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. Have a wonderful holiday season from your friends at Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics.

Crossbite, overbite, and underbite... What's the difference?

As you know, your overall health is connected to your oral health. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, your breathing, speech, and overall appearance could be affected. As a result of malocclusion, also commonly referred to as a "bad bite", your teeth may become worn, or have other effects of long term damage. The only way to properly address and correct your malocclusion is with orthodontic treatment, usually with braces.

A malocclusion may also be referred to as an underbite, crossbite or overbite. The difference in the 3 types of malocclusions are explained below:

• Crossbite: This could be one single tooth or an entire section of your mouth in which the upper and lower jaws are misaligned, usually causing one or more upper teeth to bite inside the lower teeth. Crossbites can happen on the front or along the sides of your mouth and are known to cause wear on the teeth, gum disease and/or bone loss.
• Overbite: The upper teeth overlap the lower teeth excessively. Overbites can lead to gum issues or irritation and even wear on the lower teeth, and can potentially cause jaw pain or possible jaw joint problems. An overbite can be caused by oral habits, such as thumb sucking.
• Underbite: The lower teeth protrude past the front teeth. This can be caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or a combination. Underbites can also be caused by missing upper teeth, which can prevent the normal function of the front teeth. This, in turn, leads to unfavorable wear on teeth, and possible TMJ issues.

Fortunately, we are able to treat these bite problems.  If you suspect you or your child has a bite misalignment, we encourage you to contact any of our Sondhi-Biggs staff members to address your concerns. By initiating an orthodontic consultation at the ADA recommended age of 7, you can help your child avoid years of unnecessary problems and/or self-consciousness about their teeth. Our doctors will evaluate your child to determine whether treatment now or later is in their best interest.

Common Misconceptions....

 

There are several common misconceptions regarding the difference between the types of treatment handled by dentists and orthodontists. These misconceptions can create confusion about what the Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team will do for our patients and exactly how our team can help them. Therefore, we would like to explain a couple of myths and misconceptions about orthodontics.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Dr. Sondhi and Dr. Biggs are just like your general dentist. The truth is that they are actually very different from your family dentist. It is true that both dentists and orthodontists care about helping you enjoy a lifetime of good dental and oral health, their methodology is very different.

While a dentist treats the overall health of the teeth, an orthodontist is seen due to very specific concerns regarding the positioning of the teeth. Most of the patients that we see are concerned with the alignment of their teeth/jaws. It is important for an orthodontist to see children as early as age 7. At that age, it is possible to detect problems that have not become too advanced to treat. Your family dentist may also refer your child when they feel appropriate.

Another common misconception about orthodontists, is that they only treat children. It is true that when you visit an orthodontic clinic, you will see a lot of young kids, but many teenagers and adults are in active treatment at any given time. Because the alignment of your teeth can change for several different reasons at any point in life, orthodontic treatment can be recommended at any age.

If you have any questions about what Dr. Sondhi and Dr. Biggs can do for you, feel free to ask any one of our team members. Just one more reason Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics is "Smiles Above the Rest".

Flexible Health Spending Accounts

In the past, the IRS had always insisted that any money set aside in Flexible Health Spending Accounts would have to be spent within that calendar year.  This always created a challenge for families, because if they did not save enough, they lost some of the tax advantages, and if they saved too much, it would be confiscated by the government. 

Fortunately, the Treasury Department appears to have come to their senses, and has now allowed employers to make an exception to the 30 year old "use it or lose it" policy.  The employers now have the discretion to allow individuals to carry over $500 from one year to the next.  However, this is not a universal rule, and is subject to adoption by individual employers, so you will need to check with your employer, or the HR department.

Take advantage of your Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts, and plan necessary orthodontic treatment accordingly. Please call any one of our team members at Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics if you have any questions about your options!

Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics Food Drive

From November 4th through December 23rd, Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics is having our annual non-perishable food drive. All donations will be made to Dayspring Center, which opened in 1981 to help families in Indianapolis during difficult times. You can help by bringing donations to our office. Items collected may include non-perishable foods such as jelly, peanut butter, canned fruits or vegetables, soups, crackers, beans, cereal, etc., as well as toiletry items (i.e. toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, etc.). Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics will match all donations made to our office. We would like to thank you in advance for your support.

Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics gives back!!

 

On Tuesday, October 29, 2013, Dr. Biggs, his wife Amy, and friends Phillip and Kristen Schaeffer attended the "SuperBOWL for Saturday's Kids" at Pinheads Entertainment Center.  This event was hosted by Jeff and Karen Saturday. The annual celebrity bowl helps to raise funds to benefit The People's Burn Foundation, which provides support for burn survivors and their families. Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics proudly supports the Saturday's for their efforts.

Halloween is almost here....

 

With the approaching holiday we just want to pass on a friendly reminder.... Don't forget to stay away from the hard, sticky and chewy candy. Remember to be safe and watch for goblins and ghouls.