Continued education in Tip-Edge orthodontics

I just returned from Manhattan Beach tonight after 3 grueling but eye-opening days of advanced training in Tip-Edge orthodontics. I have always been interested in creating beautiful smiles for my patients and orthodontics can be one of the most natural and conservative way to create beautiful smiles. The problem; however, has been the typical 2 or more years that traditional orhtodontic treatments require to complete.

The great majority of orthodontists in the United States use the Edge-Wise technique which moves teeth bodily across the supporting bone by using realtively heavy forces, which explains the discomforts usually associated with pateints who have just had their braces adjusted in the orthodontists' office.

On the contrary, the Tip-Edge technique uses a much lighter force, like 2 ounces, to move teeth quickly in 3 stages. The first stage involves tipping the edges to the right place and intrude or extrude teeth as indicated. The second stage includes closing the gaps, derotating and lining up teeth. The third or last stage is to torque the roots back to their proper inclination. Treatment time is usually 12 months or less and there are usually very little to no discomfort associated with treatment. Instead of fighting against nature Tip-Edge works with the natural ways teeth move, and the results are usually more stable. In addition, the Tip-Edge brackets are much smarter because of the different ways that they can be programmed to move teeth.

Dr. Yu