What Sets Us Apart

Dr. Bo and his staff appreciate your desire for state of the art orthodontics.  We recognize that you are seeking the absolute best care for you or your child.  We pride ourselves on our honesty and patient respect.  We assure you that we will treat you like family, this is how we get our referrals, just ask!  Here are a few reasons to choose our office and Dr. Bo for your orthodontic needs:

Is the doctor a specialist?

Dr. Bo did complete additional training beyond the required dental school.  He completed 3 additional years to receive a master’s in dental science for orthodontics.  He is recognized by the American Association of Orthodontists and limits his practice to braces alone.

Is the doctor board certified?

Dr. Bo did complete the arduous examinations required to become board certified in his specialty.  This is not required for orthodontists, however Dr. Bo believes it will keep him on the forefront of orthodontics.  He will actually re-certify next year with the American Board of Orthodontics by presenting 6 cases from his practice to a panel of orthodontic peers.

Do you explain all of the treatment options that will pertain to each individual case?

Dr. Bo strives to cover each treatment aspect in its entirety and involves the parents in making the treatment decision.  Each patient is different and sometimes decisions must be made to accommodate that particular case.

Do you speak to the parents at every visit?

Dr. Bo has a treatment conference at the braces placement appointment to outline the treatment after his thorough evaluation.  An assistant will speak to each parent after the appointment to discuss hygiene and what was done that day.  Dr. Bo is always available for any questions.

Is the treatment tailored to each individuals needs?

Dr. Bo completes a treatment plan on each patient.  No one treatment or “cookbook” approach will be used.  Dr. Bo and his staff work very hard to ensure that patients are not treated the same.

Does the doctor place all the brackets himself?

Dr. Bo does place all the brackets himself-No Exceptions!  In fact, he uses an advanced procedure called indirect bonding.  This is where all the braces are placed on a model of the teeth then transferred to the mouth.  It means extreme accuracy, comfort, and we can finish in 1 hour! 

 

 

Are brackets placed on the 12 year molars?

Once the 12 year molars come in, Dr. Bo will place brackets on these teeth.  The 12 year molars are imperative to achieving a properly guided bite.  

 

 

 

How often are Radiographs (X-rays) taken?

Dr. Bo has a digital x-ray machine, which means it is basically a photograph of the teeth and jaws.  It is far less radiation than a traditional machine.  He will routinely take these to ensure treatment is going well.  Every patient will receive additional records in the middle of treatment to allow Dr. Bo to make any changes, if needed, in the treatment plan.  He will discuss these records with the parents or patient.

When Will My Braces Come Off?

One of the most popular questions that an orthodontist will hear, “When are my braces coming off?” 

It does not matter whether you are a teenager or an adult with braces, this question will come up.  I will spend some time discussing the factors that go into your braces staying on and when they may actually come off.  No, we are not trying to punish you!  We are trying to get your teeth in the best possible position and yes you can speed the process up!

Your orthodontist will give you a best guess of your estimated treatment time, however there are variables that will come up and compliance with treatment is one of the largest components of this.  Oral hygiene is a great way to reduce your treatment time.  Keeping your teeth and gums clean will result in a better environment for your teeth to move.  When bleeding gums are present there is a lot of inflammation and teeth actually do not move as well.  Most of you will have an overbite when you begin treatment and almost all will have to wear some sort of rubber bands to correct your bite.  If these are worn as directed, most of the time all day, your bite will be corrected quicker.   

Did you know that it takes your teeth 10 hours of continuous force to move?  That means wearing your elastics for 4 hours then taking it out for 2 and putting it back in does not do anything for you.  That is why your orthodontist keeps telling you month after month to wear your rubber bands!  This can literally take months to complete, when all it should take is one to two months.  The following picture illustrates the bite we are looking for with rubber bands.

NOTE: From the above picture, see how tooth 1 is ahead of teeth 3 and 4 in the OVERBITE photo.  By using rubber bands, we were able to move the teeth to the appropriate position without having to extract any teeth.  See how tooth 1 is located between teeth 3 and 4 in the CORRECTED photo.

So what can you do?  Keep those teeth good and clean, floss daily and use a fluoride rinse and wear your rubber bands as prescribed by the orthodontist and surely your treatment time will shrink.  Give it a try, it will work. For a testimonial from one of our adult patients who had traditional braces as discussed in this blog, click here. For further information about our practice you can find our website at www.bovorthodontics.com. To keep up to date with current promotions and news, become a fan of our Facebook page.