Orthodontic Appliances in Pittsfield, MA

Invisalign was the first clear aligner to provide an alternative to metal braces and is a recognizable brand to many people. Treatment consists of removable custom made clear plastic trays that will gradually align your teeth with each successive tray. Any time you apply a force to a tooth it will move. It doesn’t matter if this force comes from an aligner or metal braces. Each aligner is worn for 7-10 days and then changed for the next one in the series. Once you have progressed to the last aligner, you should be looking at your new straight smile. In some respects Berkshire Clear Align is similar to other aligner treatments. We use an aligner software similar to that first introduced and patented by Invisalign. Those patents expired in 2018 which explains the abundance of DIY aligner companies that have emerged in the past two years. That is where the similarity ends. ULab systems software is an improved version of Invisalign software that calculates the precise force needed for a specific tooth movement and is available only to orthodontists.

• Why? Because ULab feels orthodontists are the most qualified to provide the optimum treatment.
• Secondly, every step of process is determined and monitored by an orthodontist: consultation, treatment planning, 3d printing, aligner fabrication, aligner delivery, treatment, and retention.
• Lastly, our materials are superior. Zendura FLX is the gold standard for comfort, crystal clarity, strength, and precision.

We use a Roth prescription, pre-angulated, pre-torqued, light force straight wire appliance. This results in a very precise finish of not only the crown of each tooth but the root as well. Our braces have a prescription bracket specific for each tooth which precisely places that tooth in the ideal finish position in all dimensions and in the ideal relationship to the other teeth as well. We use a variety of force systems(elastic bands, CS2000, Twin Force, Forsus etc.) to coordinate upper and lower arches. They all share one common characteristic- very low levels of force. Current evidence has shown that light continuous forces are biologically more effective for moving teeth than heavy forces.

Light forces rather than “tightening” works with your child’s physiology resulting in less discomfort and shorter treatment times.This combination of precise tooth positioning and light force systems insures the best possible esthetic and functional result in the shortest period of time and with as little discomfort as possible.

One of our primary goals for improving airway health is to increase the size of all airway components and expanders play a critical role in this treatment plans. Expanders can be used to place gradual outward pressure on the left and right halves of the upper jaw. This pressure causes an increased amount of bone to grow between the right and left halves of the jaw, ultimately resulting in increased width.

We utilize a variety of expanders in our practice. The lightest and most hygienic expanders are the Quad Helix  and the Wilson 3D expander. We also use the Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE), which the patient adjusts by turning a screw in the center of the palatal expander with a special key we provide. Recently, we also added the Leaf Expander, the latest technology in expansion. The Leaf Expander delivers a low amount force over an extended period of time and unlike the Quad, the Wilson, and the the RPE, it does not require adjustments.

This is a mode of treatment that we are very excited about. The addition of Myobrace® to our treatment protocols allows us to treat not just the malocclusion but also the underlying causes of the malocclusion.

Learn More about MyoBrace®

Myobrace® treatment can also be utilized while wearing conventional braces.

Learn More about MyoBrace®

During orthodontic treatment, we may use elastics to assist your braces in making adjustments to your teeth and bite. Also referred to as rubber bands, elastics are typically attached to brackets on the upper and lower teeth and use tension to create changes in the teeth and bite. You should always wear your elastics as directed. 

Learn more about Wearing Elastics

The Forsus/Twin Force Appliances are fixed appliances that are utilized to adjust the placement of the upper and lower teeth at the same time. By encouraging forward movement of the lower teeth and backward movement of the upper teeth, these appliances may help reduce the need for headgear, elastics, or even removal of permanent teeth and their continuous gentle force makes them as effective and efficient as possible.

The Carriere® Motion Distalizer moves upper teeth back and creates a corrected bite before braces are added. The distalizers, also known as “arms,” are then removed and upper braces are inserted to finish correction of the bite and create proper teeth alignment. The force needed to correct patients’ bites is created through the use of elastic bands that are then attached from the upper bar to the lower back molars.

It is critical that patients wear their elastics all the time, with the exception of when they are eating. With proper elastic wear, patients’ bites can be corrected in just months, depending on the severity of each individual case.

A temporary anchorage device (TAD) is a device that is temporarily placed in the mouth to target teeth that may need specialized treatment without affecting the surrounding teeth. These tiny pins can be quickly and comfortably placed in the jawbone and provide a fixed anchor for a number of tooth movements such as space closure, molar rotation, and correction of open bites.

This advanced technology allows Dr. O'Donnell to treat complex cases by achieving results that might otherwise have required jaw surgery. The "pin is easily removed once the desired results have been achieved.