Treatment for Children

While there is no wrong age for orthodontic treatment, Dr. DeLuke believes the optimum age for children to be evaluated for treatment is between the ages of 3 and 9. This makes it possible for Dr. DeLuke to diagnose tooth, jaw and airway problems and determine the best time for treatment. If indicated, early treatment allows us to:

• Correct and guide the growth of your child’s jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
• Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
• Create more space for crowded teeth
• Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
• Correct thumb-sucking and help improve minor speech problems

In many cases, Dr. DeLuke will recommend holding off on the decision to put your child in treatment until they have all their adult teeth. In those cases, we will see your child, free of charge, once a year to track his/her growth and address any issues that develop as your child grows.

Treatment for Teens

Between the ages of 11 and 15 is the most common time for orthodontic treatment. There are advantages  to using this period of rapid growth as part of the orthodontic process to position the teeth and jaws correctly. It’s also a time when self-esteem related to appearance is important, so braces are often a welcome addition. Many kids even see it as a rite of passage. We love it when teens see their friends here and can even come for after school appointments together.

Whether you and your teen choose metal braces, clear braces or Invisalign, we’ll be with you every step of the way. At DeLuke Orthodontics we understand all the stresses of parenting a teenager. You worry about their grades, their social life, their self-esteem and a lot of other things. So while you worry about all that, let us worry about their smile and the confidence it brings.

Invisalign

Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.

The Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer technology with the 100-year-old science of orthodontics. In the hands of a specialist like Dr. DeLuke, the results can seem like magic!

Once you’ve decided on Invisalign treatment, we’ll use our 3-D scanner to capture a precise 3-D image of your teeth. It’s easy; no more impressions! After sending Dr. DeLuke’s detailed treatment instructions along with your images, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions into a sequence of finely calibrated aligners.

Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually — week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you’ll be smiling like you never have before!

At your consultation visit, Dr. DeLuke will determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, schedule your initial visit to our office today!

Invisalign Teen

Let Invisalign Teen help perfect your smile using clear aligners so your teenage memories can be captured with confidence. Invisalign Teen aligners are removable and virtually invisible, which means you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. You can still eat and drink what you want. Also, you can brush and floss normally to maintain healthy gums and teeth, and there are no wires, metal or brackets to cause mouth abrasions. School is hard enough, smiling while you’re in orthodontic treatment can be easy!

Amazing Technology

We are fortunate to have the latest technology available to enhance our patient care. And while technology will never take the place of the human touch, Dr. DeLuke uses these systems along with highly personalized care to increase efficiency and precision for great results. This means your appointments are faster, there are less frequent adjustment appointments and your treatment time is less than orthodontic treatment has been in the past.

Our i-Cat 3-D Imaging System provides precisely accurate 3D views to analyze teeth, roots, TMJ, airway, and sinuses without magnification or distortion in less than 5 seconds. Our machine produces a super low-radiation 3D digital scan, as we have the only machine in the world that can take a full 3D scan for less radiation than traditional 2D x-rays. 

With more information than is rendered from a more traditional x-ray, Dr. DeLuke is able to provide treatment that creates more than just a pretty smile. Use of the I-Cat enables Dr. DeLuke to evaluate the patient’s airway and look for constricted airways that can cause sleep disorders that may impact brain development, learning abilities, and energy and attention levels. These scans also give a better view of the jaw joint (TMJ) and unerupted teeth.

Our TRIOS Scanners and in-house 3D print lab mean no more icky impressions!!!

The Soft Tissue Laser is an exciting enhancement to treatment at DeLuke Orthodontics. It can be used to painlessly remove or reshape gum tissue or uncover tooth structure. It can be used to expose teeth that have not erupted, reshape gums to treat a gummy smile along with braces, and remove the frenum that might be causing a gap between your front teeth. While the laser is not used for every orthodontic patient, Dr. DeLuke is able to provide this solution when needed so that it’s fast, comfortable and convenient.

AcceleDent provides accelerated treatment to patients who want to spend less time in Invisalign® or in braces. AcceleDent® is designed to work along with conventional orthodontic treatment to accelerate tooth movement. It was proven to move teeth up to 50% faster in a U.S. clinical trial.

AcceleDent is a hands-free device, used daily for a recommended 20 minutes, during which patients can simultaneously carry out routine tasks, such as reading, watching TV, texting, or using a computer or tablet. Its exclusive

SoftPulse Technology™, which generates small vibrations (or micropulses), has been reported to make the orthodontic treatment not only faster, but also more comfortable.

All of these technologies are awesome tools in Dr. DeLuke’s hands. With them, he is able to provide every patient with their optimal occlusion and best smile – specifically customized to their face. The results are faster and more personalized than ever before.

Life With Braces

Let’s be honest; braces can be a little weird when you get started. We guarantee that you’ll adapt pretty quickly and we’ll be here to support you all the way!

What to Expect with Braces

Brushing Tips

Oral Hygiene for Comprehensive Treatment 

Oral Hygiene for Phase 1

Flossing:

It is very important to floss between your teeth every day. We realize that regular dental floss can be difficult to use even for patients without braces, so we recommend that our patients use flossers to help make flossing easier! Floss at night to make sure your teeth are squeaky clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, please notify a clinical team member at your next appointment.

Eating  

For the most part, you’ll be able to eat many of the same foods you’ve eaten before.  The general rule is to avoid things that are hard, sticky, gummy or chewy, to prevent breaking the bond that holds the brackets to the teeth.  When you first have your braces placed and after some of your adjustment appointments, your teeth may be sore for a couple days. Eating softer foods will help get you over the hurdle!

Eating With Braces List

Dealing With the Unexpected

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they do occur, we are available. If you have a problem with your orthodontic appliances, please call us to report the issue. If it’s during regular office hours our team will be happy to assist you. Should it occur after hours, please leave a message for our team and we will return your call when we are back in the office. If the issue is causing the patient to be in pain, please activate the emergency line to page Dr. DeLuke.

Sometimes you may be able to fix the problem yourself. We’ve provided a link to a printable guide below. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office to report the issue to our team. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.

Handling Issues with your Orthodontic Appliances