April 14th, 2015

SPACE... THE FINAL ORTHODONTIC RETENTION FRONTIER

These are the bonded lingual retainers of the office, Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Its mission, to retain straight dentitions for life,

to seek out retention excellence for all patients,

to boldly retain, longer and better than ever before!
Recent studies have shown that bonded lingual wires maintain straight teeth at 20 years with imperceivable change (0.06mm).
These cases were treated by Board Certified Orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca. Find us at www.clubbraces.com.
Keep your dental space closed for a lifetime with bonded lingual wire retainers.
Tags: Antioch, orthodontist, dentistry, orthodontics, Gorczyca Orthodontics, retainers, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, lingual wire, dental spaces, permanent retainer, retention, tooth spaces
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April 8th, 2015

YOU CAN’T SEE IT...
Yet, it often creeps up on other teeth and takes a bite out of their roots.
There is danger in the unerupted impacted canine.

An Orthodontist Knows How To Recognize The Problem
Early detection of impacted canines is often missed by non-orthodontists. The teeth and bite may look great and there may be no patient complaints. Yet, an orthodontist knows that when primary canines are not lost by age 12, lurking below the surface of the oral cavity, there may be... the impacted canine.

Working With A Team, We Can Eliminate The Threat
Impacted canines can be detected by panoramic X-ray or a CBCT for a 3-dimensional view. Once found, your orthodontist will recommend opening adequate space orthodontically for the impacted canine and refer you to an oral surgeon for impacted canine exposure. The oral surgeon will then expose your canine and place an orthodontic bracket with a gold chain attached on to the impacted tooth. Your orthodontist will then bring your impacted canine into your mouth slowly, gently, and methodically. Once in your mouth, your canine can function properly. Your canine can no longer be a threat to your bone or other teeth.

When Is The Time Right?
It is important to bring in an impacted canine into your mouth as soon as possible. Movement around age 12 is ideal. Movement after age 15 is slower. Movement after age 21 may no longer be possible.

What’s The Danger?
Why remove the impacted canine? The primary baby tooth canine will eventually be lost. It may be at age 40, 50, or 30. We don’t know when, but chances are, the baby tooth canine will not be maintained for your entire adult life. When lost, it may not be possible to place an implant for tooth replacement with the impacted canine in an implant blocking position. Your impacted canine could limit your future tooth replacement options to a fixed bridge or partial denture. As an adult, an impacted canine is very difficult to remove.

Call Us For More Information
This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, CA. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at 925-757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic examination.
Kowabunga Dude! Don’t be scared of an impacted canine! Expose this threat for ideal dental health.
Tags: orthodontist, oral surgery, dentistry, orthodontics, braces, canine, canine exposure, canine tooth, cuspid, cuspid exposure, Impacted, impacted cuspid, Impacted teeth, surgical exposure
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March 30th, 2015

DENTAL MIDLINES THAT DO NOT LINE UP are a sign that something much bigger is functionally off in a bite.

When midlines do not line up vertically in the center of the face between your upper and lower front teeth, often there is a major tooth position problem. This is frequently caused by loosing a baby tooth too early and teeth drifting forward into the space. This creates a major bite asymmetry.
Correcting Bite Asymmetry Protects Your Teeth
Bite asymmetry is usually corrected by comprehensive orthodontic treatment, which takes 24 months. Midline discrepancy or uncentered midlines can be treated with Class II or Class III elastics or by having a tooth extracted for an excellent orthodontic result. When tooth tips hit due to asymmetry, orthodontic correction will prevent teeth from being worn down prematurely in the future.

Whatever The Underlying Cause, Orthodontic Treatment Can Correct It
Other causes of midlines which do not line up are tooth size problems of a unilateral small tooth or jaw asymmetry. Both of these conditions can be fixed by comprehensive orthodontic treatment.

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Antioch, California. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic exam.
Find out why your midlines are not centered. An uncentered midline is just the tip of the bite iceberg!
Tags: Antioch, orthodontist, orthodontics, braces, Dr. Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Invisalign, dental midlines, elastics, facial midline, midline discrepancy, midlines, uncentered midline
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March 23rd, 2015

A GORGEOUS SMILE IS more than six straight front teeth. A beautiful smile includes facial balance, an esthetic profile, ideal lip posture, and straight front teeth that contact.
The most common orthodontic complaint, teeth that stick-out “overjet” in the horizontal direction, requires careful orthodontic analysis.

Overbite + Overjet Can Cause Severe Problems
When “overbite” (front teeth overlapped in the vertical direction) is combined with excessive overjet, an impinging bite occurs. Lower teeth contact the roof of the mouth. Left untreated, this deep bite will produce severe tooth and gum problems.

There are several treatment options to reduce excessive overjet and overbite:
- growth modification
- elastic wear
- tooth extraction
- orthognathic surgery
Orthodontists Treat Your Whole Face
Your initial photo can be morphed to show you the predicted facial changes with each treatment option.

Your orthodontist will carefully analyze your profile X-ray to produce a customized treatment plan to improve your bite, profile, and dental health. Orthodontists treat faces, not only teeth.

Questions? Give Us A Call
This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California.
If you have questions about overjet and overbite, call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.
You don’t have to “stick-out.” Consider orthodontic treatment today.
Tags: Antioch, orthodontist, dentistry, orthodontics, braces, Dr. Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, tooth extraction, Class II, orthodontic elastics, orthognathic surgery, deep bite, growth modification, impinging bite, overbite, overjet, teeth stick out, tooth protrusion
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