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The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that parents understand the early warning signs of an orthodontic problem and recommends kids be evaluated by an orthodontist by age 7 – 8. Early evaluation provides both timely detection of problems and a greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Well timed intervention guides growth and development, preventing serious problems later. When orthodontic intervention is not necessary, an orthodontist can carefully monitor growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal.

There are many different types malocclusions or bite problems that require orthodontic treatment at the orthodontic office of Dr. Dennis J. Flanagan DDS MS. Below is a list of the most common orthodontic problems seen today in children, teens, and adults.

Contact the orthodontic office of Dr. Dennis J. Flanagan DDS MS in Rockford or Winnebago IL to schedule a consultation to determine how we can help you with your orthodontic needs. It is not necessary to have a referral from your general dentist to take advantage of this complimentary service we provide to all our patients.Read More

When parents visit the orthodontic office of Dennis J. Flanagan DDS MS, it is not uncommon for them to worry if their child’s baby teeth do not fall out on time. Infants rollover, sit, walk, and talk at different stages of their development. The same is true when your child is losing baby teeth. There are some developmental issues which require professional attention, but in general, what should parents expect when their kids start losing baby teeth? Read More

Lollipops are a cavity on a stick and soda is pure sugar in a can. Candy and soda cause tooth decay. You’ve been taught this since grade school. This is not news, is it? Well, what about the fact that sports drinks ruin your teeth, too? Heard that one before?

Dr. Dennis J. Flanagan DDS MS his team want to make sure you understand sports drinks can damage healthy teeth. Actually, “erode” is more like the term, especially around the brackets while wearing braces. These sort of drinks erode your teeth by “demineralization,” or reducing the minerals in the outer tooth enamel and also the dentin (“dentin” is a yellowish, calcified tissue underneath the tooth enamel). It doesn’t affect the enamel underneath the braces covered by the brackets. Read More

Everyone wants a full, toothy smile, but some people are missing teeth through no fault of their own. Whenever you see a person missing teeth, you probably assume that they have lost them somewhere along the line, either through an accident or neglect. However, that is not always true.

At the orthodontic office of Dr. Dennis J. Flanagan DDS MS we sometimes see patients that are missing teeth because they failed to develop due to a family hereditary condition. Other times, the “missing” tooth isn’t really missing at all; it’s hidden underneath bone and gum tissue because it’s blocked or impacted by other teeth. In either situation, space must be created or closed, depending upon circumstances, to improve the bite and aesthetics. If not, then other teeth will gradually drift into the spaces, creating a bite problem and misaligned teeth. Luckily, both problems can be treated with orthodontics. Read More

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 facial symmetry and overall appearance.

Another common problem with the upper front two teeth is called “diastema” or gap between teeth, as seen below on Madonna. This generally happens when there is an unequal relationship between the size of the teeth, which are too small, and the size of the jaw which is too big, resulting in a space between teeth. It can be very unattractive. If it is combined with a misaligned midline, it can be especially distracting to your appearance.

Tom Cruise opted for clear ceramic braces to help improve his appearance during treatment. He was not considered an Invisalign candidate, at the time, in 2002. However, in the past fifteen years, there have been many improvements in the delivery of Invisalign treatment for patients looking to improve their appearance without wearing braces.

As one of Hollywood’s “beautiful people”, Cruise is constantly in the spotlight, and he made no effort to hide his braces during treatment. He was an inspiration to countless people considering orthodontic treatment who worry about how it would affect their jobs, social life, and appearance in the short term.

Concerned about your appearance when wearing braces to improve your smile? Contact the orthodontic office of Dr. Dennis J. Flanagan DDS MS in Rockford or Winnebago IL for a complimentary consultation to find out how we can help you determine the best orthodontic treatment options available to correct your problem. How would you feel about wearing braces? Leave your comments below. Would love to hear from you!

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 everything else together, a crooked smile can draw attention away from an otherwise striking appearance. A great smile is vital to your self-confidence, which in turn can improve your outlook on life in general.

However, the benefits of straight teeth do not end with just your appearance. Read More