You and your family can take advantage of a full range of dental services here at Skelton Orthodontics. During each visit, you will be treated by trained professionals who will provide top quality care to prevent dental problems and treat current conditions.

Invisalign  Fort Payne, AL

Invisalign

Invisalign® uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth. Besides being virtually invisible and like clear braces, you can take Invisalign appliances out, allowing you to eat and drink whatever you want during your treatment, which also means brushing and flossing are no problem at all. And since they don’t have any metal, they’re more comfortable, and you don’t have to worry about injuries from loose wires.

Click here to learn more about Invisalign. This treatment option is not ideal for every patient. An orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you.

WHAT IS INVISALIGN?

  • Invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.
  • Series of clear, removable, custom-made aligners.
  • Uses no metal wires or brackets.
  • Custom-made for comfort.

HOW DOES INVISALIGN WORK?

  • Wear each set of aligners for about two weeks.
  • Remove only to eat, drink, brush and floss.
  • Your teeth will move gradually each week.
  • Visit us every 8-10 weeks.
  • Total treatment time averages 6-24 months.
  • Average number of aligners is between 12 and 48.
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Traditional Braces  Fort Payne, AL

Traditional Braces

Even though there are many types of braces, traditional braces are still the most popular option. Great strides in technology have been made since they were first used, so they are becoming more comfortable and effective.

Traditional braces use stainless steel brackets and archwires to move your teeth into their proper position. Many teenagers like to decorate their braces with different colored rubber bands to give them a colorful and unique smile. You can choose a new color (or colors) during every adjustment!

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Invisalign for Teens  Fort Payne, AL

Invisalign for Teens

Many teenagers are affected by malocclusions that need to be corrected. However, the thought of going through high school with braces may be your teen’s worst nightmare. Luckily, Invisalign Teen® can be very helpful. Your teenager can get the smile that he or she deserves without bulky wires and brackets.

Invisalign Teen® uses clear aligners, so nobody will even know they are wearing them. As long as your teenager wears them for at least twenty-two hours a day, they will get proper treatment without the embarrassment of wires and braces. Even better, your teenager will be able to remove the aligners when it is time to eat, allowing them unlimited food choices. There are no restrictions that usually come with braces, like avoiding corn on the cob. Once they are finished eating, however, it is essential to brush their teeth AND the aligners to ensure fresh breath and a healthy mouth.

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Retention  Fort Payne, AL

Retention

After you have worn your braces for the appropriate amount of time, we move into the retention stage of your treatment. It is VERY important not to skip this step, or all of your hard work will not pay off as you had hoped. Your teeth may shift around or move back to where they were instead of staying in place.

During retention, you will have to wear retainers as your teeth adjust to staying in their new place without braces. You should wear your retainers as recommended by your dentist. Some should be worn only at night, while others need to be worn almost all of the time.

Brushing your teeth is easier in this phase, since the retainers are removable. All you have to do is remove your retainer, and then you will be able to brush your teeth better than you were able to when you had braces. You should also brush your retainer thoroughly before placing it back to your mouth.

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Surgical Orthodontics  Fort Payne, AL

Orthognathic Surgery

Occasionally the challenges presented to us will necessitate the use of orthognathic surgery. Surgery is only needed when Dr. Skelton determines that the needed corrections to your jaw cannot easily be treated with braces. We never recommend this strategy lightly, but in extreme cases of skeletal deformities or growth imbalances (class three) it is an effective treatment.

If you should need this surgery, be assured that we will refer you to the best oral surgeon for your specific need. We will partner with your surgeon to create your “dream smile” – one that is beautiful, healthy and functional.

Dr. Skelton will explain in detail what operation or treatment she feels would be best for you or your child and present you with a unique plan for correcting your smile.

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iTero®️ Intraoral Scanner  Fort Payne, AL

iTero®️ Intraoral Scanner

We take pride in providing modern, high quality care so you can have the smile you deserve. We are constantly updating our equipment in order to provide patients with state-of-the-art dental care. One of our newest pieces of equipment is our iTero 3D scanner. It allows us to take images of your smile. We can also use it to show you the results you can get with Invisalign®.

The largest benefit of producing images with our scanner is that you won’t have to get impressions made, which can be quite unpleasant. You won’t have to deal with the unpleasant taste of the gooey material, or the discomfort of the molding trays. Instead, the scanning process is quite comfortable, and you can breathe normally during the procedure.

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Early Treatment  Fort Payne, AL

Early Treatment

The earlier we catch problems with your child’s bite, the simpler they are to fix. The results are often better than if we wait and will require significantly less work. We may not need to keep braces on your child for as long when they are younger, which means less expense for you.

The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that children visit an orthodontist as soon as their dentist notices that there might be a problem, or before they are seven years old. We may not have to do anything at this age, other than monitor the child’s mouth. However, if we continue to watch your child, we can start treatment right away if something arises.

Early intervention can be beneficial. We will watch how your child’s mouth and teeth grow and develop, so if we see something that needs to be done, we can do it as soon as possible. We will also know exactly when to start treatment, if needed.

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Adult Treatment  Fort Payne, AL

Adult Treatment

No matter your age, you deserve a smile that gives you confidence. Braces are not just for children anymore. With the latest advancements in technologies, we can get you the smile you deserve! Here at Skelton Orthodontics, we work hard to give you the smile you’ve always wanted. We offer several different treatments that can be effective no matter how old you are. More and more orthodontic treatments are becoming available to give adults the smile that they want.

Orthodontic treatments are not just for your smile. Fixing your teeth can also dramatically change your oral health. When you have crooked teeth or a malocclusion (uneven bite), you may be prone to oral health problems such as gum disease and tartar buildup.

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Braces For Teens  Fort Payne, AL

Braces For Teens

Braces are not as scary as most teens think. Technology has advanced a lot in recent years, providing us with newer styles of braces. The result is a faster, more comfortable, and more effective treatment. Braces come in different colors, styles, and materials, so your teen can customize their look and express their personality.

The first thing most patients wonder when they have to get braces is how long will they have to wear them. There is no easy answer to this question because it depends on several factors. For example, it depends on how early we catch the problem, what needs to be fixed, how your teeth respond to treatment, and how willing you are to follow directions.

It is typically recommended that children begin seeing an orthodontist at the age of seven. The earlier you catch a problem, the easier the problem can be to treat. There are also times when we find a problem, but may have put off treatment until they are older.

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Technology

Thanks to advances in technology and scientific research, orthodontic treatment has come a long way. Dr. Skelton and her staff are committed to staying on top of the latest developments and technologies to provide you with the best care possible.

Besides using modern techniques such as Invisalign®, clear braces and self-litigating systems (which improve comfort), our entire process is high-tech. We plan your treatment using digital images and x-rays scanned directly into our computer system to help you better understand your treatment plan.

Skelton Orthodontics has a new and better way to take impressions! Dr. Skelton has invested in a new technology called iTero in her office to create a more enjoyable patient experience. With iTero, there is no need for the goo, and it is 50% faster than traditional impressions. iTero involves the orthodontic assistant using a wand to create a 3D digital scan of your teeth. Not only is the technology faster, it is more accurate and more comfortable for you!

Want to watch a video about how it works? Click here!

In addition to the iTero scanner, we use a 3D printer to print models of your teeth and to make retainers in house. How neat is that? This is yet another use of technology to make the process faster and more comfortable for our patients.

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