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Welcome to West Side Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry

Dr Vasso Ziotis, DDS

Your New York Orthodontist Providing Care for Children and Adults.

Our talented staff have been creating beautiful smiles in New York for many years! Combining experience with advanced education and personal care our orthodontist and staff strive to bring you the best treatment options available, including Invisalign. Please use this site to learn more about orthodontics for children and adults and the types of services we provide. We look forward to meeting you and showing you how getting a beautiful smile has never been easier.

WHAT WE DO

Professional Dental Services

For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you’ll feel more self-confident. During your treatment, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible.

Orthodontics Treatments

Patient’s parents were concerned about both aesthetics and the health of the erupting permanent teeth when they brought him to the orthodontist at age eight.

SureSmile®

SureSmile is a customized fixed appliance system that works with traditional or lingual (tongue-side) braces to achieve unprecedented accuracy and speed in orthodontic treatment.

Invisalign®

Consider Invisalign to get the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted — without braces. A complimentary consultation with Dr. Drayer can determine if Invisalign is right for you.

We would love to hear from you, contact us using the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

WORKING HOURS

  • Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
  • Saturday Appointment Only
  • Sunday Closed

Best Brushing Practices

It’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.

Step One

Using a dry brush with a small amount of toothpaste place bristles where gums and teeth meet.

Step Two

For 10 seconds on each tooth use circular, vibrating motions around the gum lines.

Step Three

Every tooth of both arches should be brushed slowly.

Step Four

Brush the lower teeth from gum line up and the upper teeth from the gum line down. Brush the roof of your mouth and your tongue too!

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.

An orthodontist is a specialist who has completed an advanced education program following dental school to learn the special skills required to manage tooth movement and guide facial development.

  • A more attractive smile.
  • Reduced appearance-consciousness during critical development years.
  • Better function of the teeth.
  • Possible increase in self-confidence.
  • Increased ability to clean the teeth.
  • Improved force distribution and wear patterns of the teeth.
  • Better long-term health of teeth and gums.
  • Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions.
  • Reduce the risk of injury to protruded front teeth.
  • Aids in optimizing other dental treatment.
  • Upper front teeth protrude excessively over the lower teeth, or are bucked
  • Upper front teeth cover the majority of the lower teeth when biting together (deep bite)
  • Upper front teeth are behind or inside the lower front teeth (underbite).
  • The upper and lower front teeth do not touch when biting together (open bite).
  • Crowded or overlapped teeth.
  • The center of the upper and lower teeth do not line up.
  • Finger or thumb-sucking habits which continue after six or seven years old.
  • Difficulty chewing.
  • Teeth wearing unevenly or excessively.
  • The lower jaw shifts to one side or the other when biting together.
  • Spaces between the teeth.

Orthodontic Treatment can be started at any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontist recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age 7 or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist, or the child’s physician.

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, and underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.

Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. Everyone wants a beautiful and healthy smile. Twenty to twenty-five percent of orthodontic patients today are adults.
Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that are placed on your teeth and the archwire that connects them are the main components. When the archwire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As it does so, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more ideal positions.
Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time is from one to two years. Actual treatment time can be affected by rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent upon patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping treatment time on schedule.
The placement of bands and brackets on your teeth does not hurt. Once your braces are placed and connected with the archwires you may feel some soreness of your teeth for one to four days. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.
No. It is recommended, however, that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouthguard when participating in any sporting activity. Mouthguards are inexpensive, comfortable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns.
No. However, there may be an initial period of adjustment. In addition, brace covers can be provided to prevent discomfort.
Yes, you should continue to see your general dentist every six months for cleanings and dental checkups.
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