Ask your Markham Orthodontist... do I need to extract teeth when I get braces?

Whenever possible, your Stouffville Orthodontist will avoid extractions for orthodontic treatment.  If there is any possibility that treatment can proceed without tooth removal, Dr. Tam will delay extraction as long as possible.  Generally, braces are placed on the teeth before any teeth are taken out.

 There are a few ways to avoid extractions in treatment:

1.        Start off with adequate space to align teeth.

2.        Expand the jaws in children before puberty.

3.        Procline the teeth to increase arch perimeter.

4.        Distalize teeth, pushing them back along the ridge of bone in the jaw.

5.        Judicious IPR, slenderization, or selective grinding of the teeth to create space.

However, there are times when extractions should cannot always be avoided:

1.        Excessive crowding.

2.        Protrusive profile (too many teeth for the mouth, causing an overly full profile or open mouth, even when relaxed)

3.        Existing bone loss or thin bone that would be compromised by excessive expansion of the jaws.

4.        Correction of excessively non-coincident midlines.

5.        Removal of wisdom teeth

Dr. Tam customizes your orthodontic care to deliver the best orthodontic treatment possible for each patient.  Contact us at if you would like to come in for a free orthodontic consult!

MCO Stouffville Orthodontist Office Offerring Braces and Invisalign!

MCO Stouffville Orthodontics  is now open and fully running, servicing Stouffville, Uxbridge, Newmarket, and surrounding communities.  Dr. Tam and his team have years of experience in providing excellent orthodontic care and the best customer service possible, with one of the most popular offices in Markham.  We have a proven track record and have treated many dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants in North America.

We are proud to support the community and have participated at the Strawberry Festival, supported local sports teams, and Markham Stouffville Hospital.  We look forward to showing you the MCO difference and becoming Stouffville's choice for orthodontic care :).  Click here to book your  free orthodontic consultation with us today!

Stouffville Orthodontist Discusses: What Can I Eat with Braces?

Your Stouffville Orthodontist fields a lot of questions about braces.  Many of our patients are concerned with what they can eat while braces are on the teeth.

Here are a couple of quick tips:

-  Do not tear food or chew with your anterior teeth as braces can come off easily this way.

-  Cut food up into smaller pieces and chew food with your molars in the back of your mouth.

-  Avoid foods that are too sticky as they may make your braces more difficult to clean.

-  Take care and get used to your braces on your teeth, so that you give yourself some time to become more aware of the braces on your teeth, and gain more understanding of how to chew to avoid breakage.

There is a common misconception that you cannot eat certain foods during orthodontic treatment.  We advise our patients that this is not true, but that foods may have to be consumed in a different manner.  The reason for this is to avoid breakage of the appliances or getting food lodged into areas that may make it difficult to clean.  For example, if you like ice cubes, you may want to consider sucking on them and allowing them to melt, rather than breaking them with your teeth.  Instead of biting into an apple, cut it into pieces and chew at the back of your mouth.

A couple of years ago we had two patients who were at a birthday party and Child A saw Child B pick up a carrot stick and bite on it with his front teeth.  Child B mentioned to Child A that he didn't think he was allowed to eat carrots like that.  Child A shrugged his shoulders and continued eating.  Child B decided to try, bit into the carrot, and broke off a brace :).

The moral of the story here is that different people may have varying experiences with eating and breakage.  However, in order to make sure treatment stays on time and to avoid the hassle of having to replace brackets, each person must learn how to eat to take care their braces, as it will vary from person to person.

Toronto Invisalign Orthodontist First to Scan Teeth for Invisalign Patients

Invisalign dental scanner

Being the best Invisalign doctor in Toronto is our goal at your Markham Orthodontist.  That's why we are the first orthodontic office in the GTA to acquire the iOC Invisalign intraoral scanner.  The scanner will allow us to do away with PVS Invisalign impressions that are normally used to created 3-D models of the teeth.  While each one of these machines costs as much as a nice car, MCO Orthodontics decided to purchase two of these to service the more than 100 Invisalign patients that begin treatment with us every year!

The benefits of a 3-D dental scanner:

-no need to have impressions taken, leading to a more comfortable experience and no gagging

-increased accuracy of capture of the teeth

-ability to see the 3-D image of your teeth immediately following the scan

-decreased time required to receive first ClinCheck since models do not need to be created.

The scans generally take between 8-20 minutes, which is comparable to the time required for a full set of impressions.  This is a laser and optic scanner, so there is also no concern about any radiation.  Unlike other scanning systems, no dust is required to coat the teeth.

Our office has 3 days of hand-on training and will begin using the scanner for all Invisalign and Invisalign Teen patients shortly.  We think this is going to really improve the overall Invisalign experience and look forward to helping you smile without braces!

Stouffville Orthodontist Discusses the Secrets for Success and Great Results with Toronto Invisalign

Your Stouffville Orthodontist and Markham Invisalign braces orthodontist is always talking about successful Invisalign treatment, and pushing the boundaries of Invisalign treatment with some of the best Invisalign doctors in North America.

Three things they agreed upon for the best Invisalign results:

1.        Patient compliance with 22 hour wear is required and may minimize the need for refinement stages.

2.        Use of judicious IPR (interproximal reduction) to create space for teeth to move can improve the success of Invisalign treatment.

3.        Invisalign treatment planning may be more difficult than that of traditional fixed braces.  A firm understanding of how teeth move with Invisalign and the ability to detect improper movements in ClinCheck simulations are essential.

Dr. Tam is recognized as an Elite Premier Invisalign Provider and Invisalign Teen orthodontist in the Greater Toronto area, serving Markham, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Ajax, Pickering, and Stouffville.  He teaches Invisalign nationally and helps dentists and orthodontists with planning Invisalign treatment for their patients.  Contact your MCO Stouffville Orthodontist to get started on your way to a beautiful smile!

Ask your Richmond Hill Orthodontist... Should I Expect White Spots on the Teeth After Braces?

With our free consultations at your Markham Orthodontist, we often get questions about whether there will be spots, squares, or scars on teeth after braces.  The answer is:  Absolutely not.  Braces are bonded onto the teeth using a system of adhesives and resins.  They are removed easily from the teeth using a combination of instruments and fine bur to take away any residual resin left on the teeth.

White spots are the result of poor oral hygiene.  If plaque is allowed to accumulate around the braces, they will produce an acid that leeches the teeth, causing a white spot.  The shape of the spotting is usually a square, because of the shape of the area around the brace that was not cleaned properly during treatment.  While there are some pastes that may improve the mineral content and appearance of white spotting on the teeth after poor oral hygiene with braces, most aesthetic corrections will require the use of veneers or crowns.  Fortunately, these areas of decalcification can be completely avoided by practicing good oral hygiene.

At your Stouffville Orthodontist, our team emphasizes proper braces care.  We provide you with everything you need to take care of your braces, spend time at your initial visit going over a hands on demonstration on proper cleaning, refer you to your dentist whenever an extra cleaning is required, provide you with additional supplies as needed, and will actually remove braces before treatment is complete if required, to avoid these spots.  There is the opportunity to brush and floss without your wires in at each appointment in our toothbrushing area.  We also have video on our Markham Braces YouTube page to show you how to clean your teeth properly.  We feel very strongly, and most parents agree, that healthy teeth that are crooked are better than straight, spotted teeth with cavities.

As such, with proper oral hygiene, you should expect straight teeth without the formation of white spots on the teeth!  Contact us if you would like to schedule your complimentary consultation or have any additional questions.

Markham Orthodontist Discusses Tooth Whitening Pastes: Do They Work?

A lot of our Markham braces and Richmond Hill Invisalign patients often ask us about tooth whitening in Toronto, using whitening toothpastes. The question is whether they actually work, and if not, what works best?

By definition, tooth whitening means whitening teeth back to their natural shade. For many people this may not actually be "white enough". To get teeth whiter than that, bleaching is required. However, bleaching doesn't sound all that great, so dental companies also refer to their bleaching products as whitening, to make them sound more appealing. In other words, whitening toothpaste and whitening gel in trays from the dentist will do different things, even though they have similar descriptive names.

Whitening pastes, mouthwashes, and gum simply need to remove surface stains off the teeth to be certified by the American Dental Association as "whitening". Virtually toothpastes have some kind of abrasives in them that make them whitening. Mouthwashes can rinse surface stains off the teeth, and the mechanical action of chewing gum against the teeth can do the same. It is the companies who have paid the money to the ADA who receive the ADA seal to put on their packaging.

In order to truly get whiter teeth like in the commercials, you will need to do some teeth bleaching, such as gels in a tray, or some of the light-activated systems such as Zoom. Keep in mind that you may experience some transient sensitivity, and that a lot of whitening is due to increasing porosity of the enamel surface. Some dentists liken it to tanning. It may provide nicer aesthetics, it can become addictive, and is not really a healthcare-motivated decision.

After orthodontic treatment at your Markham Orthodontist, we recommend our patients wait a couple of months after braces have been removed so that the teeth can remineralize before using any bleaching method. In general, visiting the dentist for regular cleanings and polishing, as well as maintaining good brushing habits will keep your teeth quite white. Anything beyond natural white will require a visit to an oral health care professional.