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4 Orthodontic Terms to know: Elastics, Invisalign, TMJ, Phase 1 & 2

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FOUR IMPORTANT ORTHODONTIC TOPICS THAT ALL PATIENTS SHOULD KNOW

If you have any questions about treatment or you would like to explore some of these treatment options more in-depth, contact us today!

1. ELASTICS

Elastics are an adjunctive part of orthodontic treatment. They are small rubber bands in varying amounts of force that can be used with Invisalign or braces. We utilize elastics with orthodontics in order to correct any misaligned teeth. A good way to understand the importance of elastics is that while braces and/or Invisalign aligners can straighten your teeth, it is actually the elastics that will fix your bite.

This is true whether your have an underbite, “overbite” (what orthodontist typically describe as an overjet), or an open bite. Without dedicated elastic wear you will have nice straight teeth, but they likely won’t fit or function well for you. If you have been told that you need to wear elastics, it is important that you follow through with treatment.

2. INVISALIGN

Patients who seek out orthodontic treatment are often happy to learn that there is a clear solution to braces. They feel an instant relief of stress and embarrassment when they know they can straighten their teeth invisibly. In the last few years, there have been many advancements in the Invisalign aligners that allow you to get a straight and beautiful smile.

Many patients wonder if Invisalign actually works. If used correctly, the treatment works well. It is an easy to use solution, but it is important that you work with a trained orthodontist because there is a specific skill set needed to move the teeth properly in the mouth.

Invisalign works great for many patients and is ideal for those patients who have a mild to moderate spacing in their mouth. The jaw of the patient should be considered aligned or very close to perfectly aligned and the aligners can help with crowding issues in the mouth too.

If a patient has an overbite or large jaw discrepancies, they may not be able to use this treatment modality. These types of situations typically require traditional braces, but sometimes we can do a hybrid treatment so you may not have to wear braces the entire treatment time and can change to Invisalign once the more difficult corrections have been made in braces. Every person’s mouth and bite are individual to them so if you have questions on whether Invisalign or hybrid Invisalign/braces would be a good option for you please call us!

3. TMJ PROBLEMS

The temporomandibular joint or your TMJ is one of the most complex and unique in the body. This is because it is responsible for multiple movements and functions. This joint is required for eating and speech. TMJ problems are important to our doctors, because they understand the pain that it causes.

The term TMJ is a broad term to encompass many different problems. Often times, the issues are related to stress, the bite of your teeth, and your hormone levels. There is a strong correlation between the teeth and the jaw joints, so it is important to know that orthodontic treatment can help in many cases. Our team understands the role and anatomy of the jaw joint, so we can provide you with effective treatment.

When exploring TMJ, you must know that there are two different bites that the jaw is able to close into, which includes the best fit for the jaw joint or the best fit for the teeth. The two do not often go hand in hand. When there is an issue with the two, the body’s tolerance to overcome it may be weakened and this can lead to TMJ pain and/or lock jaw.

The goal of orthodontic treatment is to make sure that the bite and jaw joints are in their ideal position when the mouth is open or closed. This way, the discrepancy between the two bites is eliminated.

For a doctor to determine whether or not you have TMJ, you will need to use a bite splint. This is an appliance that works to simulate orthodontic treatment of the teeth. It specifically works to remove the teeth from the equation and allows the jaw joint to relax into its ideal position.

Some patients benefit from a bite splint while others may need additional treatment options.

4. PHASE 1 & 2

We are often asked what Phase I and Phase II are. It is a popular choice for orthodontic treatment in our younger growing population.

Phase 1 typically addresses disharmonies in jaw/skeleton growth in children aged 7-10. Many of the treatments prescribed in this phase of treatment are aimed at bringing better harmony in growth patterns between the upper and lower jaw and may consist of a palatal expander, headgear, retainers and/or braces.

Generally once these skeletal disharmonies are corrected there is a resting period of a few years before all the adult permanent teeth grow in. Our team of doctors monitor all her phase 1 patients during this growth and tooth eruption phase to make sure that the skeletal disharmonies treated in the first phase don’t return. Once most if not all the permanent teeth have erupted typically around ages 11-13 we evaluate to see whether a second phase of treatment is needed. At this time if any skeletal imbalance has returned, and/or if the permanent teeth have spacing or crowding issues we would address them with either braces or Invisalign.

Timing of phase 1 and phase 2 is not set in stone. Every child grows slightly differently and a child’s numerical age doesn’t necessarily correlate with their dental age so it’s important that a qualified orthodontists tailors a treatment plan to each individual child.


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patient testimonials

Every Smile Tells a Story

We love it when our patients smile, and we love it even more when want they want to tell the world! Check out what our patients have to say about their 5-star experience with us.
Cassandra C.
I transferred my care to this location after moving and I’m impressed ! They’re very kind and professional. The office is so cute. I definitely recommend !
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Cassandra! We're thrilled to hear you feel welcomed and impressed by our team. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to seeing you again!
Alicia C.
My daughter just got braces at Sherman and Balhoff Prairieville's office. We are very pleased with the way the entire process. The staff are excellent! Very friendly, caring, and professional. They took great care of us by explaining every part of the process, and that put all our concerns to rest. I will always highly recommend Sherman and Balhoff. They're the best!!!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your daughter had a positive experience with our team. Your recommendations mean a lot to us. We look forward to seeing you again!
Rebecca
Five of our children have received treatment from Dr. Balhoff. We wouldn’t go anywhere else. The entire staff at Sherman and Balhoff Orthodontics has been wonderful.
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting us with your family! We love having all of you here.
Gannon B.
It was easy to make an appointment and I was seen quickly by their professional and knowledgeable staff.
I had a great experience and would highly recommend them to any family or friends.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your review Gannon!! Patients like you make our day brighter!
Jenn G.
Really great, honest people who are fantastic at what they do. The whole staff is so kind, personable and friendly.
Response from the owner:Thank you Jenn. We love what we do and people like you make our day even better!
MDU U.
From the very first time you walk though the door, it is a wonderful experience. The staff are all friendly, kind and knowledgeable. We have a wonderful experience every time and cannot recommend this practice highly enough.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind review. Having wonderful people like you in our office makes our days spectacular!
Jimbo T.
My daughter loved going to Sherman & Balhhoff. The office staff / Ashley Mannino were Awesome!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Jimbo! We're thrilled to hear that your daughter enjoyed her visits and that our staff, especially Ashley, made a positive impression. Your support means a lot to us!
Sunset C.
Everything went very smooth. The atmosphere is very relaxing and welcoming! I just them 100% with daughter!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a smooth experience and found our atmosphere relaxing. It's great to know you and your daughter felt welcome. We look forward to seeing you both again!
Chadwick C.
We have had the best experience. Their team has made my daughter very comfortable which is so important to us.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Chadwick! We're thrilled to hear that your daughter felt comfortable with our team. Providing a positive experience for our patients is our top priority. We appreciate your support!
Gabriella R.
I went in for Invisalign and the process was great. We started to notice one tooth wasn’t shifting as well so they ended up trying to refit the Invisalign. When that didn’t work they offered braces to help correct what wasn’t working even though it wasn’t their fault. Start to finish was awesome. If you’re debating between orthodontics- Sherman and balhoff is the place to go because they are on your team and will do what it takes to get the results you want !!!
Although I am not a patient there anymore due to moving states, I still think about this process often and how their entire time really put the patient first even when it probably wasn’t as profitable for them.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Gabriella! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with us and that you felt supported throughout the process. Your kind words about our commitment to patients mean a lot to our team. We wish you all the best in your new state, and thank you for recommending us!
Davia W.
The absolute best! We were recommended by my children’s dentist and the office was directly next door (Prairieville location). The entire office staff is amazing and very personable which had me sold from the consultation. My son started treatment in Aug 2024 and so did I Dec 2024. The reviews definitely match the experience and I’d recommend over and over again!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Davia! We're thrilled to hear that you and your son have had such positive experiences with us. Our team strives to provide exceptional service, and your recommendation means the world to us. We look forward to continuing to support you both throughout your treatment!
Carly D.
After having my braces off for only 7 months from a previous orthodontist, I switched to S&B after not being happy with my results and incomplete treatment. One of the best decisions I've made. Great with time management, quick and easy appointments, friendly staff. Definitely recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your positive experience, Carly! We're thrilled to hear that switching to Sherman & Balhoff Orthodontics has made such a difference for you. Our team is dedicated to providing efficient and friendly service, and your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to continuing to support your orthodontic journey!
Scott D.
I recently completed my second go-round with braces (my first was many years ago as a teenager), as a 60 year old patient of S&B.
I want to express my most sincere appreciation for the results I see when I look in the mirror...the results have exceeded my expectations.
Additionally, I was very impressed with the way I was treated (as a patient) each and every time I had an appointment.
Yet, I believe one of the most impactful (and unexpected) memories of this journey was the way I felt each time I left the building (at the end of each appointment.) With no exception, each time I was there, I felt a genuine teamwork atmosphere. To the person, they not only expressed care for me (the patient) but they expressed care for each other (the employee.)
Thank you, S&B, for not only leaving me with a visual example of success but, moreover, an emotional example of success.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words about us and our staff. We work diligently day in and day out to provide the best patient experience possible, so it’s wonderful to hear when we meet our goals!
Allison K.
They are amazing with everyone. My daughter just had braces put on in May and they have been wonderful with questions, etc.
Response from the owner:Allison thank you for your kind words about us and our staff. We work diligently day in and day out to provide the best patient experience possible, so it’s wonderful to hear when we meet our goals!
Dana G.
I used Sherman and Balhoff myself as an adult and now my daughter is a patient there. They are the best and go above and beyond for their patients. Dr. Sherman even came back after closing because my daughter was having an issue with her bite after getting her braces put on. He was so very nice and professional. I would recommend them to anyone.
Response from the owner:Dana thank you for your kind words! Your vote of confidence in our practice is why we do what we do!

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You don’t need an excuse to smile more, but we would like to give you a few extra reasons! We have four locations for your convenience, and each of them have friendly doctors and teams ready to serve you. We can’t wait to meet you!

Prairieville

Central

Baton Rouge

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Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge

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Locations

  • BATON ROUGE8311 Bluebonnet Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70810
  • ADDIS6715 LA Highway 1 S.Addis, LA 70710
  • PRAIRIEVILLE14154 LA Hwy. 73Prairieville, LA 70769
  • CENTRAL14465 Wax Rd.Central, LA 70818

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  • (225) 769-1276

Office Hours

Monday 7:30am – 4:30pm
Tuesday 7:10am – 4:30pm
Wednesday 7:10am – 4:00pm
Thursday 7:30am – 3:30pm
Friday 8:00am – 12:00pm (Admin Only)
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