Dr. Lance Kiss, a native of Southeastern, CT, completed his BA at St. Anslems College in Manchester, NH and his DMD at the University of Connecticut School of Dentistry in Farmington. He also completed his post doctoral masters training in orthodontics at the University of Minnesota from 1975 1977. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and has been practicing in the Plainville area since 1977. Dr. Kiss specializes in orthodontics and is a certified Invisalign provider, he also lectures on orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

When asked about his philosophy for practicing orthodontics, Dr. Kiss said I believe in customizing treatment to meet the needs of adults, children and teenagers. In many instances more than one treatment philosophy can be applied to the individual patient. Dr. Kiss and his staff take great pleasure in building confidence and self esteem in patients who do not like their appearance or function of their teeth and or smiles. We believe pretty and healthy smiles are for the patients lifetime Dr. Kiss says What better reward for any orthodontist.

'I have been in private practice for over 30 years. My wife Chris was a nurse anesthetist. We have 2 sons Rob and Stephen. Our son Rob is 29 and an attorney in Miami. He received his under graduate degree from the University of Miami and did his graduate studies at the University of Virginia Law School. Our son Stephen is 24 and he too is a graduate from the University of Miami with a BA in Pure Physics. He is currently working on his Masters Degree at John Hopkins University while he is working for the Cisco Corp. Our family enjoys traveling, photography and golf.'

Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, worsen gum disease and lead to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. These can lead to chronic headaches and face or neck pain.

Treatment by an orthodontist can be less costly than the additional care required to treat dental problems arising as a result of orthodontic problems. For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you'll feel more self-confident.

It's best for the orthodontist to see children by age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and the best time for that patient to be treated. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth.

Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.

Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. One of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21. Jaw surgery is more often required for adult orthodontic patients because their jaws are not growing. Adults also may have experienced some breakdown or loss of their teeth and bone that supports the teeth and may require periodontal treatment before, during and/or after orthodontic treatment. Bone loss can also limit the amount and direction of tooth movement that is advisable.

Headgear uses an external wire apparatus known as a facebow to gently guide the growth of your face and jaw by moving your teeth into proper position. The force is applied to the facebow by a spring-loaded neck strap or head strap. The straps have a safety release that disconnects if the facebow is pulled or snagged.

An appliance that is worn after your braces are removed, the retainer attaches to your upper and/or lower teeth to hold them in place. Some retainers are removable and others are bonded to the tongue-side of several teeth.