Dr. Jack L. Green, Jr. is a native South Carolinian. He is a graduate of Clemson University and the Medical College of Virginia. He received his master's degree in orthodontics from Fairleigh Dickson University. He has been in practice in Myrtle Beach since 1976 and has served twice as president of the Grand Strand Dental Society and president of the South Carolina Association of Orthodontists. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists.

Dr. Greens commitment to his patients, and the cornerstone of his practice, is to surround himself with professional staff that share his vision of a warm, caring, patient-sensitive atmosphere that is not only conducive to high-quality orthodontic results, but also to address the communication and psychological needs of his patients. We want you to be pleased with every aspect of your experience in our practice, and we continually hear from our patients that they have never experienced a warmer, more pleasant, more patient-oriented practice, as compared with other professional offices they have visited.

We are especially interested in making all our patients feel at home, and that is incidentally why Dr. Green designed our office to look and feel as if you are in our home! We put your needs first to achieve efficient, comprehensive treatment. Our staff is highly skilled, well trained and strives to provide energetic, fun-loving service to each patient. Our office staff has years of experience treating patients with the highest level of care. We stay abreast of the very latest in technology, advancements, and first-class customer service by regularly attending continuing education courses and seminars.

When you hear the word orthodontics, what comes to mind? Probably a young teenager whose teeth are covered by a latticework of metal. There are indeed many orthodontic patients who fit that description. However, there now exists an increasingly popular alternative to traditional metal braces: Invisalign clear aligners.

As the name implies, Invisalign clear aligners are made of almost invisible polyurethane plastic. Rather than being cemented or bonded to the teeth as metal or clear braces are, clear aligners are completely removable for important social occasions, for eating, and, most importantly, for tooth-brushing and flossing. This advantage can also be a disadvantage: It means you must resist the temptation to take your aligners out more than is advised. Here are some other advantages of the Invisalign system:

Clear aligner technology has been improving over the years and can correct many malocclusions that once would have been too complicated for this form of treatment. Yet there are still some situations for which traditional braces would still be best. We would be happy to discuss this in detail with you.

Invisalign clear aligners work the same way traditional braces do: by applying carefully controlled forces to teeth to move them into a better position. But they are not made of metal; instead, they are made of clear, flexible plastic.

Here's how it works: Specialized computer software helps us design a plan for moving your teeth from their current positions into the best possible alignment. This movement will be broken down into perhaps several dozen stages. For each stage, the Invisalign company will manufacture two plastic mouth trays or aligners, one to fit over your top teeth and one for the bottom. You will wear this first set of trays for two weeks, for a minimum of 20 hours per day. You will then move on to the next set of aligners in your series to accomplish the next stage of gradual movement. You will keep doing this until your teeth are correctly aligned.

In the past several years, two features have been added to make Invisalign a more appropriate orthodontic treatment method for teenagers. Special eruption tabs hold the appropriate amount of space open for molars that have not fully grown in. Invisalign for teens also comes with compliance indicators built into the aligner material, which fade with wear. This allows parents, dentists, and the teens themselves, to make sure the trays are being worn as prescribed. Treatment with Invisalign can only be successful if this is the case.

As mentioned above, one of the main advantages of the Invisalign system is that the trays can be removed for easy cleaning. So please don't neglect to do this! You'll need to brush your teeth after every meal or snack so that food and plaque do not get trapped in the aligners, which could promote tooth decay and gum disease. Your aligners, too, will have to be cleaned regularly; you can do this by brushing them and then rinsing them with lukewarm water.

Also, please keep in mind that while wearing clear aligners is very different from wearing braces, the importance of retaining your post-treatment results is exactly the same. You'll want to be sure to wear your retainer(s) exactly as prescribed after your treatment is completed to protect your investment in a beautiful new smile.

The Magic of Orthodontics Proper alignment of the teeth is basic to Smile Design. Their position dictates how they work together and affects the way you look and smile. Only orthodontic treatment can move teeth into the right position. Simply put, when things look right, they probably are right. Learn the basics of smile analysis and design and whether the magic of orthodontics will work for you... Read Article

Clear Aligners for Teenagers Teens who regard traditional braces as restrictive, confining, and obstructive to their lifestyles now have another choice for orthodontic treatment: clear aligners. This advanced dental technology, originally geared toward adults, has recently evolved to treat a greater variety of bite problems in younger people. These improved orthodontic appliances can help teens function normally during a difficult phase of life... Read Article

Orthodontics for the Older Adult Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, so there's no such thing as too old for braces. In fact, nowadays about one out of every five orthodontic patients is an adult. Yet this figure represents only a small portion of adults who could actually benefit from orthodontic treatment... Read Article

Clear Orthodontic Aligners Orthodontic treatment using clear aligners consists of a series of aligners that you change about every two weeks over a course of treatment lasting six to eighteen months depending on how much movement is needed... Read Article