fixed retainer

Lose Your Frenum, Free Your Smile!

November 15th, 2017

THE FRENUM, A THICK piece of tissue often found between the upper front teeth, may be responsible for your front tooth space. Your upper lip might even be attached with your thick frenum. This may be preventing you from smiling as big as you would like.

The Solution Is Simple

A thick frenum can be removed by laser or periodontal surgery. This procedure, called a frenectomy, is usually done by a periodontist (a gum and soft tissue dental specialist). Removal of your frenum is painless and relatively inexpensive. With a frenectomy and orthodontic treatment by braces or Invisalign, your orthodontic space can be held closed for a lifetime.

Keeping That Gap Closed

Following frenectomy, tooth space is held closed with either a removable or nonremovable retainer. With the aid of a bonded lingual retainer (inside tooth wire) your upper tooth space (diastema) may be gone forever.

Come visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California and let us help you be free of your frenum. Call us at 925-757-9000 for a free orthodontic exam. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Be free of your frenum and enjoy the smile of your dreams!

Top image by Flickr user Andy Eick used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

Beautiful Smiles At Age Seven

January 19th, 2016

A GAP BETWEEN YOUR seven year old's front teeth may look cute at 7, but unless you're Madonna, it may not be wanted in adolescence or adulthood. To prepare for your child's future, many 7 year olds have their gap closed by orthodontic treatment.

A gap, or diastema, is common at age 7 when half baby teeth and half permanent teeth are present. Orthodontic treatment at age 7 is called Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatment. It is treatment of half permanent teeth. Additional Phase 2 treatment of all permanent teeth may be needed at age 12.

If a diastema is larger than 2mm, it will not close on it's own. Your orthodontist can help to close this space and get your 7 year old's teeth looking beautiful.

A diastema is often caused by a thick frenum, a piece of skin between the front teeth. Frenums are often hereditary in families. The frenum is best removed once the diastema is closed. The space will be held closed by a wire on the back side of the front teeth.

A periodontist, or gum specialist, will remove your child's frenum to make space closure permanent. Frenum removal is done AFTER the space is closed by your orthodontist.


If you have questions about your child's diastema or frenum, Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca and Gorczyca Orthodontics can help. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Goodbaye Gap! Hello happiness! Here's to looking at your 7 year old's beautiful face, teeth, and smile!

Preserve Your Dental Arch with Limited Orthodontic Treatment

March 12th, 2015

YOUR DENTAL ARCH IS a catenary curve worth preserving. Once one tooth moves out of position with teeth contacts broken, your teeth will continue to crowd over the course of your lifetime. If left untreated, you will continue to lose your dental arch curve.

Crowding In Lower Front Teeth Is Common

Loss of dental arch form can be partially due to a natural biological process called “mesial drift”. Your teeth naturally move forward to close space where space is available. If not held in place by solid tooth contacts, your teeth will continue to crowd. This is especially true in the lower arch with your lower front teeth.

This Can Be Fixed With Orthodontic Treatment

Limited orthodontic treatment with only six anterior braces can straighten your lower teeth crowding. Your teeth can be moved back into position and held in place with a fixed retainer, a small wire on the inside of your lower front teeth.

This limited case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Antioch, California. It took 20 months to complete. If you have questions about your lower teeth crowding, call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Get your dental arch back in shape with limited orthodontic treatment.

More Topics
diplomate american board of orthodontics Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists advanced education in orthdontics
member american association of orthodontists seattle study club american dental association california dental association
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