Dr. Arrigo grew up in Boxford and developed a love for orthodontics at a young age. He started working as an assistant in his fathers Orthodontic practice at the age of 16 while attending The Governors Academy, and almost immediately knew that he wanted to dedicate himself to the field. After graduating from The Governors Academy in Byfield, Dr. Arrigo attended University of Miami where he graduated with a major in Biology.
Upon completion of his time in Miami, Dr. Arrigo headed to dental school at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Arrigo earned his DMD degree from Tufts in 2017, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He then stayed at Tufts for his Orthodontic Residency, where he earned his Certificate in Orthodontics. During his years at Tufts, Dr. Arrigo was a member of the Omicron Kappa Upilson National Dental Honor Society and received the Honos Civicus award, recognizing his exceptional commitment to civic engagement and leadership. Dr. Arrigo also received the Dr. James Hanley Basic Science award while at Tufts, and is a diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics.
Dr. Arrigo is very grateful to be back home to the North Shore, and is excited to give back to the community that he was raised in. Outside of Orthodontics he enjoys staying active exercising, skiing, hiking, relaxing on the beach, and spending time with his family.
Orthodontic treatment is about much more than a beautiful smile. While one of the goals of orthodontic treatment is to create a more cosmetically appealing smile, that is far from the only goal. A straighter smile is also a healthier smile. Orthodontic treatment should result in both improved aesthetics and function.
Crooked, crowded, and misaligned teeth are harder to clean properly, which increases a patients risk for decay and gum disease. When your teeth are not aligned properly, it can be harder for your toothbrush to adequately clean in between teeth and for floss to fit into crowded places. Decay and gum disease dont just wreak havoc on your smile, but can also be dangerous to your overall health, as well. Gum disease has been linked to serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and increased risk of stroke.
A misaligned bite places improper wear on the teeth. This can lead to breaking, chipping, and cracking of the teeth, which can lead to the necessity of expensive restorations. It can also cause issues with speaking and chewing. Additionally, patients with misaligned smiles can experience jaw, neck, and head pain associated with the imbalance of pressure placed when biting down. Orthodontic treatment can prevent these more serious issues from arising later.
The ideal time to begin orthodontic treatment is around the age of 7. Parents may wonder why treatment should begin when a child still has baby teeth, but at this age, an orthodontist can determine quite a lot of information, including whether potential issues may develop in the future. But just because your child sees an orthodontist at the age of 7, that doesnt mean the treatment will begin right away, or even at all.
Your Peabody orthodontist will be able to identify any issues in the growth pattern of the jaws, as well as issues with how teeth may be falling out or erupting. If issues are present, your child may benefit from early interventive treatment to lessen the severity of future treatment.
Orthodontic treatment works to correct crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth, as well as misaligned jaws. Braces and clear aligners move teeth by exerting a constant, gentle force on the teeth to guide them to their ideal positions. This tooth movement is made possible by the breakdown and rebuilding of bone tissues as the teeth get guided through bone to their new locations. It is a complex biological process, but in the hands of a skilled orthodontist can be a straightforward, efficient, and effective process.
The shape of a patients jaw will also gradually adapt to conform to the pressure placed by the braces or aligners. However, in some cases, additional appliances, such as palatal expanders or other devices, may be needed to assist with jaw growth and alignment.
Knowing how to apply the correct amount of pressure, and where the pressure should be applied, is your orthodontists specialty. While some orthodontic cases are relatively straightforward and only require a bit of shifting or straightening, others require teeth to be rotated, shifted, lifted up from the gums, or other more complex movements that require the knowledge of a skilled orthodontist in Newburyport.
Your teeth are held in place by the periodontal ligament, the gum tissue that surrounds the root of each tooth. When your teeth are guided to their new locations, it will require bone remodeling to not only close up where the teeth were but secure them where they have been moved to.