Our Philosophy

The experience of having successfully treated several thousand patients has allowed us to fine tune our diagnostic skills and has provided us with insight on the most effective treatment approaches. We apply this extensive experience combined with our cutting edge in technology to develop a technique which provides what we consider the best results and most stable results possible.

Before I explain my philosophy and technique, allow me to make clear certain issues.

I do not accept short cuts and I am not an individual that will be influenced by marketing techniques. As I have a deep respect for my profession and the patients I treat, it has always been my philosophy to put the excellence in orthodontic treatment first. I will not surrender to attracting patients for the wrong reasons. For example, I will not lure patients to my office by using clever advertising tricks like the use of invisible braces or the latest design in braces that magically treat your child in half the time.

Orthodontic Treatment is something you will do once in your life. We do it properly using the appropriate appliance and taking the necessary time to guarantee the best result, a result to last a lifetime. My former patients and staff members will confirm to you that I have followed that philosophy from day one. Time and money has not and will never influence my behaviour. I am proud to claim that I have always used the utmost grade of products in my practice. Our braces and wires are of the highest quality MADE IN JAPAN. However never forget: It is not the BRACES that treat you or your child, it is the ORTHODONTIST.

THE SECRET TO THE SUCCESS OF MY TECHNIQUE IS THAT IT INVOLVES A TWO PHASE TREATMENT.

“Why not just put braces on?”
We hear this from parents all the time. Because our office emphasizes in this form of treatment whereas others do not, it is a question we hear frequently. And, it is a good question. There was a time –a generation ago- when orthodontists would use braces to move teeth. Very little emphasis was placed on other structural problems such as facial profile, dental arch size etc. Many years later and lots of learning later, we now know that it is imperative to establish a stable foundation before moving teeth. Enter the Two-Phase Treatment – a steady method that builds a quality foundation for results that last a lifetime.

-> LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TWO PHASE TREATMENT

THE TWO PHASE TREATMENT FOR BETTER RESULTS

Two Phase orthodontic treatment was virtually not done thirty-two years ago, when Dr. Cassar first started his practice in Sherbrooke. In that era, most orthodontists simply did not typically even see patients until they were 13 or 14 years old. At that time, orthodontic correction was done after the teeth would get as “crooked” as they were going to get, then we attempted to “retro-fix them” as best we could. Most of the time four extractions were performed to treat patients. However, treating patients this way earned the reputation of creating orthodontic profiles. Everyone undergoing orthodontics looked the same.

Orthodontic problems are a result of perfectly healthy, completely normally formed “parts”, making up the mouth, having to all work together but mismatched to each other.

Phase I treatment involves putting nature on a “better path”. It involves an enhancement of the sizes or shapes by using generally painless, slow passive, appliances for usually 6-12 months. The primary emphasis in this phase is the bones. They are softer and growing more rapidly, consequently easier to change.

Phase II treatment finishes the job, by typically just straightening the teeth. Additionally, the Second Phase of treatment to usually significantly shorter in time.

-> LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TWO PHASE TREATMENT

MOTHER NATURE – OUR PARTNER

Everyone grows according to his or her own genetic blueprint. When we initiate orthodontic treatment, it is not because a child has reached a particular age, but because they have reached a particular point in their development. That may be right away, or it may require coming back every 6 months for diagnostic measurements to identify the appropriate point of growth. As Dr. Cassar always says, “If you work with Mother Nature, she will help you get great results. If you do not, you will lose”.

A WORD ABOUT THE MAGIC BRACES

Today, you will hear of special types of braces (which I will not name) that claim to do the same without requiring this extra phase of treatment. Wouldn’t I be interested in using this magical brace if it eliminates a whole phase of treatment and on top of that, in less treatment time and less appointments? It is more interesting for me as well if I treat your child with less appliances and time.

However I truly believe in my technique which I have perfected with over thousands of cases treated and over 35 years of experience. Forcing teeth to fit jaws without modifying the jaw is not the way to go. It ends up with teeth being flared. Or, you do not want someone saying: She’s a pretty girl but when she smiles she is all teeth. The foundation of the house as is the jaws are extremely important in the results you seek in orthodontic care. Remember it is the orthodontist that treats your child, not the braces he uses. Would you select a surgeon because of the scalpel he will use? Of course not.

I truly believe in this technique which I have perfected with over thousands of cases treated.