What is the CAO?
The California Association of Orthodontists (CAO) is the California component of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)—the largest and oldest dental specialty organization. The CAO represents nearly 1,500 orthodontic members who practice in California. CAO members are specialists who have completed dental school and then successfully completed 2–3 years of additional training at an accredited orthodontic residency program. Our members are experts in diagnosing and treating all orthodontic problems in patients of all ages—from child to adult. Whether a patient is considering clear aligners or traditional braces, orthodontists have the expertise and the treatment options to make sure they get their best smile.
Become A Member
CAO is a component of the American Association of Orthodontists and Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists. Members receive an abundance of resources to assist in building and maintaining their orthodontic practices. Orthodontists practicing in California join at the national (AAO) level and are automatically admitted to the constituent (PCSO) and component (CAO) organizations, gaining access to member benefits for each organization.
CAO on Social Media
Let`s take a moment to honor those who keep our world moving forward with their unwavering effort and passion. Happy Labor Day! 💪🎉 #LaborDay #HardWorkers #ThankYou
We can never stress enough the importance of wearing your retainer every day! It is key to keeping your smile straight for life. #retainer #orthodontics #OrthodonticTreatment #StraightTeeth
We can never stress enough the importance of wearing your retainer every day! It is key to keeping your smile straight for life. #retainer #orthodontics #OrthodonticTreatment #StraightTeeth
This might be an obvious back to school tip but not only can healthier snack options help with better oral health but it can also help with keeping energy levels up which we know are needed for long days at school! 📚 #BackToSchoolTip #BackToSchool #HealthySnacks #OralHealth #OralHealthTip #tip
It’s always a good idea to carry a little orthodontic wax with you just in case you need it! Better to be safe than sorry. 😁 #BackToSchool #BackToSchoolTip #OralHealth #BracesTip #tip #braces #OrthodonticWax
COMMENT BELOW letting us know how you first heard about our practice and be entered to win a free consultation! #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
Fireworks, freedom, and fun! 🎇 Wishing you a Happy 4th of July! #IndependenceDay #4thofJuly #LetFreedomRing #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
Our teeth are meant to fit together in a specific way. 😁 That’s how we chew our food effectively and pronounce our words clearly. When someone’s upper and lower teeth don’t fit together well, that’s a malocclusion or “bad bite.” Malocclusions can cause jaw problems, contribute to speech impediments, make teeth more likely to break, and even make digestion less efficient.
Malocclusions can happen due to genetics, but they are often the result of bad oral habits in childhood, like thumbsucking, lip sucking, tongue thrusting, nail biting, teeth clenching, and mouth breathing. 😬 Orthodontic treatment can correct malocclusions, such as:
1. Excessive overbite: the upper teeth overlap or overjet the lower teeth by too much for a healthy bite.
2. Deep bite: such a severe overbite that the upper front teeth completely overlap the lower front teeth, which may even drive into the gums behind the upper teeth, risking injury to the gum tissue.
3. Open bite: sometimes the result of a tongue thrust habit or aggressive thumbsucking in the preschool years and beyond. The upper front teeth flare out, leaving a gap between them and their lower counterparts when biting down.
4. Crossbite: when the jaw is closed, some upper teeth are on the outside and some lower teeth are on the outside.
5. Underbite: when the jaw is closed, the lower teeth jut out in front of the upper teeth.
#BadBite #malocclusion #OrthodonticTreatment #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
A NEW SMILE starts today! 😄 Everyone should have the healthy smile they’ve always wanted, and we can help! #NewSmile #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
Join our team and start your career as an Orthodontic Assistant today! 😄 We are looking for passionate individuals who are eager to learn and grow with us. To find available positions, check out our website at CAOrtho.org/careers. We look forward to meeting you! 👍 #orthodontics #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #orthodonticassistant #careers #findajob #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
Transform your dreams into reality with our expert orthodontic care – the key to your perfect smile! 👌 #OrthodonticCare #PerfectSmile #TransformYourSmile #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
Creating smiles and easing worries - a kid-friendly dental experience that delights both children and parents alike! 😊 #KidFriendlyDentist #CreatingSmiles #PediatricDentist #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
We tend to imagine that people from earlier eras must’ve had worse teeth than we do because they didn’t have things like modern dentistry, orthodontics, and root canal treatment, but what dental problems were they dealing with and how did they protect their teeth? 🤔
We have evidence that ancient Native Americans — specifically the Manitou cliff dwellers near modern Colorado Springs — sometimes got tooth decay and gum disease, because we can see the damage to their teeth and jaws in remains found in the area.
The ancient cliff dwellers ate a diet of corn (maize), beans, squash, fish, and fresh fruits and nuts. 🌽🐟🍎 Such a high-fiber diet is great for dental health because harmful oral bacteria needs sugar and starch to multiply but high-fiber foods help keep our teeth clean as we eat them.
Aside from their diet being a pretty healthy one for their teeth and gums, they used chewsticks to clean their teeth and chewed fresh herbs like mint, cucacua, and sage to keep their breath fresh. Chewsticks were twigs with a pointy end that could act as a toothpick and the other end was frayed and worked kind of like a toothbrush. 🪥 #DentalHistory #AncientAmericans #NativeAmericans #HighFiberDiet #DentalHealth
We tend to imagine that people from earlier eras must’ve had worse teeth than we do because they didn’t have things like modern dentistry, orthodontics, and root canal treatment, but what dental problems were they dealing with and how did they protect their teeth? 🤔
We have evidence that ancient Native Americans — specifically the Manitou cliff dwellers near modern Colorado Springs — sometimes got tooth decay and gum disease, because we can see the damage to their teeth and jaws in remains found in the area.
The ancient cliff dwellers ate a diet of corn (maize), beans, squash, fish, and fresh fruits and nuts. 🌽🐟🍎 Such a high-fiber diet is great for dental health because harmful oral bacteria needs sugar and starch to multiply but high-fiber foods help keep our teeth clean as we eat them.
Aside from their diet being a pretty healthy one for their teeth and gums, they used chewsticks to clean their teeth and chewed fresh herbs like mint, cucacua, and sage to keep their breath fresh. Chewsticks were twigs with a pointy end that could act as a toothpick and the other end was frayed and worked kind of like a toothbrush. 🪥 #DentalHistory #AncientAmericans #NativeAmericans #HighFiberDiet #DentalHealth
Let’s take a look at how orthodontic treatment can overlap with speech pathology. Overbites are common causes of lisps and whistling while talking, as are gaps between teeth. Air can escape through the gap while trying to make sounds that require the speaker to press their tongue against their teeth. Orthodontic treatment corrects these problems and makes it easier to speak clearly. 🗣️
In order to correctly form words and control the speed of our speech, our tongues need room to move. A small jaw or dental crowding can restrict the tongue’s movement, increasing the chances of a stutter or slurred speech. Braces correct these issues and give the tongue all the space it needs to form the correct sounds! 👅
The English language contains several sounds that require our teeth to be correctly positioned in order to pronounce them. It’s difficult to say sounds like CH as in “chair,” SH as in “shape,” F as in “feet,” V as in “van,” J as in “jump,” S as in “soup,” the voiceless TH as in “think,” the voiced TH as in “the,” Z as in “zoom,” and ZH as in “treasure” with a bad bite, gaps, or crowding. Braces move the teeth into their proper positions, solving these pronunciation problems!
Not all speech disorders can be improved with orthodontic treatment, but anyone who struggles to make certain sounds due to malocclusions, crowding, or crooked teeth will likely see an improvement. Clearer speech isn’t the only benefit to straight teeth either — they’re easier to clean, they look great, and they even improve digestion. #StraightTeeth #CrookedTeeth #SpeechProblems #SpeechPathology #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
Let`s dive into the root meaning of orthodontics! The term itself originates from the Greek words "orthos" meaning straight or correct, and "odons" referring to tooth. Combining precision and dental science, orthodontics aims to create beautifully aligned and healthy smiles. 😀 Embrace the power of straight teeth! #OrthodonticsOrigin #StraightSmiles #greek #FunFact #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
IF YOU`RE TRAVELING this summer, here are some travel teeth tips to keep your oral health fresh and clean on the go. #TravelTeethTips #TravelTips #HealthyTeeth #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
WHEN SHOULD YOUR CHILD first see the orthodontist? Normally, at age seven! #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
THE FIXED OR BONDED RETAINER is virtually invisible and consists of a small wire bonded to the tongue side of the lower and sometimes upper front teeth. #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile
HAVING A smile you`re happy about, makes you more confident! #smile #confidence #brightsmile #braces #BenefitsOfBraces #StraightTeeth #orthodontics #healthysmile #aligningteeth #CAO #findorthodontist #orthodontist #CaliforniaAssociationofOrthodontists #braces #aligners #invisalign #straightteeth #smile