Invisalign Care

 

Many people know that Invisalign is a great alternative to braces if you don't like the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people realize is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important when you are wearing removable appliances in your mouth. It is likely that your aligners will build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, ask yourself the following questions:

1.) Can I eat with my aligners on?  These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.
2.) Am I allowed to drink anything other than water with my aligners on? Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, aligners will not be exposed to the soda..
3.) Do I brush before putting the aligners on? The aligners should be kept clean on the inside and the outside. Brushing your teeth before wearing them keeps the inside clean, as well as brushing them.

These are all very simple steps to help you build good oral habits. If you have any questions please feel free to contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team members!

--Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics

Taking Care of Your Child's Smile

Did you know that as soon as a baby’s primary teeth break through the gums, they need attention and care?  Following, are some important guidelines for taking care of the teeth:

Primary (baby) teeth

·         The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends bringing your infant to the dentist soon after the first tooth erupts, and no later than the child’s first birthday.  Your dentist can check for tooth decay, discuss other conditions and habits that may affect the teeth, as well as show you how to clean your infant’s teeth properly.

·         Starting with the first tooth erupting, start brushing twice a day with a toothbrush designed for children.  For children younger than 3, only a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice is necessary.  For children 3-6 years old, use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. 

·         Toothpaste containing fluoride is important since it helps rebuild weakened tooth enamel from the outside, and can reverse the beginnings of tooth decay.  However, always encourage rinsing and spitting the toothpaste out, since swallowing it can affect the color of the developing permanent teeth that have not erupted yet.

Permanent (adult) teeth

·         The permanent teeth start coming in around the age of 6 or 7, and continue into early adulthood.  Permanent teeth should be brushed twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.  A routine of flossing between the teeth once daily with floss or an interdental cleaner is recommended.

·         Regular dental check-ups are essential for good oral health since this allows the dentist to identify and treat problems such as tooth decay.  Professional cleanings and fluoride applications to keep the teeth strong are also done during these check-ups.

We hope you find this helpful. Caring for our patients’ oral health is just another example of why Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics is “Smiles Above the Rest”.

Do I "have" to be...

 

We are sometimes asked if patients "have" to be referred by their dentist in order to schedule a consultation in our office. It is always helpful for us to have information from your dentist when we see you for an Orthodontic Consultation. However, if you have questions about Orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, you can certainly schedule a consultation in our office. A referral isn't absolutely necessary. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team members.

Camp, Vacation, Orthodontist... Oh My!!

Summer can be a busy time, and sometimes the start back to school comes too quickly.  It can be difficult to get everything done. We've modified our schedule to accommodate as many patients as possible for new patient consultations. We have openings available, but call soon, because time is running out!

Traditional vs. Digital

 

Digital Dental Radiographs (commonly referred to as “x-rays”) vs. Traditional Dental X-Rays

As you may be aware, Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics takes pride in staying up-to-date by using the most advanced technology available for the comfort, convenience and safety of our patients.  One of those technologies is digital x-rays.  We have all seen stories in the news regarding the dangers of radiation exposure with traditional x-rays, and while many patients maintain an aversion to dental x-rays due to these types of stories, many are surprised to learn that the amount of radiation present in a full set of traditional dental x-rays only accounts for about 1 percent of their annual radiation exposure.  Digital x-rays, on the other hand, release radiation levels that are 80-90 percent lower than that! 

Other advantages to digital x-rays are less waiting time, shorter appointments, and the production of a nearly instantaneous image, which provides a better understanding of treatment for both the patient and the doctor.  Digital x-rays are also environmentally friendly.  Since digital x-rays are captured electronically, there is no need to develop the x-ray, which eliminates the disposal of harmful waste and chemicals into the environment.  Digital x-rays can also be shared easily with other medical/dental professionals.

X-rays are necessary in orthodontic treatment for many reasons.  Although you may have just had a full set of x-rays taken at your dentist’s office, our x-rays are looking for things other than decay and the overall health of the teeth.  We are looking for tumors or other pathologies, possibly noticed for the first time.  Although this is rare, it has been known to save lives!  These x-rays are also used to diagnose orthodontic problems, such as the form and position of the teeth.  We are interested in missing, extra, impacted or misplaced teeth, as well as short, long or misshaped roots.  Problems with the jaws include bones that are too big, too small, off center, too far apart, too close together or misshapen.  As you can tell, these x-rays are essential to determining where problems exist and the best way to correct them.

Not only are digital x-rays safer for our patients than traditional x-rays, please rest assured that Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics invested in digital x-rays 10+ years ago!  Providing digital x-rays and concern for our patients is another example of why we are “Smiles Above the Rest”!

If you have any questions about any of the recommendations made for your treatment in our office, please don’t hesitate to ask the doctors or any of our staff members.

 

 

 

When do baby teeth normally fall out?

Many parents worry that their children's teeth are not falling out on time. At what age should the baby teeth be lost? When should the last one fall out? Is there a predictable order?

The first baby teeth (also known as primary teeth) to erupt are usually the lower central incisors around the age of six months. The last baby teeth erupt are the upper second primary molars, which appear between 30 and 36 months of age. A child normally has 20 baby teeth by age of 3. These primary teeth then remain unchanged for about three years.

By the time a child is 6-8 years old, there is a flurry of activity in the mouth, as kids normally lose eight primary teeth within a short period of time. Between the ages of 8-10, there is a pause in the loss of teeth, which is when many parents start to question why more teeth are not falling out (or exfoliating), since they have become so accustomed to the teeth falling out routinely. The final 12 primary teeth are normally lost between the ages of 10 and 13. The following chart summarizes the standard schedule of tooth loss in children:

• Ages: 3-6 not much happens
• Ages :6-8 First 8 primary teeth normally exfoliate
• Ages: 8-10 Not much happens
• Ages: 10-13 Last 12 primary teeth exfoliate

• Age 6: Lower and upper central  incisors exfoliate
• Age 7: Lower and upper lateral incisors exfoliate
• Age 10: Lower canines and upper first molars exfoliate
• Age 11: Lower first molars exfoliate
• Age 12: Upper and lower second molars and upper canines exfoliate

Remember this chart reflects the average schedule for tooth loss! Some kids lose teeth faster than this, while others lose them more slowly. It is not unusual to see a 10 year old with no remaining baby teeth, nor does it catch us by surprise to see a 14 year old with a few still hanging on. The age the teeth are lost is not as important as the pattern in which they are lost.

If a baby tooth does not exfoliate in the correct order, or if a tooth is lost early, causing a few months to pass before a permanent tooth erupts, a problem could occur in the positioning of the new, permanent tooth. This is exactly the reason why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children should visit an orthodontist at the age of 7.  Your orthodontist will look for certain conditions during your child's orthodontic evaluation, and can inform you whether or not interceptive treatment is recommended. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team members.

How much sugar are you drinking?

Pop is no longer an occasional treat. It has become a daily habit for a growing number of people, especially kids, teens and young adults. A steady diet of soft drinks is the leading cause of tooth decay.

Following are a few tips on how to help reduce the possibility of decay:

• Drink soft drinks in moderation.
• Don't sip for extended periods of time. Ongoing sipping prolongs sugar and acid attacks on your teeth.
• Use a straw to help keep the sugar away from your teeth.
• After drinking, swish your mouth out with water to dilute the sugar.
• Never drink soda or juice before bed because the liquid pools in your mouth, coating your tongue and teeth with sugar and acid.
• Drink water instead of soft drinks. It has no sugar, acid or calories.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth.
• Use dental floss regularly to help remove bacteria from between the teeth.
• Get regular check-ups and cleanings to remove bacteria build-up (plaque).

Pop contains more sugar than you think. Listed below are a few common drinks and the amount of sugar they contain:

Barq's Root Beer 11 tsp        

Minute Maid Orange Juice 9 tsp

Sprite10 tsp    

Mtn Dew 12 tsp     

  SoBe Energy Citrus 12 tsp    

Minute Maid Lemonade 10 tsp  

Gatorade 5tsp

Coca-Cola Classic 10 tsp

 

The next time you go to take a drink, check the label; you may be surprised. If you have any further questions, please contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team members.