Braces

We feature the Damon and Speed self-ligating braces systems, which can reduce treatment time and visits up to 40% when compared to conventional braces.

Invisalign®

Invisalign® straightens your teeth using a series of clear aligner trays that are custom made specifically for you. The aligners gradually shift your teeth using a gentle pressure and are rotated every two weeks. The benefit of an Invisalign® treatment is the ability to temporarily remove your orthodontic appliances if necessary.

Dr. Cari has extensive experience treating patients using Invisalign® and has been named an Invisalign® Preferred Provider. He now offers Invisalign® Teen as well.

Propel®

We always are looking for ways to improve the orthodontic patient’s experience and when possible shorten treatment time. By using the Propel® system in combination with traditional braces or Invisalign®, we can reduce overall treatment time by as much as 50%.

The Propel™ system stimulates bone production using micro osteo-perforations in the jaw allowing for much faster and more precise tooth movement. Dr. Cari is one of few local experienced Propel® providers.

TAD’s


A Temporary Anchorage Device (TAD) is a small pin that is placed in the mouth by Dr. Cari or an oral surgeon. They aid Dr. Cari in aligning or positioning your teeth more precisely. Made of medical grade titanium, they are smooth and usually are undetectable by the patient. They rarely irritate the lip or gums. In some patients, TAD’s are invaluable, as they allow predictable, accurate tooth movement that can speed treatment comfortably.

Orthopedic Expansion

An expander is an orthopedic appliance that is used to widen the upper jaw to correct a constricted upper jaw or to create space. It is attached to a patient’s upper teeth. It is used in younger patients where the upper jaw is not yet fused into one bone. By using a key to gently advance the expander, force is applied to the teeth and orthopedic widening of the upper jaw is possible, allowing more space for tooth eruption and moderating subsequent procedures. For proper application early evaluation is necessary to screen for a narrow palate.

Orthodontic/ Orthognathic Surgical Treatment

Surgical orthodontics, also known as combination orthodontic / orthognathic surgery, is a type of orthodontic treatment used to correct severe cases. These problems include an underbite, severe overjet (upper teeth stick out,) jaw bone abnormalities, and severe malocclusions. Orthognathic surgery will help properly align the jaw, and orthodontic braces are then to be used to move the teeth into their proper position.

Phase I (Interceptive) Treatment

Phase I or Interceptive Treatment is treatment that is performed when the patient has a mix of primary and permanent teeth (between 7-10 years of age) to treat developing skeletal or dental problems. Phase I treatment usually has specific, yet limited goals and is often used to prevent more extensive treatments later. Some primary reasons for Phase I treatment are:

• To correct or prevent a misalignment such as underbite, severe overbite or crossbite
• To aid in stopping a destructive habit such as a tongue thrust or thumb sucking habit
• To prevent enamel wear on teeth that are contacting one another
• To correct alignment of teeth that are too far forward and may pose a trauma risk

It is common that the patient will have a second phase of treatment once all of the permanent teeth have erupted for final alignment. Our goal is to minimize your time in treatment to provide the most stable long-term result possible.

Orthopedic Class II Correction (Overjet)

A Class II maloccusion is a bite where the front upper teeth are far in front of the lowers. Specifically, it is an anteroposterior (AP) jaw discrepancy. This can be caused by over development of the top jaw/protrusion of the upper teeth, or from a small lower jaw, or combination of both. Historically these types of bites were corrected with a headgear, extraction of teeth or surgery. Today we use a functional appliance, the MARA for most of these problems.

• MARA — The mandibular anterior repositioning appliance (MARA) is a functional appliance which creates positional changes of the lower jaw. It works by slowly bringing the patient’s lower jaw forward until it is in an ideal position. This reduces the overjet and corrects the bite. Functional appliances therapy usually takes around 2 years to complete.
• Braces

Orthopedic Class III Treatment

An underbite is when the lower front teeth are in front of the upper front teeth. It is a noticeable dental problem that can result in diminished function, and premature wear on the teeth if left uncorrected. Sometimes this is a dental problem, and is easily corrected. Other times, it is a skeletal problem, that needs early orthopedic / orthodontic intervention. It is important for a patient with an underbite to be seen early so that a treatment plan can be formulated and the bite corrected.

Soft Tissue Laser Treatment

A soft tissue laser allows the gums to be recontoured, or removed when necessary. Dr. Cari has experience using this state-of-the-art technology and can use it to remove excess tissue (reducing a gummy smile, for example) or to uncover a stubborn tooth that will not erupt. It is painless and results in no bleeding as compared to conventional treatments. Dr. Cari applies this technology during orthodontic treatment of his patients when necessary to complete treatment quickly and comfortably.