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Damon Smile braces are passive, self-ligating braces, which means they don’t need elastic o-rings to keep the wires in their desired position. This system uses small sliding doors to allow the wires to slide freely through their slots instead of the o-rings used by traditional braces.

Stops on the wires prevent them from moving out of position over time. The absence of o-rings in Damon Smile braces also allows you to maintain better oral hygiene, since o-rings can trap bacteria. These braces are suitable for both adults and children.

Construction

The first set of wires in Damon Smile braces are composed of a metal alloy that contains copper, nickel, and titanium, commonly abbreviated as CuNiTi. These wires have a curve that’s wider than your natural arch, and that allows them to apply the necessary pressure against your teeth. The wires are very thin, beginning with a diameter of 0.014 inches.

Dr. Reid Wenger and Dr. Harry Shim will replace this initial set of wires with a series of successively larger ones as your teeth move into their desired alignment. Your teeth will be ready for the next set of wires when Dr. Reid Wenger and Dr. Harry Shim can passively place them into their brackets. Heavier wire may be composed of other materials such as a titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA) or stainless steel.

Cost

Dr. Reid Wenger and Dr. Harry Shim and our team will determine the cost of your braces, depending on a variety of factors such as the difficulty of your case and the length of time required for treatment. Another factor that can influence the cost of Damon Smile braces is your insurance coverage. Dental insurance plans often cover orthodontic treatments such as Damon Smile braces, so you’ll need to check with your insurance provider.

Wenger Orthodontics also offers a variety of payment plans, so be sure to ask our Aurora team about making your orthodontic treatment with Damon Smile affordable.

Adults

Adults often use Damon Smile braces to obtain a more youthful appearance in addition to correcting specific malocclusions. The cosmetic benefits of these braces include:

• Straighter teeth
• Improved facial balance
• Smoother cheek contours

Many patients with Damon Smile braces begin to see results after about ten weeks.

If you’re interested in Damon Smile braces, please contact Wenger Orthodontics and schedule an appointment!

It’s the season of giving and the start of a new year. What better time to gift yourself with the orthodontic treatment you’ve always wanted?

Orthodontic treatment isn’t just for children and teenagers. In fact, adults make up a significant—and growing—number of new patients looking forward to beautifully aligned teeth and a healthy bite.

And because today’s orthodontic treatments are more comfortable, take less time, and are less visible than ever before, they are a great fit for your busy adult life. You also have many more options from which to choose, including:

• Traditional Braces

Traditional braces are a proven method of aligning your teeth and bite, can be more economical than other options, and are often most effective in treating complicated orthodontic issues.

If traditional braces are best for your needs, you’ll be happy to hear that today’s braces are better than ever. Brackets are smaller. Innovative wire technology makes the orthodontic process even more efficient. And with self-ligating brackets, there’s no need for those colorful little bands around each bracket to hold those wires.

• Ceramic Braces

If you’re looking for something more inconspicuous, consider ceramic brackets. These ceramic or porcelain brackets are color-matched to your teeth, and, especially used with clear bands and lighter wires, create a less visible profile.

• Lingual Braces

This is your most discreet option, because these braces are located on the inside of the teeth. Lingual braces are custom designed, so they can be more expensive, and treatment can take a bit longer, but they are perfect for those who want invisible braces for personal or professional reasons.

• Clear Aligners

Clear aligners can treat many orthodontic conditions, including some complicated malocclusions. Your orthodontist can let you know if these removable, comfortable, and subtle aligners will work for you.

Adult orthodontics can give you the confident smile you’ve always wanted, which is reason enough to seek orthodontic treatment at our Aurora office. And perfectly aligned teeth and a healthy bite have dental benefits as well as mental benefits!

• Reduce the Risk of Cavities and Gum Disease

Crooked and overlapping teeth are harder to keep clean. Getting in between the teeth to remove all the food particles and plaque can be difficult even with the most careful brushing and flossing. Built up plaque increases your risk of cavities, irritates delicate gum tissue, and causes gum disease.

• Prevent Tooth and Jaw Injuries

If your jaws have never fit together properly, you’ve probably experienced at least some of the consequences of a malocclusion, or bad bite. Worn and cracked teeth, damaged fillings and crowns, jaw pain, headaches, difficulty breathing—all of these problems can be caused by a misaligned bite.

If you’ve always wanted orthodontic treatment, talk to Dr. Reid Wenger and Dr. Harry Shim to discover the possibilities. A more confident appearance, reduced risk of cavities and gum disease, a comfortable, pain-free bite—there’s no better gift to give yourself than a lifetime of healthy smiles!

Great question! Dr. Reid Wenger and Dr. Harry Shim and our team at Wenger Orthodontics are happy to offer the self-ligating Damon Smile braces.

Damon Smile braces use a slide mechanism to hold the archwire in place, thus reducing the amount of pressure exerted on your teeth. In the process, this allows your teeth to move more freely, quickly and comfortably during your treatment with Dr. Reid Wenger and Dr. Harry Shim. Thanks to these innovative new braces, achieving your perfect smile can be faster and easier than you ever imagined.

So, what are the main differences between Damon braces and regular braces?

Damon braces reduce the amount of pressure being placed on your teeth, requiring fewer adjustments at our Aurora office because there are no elastics to replace. Damon Smile facilitates healthy tooth movement with complete control by combining tie-less brackets and high-tech archwires.

Comfort

Even though Damon Smile works so quickly, the use of gentle, low-friction force means less discomfort for you.

Convenience

Damon braces are designed to be discreet, comfortable and are easy to keep clean during treatment. Without the elastic ties, which attract and collect plaque, Damon braces make dental hygiene easy during treatment. Plus, Damon Smile is available in clear brackets for patients who want a great smile without sacrificing aesthetics.

Less Time in Braces

While the time needed in braces will vary on an individual basis, treatment time with Damon Smile is typically faster than with traditional braces. Also, far fewer appointments with Dr. Reid Wenger and Dr. Harry Shim are required during treatment, making your Damon experience convenient and hassle-free.

If you have been thinking about improving your smile, please visit us at Wenger Orthodontics for an initial consultation to see if Damon Smile is right for you! Give us a call today at our convenient Aurora office!

Thanksgiving marks the start to the holidays; a season filled with feasting, indulging, and spending time with family and friends are always special. Thanksgiving is a holiday meant for giving thanks, and while this may seem like such a natural celebration, the United States is only one of a handful of countries to officially celebrate with a holiday.

Unlike many holidays, Thanksgiving is a secular holiday, and it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States. In Canada, it is celebrated on the second Monday of October, which is, oddly enough, much closer to a time when harvests were likely gathered. In addition to the different dates, the origins of the celebration also share different roots.

Thanksgiving in the United States

Giving thanks for a bountiful harvest are not new, but the modern day holiday in the US can be traced to a celebration at Plymouth in Massachusetts in 1621. This feast of thanksgiving was inspired by a good harvest, and the tradition was simply continued on. At first, the colony at Plymouth didn't have enough food to feed everyone present, but the Native Americans helped by providing seeds and teaching them how to fish, and they soon began to be able to hold a feast worthy of the name. The tradition spread, and by the 1660s, most of New England was hosting a Thanksgiving feast in honor of the harvest.

Canadian Thanksgiving

An explorer of early Canada named Martin Frobisher is accredited for the first Canadian Thanksgiving. He survived the arduous journey from England through harsh weather conditions and rough terrain, and after his last voyage from Europe to present-day Nunavut, he held a formal ceremony to give thanks for his survival and good fortune. As time passed and more settlers arrived, a feast was added to what quickly became a yearly tradition. Another explorer, Samuel de Champlain, is linked to the first actual Thanksgiving celebration in honor of a successful harvest; settlers who arrived with him in New France celebrated the harvest with a bountiful feast.

A Modern Thanksgiving

Today, Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with the best of Americana. From feasts and football games to getting ready for the start of the Christmas shopping season, Thanksgiving means roasted turkey, pumpkin pie, and green bean casserole. No matter how you celebrate this momentous day, pause for a moment to give thanks for your friends, family, and all the bounties you’ve received. Happy Thanksgiving from Wenger Orthodontics!