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Posts for tag: braces

Sometimes, looking at old pictures can really bring memories back to life. Just ask Stefani Germanotta—the pop diva better known as Lady Gaga. In one scene from the recent documentary Five Foot Two, as family members sort through headshots from her teen years, her father proclaims: "Here, this proves she had braces!"
"If I had kept that gap, then I would have even more problems with Madonna," Lady Gaga replies, referencing an ongoing feud between the two musical celebrities.
The photos of Gaga's teenage smile reveal that the singer of hits like "Born This Way" once had a noticeable gap (which dentists call a diastema) between her front teeth. This condition is common in children, but often becomes less conspicuous with age. It isn't necessarily a problem: Lots of well-known people have extra space in their smiles, including ex-football player and TV host Michael Strahan, actress Anna Paquin…and fellow pop superstar Madonna. It hasn't hurt any of their careers.
Yet others would prefer a smile without the gap. Fortunately, diastema in children is generally not difficult to fix. One of the easiest ways to do so is with traditional braces or clear aligners. These orthodontic appliances, usually worn for a period of months, can actually move the teeth into positions that look more pleasing in the smile and function better in the bite. For many people, orthodontic treatment is a part of their emergence from adolescence into adulthood.
Braces and aligners, along with other specialized orthodontic appliances, can also remedy many bite problems besides diastema. They can correct misaligned teeth and spacing irregularities, fix overbites and underbites, and take care of numerous other types of malocclusions (bite problems).
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that kids get screened for orthodontic problems at age 7. Even if an issue is found, most won't get treatment at this age—but in some instances, it's possible that early intervention can save a great deal of time, money and effort later. For example, while the jaw is still developing, its growth can be guided with special appliances that can make future orthodontic treatment go quicker and easier.
Yet orthodontics isn't just for children—adults can wear braces too! As long as teeth and gums are healthy, there's no upper age limit on orthodontic treatment. Instead of traditional silver braces, many adults choose tooth-colored braces or clear aligners to complement their more professional appearance.
So if your child is at the age where screening is recommended—or if you're unhappy with your own smile—ask us whether orthodontics could help. But if you get into a rivalry with Madonna…you're on your own.
If you have questions about orthodontic treatment, please contact our office or schedule a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “The Magic of Orthodontics” and “Orthodontics For The Older Adult.”

The 2019 Grammy Awards was a star-studded night packed with memorable performances. One standout came from the young Canadian singer Shawn Mendes, who sang a powerful duet of his hit song "In My Blood" with pop diva Miley Cyrus. But that duo's stellar smiles weren't always quite as camera-ready as they looked that night.
"I had braces for four and a half years," Mendes told an interviewer not long ago. "There's lots and lots and lots of photo evidence, I'm sure you can pull up a few." (In fact, finding one is as easy as searching "Sean Mendes braces.")
Wearing braces puts Mendes in good company: It's estimated that over 4 million people in the U.S. alone wear braces in a typical year—and about a quarter of them are adults! (And by the way: When she was a teenager, Miley Cyrus had braces, too!)
Today, there are a number of alternatives to traditional metal braces, such as tooth-colored braces, clear plastic aligners, and invisible lingual braces (the kind Cyrus wore). However, regular metal braces remain the most common choice for orthodontic treatment. They are often the most economical option, and can be used to treat a wide variety of bite problems (which dentists call malocclusions).
Having straighter teeth can boost your self-confidence—along with helping you bite, breathe, chew, and even speak more effectively. Plus, teeth that are in good alignment and have adequate space in between are easier to clean; this can help you keep your mouth free of gum disease and tooth decay for years to come.
Many people think getting braces is something that happens in adolescence—but as long as your mouth is otherwise healthy, there's no upper age limit for orthodontic treatment. In fact, many celebrities—like Lauren Hutton, Tom Cruise and Faith Hill—got braces as adults. But if traditional braces aren't a good fit with your self-image, it's possible that one of the less noticeable options, such as lingual braces or clear aligners, could work for you.
What's the first step to getting straighter teeth? Come in to the office for an evaluation! We will give you a complete oral examination to find out if there are any problems (like gum disease or tooth decay) that could interfere with orthodontic treatment. Then we will determine exactly how your teeth should be re-positioned to achieve a better smile, and recommend one or more options to get you there.
If you have questions about orthodontic treatment, please contact our office or schedule a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “The Magic of Orthodontics” and “Lingual Braces: A Truly Invisible Way to Straighten Teeth.”
Invisalign is a revolutionary solution for patients who need their teeth aligned, but it’s not for everyone. Only certain patients are a good candidate for Invisalign braces as an alternative to standard braces. If you are a candidate for Invisalign, the dental team at Cohasset Dental in Cohasset, MA could have you fitted for a new set of custom aligner trays in a relatively short period of time. Learn more about this orthodontic treatment, which has helped countless patients achieve a better-looking smile.
Invisalign: A Modern Orthodontic Solution
In the late 1990s, Invisalign was developed as a “clear alternative” to regular orthodontic braces. Up until then, patients who had even minor orthodontic problems had to wear metal braces to realign their teeth. With Invisalign, clear removable trays move your teeth gently into the right position. Thanks to a revolutionary computer modeling system, your dentist can see how your smile will look after the treatment period is finished.
Are You a Candidate?
You may be a candidate for Invisalign treatment by a Cohasset dentist if you have any of the following smile problems:
- There are small spaces between your teeth due to misalignment.
- A few of your teeth are slightly overlapping.
- The teeth are pointing in different directions.
- Overbite or overjetting teeth.
- Teeth are slightly turned or protruding out of position.
Invisalign Advantages
The main advantage of Invisalign is that it doesn’t interfere much with your daily life. When you’re wearing the trays you might even forget you have them on. They’re clear, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed when you smile in public. When you need to eat your food, just take them off for a short time. Invisalign also requires less of a treatment period compared to regular braces.
Come in for an Invisalign Consultation
You may be a candidate for Invisalign, but you’ll never know until you see a dentist at Cohasset Dental in Cohasset, MA for a consultation. Call (781) 383-9393 today to speak to a friendly staff member and schedule an appointment with Dr. Kevin Thomas or Dr. Aaron Chenette.

Mayim Bialik has spent a good part of her life in front of TV cameras: first as the child star of the hit comedy series Blossom, and more recently as Sheldon Cooper’s love interest — a nerdy neuroscientist — on The Big Bang Theory. (In between, she actually earned a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA…but that’s another story.) As a child, Bialik had a serious overbite — but with all her time on camera, braces were just not an option.
“I never had braces,” she recently told Dear Doctor – Dentistry & Oral Health magazine. “I was on TV at the time, and there weren’t a lot of creative solutions for kids who were on TV.” Instead, her orthodontist managed to straighten her teeth using retainers and headgear worn only at night.
Today, there are several virtually invisible options available to fix orthodontic issues — and you don’t have to be a child star to take advantage of them. In fact, both children and adults can benefit from these unobtrusive appliances.
Tooth colored braces are just like traditional metal braces, with one big difference: The brackets attached to teeth are made from a ceramic material that blends in with the natural color of teeth. All that’s visible is the thin archwire that runs horizontally across the teeth — and from a distance it’s hard to notice. Celebs like Tom Cruise and Faith Hill opted for this type of appliance.
Clear aligners are custom-made plastic trays that fit over the teeth. Each one, worn for about two weeks, moves the teeth just a bit; after several months, you’ll see a big change for the better in your smile. Best of all, clear aligners are virtually impossible to notice while you’re wearing them — which you’ll need to do for 22 hours each day. But you can remove them to eat, or for special occasions. Zac Efron and Katherine Heigl, among others, chose to wear clear aligners.
Lingual braces really are invisible. That’s because they go behind your teeth (on the tongue side), where they can’t be seen; otherwise they are similar to traditional metal braces. Lingual braces are placed on teeth differently, and wearing them often takes some getting used to at first. But those trade-offs are worth it for plenty of people. Which celebs wore lingual braces? Rumor has it that the list includes some top models, a well-known pop singer, and at least one British royal.
So what’s the best way to straighten your teeth and keep the orthodontic appliances unnoticeable? Just ask us! We’d be happy to help you choose the option that’s just right for you. You’ll get an individualized evaluation, a solution that fits your lifestyle — and a great-looking smile!
For more information about hard-to-see (or truly invisible) orthodontics, please contact our office or schedule a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Orthodontics for the Older Adult” and “Clear Aligners for Teenagers.”
Wires and brackets used to be the only way to straighten teeth, but thanks to the ingenuity of a Stanford University student, traditional braces aren't the only orthodontic option any longer. Dr. Kevin Thomas and Dr. Aaron Chenette, your Cohasset, MA dentists at Cohasset Dental, explain how you can benefit from the Invisalign brace system.
Nothing is attached to your teeth
After being fitted with retainers in 1997, Zia Chishti wondered if the retainers alone could be used to realign teeth. He quickly got to work and soon developed a prototype that did just that. His invention involved using a series of removable aligner trays that gently guided the teeth into the proper position. Not only were the aligners removable; they were also clear, making them practically invisible. Today, Invisalign offers the perfect option for people who want to straighten their teeth without wearing wires or brackets.
Adjustments are easy
If you wear traditional braces, you must visit your Cohasset dentist every four to six weeks for an adjustment, which involves tightening the wires of your braces. With Invisalign, adjustments are made by wearing a new set of aligners. Each set of aligners are worn for two weeks. In some cases, a set of aligners may be worn again later in your treatment. Your dentist creates your custom aligners using images and impressions of your mouth.
You can eat popcorn or chew gum (sugarless, of course)
People who wear traditional braces receive a long list of foods they must avoid for the next year or two. Foods that can get stuck in braces, like popcorn or gum, or foods that can damage wires and brackets, such as apples, carrots, nuts and other hard foods, must be given up during treatment.
There are no food restrictions with Invisalign because you'll remove your aligners to eat. Since the aligners are removable, oral hygiene is also much easier. You'll brush and floss as usual, then rinse your aligners before placing them back in your mouth.
Invisalign makes straightening your teeth easier than ever! Call Dr. Thomas and Dr. Chenette, your Cohasset, MA dentists at Cohasset Dental, at (781) 383-9393 to schedule an appointment to find out more about Invisalign. Change your smile with Invisalign.