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Congratulations! You are already on your way to your best smile now that you have decided on orthodontic treatment. And while any amount of time it takes to create your beautiful smile is worth it, the sooner that process is completed, the better. With AcceleDent®, you can actually speed up the orthodontic process safely and effectively!

What is AcceleDent?

The AcceleDent device is a hands-free, lightweight appliance that is inserted around your braces or aligners and held in place by your teeth. When you turn on the Activator, gentle vibrations, or micropulses, are sent through the teeth and their roots into the bone surrounding them. It takes only 20 minutes each day, and patients notice not only faster tooth movement, but often less orthodontic discomfort as well.

How Does AcceleDent Speed Up My Treatment?

When you have braces or aligners, slow and steady pressure is put on your teeth to move them to their desired positions. This pressure affects the bone surrounding each tooth, and the body responds by changing the shape of the bone tissue. You end up with teeth held securely in their new, aligned position by the remodeled bone. This process is also slow and steady. Changes in the bone take place on the cellular level, and gradually develop over time. The micropulses created by the AcceleDent appliance actually stimulate this cellular activity, which can lead to faster progress in the repositioning of your teeth and therefore a shorter treatment schedule.

How Safe is AcceleDent?

The AcceleDent appliance delivers precise vibrations to the teeth with a patented process called SoftPulse Technology®. These micropulses provide the gentle stimulation that increases cellular activity. The vibrations produce less force than using an electric toothbrush, and 200 times less force than we apply to our teeth with normal chewing!

AcceleDent is available at our Coppell, TX office. The process has undergone numerous clinical trials, and has been shown to be safe and reliable. AcceleDent has been cleared by the FDA as a single-user prescription device, and has been prescribed to thousands of patients since it was introduced.

Our most important goal is to provide you with a beautiful, healthy smile. Talk to Dr. Trevor Bonilla about AcceleDent if you would like to explore a gentle option for achieving this goal as quickly and safely as possible.

When you get braces as a child, you usually present the orthodontist with a blank canvas—newly erupted, perfect permanent teeth, just waiting to be aligned. But if you are a bit older, your canvas might already be a bit busy, with fillings, crowns, perhaps even a missing tooth. Can Dr. Trevor Bonilla still work with that more complicated picture? Yes!

• Fillings

Many of us have acquired a filling or two. Normally, an old filling shouldn’t interfere with new braces. Large fillings, however, might call for spacers. These small rubber bands are inserted between two teeth as needed to create enough room for bands and brackets, and are generally put in place a week or two before you get your braces. They frequently fall out on their own as the space between the teeth gets a bit wider.

• Crowns

If you have had a root canal or any other dental treatment that left you with a crowned tooth, no need to be concerned. A special dental adhesive can be used to adhere brackets to crowns.

• Implants

If you have or would like to get an implant, this is a time to coordinate with your orthodontist and dentist or oral surgeon. Sometimes an implant can anchor your appliance, and sometimes it’s best to keep the spot open until your orthodontic work is completed. Once in place, an implant will not have the mobility of a tooth, so it’s always best to make sure your doctors can create a schedule that will work for both the installation of the implant and the positioning of your braces.

• Healthy Teeth and Gums

Before you begin orthodontic work, talk to your dentist. If you need a filling or crown, are considering a dental implant, have symptoms of gum disease, or are looking at any other dental concerns, you should work with your dentist first. Healthy teeth and gums are the very best foundation for orthodontic treatment at any age.

If you are wondering whether Dr. Trevor Bonilla can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, talk to us when you visit our Coppell, TX office! Your past dental work will be just one of the many variables we take into consideration when we’re planning your future of picture-perfect smiles.

Press Pause

If you are getting braces in the near future, it’s very important to see your regular dentist first. That way, any cavities or other dental problems can be treated before your first orthodontic appointment at our Coppell, TX office.

Play it Safe

Once you have your braces, you’ll hearing a lot about how you need to be especially careful with your dental hygiene. Why? Because wires and brackets are obstacles to getting your teeth and gum area their cleanest. Plaque and food particles tend to stick to braces, and all too often can be missed while brushing. Plaque builds up around your gum line and brackets, and, in a very short time, can lead to sensitivity, demineralization, and cavities.

What can you do to prevent tooth decay?

• Increase Your Brushing Time

Instead of brushing twice a day, start brushing for two minutes after every meal. Put together a travel bag with a small toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and interproximal brushes to clean your teeth when you’re on the go. If you absolutely can’t brush, rinse carefully with water, and then brush as soon as you can.

• Flossing—More Important than Ever

Use the flossing tools designed just for braces to make sure you’ve removed food particles and plaque from around your braces and gums. A water flosser can be helpful if manual flossing isn’t effective.

• Keep Up with Your Regular Dental Care

Schedule regular checkups and professional cleanings at your dentist’s office. They will be able to remove plaque you might miss at home.  

• Follow Our Advice

We’ll give you instructions on how to brush and floss, what products to use, and diet suggestions (such as keeping sugary and sticky foods off the menu and away from your braces). If we notice plaque building up around your gums and brackets, we’ll let you know that you need to step up your hygiene habits. We can also suggest rinses and toothpastes that help fight plaque.

But if, despite all your efforts, you do get a cavity? There are options!

• Ignoring Your Cavity?

Not an option. You shouldn’t wait until you are out of braces to get a cavity treated. This just gives decay a chance to spread further.

• Working With Your Braces

Repairing a cavity means removing the decay in the tooth, cleaning the area, and then filling the tooth. If your cavity isn’t located near your bands, brackets, or wires, your dentist might be able to work around your braces, and you can get your cavity treated during a regular dental appointment.

• Removing Parts of Your Braces for Treatment

Sometimes a cavity is located in a spot that your dentist can’t reach because of your braces. In that case, we’re able to coordinate with your dentist and remove a wire or bracket temporarily so you can have your tooth filled. Make an appointment to replace your bracket and re-attach your wire, and you’ll be back on schedule as soon as possible.

Fast Forward

Keep your eyes on your goal--you’re in braces because you want a beautiful smile. Keeping on top of your dental health is an essential part of creating that smile. Talk to Dr. Trevor Bonilla about tips for getting your teeth their cleanest. If you do develop a cavity, we’ll help you figure out the best way to treat it without causing too much delay in your orthodontic treatment. Taking care of your teeth now is the best way to create a future of beautiful smiles!

The iTero® Intraoral Scanner has revolutionized the way orthodontic impressions are taken. Now there's no need for messy, uncomfortable molds. Getting high-quality and accurate impressions has never been easier or more reliable.

When a patient comes to our Coppell, TX office for a consultation, Dr. Trevor Bonilla will need to take records of the person’s teeth and bite. Having a replica of a patient’s teeth and bite enables the orthodontist to plan out and visualize the most effective and timely treatment plan.

Traditionally, this was achieved by creating a plaster mold or cast. Putting the impression material and trays onto the teeth can be an uncomfortable process for many patients, especially those who have a sensitive gag reflex.

All that is history with iTero digital impressions. Our patients and team members alike love the speed and accuracy of the iTero Intraoral Scanner. We simply move the wand around your teeth and gums, and within seconds, you get a high-quality, accurate, and color digital impression. That’s all there is to it!

Here’s what patients love about iTero:

• There are no messy and gag-inducing molds involved.
• It’s quick, so the process doesn’t interfere with your busy schedule.
• It’s painless and can be used on even the most pain-sensitive patients.
• Impressions are saved in a digital format, so there’s no risk of molds breaking or needing to be recast.
• Cutting-edge accuracy makes for more timely, comfortable, and effective orthodontic treatment.

Our Coppell, TX office is equipped with the latest iTero technology to make your office visit a breeze. So many aspects of our lives have been digitized and simplified, why should your orthodontic treatment be any different?

If you’re thinking about getting braces or clear aligners, iTero will optimize the experience and help ensure you get the best treatment you possibly can!