Holiday Candy Caution

You don't often think of candy caution with this time of year. Please remember when you are looking at all the wonderful cookies with nuts, candy canes and other hard/sticky items to be careful. Breaking brackets, retainers or causing arch wires to shift can prolong treatment times and cause other opportunities for problems within your treatment.  Have a wonderful holiday season from your friends at Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics.

There are several different types of "Growth Appliances" that can be used in young children. The Twin Block has separate upper and lower bite block components that work together as one. These two appliances interlock together to set the bite at an angle which postures the lower jaw forward into the ideal bite position. This enhances the growth of the lower jaw. For further information about the different types of growth appliances please feel free to contact a Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team member.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month

We love October around Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics. Not only because it is almost time for our annual pumpkin decorating contest, but also because October is National Orthodontic Health Month.

Every year, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recognizes October as a time to raise awareness about the benefits of orthodontic treatment. The AAO has more than 16,000 members, and is the oldest professional association for orthodontist in North America.

October is a month full of hard, sticky, crunchy, and chewy treats, and Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics would like to encourage patients to be kind to their teeth during treatment. If you have braces, try to avoid carmel, taffy, bubble gum, and candy with nuts. If you can't keep yourself away from the sugar, opt for
softer candy, such as peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth treats.

As always, remember to brush every time after you eat, especially after eating sugary snacks and treats. Exposing your teeth to sweets increases your risk of cavities by allowing the sugar to coat the teeth, and increases the possibility of decalcification (permanent white marks) on the teeth.

If you have any questions about what treats are acceptable while in orthodontic treatment, please feel free to contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team members.

Myths about Orthodontics

The stereotypical braces wearer is normally thought of as a middle schooler with a mouth full of metal brackets, which leads to numerous myths about orthodontics and discourages many people from getting the orthodontic care they need.


Myth 1:  Orthodontic treatment is for kids. Although teenagers often visit the orthodontist to get braces, adults represent a growing portion of orthodontic patients. Whether you're 7 or 70, a consultation with an orthodontist can identify problems with your teeth, jaws, or bite that can be corrected with orthodontic intervention.


Myth 2:  Traditional, metal braces are the only available option. Advances in orthodontic technology have rendered improved braces and other orthodontic  appliances that are much less noticeable than the typical metal brackets. Here at Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics we offer many options outside the traditional, such as: Invisalign, Incognito (braces attached to the inside of your teeth), and several types of ceramic (clear) brackets.


Myth 3:  Orthodontic treatment is only helpful for crooked teeth. Sure, a crooked smile is a common reason that patients seek orthodontic care. However, orthodontic treatment helps with a wide range of dental health problems. From missing teeth to overbite to jaw misalignment, orthodontic treatment can help with many problems associated with the teeth, gums, and jaws.


Myth 4:  Orthodontic treatment is costly, and varies by office.  Actually, orthodontic treatment is very affordable these days relative to  other increases in cost of living and material items.  Our office and our fees are extremely comparable to others in this area, and less than much of the United States.  In our practice, we offer internal financing, thus avoiding outside and third party financial institutions and costly interest and administrative fees. We essentially offer interest free loans to our patients. This is not common by most orthodontic practices and is another reason why Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics is "Smiles Above the Rest"!

If you have any questions about any of these myths, or would like any more information please feel free to contact any of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team members.

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Did you know February is National Children's Dental Health Month?  Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start toward a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.  Our doctors also follow the American Dental Association and American Association of Orthodontists recommendations regarding orthodontic consultation, by age 7.

Good dental habits:

• Brushing for at least 2 minutes
• Brushing at least 2 times a day
• Floss teeth daily
• Limit the amount of sugary, sticky snacks
• Eat healthy meals
• See your dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team members.

IMPRESSION-FREE ORTHODONTICS!

Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics is proud to announce the integration of technology into our practice, allowing for us to avoid that sticky, gooey impression technique for most orthodontic procedures.  We have incorporated into our practice the 3M Unitek True Definition Scanner for improved accuracy, comfort and convenience of delivering orthodontic care for our patients.  This is just another example of how Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics is “Smiles Above the Rest”. 

NEVER at our office!

Patients at Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics never have to wear headgear! Not many offices can say they NEVER use headgear. There are several types of headgears, but none of them are convenient, comfortable or inconspicuous. A headgear slides into tubes on the braces, and is kept in place using a neck strap that wraps around and hooks to the other side--very uncomfortable.

Early treatment, using a new generation of appliances, is a much more comfortable alternative to wearing a headgear, and provides a superior final result. This is just one more reason why Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics is "Smiles Above the Rest".