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Eureka Smile Center
Jack Griffin, Jr., D.M.D.
18 Hilltop Village Center Dr
Eureka, MO 63025
Phone: (636) 938-6241
Fax: (636) 938-7941
Orthodontics for Adults and Children
Braces aren’t just for kids any more! At Eureka Smile Center, a large part of our practice rests on providing orthodontic solutions to straighten the teeth of adults as well as children. Thanks to Dr. Griffin’s advanced training and constant pursuit of the latest in dental technology, we are able to make available a variety of tooth-straightening methods, from traditional metal braces, to tooth-colored braces, to the colorless tooth alignment system Invisalign®. At Eureka Smile Center, Dr. Jack Griffin, Jr. and his team can customize a treatment plan to suit the specific needs and goals of each patient.
Our orthodontics goal for our younger patients is to straighten their teeth and create a beautiful smile, as well as to ensure proper occlusion and bite alignment for years of stability. Though we primarily use traditional braces for our juvenile patients, we almost never extract teeth or use headgear. To ensure our patients’ comfort, we use only light force wires and seldom use separators or spacers. It is our goal to make orthodontic treatment as painless and, indeed, pleasant, as possible for youngsters. To this end, we feature all the latest colors for your child’s braces and rubber bands, so they can be sure to straighten in style. We strive to complete all orthodontic treatment for our younger patients after one to two years of braces.
Our adult patients who would like to straighten their smiles usually desire orthodontics that is as discreet as possible. For our “grown up” orthodontic patients, we are proud to offer traditional braces that are specifically designed to closely match the color of their teeth. With tooth-colored brackets, only a thin wire is visible, and only from close proximity. Tooth-colored braces allow Dr. Griffin and his orthodontics team to fine-tune the positioning of the teeth, and are the best method for our adult patients with significantly crooked or crowded teeth.
At Eureka Smile Center, we are also proud to offer the Invisalign® system for the ultimate in inconspicuous orthodontics. This technique uses clear aligners to make small movements in the teeth without wires, brackets, or bands, and is most effective for patients who do not need significant adjustments.
The Invisalign® system consists of a series of custom-designed aligners that patients wear 24 hours a day. The first step to a straight smile with this system is the consultation, during which Dr. Griffin will use a 3-D computer imaging system to create a series of aligners custom-crafted to suit your specific orthodontic needs. You will wear each set of aligners for two to three weeks. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Griffin has prescribed. You will visit Dr. Griffin about once every four to eight weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages nine to 15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
There are many benefits to the Invisalign® system. Treatment times with this straightening system are usually shorter than with traditional braces, and the results are comparable. Our patients who use this orthodontic system love the fact that the aligners are virtually invisible, and are removable for eating, brushing, and flossing. The all-plastic aligners are also much more comfortable than metal braces, and usually require far fewer visits to Dr. Griffin for adjustment, since patients simply move on to the next aligner in their series at home.
If you are interested in learning more about your orthodontic options at Eureka Smile Center, and would like to know whether you are a good candidate for new “brace-less” orthodontics, please contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jack Griffin, Jr.
After any orthodontic work, it is essential to use a retainer to hold the new position of the patients’ teeth. At Eureka Smile Center, we use retainers that are clear or invisible for the top teeth, and a small wire cemented behind the lower front teeth to keep teeth perfectly aligned after orthodontics. Dr. Griffin always stresses that the key with retainers is to be diligent in their use, thus ensuring that your smile will remain straight for years to come.
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about the exciting advances in orthodontics available at Eureka Smile Center, contact us today. From fun and wacky colors on braces for children, to discreet yet effective methods for adults, we have the orthodontic solution that is perfect for you.