At Feil Orthodontics, we hear from people every day concerned about the appearance of their smiles. However, more damage can lie below the surface of a crooked smile than misaligned teeth. Poor tooth alignment and oral malocclusions can cause other issues with your health that can impact your life. Thankfully, orthodontic treatment can move your teeth into alignment and give you results you’ll love. 

Orthodontic treatment can help correct oral issues, including crooked teeth, overbites, and underbites. Although the most obvious benefit of treatment is a beautifully straight smile, there are many lesser-known advantages to adult braces in our office. We’ll explore some of these below, so keep reading to learn more! 

Improved Chewing & Digestion

It can be difficult to bite and chew your food effectively when your teeth and jaws are out of alignment. If left untreated over time, poor alignment can contribute to excessive wear and tear on your teeth and may weaken the muscles of the jaws. This can cause painful chewing, which has the potential to exacerbate any issues you’re already having.

You may be surprised to find there’s a connection between your stomach and your smile, but it’s an important one. Your teeth are a crucial component of the digestive process, and chewing your food is the first step. 

Your whole digestive system can suffer if you can’t chew properly because of misaligned teeth. When your teeth can’t properly break down food, it will pass through the digestive system much more slowly.

A Smile That Lasts for Life

Your teeth deal with a lot of pressure between biting and chewing. If your teeth aren’t correctly aligned, they’ll be impacted differently than a straight smile. Bite issues put excessive stress on sensitive areas, causing premature wear and tear on the teeth. 

Over time, this pressure can lead to chipping, notching at the gum line, flattening of the biting surfaces, and cracks along your teeth. This damage is often unsightly, but it can also require expensive dental treatments.

The results of orthodontic treatment are long-lasting, especially with the proper maintenance. If you take the time to care for your teeth and orthodontic appliance and wear a retainer as directed by Dr. Feil, your newly-straightened smile will last a lifetime.

Improved Jaw Function

A bad bite doesn’t just affect your teeth—your jaw joint can also pay the price! The hinged temporomandibular joints connect the jaw to your skull close to your ears. When these joints and muscles have excessive strain from misaligned teeth, you can deal with jaw pain, dizziness, earaches, ear ringing, and headaches. 

Orthodontic treatment will align your teeth, relieve you from the painful symptoms of TMD, and help you get your life back. 

Improved Oral Health

Brushing and flossing are essential for maintaining oral health, but when your teeth are crooked or crowded, they can be difficult to clean. This can cause a build-up of plaque and bacteria, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, cavities, and gingivitis. 

While these are common dental ailments, they’re also preventable! Orthodontic treatment at Feil Orthodontics can move the teeth into better positions, making it much easier to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine.

Better Speech

The alignment of your teeth and jaws can affect your speech. Misaligned teeth can influence the placement of the tip of the tongue, which is essential to properly form certain sounds, including ‘t,’ ‘n,’ and ‘d.’ 

As an experienced orthodontist, Dr. Feil can identify speech issues related to misaligned teeth. He’ll also assess the severity of these issues and create an effective treatment plan based on your specific needs and goals. 

Transform Your Smile with Metal Braces

Metal braces are one of the most recognizable symbols of orthodontics and the most common type of treatment. The brackets are made of a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other high-quality metals, making them durable and long-lasting. 

Modern metal braces are much more comfortable and lighter than they used to be, and they’re also customizable, thanks to a variety of fun colored bands to choose from! These braces deliver excellent results and are especially useful in cases that are more severe or complicated.

Since they don’t require some of the more complex technology or expensive equipment that newer treatments do, metal braces also tend to be a slightly more affordable option. The overall strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness of traditional braces keep them the top treatment for orthodontics, year after year. 

Improve Your Smile & Oral Health with Feil Orthodontics

Feil Orthodontics is proud to offer patients of all ages the full package: expert care, clear communication, a rewarding orthodontic experience, and exceptional results. If you’d like to learn more about how an aligned bite can benefit your overall health, contact us today to schedule a FREE consultation with our office.

As our most popular alternative to traditional braces, our custom clear aligners can give you the same beautiful results as braces without metal brackets or wires. If you want a more discrete treatment, aligners could be your perfect fit! The removable aligners are also an excellent choice for athletes and musicians who play specific instruments. We at Feil Orthodontics will help you get your dream smile with clear aligners without disrupting your life!

What are clear aligners?

Clear aligners straighten your teeth without any brackets, bands, or wires. Instead, they use a series of removable clear aligners to move your teeth gently and comfortably. We customize each set of aligners in our office specifically for you with the help of 3-D computer imaging that gives us a detailed look at where the teeth are and where we want them to be.

If you spend time watching tv or online, you probably know a little about clear aligners. While the design looks simple, a lot goes into those trays! Clear aligners at Feil Orthodontics are made of a unique thermoplastic material that’s smooth enough to be comfortable but strong enough to move your teeth into alignment. When you wear your clear aligners according to the guidelines from Dr. Feil, they can be just as effective as traditional braces at treating many of the most common orthodontic issues.

How do clear aligners work?

The first step in your orthodontic journey is a free consultation with Dr. Feil in our Bismarck, Mandan, or Beulah office. During your visit, Dr. Feil will thoroughly examine your teeth and bite. If you’re a good candidate for clear aligners, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan considering your specific needs, preferences, and goals.

Your treatment plan will include all the movements we want your teeth to make and an estimate of how long we expect treatment to take. We’ll start designing your aligners in our office using the 3D scan of your teeth and gums as our guide. That means you’ll never have any uncomfortable, messy impressions, and with the next-day turn-around, you’ll start straightening your smile immediately!

Because they’re custom-designed, the aligners will fit firmly but comfortably over your teeth. For them to work correctly, you must wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours daily throughout treatment. You should only remove your aligners to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush and floss. You may experience longer treatment times and subpar results if you don’t follow these recommendations.  

You’ll need to switch your aligners out for the next in the series every one to two weeks to keep your teeth moving in the right direction. We’ll schedule follow-up visits for you every 6 to 10 weeks to check that everything is progressing as it should be. 

Every case is unique, and everyone responds to treatment differently, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer as to how long treatment will take. On average, treatment with clear aligners requires between 24 and 36 aligners over a 9 to 15-month timeframe.

Benefits of clear aligners over braces

It’s not surprising that what patients love most about our in-house clear aligners is that they are discreet and removable. However, there are many other benefits to this innovative system, including:

No food restrictions

The food restrictions that come with braces can be one of the most challenging parts of treatment. Crunchy or chewy foods can damage the wires and brackets, so avoid them until you finish treatment. The final result is worth it, but it can be frustrating to go without some of your favorite foods for months. Unlike braces, which are fixed appliances, clear aligners are designed to be removed every time you eat. That means you’re free to enjoy all the treats you love as long as you brush and floss when you’re done.

Easy to maintain a good oral hygiene routine

We should all do our best to keep our teeth and gums healthy and clean, but it’s even more important during orthodontic treatment. It can be tough to brush with braces, and the nooks and crannies make it easy for bacteria to hide and multiply. With clear aligners, keeping your teeth free of food particles and harmful plaque is a cinch! Clear aligners make it easier to maintain an oral hygiene routine since you remove them to brush and floss. There are also special kits for cleaning clear aligners, or you can brush them with a soft toothbrush and denture crystals. 

Convenience and flexibility 

For athletic patients who regularly participate in sports, clear aligners can be a game-changer! You can take your aligners out before practice and games and replace them with a mouthguard to protect your mouth. They’re also great for musicians who play certain instruments since they can be taken out for short periods, like practice or concerts. And when it comes to special occasions like weddings, prom, and senior pictures, you can remove clear aligners to allow nothing but your natural smile to shine through!

Straighten your smile with clear aligners from Feil Orthodontics

Dr. Feil is an experienced orthodontic expert who creates beautiful smiles for patients of all ages using various treatment options. Our team is committed to treating every patient with compassion, kindness, and respect. We want you to feel like family from the moment you make your first appointment!  

If you’re looking for a clear aligner provider you can trust, Feil Orthodontics is here for you. Dr. Feil and the rest of our talented team have the education, training, and skill to give you a rewarding orthodontic experience from start to finish. To learn more about how clear aligners can transform your smile, get in touch with us today to schedule a FREE consultation.

A food trap is a space in your teeth where food can get stuck while eating. These can be noticeable and annoying or subtle and hidden where you don’t even know they’re there. While food traps can happen to anyone, you’re more likely to have them if your teeth are crooked, crowded, or misaligned. That’s where we come in! At Feil Orthodontics, there are several ways to address food traps, including treatment with clear aligners. Let’s explore the effects of food traps and how our team can help you avoid them. 

The side effects of food traps

There’s typically nothing to worry about if food gets stuck between your teeth, but if it happens often and goes unnoticed, you can face serious side effects. If food particles are constantly building up between your teeth, more bacteria will accumulate. Bacteria increase your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. 

As bacteria build up, your body will start to send more blood to the area to fight off the bacteria, which can cause swelling, redness, and bleeding when you brush. Left untreated, you may experience bone loss and gum recession. 

Causes of food traps

Several things can cause food traps, including:

• Gaps between your teeth: Ideally, your teeth grow side by side with limited space between them, reducing the risk of food getting caught. However, teeth aren’t always perfect, so gaps between your teeth provide the perfect trap for food.
• Teeth grinding: If you grind your teeth, you increase wear and tear on your teeth which can create food traps.
• Teeth alignment: Improper alignment of the teeth can make all kinds of nooks and crannies where food can get trapped.
• Cavities: The hole can make a food trap if cavities form between your teeth. This can cause a cavity on the neighboring tooth due to more bacteria and debris.
• Damaged teeth: Teeth that are broken or chipped have little holes and pockets where food can get trapped. Jagged edges and pits also make it easier for food to get caught.
• Receding gums and pockets: If you have receding gums or deep pockets in your gums, food debris can build up in the spaces. Periodontal pockets create openings around the teeth under the gum line. They are common gum disease symptoms and can lead to severe infections when left untreated.
• Tooth supra-eruption: If your teeth emerge too far above the gumline from the jawbone, your root is exposed. This area of the tooth is more vulnerable to decay, affecting how securely your tooth fits in the bone. 
• Impacted teeth: If you have a tooth that doesn’t fully emerge from your gums, this can lead to food traps. This is common among people whose wisdom teeth don’t erupt.
• Partially erupted teeth: If a tooth is only partially erupted, it can create food traps around the gums.
• Poorly shaped restorations: If you have restorations in your mouth that were not shaped or performed correctly, it can easily create a food trap. This is very common in cases where the restoration is over-contoured or has an overhang.
• Damaged crown or filling: Defects or damage to crowns or fillings allow food to get trapped in or around the tooth and gaps.

Eliminate food traps with clear aligners

There are several options to correct food traps, depending on your unique case. Here at Feil Orthodontics, one of the best ways to treat food traps is by aligning your smile with clear aligners. 

With clear aligners, you get a series of clear, custom, removable aligners that fit snugly over your teeth to provide a constant gentle pressure that shifts your teeth. There are no additional food traps since the aligners cover every surface of your teeth. 

You’ll need to remove your aligners when you eat or drink anything other than water, so it’s important to be mindful of the food traps we’re treating. Thoroughly brush and floss after every meal and snack to eliminate those pesky food particles that linger after eating. If you can’t brush, rinse your mouth with warm water a few times until you get to your toothbrush. 

Learn more about clear aligners with Feil Orthodontics

If you’ve been dealing with cavities, tooth sensitivity, or bad breath, food that’s built up in food traps could be the culprit! Contact our Bismarck, Mandan, or Beulah office to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Feil and find the perfect solution for your unique smile.

Here at Feil Orthodontics, we often hear from adults who have spent years feeling unhappy about the appearance or function of their teeth. Many worry that the chance of improving their smile is long gone, and they’ll be stuck feeling self-conscious about it forever. If this sounds like you, we have good news—it’s never too late to achieve a healthier, more confident smile! 

More adults are exploring how orthodontic treatment can help correct crooked teeth, overbites, and underbites. Although the most obvious benefit of treatment is a beautifully straight smile, there are many lesser-known advantages to adult braces in our Bismarck, Mandan, and Beulah offices. We’ll explore some of these below, so keep reading to learn more! 

Improved chewing & digestion

It can be difficult to bite and chew your food effectively when your teeth and jaws are out of alignment. If left untreated over time, it can contribute to excessive wear and tear on your teeth and may weaken the muscles of the jaws. This can cause painful chewing, which has the potential to exacerbate any issues you’re already having.

You may be surprised to find a connection between your stomach and your smile, but it’s important. Your teeth are a crucial component of the digestive process, and chewing your food is the first step. Your whole digestive system can suffer if you can’t chew properly because of misaligned teeth. 

When your teeth can’t properly break down food, it will pass through the digestive system much more slowly. Chewing may also be painful if you’re experiencing tooth or jaw pain related to a bad bite. This may even limit what and how often you can eat.

Improved speech

The alignment of your teeth and jaws can affect your speech. Misaligned teeth can influence the placement of the tip of the tongue, which is essential to properly form certain sounds, including ‘t’, ‘n’, and ‘d.’ As an experienced orthodontist, Dr. Feil can identify speech issues related to misaligned teeth. He’ll also assess the severity of these issues and create an effective treatment plan based on your specific needs and goals. 

Improved jaw alignment

Misaligned teeth can have a noticeable effect on your jaw muscles and joints. If the jaws are forced to compensate for bad positioning, the joints will adapt in response. However, the new position will often cause further damage. This is why we tend to see both jaw issues and misaligned teeth in patients. Some of the symptoms you may experience with improper jaw alignment are:

• headaches or migraines
• a jaw that seems to pop or “creak”
• pain in the jaw, neck, or shoulders
• sleep disorders

The personalized treatment plan Dr. Feil creates for you will help minimize or even eliminate these symptoms by properly aligning your teeth and jaws. This approach will give you a smile that feels as good as it looks! 

Improved oral health

Brushing and flossing are essential for maintaining oral health, but when your teeth are crooked or crowded, they can be difficult to clean. This can cause a build-up of plaque and bacteria, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, cavities, and gingivitis. 

While these are common dental ailments, they’re also preventable! Orthodontic treatment with Feil Orthodontics can move the teeth into more optimal positions, making it much easier to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine.

Treatment options for every smile

Our cutting-edge technology and efficient techniques in our offices in Bismarck, Mandan, and Beulah give adult patients more treatment options than ever. These are more comfortable and customizable than ever before, so Dr. Feil can give you the results you desire without surgery or extractions in most cases. We offer the following treatments for a total smile transformation.

Traditional metal braces

Traditional metal braces are an orthodontic staple and with good reason! This is one of Dr. Feil’s most efficient treatments, particularly for more severe or complicated cases. Modern braces use high-quality stainless steel, but innovations in the design mean they’re much more comfortable than previous versions. The total treatment time also tends to be shorter than it used to be.

Clear braces

These braces work the same way as traditional braces but use clear, white, or tooth-colored brackets. For an almost invisible treatment option, we can use them with matching elastics or ties! This makes them a good choice if you’re concerned about the appearance of your treatment. Clear brackets are more delicate than metal braces, so we generally recommend them only for older teen and adult patients in Bismarck, Mandan, and Beulah.

Invisalign

The Invisalign system uses a series of clear removable aligners to move the teeth instead of brackets and wires. These are made of a soft but strong thermoplastic resin material and customized to fit comfortably over your teeth. For Invisalign treatment to succeed, the aligners must be worn for 20-22 hours each day and switched out for the next in the series every 1-2 weeks. 

Because Invisalign aligners are removable, you can eat and drink whatever you want while in treatment. Your oral hygiene routine will be a whole lot easier, too! Adult patients at Feil Orthodontics love the freedom and flexibility that Invisalign aligners offer them. 

All of these options can be a great fit for busy adults! You can trust Dr. Feil to recommend the treatment method they feel will work best with your smile, lifestyle, and goals.

Get the smile you’ve always wanted with Feil Orthodontics

Feil Orthodontics is proud to offer patients the full package: expert care, clear communication, a rewarding orthodontic experience, and exceptional results. If you’d like to learn more about how an aligned bite can benefit you, get in touch today to schedule a FREE consultation at our office in Bismarck, Mandan, or Beulah!

The internet has made it easy and convenient to get nearly anything you want with the touch of a button. This trend is gaining popularity in the orthodontic world, with direct-to-consumer aligners making DIY treatment seem quick and easy. But are mail-ordered orthodontics worth it? Feil Orthodontics explores five things you won’t get with mail-order orthodontics and why in-person treatment is the best option for your smile.

Mail-order aligners claim lower prices and more convenience since there are no trips to the orthodontist for checkups and adjustments. We understand how mail-ordering orthodontic treatment can seem appealing, but you might be surprised to know that most orthodontists and dentists won’t recommend this process. 

Let’s look at some things you won’t get with mail-order orthodontic treatment and how Feil Orthodontics can give you the smile you deserve efficiently and effectively!

What are mail-ordered aligners? How do they work?

The companies that offer clear aligners through the mail are a form of “online orthodontics.” Instead of visiting an orthodontic office for an in-person exam, every step of the treatment process is entirely virtual. 

You’ll apply to the company of your choice and, upon approval, have a kit sent to your home to make a 3-D mold of your teeth. A technician or dentist will then use that mold to create a series of clear aligners that will slowly move your teeth into straighter positions.

Like in-office treatment, this process can take several weeks to months to complete. During this time, you’ll provide photos of your mouth at regular intervals to monitor your teeth. 

This may seem relatively straightforward, but anyone considering these companies should proceed cautiously. Several risks and concerns are associated with this kind of care, and some can have a lasting impact on your oral health. Here are some benefits of choosing a respected orthodontic practice over mail-order companies!

Lower Cost and Quicker Results

This is the biggest misconception about mail-ordered aligners. The old saying that you get what you pay for is never more true than when it comes to your orthodontic treatment. While mail-order options may seem quick and inexpensive, the potential risks can cost you more in the long run since you won’t have the supervised care that a trained orthodontist provides.

When you choose care from a trained orthodontist, you’ll have access to the best orthodontic options for your unique needs. Dr. Feil will give you personalized care to ensure the best treatment and results for your smile. 

Here at Feil Orthodontics, we also make orthodontic treatment affordable. We offer a variety of patient-specific payment plans and accept most orthodontic dental insurances to provide outstanding value for a reasonable price. 

In-Person Clinical Exam

The best way to get the results you want is to evaluate your starting point thoroughly. During your initial examination, Dr. Feil will look closely at the tissue and bone supporting your teeth using digital photographs. We’ll also take full mouth X-rays and a digital scan that eliminates the need for goopy impressions. 

This detailed information helps us determine the best orthodontic appliance for your treatment and avoid complications later from cavities, gum disease, and other related problems not picked up in impressions or photos. 

With mail-order aligners, the first step is receiving your in-home impression kit. Some options ask you to include intraoral photos, but the information they use to determine eligibility is fundamental. Once you mail the impression back, a dentist or technician will review it and decide if you are a good candidate for clear aligners. 

This is based on your current tooth alignment and does not factor in many essential components of the orthodontic process. Without considering all the variables, you may have subpar results, which could cost you more time and money. 

Customized Treatment Plans

Your teeth and gums should always be in good condition before attempting tooth movement to avoid unexpected problems. While clear aligners are an excellent option for many patients, they aren’t for everyone. Some cases are much more severe or require specific treatments before starting the movement of your teeth. In cases where more precise or complicated movements are necessary, you may save time and money by opting for traditional metal or clear braces. 

At Feil Orthodontics, we always consider your individual needs and goals before creating your treatment plan. We want to be sure the treatment plan we offer will make the best use of your time and goals while utilizing our expertise in orthodontic care. We use the information gathered during your in-office consultation and the data from your imaging to determine what will fit your lifestyle with the best results. 

Supervision During Treatment

During your treatment, your teeth may move slower or faster than we anticipate, things can come up that require minor adjustments, or we may need to modify your treatment plan. This is why having regular check-ins with our expert team is crucial during your aligner process. 

When you opt for mail-order aligners, you are given a treatment timeline to follow. This timeline is based on your initial teeth impressions and what should happen over time but does not account for any deviations that may pop up unexpectedly. This hands-off calendar approach can cause severe damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw. 

Treatment for Other Orthodontic Issues

Many orthodontic issues lie below the gum line and with the jaw, where messy impressions and cell phone images can’t capture the details. Mail-ordered aligners can’t treat these issues and can get worse by using them. This treatment method can’t do things like widening your jaw, aligning your bite, and correcting rotations.

It is more effective to know your specific orthodontic concerns ahead of time to have the best possible outcome. Dr. Feil can assess your condition throughout the process, allowing any adjustment to your treatment plan to get your perfect smile. 

Trust Feil Orthodontics for Efficient and Effective Treatment

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without researching the best route to get you there that aligns with your needs and goal. Don’t start your orthodontic treatment without the same consideration!

Our expert team at Feil Orthodontics takes pride in making your experience pleasant and personalized, from the initial consultation to your final checkup. If you are wondering what the best route to your perfect smile is, schedule your FREE consultation with Dr. Feil in Bismarck, Mandan, Beulah, or Dickson, and let us help you navigate this journey with confidence. Keep in touch with us on social media!