Smiles that look good are never a guarantee to fit good or feel good. Smiles that feel good, however, usually fit good and look good.
Teeth that fit good is not a finding amongst orthodontic finishes throughout the orthodontic community. It seems logical to expect. However, orthodontists often count on the teeth settling into position rather than being put in the ideal spot.
The “fit good” class is 1 hour a week for 1 semester and is the hardest class in the UNC dental school. It is not uncommon to see a 20 point curve on the posted grading sheet. The “fit good” class should be called
OCCLUSION and the ART of MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE.
Creation & maintenance of the good fit is achieved through a process called equilibration. This art of changing the shapes of teeth allows for all the forces of occlusion to be directed along the long axis of teeth. When the function of teeth follow certain patterns in different jaw movements, you get a protective bite that attempts to prevent breakage, excessive wear, gum/bone loss, and joint pain.
I spent an EXTRA TWO YEARS after residency and my Master’s in Craniofacial Anomalies studying occlusion and it’s impact on the person. There are only 3 orthodontists in North Carolina that completed this comprehensive course in San Francisco (tough place to have to learn new stuff). I have continued my studies during the last 15 years taking dentists’ courses through a well-respected dental Mecca known as the Spear Center for Dentistry with fellow dental graduates of two other general dentist higher education centers known as the Pankey Center and the Dawson Center.
These courses have prepared me to provide dentists what they need to finish, support, and maintain an ideally finished case. Often, my finishes are “set-ups” for dentistry to be delivered in the future for a patient. This interdisciplinary skill is priceless for referring dentists and is especially important to ensure the confidence of patients.
I want your investment to be a once-in-a-lifetime investment. You deserve to have your chosen orthodontist fully educated well beyond dental school, well beyond orthodontic school, well beyond the guy down the street, and without the need for “on-the-job training.”
Children deserve to be treated RIGHT the first time.
Adults deserve the same or to be FIXED the RIGHT WAY THIS time.
Marc Allen Orthodontics is a secure, educated decision.
