Advanced Orthodontic Technology
No More Gooey Impressions – Scans and 3D Printers
Remember when getting braces meant those goopy, messy impressions of your teeth? Those days are gone! At Harwell & Cook Orthodontics, we use cutting-edge 3D printing technology to make your orthodontic treatment more comfortable, precise, and effective than ever before.
A couple of decades ago, 3D printing wasn’t widely available. Now, it’s a fundamental staple of the orthodontic and greater medical industry. These days, we conduct digital scans of patients’ teeth in 3D, as opposed to messy physical impressions. It creates an ultra-precise three-dimensional model of your exact dental structure, which we can use as a resource for any further fabrication.
A Digital Treatment Plan
We use specialized software to create a custom treatment plan with this data.
This software provides us with a visual model demonstrating how teeth will move during treatment, among other things.
Printing Models and Appliances
When it comes to fabrication, 3D printing is the best option available for creating bespoke components.
Here are a few of the ways it can be used:
- Clear aligners – Each set of aligner trays is based on a patient’s custom scan, and is slightly different from one another as time passes.
- Custom brackets and wires – 3D printing can be used for brackets to ensure they fit each tooth precisely, which can help with functionality and comfort.
- Retainers and more – 3D printing can also be used for retainers, expanders, and other orthodontic devices for a more tailored fit.
Dental Monitoring in the Comfort of Your Own Home
We understand that it is a privilege to serve our patients, which is why we strive to provide the most exceptional experience possible. In order to respect your valuable time, we are proud to offer dental monitoring. This cutting-edge treatment allows us to monitor your treatment progress virtually in the comfort of your own home.
iCat FLX Technology/CBCT
At Harwell and Cook Orthodontics, it is extremely important that every patient receives the safest and most accurate assessment of their orthodontic needs. It is critical to have all the necessary information about your oral health to develop an accurate treatment plan with optimal long-term results. We can accomplish this with three-dimensional imaging using Cone Beam Computed Tomography, or CBCT, via our iCat FLX 3D Imaging System.
Unlike traditional X-rays, CBCT technology allows us to obtain images that are 3-dimensional, high-definition, and extremely accurate. This option also exposes our patients to the lowest level of radiation possible. The high-definition images allow us to best plan your treatment prior to treatment, preventing unnecessary procedures and eliminating surprises during treatment.Â
This 3D imaging allows our team to diagnose and develop a treatment plan for a wide variety of treatments, from Invisalign and braces to airway and sleep apnea analysis and bite correction. Taking the guesswork out of treatment allows us to provide our patients with the best experience possible.
Damon Bracket
 This practice uses the Damon Bracket for most cases, including TMJ treatment.  Traditional approaches often call for permanent teeth to be removed, followed by braces, wires, and strong pressure to move the remaining teeth in a very narrow arch form. Although teeth are nicely aligned, such treatment has a negative impact on the aging face, bone, and tissue.   The Damon Bracket creates a more natural-looking appearance with a wider, brighter smile rarely requiring surgery or tooth extractions.  In most cases, this is accomplished in far less time with fewer visits and far greater comfort.
Clear Aligners
Aligners are an innovative technology designed to straighten teeth and improve your smile without braces. Using advanced 3D computer imaging to create a digital model of your teeth, Harwell & Cook can create a plan for your entire treatment before it even starts. Then, using a series of clear aligners custom-made just for you, we’ll position your teeth into the desired position. Each set of aligners lasts for 7-14 days, as directed by our orthodontists, until your treatment is completed and your desired smile is achieved.
With Clear Aligners, you: Hide your treatment instead of your smile, Brush and floss teeth regularly, Remove aligners to eat meals and snacks, Wear aligners approximately 20 hours/dayd
Gummy Smile
TADS are very small devices strategically connected to braces and anchored into the jaw, to move the entire jaw (or certain segments of teeth) to fix issues such as gummy smile with greater efficiency and comfort.