Choosing the right Orthodontist and Team for you!

While it is true than an attractive, healthy smile is an asset that can last a lifetime, not all orthodontic treatment is of the same quality. Choosing the right Orthodontist for your family is too important to simply accept the lowest bid. All smiles are not created equally and simply because a dentist has a license is unfortunately not a guarantee that you’ll be happy with the results. Here are four simple things you may want to consider as you choose your Orthodontist:

Consider the organization of the office and staff. Although you may not thoroughly understand all of the terminology or treatment recommendations initially, you can tell a well-run office when you see one. Is everything clean and in its place? Are the technology and equipment up-to-date? Is the staff friendly, well-trained, and helpful? If so, it is safe to assume that an equal amount of care will go into the treatment the office will provide. What kind of care will you receive from a doctor who cuts corners on his facility and staff just so his fee can be a little lower?

Another consideration should be the Doctor’s attitude towards his job. Will he be passionate about your care? Can he communicate his vision of your treatment plan so that it makes sense?  Does he remove braces early because time is up, or does he finish the job? Will he examine your child at every appointment to make sure that treatment stays on schedule? Not all Orthodontists are “hands-on” and it shows in the final results.

Also consider whether the Orthodontist really a good doctor. How did you find him, a recommendation or an advertisement? Have you actually seen results of his work? Do you have friends who are a part of the office? There is misconception that as long as a Doctor has a degree, he’ll be able to give you the same results as anyone else. If that was the case, finding the lowest fee would make sense. Unfortunately, not all treatment is the same. Some Orthodontists do not stay current on the proven state of the art approach Orthodontics can provide today. Some Doctors, such as Dr. Boschken are very particular about their final results and focus on ideal mechanical function as well as a truly beautiful aesthetic result. For something this important, you should carefully decide what approach is important to you.

Finally, how do you feel when you are in the office? Is it a good fit for you and your family? Is it a happy, fun place? Unlike your family physician that you only see when you are sick, you will be visiting your orthodontist and his staff for at least a couple of years, sometimes five or six years if the treatment is done in two phases. You should feel very comfortable and happy and that is primarily why here at Boschken Orthodontics, we want you to feel like you are right at home.

Simply stated, all Orthodontic treatment is NOT the same. The facilities and technology are a reflection of the Orthodontist who will create the smile that you or your child will have the rest of your life. Special attention should be taken to choose the Doctor that you will entrust with this important care. As with most things in life, you usually really do get what you pay for, and when it comes to your smile, you can’t afford to make a mistake.  Why not give us a call and visit with us for a spectacular Orthodontic experience? (408) 225-6660

Boschken Orthodontics: All those Orthodontic Terms!

It may feel like you’re learning to speak a different language when you’re talking to professional dental specialist, but it doesn't have to be that way!  Here is a quick guideline on some of the terms commonly used by orthodontists and dentists alike.

Anterior Teeth: Front teeth.


Crossbite: One or more upper teeth (either in the front of your mouth or, more commonly in the back) fit behind the lower teeth, instead of in front of those teeth.  It’s extremely important this condition be identified and corrected because it can alter your skeletal growth.




Overbite: One or more upper teeth come down too low over the bottom teeth.  Too much overbite is often called a “deep bite.”






Open Bite: The upper and lower teeth don’t touch.  An anterior (front teeth) open bite is when the front teeth don’t touch the lower teeth and is often the result of thumb-sucking or a pacifier habit as an infant.



Buccal: The side of the mouth closest to your cheek.

Palatal: The side of the mouth closest to the roof of your mouth.

Lingual: The side of the mouth closest to your tongue.

Occlusion: How the teeth bite together between the upper and lower jaws.  Ideally, the upper teeth fit slightly over the lower teeth, so the points of the upper molars fit thebumps and  grooves of the lower molars.  This gives you a good bite.

Malocclusion:  You have a malocclusion when the teeth are not fitting together properly.   Common types of malocclusions include crowding, gaps or excessive spacing between teeth, crossbite, overbite, underbite and open bite.

Class I Occlusion: Your back teeth are properly aligned and allow for ideal chewing.

Class II Occlusion: Your upper teeth are too far forward compared to your lower teeth, or your bottom teeth are too far back compared to your upper teeth and jaw. This condition makes it look like you have a very small lower jaw or a "weak chin."


Class II, Division 1: Your upper middle front teeth, called the central incisors, flare out over your lower teeth, resulting in an overjet (too much flaring.)  This condition is also known as bucked teeth.





Class II, Division 2: Your upper side front teeth, called the lateral incisors, are too far forward and the central incisors are too far back over your lower teeth, often resulting in crowding and an overbite.  This condition is also known as a deep bite.





Class III Bite: Your lower front teeth are further forward than your upper teeth.  This condition is called an underbite. This condition makes it look like you have a very prominent chin.



Phase I Treatment: This is known as early interceptive orthodontic treatment for children between the ages of 6 and 10. Phase I treatment takes place while the child has a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth. Phase I treatment helps properly form the jaw and allows the errupting permanent teeth to be guided into their proper positions. This repositions the teeth in a much more stable place than allowing the teeth to come in crooked, and can prevent bigger orthodontic problems from developing in the future.  While Phase I treatment can help with many orthodontic problems, it’s common to still need Phase II treatment once all the permanent teeth have grown in .

Phase II Treatment:  This type of treatment is recommended when all of the permanent teeth have come in. It often involves braces or other appliances to straighten the permanent teeth and properly align the bite.  Some Phase II cases can be treated with clear aligner therapy, such as Invisalign® instead of conventional braces.
For more information about orthodontic conditions and treatments, please visit http://www.drboschken.com/.  There you will find further helpful information at your fingertips! Give us a call if you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation (408) 225-6660.

Boschken Orthodontics discusses: How to Wear Adult Braces with Confidence

Some adults with braces, at times, can’t help feeling a little bit self-conscious. One in five orthodontic patients are over 18 years old, but sometimes it may still be common for an adult to be the only grown-up at a party or work conference wearing brackets and wires. We’ve found several ways of helping you get past the awkwardness and thereby learning to be really comfortable in braces:

• Carry Your Supplies. Make sure you’ve brought along whatever works best for keeping your teeth clean on the go—a travel toothbrush, dental floss, wax, proxabrush, etc. The first step is being prepared!

• Eat Wisely. When you hit the hors d’oeuvres tray, choose bite-sized items you can chew with your back teeth. Anything that fits on a toothpick is usually a good guideline choice. Cheese, small slices of deli meat, grapes, and olives work well but bread, rice and celery, not so much. Also, meats such as bacon have a way of getting lodged between brackets and gums and is really hard to remove. So eat that bacon sparingly if you must, but be prepared for a restroom brushing session later.

• Put Your Best Smile Forward. In addition to doing a good job with your daily brushing and flossing, be sure to get your teeth cleaned regularly at your general dental office! Since it’ll be harder to give those tooth surfaces a good scrubbing, they may start to look a little dingy. The hygienist will thouroughly clean your teeth and remove stains, leaving you with shiny, whiter teeth. Also, remember to consult with Dr. Boschken before using any at-home bleaching kits.

• Break The Ice. Sometimes people aren’t too sure of what to say when they see adults wearing braces. It’s almost like you can see the wheels turning in their heads: “Is she wearing braces? I can’t tell for sure. I wish she’d keep her mouth open longer so I can see. Wait, has she always had braces? Hm, should I say something or just pretend I can’t tell? Am I staring?”

Bringing up your braces right away gets the subject out in the open. There is almost always some opportunity to introduce it into the conversation. For example, “Thanks, I’d love some chewing gum but my orthodontist wouldn't approve.” Once you do this, the tension is lifted and the other person generally can’t wait to talk about them. Be prepared for a few questions, and please feel free to refer your friends to Boschken Orthodontics!  (With our Care To Share* program, you will benefit too!!)

*ask us today if you aren't familiar with our referral program benefits (408) 225-6660