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Have​ ​you​ ​made​ ​someone​ ​smile​ ​today?​ ​-​ ​Debasish​ ​Mridha 1

Have​ ​you​ ​made​ ​someone​ ​smile​ ​today?​ ​-​ ​Debasish​ ​Mridha

get a great smileHave​ ​you​ ​made​ ​someone​ ​smile​ ​today?​ ​-​ ​Debasish​ ​Mridha

Improve Your Smile By Fixing Your Teeth

Dr. Debasish Mridha is an author who wants to know if you have made someone smile today. If you don’t like to smile because your teeth are misaligned, then it is time to visit an orthodontist for a consultation. You might have only a small malocclusion of one tooth that is easy to fix with Invisalign aligners that are worn for one year or less. Alternatively, you may have major orthodontic problems, including crowding or an overbite. When you have serious malocclusions, you will need to wear braces for two to four years to shift your teeth into the correct positions.

You Can Smile While Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment

When you wear aligners, no one will notice the devices while you smile at them. Aligners are made of clear plastic so that other people can see your natural teeth. You are required to wear aligners for the majority of the day and night, but you can remove the devices to brush your teeth. However, if you are wearing metal brackets and wires, then other individuals can see the items easily. To prevent others from seeing your wires and brackets, you can choose lingual devices or ceramic color-matching brackets.

Call Our Orthodontic Facility Today

At Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics in Larkspur, Calif., you can request an appointment with an orthodontist. We have three experts working in our orthodontic facility, including:

• Dr. Jasmine Gorton
• Dr. Bill Schmohl
• Dr. Jeff Nichelini

We offer an assortment of orthodontic treatment options for children, teenagers or adults, including:

• Invisalign aligners – clear plastic devices that you can remove from your mouth
• Braces – colorful, ceramic or clear brackets and wires
• WildSmiles brackets – brackets in unique shapes such as stars and hearts
• Retainers – provided after your brackets and wires are removed

To schedule your first orthodontic appointment, contact us today at 415-459-8006.

What Makes a Good Orthodontist 2

What Makes a Good Orthodontist

orthodontistWhat Makes a Good Orthodontist

An orthodontist is a dental professional who specializes in re-aligning teeth, such as moving crowded teeth apart or moving teeth that have a gap between them closer together. Moving, or straightening, teeth is accomplished with braces or Invisalign. If you need the services of a good orthodontist, there are several factors to look at. Consider the following:

Proper Training

The difference between an orthodontist and a regular dental professional is that the orthodontist has spent an additional two to three years honing his or her craft. Many have also gone to extra workshops to learn techniques like Invisalign or information about new orthodontic procedures and technology.

Consultation

Many orthodontists offer a free consultation which consists of an examination and a conversation between you and the orthodontist. The orthodontist discusses the work that needs to be done as well as the cost of the care. The orthodontist should allow time to answer questions and provide explanations about why the recommended treatment is necessary.

Good References

A good orthodontist will be able to put you in touch with other clients so you can talk to them about his or her services. Another way to get good references is to talk to family members or friends who have used an orthodontist. Ask him about his or her strong and weak areas. Ask them if they would use the services of that practice again.

Manner

Many people are nervous about dental procedures. Furthermore, your relationship with your orthodontist will last several months if not years. You want to find a professional who treats you with kindness and respect and who puts you at ease. One characteristic you may want to look for is empathy, or the ability to understand how others are feeling. Compassion is also a useful quality. During your consultation, pay attention to how you feel about the orthodontist. Are you comfortable talking to him or her? Does he or she put you at ease? If not, you may want to work with someone else.

Efficiency

Occasionally, your orthodontist will run late due to an emergency or meet the needs of another patient. On the whole, though, your orthodontist should keep to his or her schedule and see you at the appointed time. This is a matter of convenience as well of respect. If your orthodontist is habitually late, you may want to find another professional. Another option is to ask for an appointment early in the day before the orthodontist has time to fall behind.

Open About Finances

Your orthodontist should give you an estimate of cost during your initial consultation. He or she should also keep you up to date if anything changes during treatment. Most dental insurances do not cover orthodontic services, but it’s worth asking your orthodontist if he or she accepts any type of insurance. If you can’t afford all of your care at once, the orthodontist may be able to arrange for you to spread out your treatments and pay a little at a time.

Uses the Latest Technology

Orthodontics is an ever evolving field. For instance, do you remember the “train tracks” braces of the 1980s? Today, braces can be designed to match the color of your enamel so that they are practically invisible. A good orthodontist never stops learning. Not only does he or she go through an intense residency, he or she also attends continuing education classes. This ensures that you receive the most up-to-date options and treatment. It is also a positive if the office uses up to date electronics such as paperless billing.

Good Communicator

Each profession has its own lingo. Your orthodontist should be able to communicate in a language that is clear and that makes sense to you. If you don’t understand what your orthodontist says, ask him or her to explain further. Keep asking until you are sure you understand. Again, communication skills are something you can assess during the initial consultation.

Works Well with Children

Adults aren’t the only people who seek help from orthodontists. Children, too, sometimes need their teeth straightened. If you are looking for an orthodontist for your son or daughter, have your child sit with you during at least part of the consultation. Afterward, ask him or her about his or her opinion of the orthodontist. It may be a good idea to sit in on the first treatment or two to observe how the orthodontist interacts with your child.

Schedule a Consultation With an Orthodontist

In Larkspur, Calif., you can learn more about orthodontic treatments that will help you find your smile. Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics has a team of orthodontists who include:

• Dr. Jasmine Gorton
• Dr. Bill Schmohl

At our orthodontic facility, we provide treatments to children, teenagers, and adults with these devices:

• Braces – WildSmiles, traditional or ceramic
• Aligners – made by Invisalign
• Retainers – to keep your teeth in place
• Damon Clear – self-ligating devices

Our patients are treated using the Wow Smiles system that creates a unique smile for your face. Call us today at 415-459-8006 to schedule your first appointment.

What Makes a Good Orthodontist

Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics

900 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 200 Larkspur, California 94939

Phone

415-459-8006

Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you'll start to see a big difference in your life.” – Yoko Ono 3

Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you’ll start to see a big difference in your life.” – Yoko Ono

smileSmile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you’ll start to see a big difference in your life.” – Yoko Ono

A gorgeous smile is an important asset that puts others at ease and lets them know that you care. Unfortunately, for people with misaligned teeth, that smile can be a tremendous source of embarrassment. Fortunately, an orthodontist can help.

Why You Should Straighten Your Teeth

Having straight teeth dramatically improves your appearance. Most people visit an orthodontist because they want to achieve an attractive and healthy-looking smile.

However, achieving straight teeth isn’t just about aesthetics. If teeth are misaligned, it’s more difficult to maintain good oral health. When teeth are crooked or crowded, they become harder to clean. Therefore, by getting your teeth straightened, you can protect the health of your teeth by preventing cavities, gum disease, and other common oral problems.

Straightening Methods

Over the last couple of decades, the world of orthodontic technology has advanced enormously. Today, there is a variety of straightening options available.

Invisalign

One of the most popular straightening methods is Invisalign thanks to its invisible nature. Because Invisalign uses clear plastic trays instead of metal devices, patients can straighten their teeth in a virtually invisible way.

Plus, Invisalign treatment is extremely convenient. Patients can easily take their Invisalign trays out in order to drink, eat, floss and brush their teeth. Invisalign trays are custom-made to fit comfortably over your teeth. Every two weeks, you’ll switch out your pair of trays for the next pair in the series until you have finally achieved straight teeth.

Damon Braces

Also known as self-litigating braces, this method straightens teeth quickly and effectively. These braces are made up of brackets and wires that are attached to the teeth with a bonding material. Unlike traditional braces, they require no elastics. Damon braces are also less noticeable than traditional braces thanks to the smaller brackets and thinner wires.

About Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics

Here at Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics, we are dedicating to earning our patients’ respect and trust – and keeping it! Founding partners Dr. Jasmine Gorton and Dr. Bill Schmohl are each board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, a voluntary certification just 35 percent of orthodontists nationwide currently hold.

We proudly offer the latest technological advances in orthodontic care, including the Damon Clear Braces system, Invisalign and Braces with Colors for kids and teens. Our practice philosophy focuses on maintaining the health of permanent teeth from a very early age, minimizing the need for extractions and invasive surgery later in life.

To make an appointment, please contact us at 415-459-8006 or complete our online contact form.

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Seeking out the help of pediatric orthodontists is crucial to your child’s smile and their overall health and well-being. Orthodontists work on straightening your child’s teeth as well as correcting other oral-related problems that could become an issue in the future or already have become a problem for them in their everyday lives. Understanding the training and education that goes into becoming an orthodontist is a good way to see that these individuals work on an expert level to provide the care that your whole family will need.

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Clear Aligners (Should I get in the Mail?)

In recent years, we have seen more patients coming to our office after they had a bad experience with in the mail braces. Naturally, we can see the appeal of being able to fix your teeth at home, especially when you or your teen has a busy schedule. However, we’ve seen enough bad experiences with direct-to-consumer braces that we feel the need to share the truth about what you can expect if you opt-out of in-person orthodontic treatments.

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