Hage Orthodontics – Braces and Invisalign in Mattoon, Effingham, and Decatur, IL
Orthodontist Mattoon, Effingham, Decatur, IL Invisalign Braces | Hage Orthodontics
Even if your children still has primary (baby) teeth, your dentist may recommend they see an orthodontist. Some children are ready for orthodontic treatment as early as 7 or 8 years old. When they’re that young they may not understand why they need a limited set of braces or an appliance so it is important Read More
You use your teeth to bite, chew and talk countless times throughout the day. Unless something is bothersome, you probably don’t give your grill a second thought. So, with our compliments, gnaw on this enlightening list of ten things you didn’t know about your teeth – but guess what – Dr. Hage did! A Read More
If you recently learned that orthodontic treatment is in your or your child’s future, remain calm and rest assured Hage Orthodontics offers multiple options to help finance your orthodontic care and treatment. At Hage Orthodontics, we are keenly aware that people have finite budgets. Juggling expenses is a fact of life. We are accustomed to Read More
It’s no secret, as you age, so does your smile. Teeth wear down as we chew our way through a lifetime of meals. Did you also know, teeth can move and shift well into adulthood? Here’s a roundup of 4 common changes orthodontists see in patients as they age: 1. Bottom teeth crowding As you Read More
The most important thing to know about white marks on teeth is that they are preventable. All you have to do to be white mark-free is to keep teeth clean and stay away from some foods and beverages. It’s that simple. When we say simple we mean four easy steps simple: Brush as often as Read More
You may have heard the term “impacted” used to describe a tooth and wonder what it means. In orthodontic or dental terms, “impacted” means that a tooth either has not come in (“erupted”) when expected or a tooth that cannot erupt because it does not have room or may be coming in the wrong direction Read More
Looks Can Be Deceiving Things are not always as they appear. We all know people who from the outside look healthy, but who internally are battling a chronic illness. Likewise, you may be interested to learn that even if your front teeth are straight, there can be a problem with how all your teeth fit Read More
If someone tells you that your child should have all of his/her permanent teeth before visiting the orthodontist for the first time, that “someone” is incorrect. In fact, putting off the first visit to the orthodontist until all of your child’s permanent teeth are in could do more harm than good. Here’s why: There’s a Read More
Problems that will eventually need orthodontic attention can become obvious long before your child has all of their permanent teeth. Depending on the type of problem a child has, Dr. Hage may recommend two-phase treatment. It means that treatment is done at two different times, often to take advantage of predictable stages of dental development Read More
If you’ve damaged your braces, you might not need to schedule a special appointment with Dr. Hage. Many issues that come up during orthodontic treatment can be resolved at home with wax, tweezers and nail clippers. Continue reading to learn how to resolve tooth pain, cheek irritation, broken brackets, and more. Our staff is always Read More
Crooked teeth affect millions of people all over the globe and can be the bane of teenagers and adults alike. But why do teeth become crooked – and if they start to head off in different directions what can be done about it? CAUSES OF CROOKED TEETH There are many reasons why teeth can become Read More
If you are thinking about getting braces or already have them, you are probably curious about what braces are actually made of and how they work. The three most popular ways to straighten teeth are traditional (metal) braces, ceramic braces and Invisalign. Each of these are made differently and work in different ways to straighten Read More
You don’t have to wait for your dentist to refer your child to an orthodontist Parents are often the first to recognize that something is not quite right about their child’s teeth or jaws. A parent may notice that the front teeth don’t come together when the back teeth are closed, or that the upper Read More
Orthodontics might seem like a relatively modern field of medicine but the desire for straighter teeth has been around since ancient times. Even in ancient times, they were trying to invent devices to improve the position of teeth. Here is a brief history of orthodontics. Ancient Greece and Rome The history of orthodontics starts back Read More
Why do dentists give more than one referral card when it comes to sending you and your kids to an orthodontist? Do you really need more than one opinion? How do you choose between them? Giving multiple referrals often causes confusion. Most patients assume that because their dentist gave them more than one card, it Read More
Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought to yourself, “I sure wish I could’ve had braces when I was a kid”? You can’t go back in time, but you can still get the healthy, beautiful smile you’ve always wished for. It’s not too late! Orthodontic treatment can be as successful for adults as Read More
Hage Orthodontics wants to set the record straight on seven common myths about orthodontic treatment. Myth #1: Anyone who provides braces or aligners is an orthodontist. FALSE. While some general dentists or online companies offer braces or aligners, only an orthodontist who has taken additional years of advanced training at an accredited residency can Read More
If you’ve ever had braces, or been a parent of someone who has, you know braces will transform your smile. You also probably know there can be bumps along the path to that perfectly aligned smile. From that post-adjustment period, poking wires and broken brackets, having braces isn’t always sunshine and roses. Luckily, we’ve been Read More
Many parents ask Dr. Hage about their children’s thumb or finger sucking behavior. WHAT HAPPENS IF THUMB SUCKING DOES NOT STOP? Between the ages of two and four, most children stop sucking their thumbs on their own. It tapers off naturally as children become more active and use their hands for other activities. Children Read More
The first thing our patients want to know when they get their braces on is when those braces will come off. In other words, “When will I have that beautiful smile I’ve always wanted?” Braces can be a pain, literally! We don’t want to endure them any longer than we have to, but that smile Read More