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. Due to the fact that growth is completed in adults, rare cases may require orthognathic surgery (jaw surgery) to achieve ideal results. Adults also may have experienced some breakdown or loss of their teeth and bone that supports the teeth and many require periodontal treatment before, during, and/or after orthodontic treatment. Although bone loss experienced by some adults may limit the amount and direction of tooth movement, our orthodontists will work closely with your dentist to ensure that you receive the best results possible giving you not only a beautiful but healthier smile.

What can you eat? Lets talk about what you shouldnt eat when going through your life with braces! If youve been wanting to drop a few pounds, the first-week wearing braces is youst your chance! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard bread, and raw vegetables. Before long, youll be able to bite a cucumber again. But youll need to protect your orthodontic appliance when you eat for as long as youre wearing braces.

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 headaches 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. Well show you how to make your life with braces easier!

To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear, or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time.

Its 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.

Dr. Ziotis is from New York, born and raised. She got her Bs. in Biology from SUNY at Birmingham, New York. She received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from SUNY at Brook School of Dental, finished top of her class, and was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon (the National Dental Honor Society). Dr. Vasso finished her orthodontic training at the Montefiore Medical Center in NYC.

She treats young kids (starting at age 7), teenagers, and adults alike with a gentle touch and a great sense of humor, immediately putting every patient at ease. Passionate about orthodontics, her primary goal is to provide each patient with tailored, individualized treatment to achieve a beautiful, natural smile and an ideal bite. She always takes the time to give each patient the care and attention he or she needs.

She has completed further training at Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, NY; Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital Center, NY; Jamaica Hospital, Queens, NY; Nassau County Hospital, Levitown, NY; Oral Surgery-Dental Internship.