Dr. Steve Cagliostro joined Westwalk Orthodontic Group in July 2016. Originally from Westchester County, Dr. Steve earned his bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Tufts University. He then went on to Montefiore Medical Center to earn his specialist certificate in orthodontics

Dr. Steve has served as a guest lecturer at Montefiore Medical Centers graduate orthodontics program, as well as serving as a mock-board examiner there. Dr. Steve is particularly interested in the role orthodontic treatment can play in overall health, and applying the newest technologies to improve the lives of patients.

Dr. Steve is a proud member of the American Association of Orthodontists and its northeastern chapter, the American Dental Association, the Connecticut State Dental Association, and the Greater Norwalk Dental Society. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a designation achieved by only about 10% of orthodontists in the state. He is also pleased to have recently been inducted into the Westport Rotary.

Dr. Steve and his wife Martha live in Wilton and are parents to Wesley. When not spending time with his family and mischievous pup, Tucker, Dr. Steve plays mens hockey, enjoys sampling new restaurants, and taking advantage of all the seasonal activities the northeast has to offer.

Dr. Gary Romeo is a board-certified orthodontist who attended the University of Connecticut for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees, before receiving his post-graduate certification in orthodontics from the University of Illinois, Chicago

Dr. Gary is a proud past president of the Greater Norwalk Dental Society and Kiwanis Club of Westport. He is a member of the Northeastern Component of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Association of Orthodontists, the Connecticut State Society of Orthodontists, and the American Dental Association and its Connecticut state component. Dr. Gary is also one of the 10% of orthodontists in the state to be board-certified, and one of only 30% of total orthodontists in the country.

Teenage patients might be worried about their appearance and might finally decide to engage in treatment to get the smile they want. Adults may have always wanted to fix their smiles but never had the chance until now. Regardless of age or motivations, teeth braces can be a highly beneficial treatment you should consider.

Norwalk Orthodontists, that is, dental health professionals who specialize in the alignment of your teeth and jaws, will recommend the use of braces only when necessary. A patient needs braces because the current positioning of their dental structures needs correction before serious problems develop.

Younger patients are at an advantage because when they start early treatment, the orthodontist can guide the development of their jaws to offer sufficient space for permanent teeth to erupt in the right position.

Older patients can, and should, consider adult orthodontic treatment because it can help to correct issues they have had for a very long time. When you have crooked teeth or bunched-up teeth, it will be harder to clean them properly.

So when your orthodontist recommends you use braces, they do so to help with your dental health. The nice-looking smile is a bonus. Now that you know why you would need braces, we can consider one of the alternatives available for your consideration. Ceramic Braces are one such alternative to traditional braces.

Ceramic braces are a much more subtle option for orthodontic treatment. The main difference is the materials used to manufacture the brackets. This alternative uses ceramic materials, making the brackets less noticeable in your mouth.

These braces still require elastics and an archwire to achieve the desired result. You might go ahead with frosted or white archwires and similarly-colored elastics to avoid making any part of your braces stand out too much.

Ceramic braces are also more brittle than traditional stainless steel braces. Patients should remember to stay away from certain foods like the infamous popcorn, eating corn off the cob, sticky candy, and others.

Ceramic brackets dont get stained, but the archwire and the elastics may stain depending on what you include in your regular diet. Coffee, tea, cola, tobacco products, and even some condiments like mustard and ketchup can stain some components of your braces, which defeats the purpose of having less-noticeable teeth braces.

Another difference between ceramic braces and traditional appliances is the price. There is no standard pricing chart for this orthodontic treatment, but you can expect that these braces will be more expensive than the traditional option.

Check with your insurance provider and the orthodontist if your insurance plan covers these treatments. The less-noticeable option will also take longer. Ceramic brackets are more brittle and may break more often, requiring more visits to the orthodontist. Your orthodontist will not perform adjustments to your orthodontic appliances too frequently to avoid endangering the integrity of the brackets.

The need to have a well-aligned and healthy smile is real, but when a patient considers engaging in orthodontic treatment, they juggle several factors to decide. For many, the possibility of getting their dreamed smile is reason enough to take on the challenge of braces.

Teens and adults worried about their appearance during treatment may also favor ceramic braces. Adults may consider the slightly increased price to be well worth it because it means they can continue their daily routine and professional activities without attracting unwanted attention to their orthodontic treatment.

The treatment will take longer and be somewhat more expensive than traditional braces, but patients appreciate less noticeable appliances. You will have to consult with your orthodontist if you are eligible for these braces.