Did you know....

Did you know that Rapid Palatal Expansion is proven to help with sleep apnea? The American Journal of Orthodontics has published information supporting that Rapid Palatal Expansion is extended to the nasal cavity. It is suggested that, with expansion, nasal width and volume is increased, which  helps improve nasal airflow in patients with narrowed airways. If you have any questions regarding palatal expansion or sleep apnea, please feel free to contact any of our Sondhi-Biggs team members for more information.

Are braces for me?

Braces aren't just for kids anymore! Regardless of your age, if you have always wanted to smile with confidence, but held back knowing that your teeth were less than perfect, getting braces might be the solution you have been looking for. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of orthodontic treatment, there are many dental health benefits as well. When your teeth and bite fit well, your teeth,gums, bone, jaws and jaw joints are more likely to remain healthy. This is no different when evaluating a child.

Signs that you or your child should schedule a consultation include:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Sucking the thumb or fingers
• Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude, or are recessed
• Speech Difficulty
• Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
• Protruding teeth, teeth that meet in an abnormal way, or teeth that don't meet at all
• Grinding or clenching of teeth
• Inability to comfortably close lips

If you have noticed any of the traits listed above, Dr. Sondhi and Dr. Biggs would be able to assess your orthodontic needs during a consultation and explain the benefits you could expect to receive from your treatment results.

How long will my treatment take?

One of the most common questions asked by patients when considering orthodontic treatment is "How long will I be in braces?". Unfortunately the answer for each individual is different. There are many factors to consider when setting up the timeline for treatment. Typically, our patients treatment times are much shorter than years ago. The best way to get the answer to this question is to schedule a consultation. At that time, Dr. Sondhi & Dr. Biggs will speak with you about all the details pertaining to your case and review your treatment plan. Please contact a member of our office at 317-846-1455 to schedule your consultation.

Stay Cool with a Braces-Friendly Summer Treat!

Summer is here and in full swing! Kids and adults are spending more time outside; being active and enjoying the heat and sunshine. What's better on a hot summer day than a delicious treat to cool down after being outside in the sun? We know! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists(AAO) have shared a wonderful recipe for Watermelon Sorbet!

Watermelon Sorbet

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 to 3 cups of watermelon, diced, no seeds or rind

Directions:

In a small saucepan, heat the water, sugar, and lime juice on medium-high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Chill this "syrup" for at least 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the watermelon chunks in a food processor or blender to liquefy. Add the chilled syrup to the watermelon puree and blend. Freeze sorbet in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

What do orthodontic rubber bands do?

Orthodontic rubber bands, or elastics, can be an integral aspect of orthodontic care. Elastics help to align your bite by causing the teeth to move in a specific direction with greater efficiency. We will instruct you on how to hook up your elastics and the amount of time to wear them. The tension of the rubber band produces pressure on the teeth causing the bite to change, which helps with the correction of an underbite, overbite or crossbite.

Failure to wear your elastics as instructed could potentially lengthen your treatment time and make it more difficult to achieve an optimal result. If you have any questions about elastics or instructions you were given with them, feel free to contact a Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics staff member.

Invisalign questions

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, ask yourself the following questions:

1.) Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.
2.) Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.
3.) Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits.

--Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics

Summer Contest

Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics wants to see where you are spending your summer. Wherever you go, take a picture of yourself while wearing your Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics t-shirt. Then upload it to our Facebook page, email it to the office at braces@indyortho.com or mail it in to the office.  At the end of the summer, we will draw from all the responses for a special prize. Good luck, and have a wonderful summer from Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics!