Orthodontist Rockford Winnebago IL Invisalign Dennis J Flanagan DDS MS
Orthodontist Winnebago Rockford IL Invisalign Dennis J Flanagan DDS MS
Almost everyone has at least a slight misalignment of the “midline” or center of our front teeth and our nose. For most people, it is so slight that it is barely noticeable. However, some people have a midline that does not appear to be halfway between the centers of the pupils of the eyes, affecting Read More
The Team at the orthodontic office of Dr. Dennis J. Flanagan DDS MS knows that there are many reasons why people want straight teeth. Not the least of these is the fact that crooked teeth are not the most attractive feature. While a nicely aligned smile can be the part of your looks that pulls Read More
Have you ever given any thought to what it actually means to have a “perfect” smile? Most people when asked this question will conjure up mental images of models and Hollywood actors with dazzling teeth. However, there is an actual medical definition of the way the teeth are meant to fit together. The word “occlusion” Read More
“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” – Thich Nhat Hanh Depending on what stage you are in of orthodontic treatment, smiling may be the last thing you want to do. Whether you’re just starting with braces or Invisalign or near the Read More
Happy Holidays to all from Orthodontist Dennis J. Flanagan DDS MS! This is the time of year where giving means more than receiving. To see the joy on a loved one’s face as they look in their stocking or open a present is truly what giving is about. The Team at the orthodontic office of Read More
Why trust orthodontists…If you are having a problem with your bones or muscles you trust an orthopedist. For a skin, hair, or nail condition you trust a dermatologist. A cardiologist specializes in heart issues or you consult with a neurologist for frequent headaches or back issues related to the nervous system. When straightening teeth and Read More
The short, easy answer is yes. Now I could stop here because I just gave the answer to the question, but the answer wouldn’t be complete without an explanation. The bones in our body are not static and unchanging. Your bones are constantly remodeling and adapting. Bone does this in part due to forces that Read More
You may have seen the term “self-ligating brackets” (SLB’s) during your online research about orthodontic treatment. What does that mean? You may have seen it used along with a description of “Damon System” self-ligating brackets. Damon System brackets are just one type of self-ligating brackets. They are not better than most other SLB’s, they just Read More
“I don’t have time to visit a doctor every month” “Braces are just too expensive” “It’s only one gap, I can close it myself” These are just a few of the reasons that some people are taking the DIY trend to the extreme and DIY’ing their own orthodontic treatment. NO. No no no no no. Read More
No, it isn’t important… It is EXTREMELY important. Orthodontic treatment can increase the chances of getting white spots (decalcification) and or decay when oral hygiene is poor during treatment. This can happen with traditional braces or Invisalign. When a patient has braces on, the brackets, wires, etc. tend to trap and collect food around them. Read More
We have some exciting new technology in our office! It is the Itero digital intraoral scanner. Kind of a fancy name. So what does it do? The Itero scanner takes the place of taking impressions (molds) of our patients. Most people have either had or know what a dental impression is. There are many types Read More
In our practice, we like to put our patients first. It even says so in our mission statement. One of the many ways we put our patients first is by giving them options for how they can achieve the smile they have always wanted, or in many cases, very definitely needed. We can do traditional Read More
In two words, a lot! An orthodontist is a dental specialist trained in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics (which is the actual name of the specialty). But what does that mean? As an orthodontist, we are trained to not only straighten teeth, but to also diagnose and treat abnormalities of growth and development of the jaws Read More
What is an expansion appliance and what does it do? Some children are born with an upper jaw that is too narrow and small. As a result, it does not fit correctly with the lower jaw. This causes a crossbite of the back teeth, and sometimes even the front teeth. An expansion appliance is used Read More