Why the Damon™ System?

Something big is happening in the orthodontics world, and it’s no other than Damon braces, which allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than traditional braces. With the Damon System, achieving that perfect smile will be faster and easier than you ever thought possible.

Here’s what the Damon System is all about:

With the new Damon braces, we can achieve terrific results and finish your treatment faster. Depending on your case, this may mean saving many months of treatment! After analyzing your specific needs, we will be able to provide you with a treatment plan that will have you smiling soon! Because Damon braces are very precise and effective, we can reduce the need for many of the time-consuming and complicated procedures that are used with traditional braces. Because Damon braces work more efficiently, fewer adjustments are required. As a result, your appointments will be faster and fewer in number. Due to the unique design of this new braces system, we can move your teeth into their correct positions with much less discomfort than traditional braces. Also, Damon braces are small, very comfortable, and easy to keep clean.

Dr. Pobanz is a certified Damon System provider. If you have any questions about the Damon System or your treatment here at Pobanz Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Mouth guards, orthodontics and sports with Pobanz Orthodontics

Wouldn’t you believe it, it’s almost springtime! The spring and summer months, however, bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of kids damaging their precious mouths and pearly whites. If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball and soccer. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with Pobanz Orthodontics. And don’t forget to ask us—we will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment.

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment with us.

The SureSmile Advantage

Does the thought of having braces bring you down? The team at Pobanz Orthodontics understands that one of the biggest concerns for orthodontic patients with braces is the length of their treatment.

But you’re in luck, because Dr. Pobanz specializes in SureSmile, high-tech braces that are revolutionizing the orthodontic industry. SureSmile, which combines digital 3-D imaging, has computer-aided treatment planning and customized archwires to straighten teeth about 40 percent faster than traditional braces. The SureSmile program calculates the exact shape and pattern of the teeth and bends and cuts the braces wires, with more precision than traditional braces.

There are three steps. First, Dr. John identifies the initial tooth position with the patented OraScanner, a wand with a tiny camera attached. The OraScanner creates a precise 3-D digital model of your mouth, which is then uploaded into software that lets us view your mouth and teeth from any angle. Next, the SureSmile system allows us to create your entire treatment plan prior to treatment, using special computer software to analyze the 3-D model of your mouth and develop a custom archwire treatment. Finally, SureSmile’s robotic technology bends Shape Memory Alloy archwires, which can “remember” your prescription.

Results

With SureSmile’s specially programmed archwires, your teeth move more directly into their intended positions. The result for our patients is shortened treatment time and a more comfortable experience in braces.

Once the braces are on it’s only a matter of time before they are taken off revealing beautiful, straight, healthy teeth. With traditional braces a patient is expected to schedule 18 to 20 office visits over two years. With SureSmile, patients average seven to 10 visits and can have their braces off within half the time!

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, and braces are on the horizon, please call us at 801-452-7155 today!

Deband Days at Pobanz Orthodontics

Getting your braces off is an exciting moment! All the visits to our office and the months of hard work to care for and clean your braces has finally paid off! If you've ever been in for an appointment during one of our "deband days", then you know Dr. John and the team love to celebrate the big day with our patients. We have posted a few videos of the celebration on our YouTube channel, so don't miss them!

“When Do I Get My Braces Off?” — The Straight Answer

Dr. Pobanz was recently published in the Local Healthcare Today magazine, describing treatment time and the time-saving benefits of the SureSmile system offered at our practice.

Be sure to check out the article on the Local Healthcare Today web site:

“When Do I Get My Braces Off?” — The Straight Answer

Tell us what you think about the SureSmile system, and how it has affected your orthodontic treatment time! Share a comment here on our blog, or head to our Facebook Fan Page and share your thoughts with all of our fans!

Top Ten Tips for Keeping Your Braces Clean

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.
It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.
The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.
Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.
Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.
Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.
Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.
Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.
Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.
Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide.

Hope this helps!

-Dr. Pobanz

New Contests for 2010 at Pobanz Orthodontics

All of us at Pobanz Orthodontics are excited about the new year, and we wanted to let you know about our latest contest!

Bring in a picture of you and your snowman to get entered to win ski passes!

We will be announcing other exciting contests soon, so be sure to head to our Facebook Fan Page and "Become a Fan" to get the latest updates!