Orthodontics Specialist
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Banks Dental Group
Christopher Banks, DMD
Dentist located in Auburn Gresham, Chicago, IL
SOFT INTRO (50-100 words): If your bite is misaligned or the shape and development of your jaw is off, come see Christopher Banks, DMD. He’ll evaluate your teeth to determine if options such as traditional braces or Invisalign® aligners are right for you. Banks Dental Group provides orthodontic services to residents in the Auburn Gresham area of Chicago.
Orthodontics Q & A
What is orthodontics?
Orthodontics is the treatment of teeth irregularities (especially of alignment and occlusion) and jaws. An orthodontist evaluates your bite to determine if you’d benefit from cosmetic dentistry or devices, such as headgear or braces. Conditions in your mouth that warrant a visit to an orthodontist include:
- Crooked teeth or misaligned tips
- Speech or chewing issues
- Wide gaps between teeth
- Excessive tooth wear or trauma
Dr. Banks also can help with tooth crowding when your jaw isn’t large enough to hold all your teeth, as well as with impacted teeth that emerge only partially, or not at all.
Who is a candidate for braces?
Braces help correct malocclusions, a simple condition in which your bite doesn’t line up properly. You may have crooked teeth or an incongruity in the way your top teeth relate to your bottom teeth. Thumb sucking, genetics, or an injury could all be responsible. Specific malocclusion issues include protruding front teeth, asymmetrical teeth, and over- or underbites.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign are clear aligners that fit over your teeth and are almost unnoticeable. They’re custom-fit to you so that they shift your teeth slightly, using just the right amount of force in the right places. They correct many of the same bite and tooth alignment issues that metal braces correct.
How does Invisalign differ from braces?
Instead of using brackets and metal wires that are affixed to your teeth for an extended period of time, Invisalign clear aligners can be removed whenever necessary. This allows you to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth and enjoy foods, such as popcorn or nuts, that may be off limits with braces. You remove Invisalign for competitive sports, eating, and tooth hygiene.
Invisalign may also be more comfortable for some patients, as the aligners are made of plastic rather than metal.
How does Invisalign work?
An initial consultation with Dr. Banks determines whether Invisalign is right for the correction your teeth need. He makes an image of your teeth and maps out a treatment plan that details the movement of your teeth and length of treatment.
Your aligners are custom made, used according to your assigned schedule, usually 20 to 22 hours per day. Every week or two, you change to a new aligner that matches the shifts your teeth make. How long you wear the Invisalign aligners depends on your treatment plan and how much correction is needed.
Accepted Insurance Plans
At Banks Dental Group, we accept all insurance plans except Medicaid and private insurances. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office and ask for Annette if you do not see your insurance provider listed here.
Banks Dental Group has made arrangements to provide extended payment plans with low interest rates. Applications are available at our front desk or please call 844-884-SAVE (7283) and quick approval can be made.
