Blog

Eliminate Crowding Without Extractions

Posted on January 3, 2017

Question: I have two children who both started orthodontic treatment around the same time. My oldest son lives with his father who took him to an orthodontist who extracted four of his teeth. I took my youngest son to you, and even though both children had a similar pattern of crowding, you did not extract… Read more »


Comparing the H-4 System

Posted on December 27, 2016

Question: I took my 12-year-old daughter to three different orthodontists for an evaluation on her underbite. We chose your practice because we liked your treatment plan, but why did we need to go through three different evaluations? Answer: The recommendation plan given to you depends on the experience of the orthodontist and the system of… Read more »


Best Option for Closing Spaces

Posted on December 20, 2016

Question: My child is missing two lower adult, front teeth. I was provided the option of either closing the space with braces, resulting in my child having a small overbite, or placing dental implants when he turns 16. What is the better option? Answer: The best option is to close the space and have a… Read more »


What is Hypodontia?

Posted on December 13, 2016

Question: My son is missing two lower adult teeth. Is this a common problem? Answer: Hypodontia is the most prevalent tooth disorder in which a person is missing at least one adult tooth, excluding wisdom teeth. The population prevalence is 4%-7% with it being slightly higher in females than males. Hypodontia occurs 49% of the… Read more »


Crooked Teeth and Eye Tracking

Posted on December 6, 2016

Question: I had really crooked teeth and an overbite that affected my level of self-confidence. As a manager of a local retail store, I noticed people would stare at my mouth when they would come in to shop. I think they were noticing how crooked my smile appeared. Now that I have completed orthodontic treatment,… Read more »


Are Braces Affordable? How much do Braces Cost? And Answers to Other Braces Questions.

Posted on November 18, 2016

Question: I like to do my research on the web at night, and on the weekends. Is someone from your office available on your website to chat with me about braces at 11pm on a Saturday? Answer:  Yes! My office has a staff member available to answer all of your questions through an online chat linked to my website…. Read more »


Second Opinions on Braces in Farmington, NM

Posted on October 11, 2016

Question: Are you okay when patients come to you for second opinion? Answer: Yes! A mother came into my office today and explained that she went to another office for a free consultation before seeing me, and said she felt very pressured to start treatment there. When she told the office she wanted to get… Read more »


There’s more to an amazing smile than just straight teeth!

Posted on September 30, 2016

Question: I always thought my front teeth should be “flat,” straight across to be perfect, but you explained this look made people appear older. You informed me that the best smiles had curves that followed the curve of a person’s lower lip. How do you create this type of smile? Answer: Curved smiles are definitely more… Read more »


Why I use traditional braces in Farmington, NM

Posted on August 14, 2016

Question: I notice the smiles on your patients look so much wider and more attractive than the smile I got from traditional braces. Why?  Answer: Most orthodontist concentrate on straightening teeth and fixing a patient’s bite. Orthodontists like me who are using the H-4 System of braces want to create wide smiles that compliment a… Read more »


Dr. Herman: How to Avoid Tooth Extractions with Braces

Posted on July 14, 2016

Question: I am really stressed out. I went to an orthodontist whose plan was to take out four teeth on my 10 year old son. Yesterday I took my son to an oral surgeon who was going to put him to sleep for the procedure. My son got extremely anxious in the waiting room because… Read more »