than metal braces used years ago. These braces are made with high-grade stainless steel and are commonly used today.

We can work with you if you presently have clear brackets, but offer the esthetic, clear aligner alternative to move teeth.  This is a series of clear removable aligners provided by Invisalign.  These aligners are easy to clean which means that you can maintain good oral hygiene throughout your treatment.  You can brush, floss and rinse normally after eating and the aligners can be cleaned by brushing and rinsing them in warm water.

Your First Visit

We’re looking forward to meeting each of our new patients. After you schedule your first appointment with us, you will receive a letter and history form in the mail. Please complete the form and bring it with you. The first appointment will last about 45 minutes. During this visit you will receive a comprehensive clinical evaluation and time to discuss your concerns. We will inform you of the treatment options available to you and advise you on treatment timing. This consultation will include answers to any financial questions you may have regarding your treatment. For your convenience, we offer financing and payment plans and we’re able to accept most insurance programs.

Thanks for visiting our blog! We will use this space to share office news and information with you. We also will be posting interesting reading material here related to the exciting world of orthodontics so do stop by often to see what’s new. Please visit our office Facebook page for more interaction with our office and staff. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have so please do not hesitate to contact us via telephone or email.

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by OzarksOrthodontics on July 26, 2012  •  Permalink
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