The Reality of Retainers

You've done it! You got your braces off and have been given your retainers. Now it is up to you to keep your smile beautiful.

The fact is that throughout your lifetime, even if you have had orthodontic treatment, you can expect that your teeth will shift. The changes in tooth position are not a failure of your orthodontic treatment but a natural process of life. But you have the power to control and limit these changes by wearing your retainers as instructed.

Your orthodontist will give you instructions on how your retainers should be worn. Most likely, at the beginning, you will be asked to wear them all the time unless you are eating or brushing. After a short time, you will be instructed to wear them at nighttime only. And you should wear them indefinitely. Yes, that means the rest of your life! Although the movement may only be slight, your teeth will not stay perfectly straight unless you wear your retainers.

But why do they move you ask? Well...there are various forces that cause the teeth to shift. This  includes wear of the teeth from chewing, new fillings and crowns, and changes in the bones and muscles of your face as you age. These changes are sometimes only slight and happen very gradually. The retainer can minimize the effects of these forces by holding the teeth in their current position.

You have done the hard part...this part is easy! Take care of your retainers and your retainers will take care of you! Remember, a retainer will not straighten your teeth. It will only maintain the current position of your teeth. So if you lose your retainer or it gets broken, be sure to get it replaced as soon as possible.

Which Toothbrush Do I Choose?

Choosing the right toothbrush is no easy task! There are seemingly hundreds to choose from. And when you have braces, it makes the choice that much harder. Since brushing is the single most important thing you can do to maintain healthy teeth and gums, choosing the right toothbrush is very important.

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a toothbrush...

• Purchase a brush with soft bristles. The soft bristles help remove the plaque better without damaging the enamel or injuring the gums.
• Make sure the toothbrush is not too large. A smaller brush head will make it easier to get into the smaller spaces between the teeth and around your braces.
• It is important to replace your toothbrush about every 3 months. And if you are wearing braces, you may need to replace it even sooner. Worn bristles become less effective at removing the plaque from your teeth.
• Consider purchasing an electric toothbrush.

While it is possible to do an adequate job brushing using a manual toothbrush, for someone who is wearing braces, the use of an electric toothbrush definitely has it's advantages. Because the electric brush moves itself, more focus can be placed on how the brush is angled, allowing the patient to do a better job. There is also a tendency to not brush as hard, so there is less injury to the gums and less gum recession. Patients are often more motivated to use an electric toothbrush; it makes brushing a little more fun!

For our patients at DiCiccio Orthodontics, we highly recommend the Phillips Sonicare toothbrush. This toothbrush has been clinically proven to remove plaque from the teeth and braces much better than a regular toothbrush. The sonic technology creates a unique brushing action which drives fluid between the teeth, along the gumline and around the braces to clean more effectively. Another great advantage is that the Sonicare has a 2 minute timer to help ensure that you are brushing for the proper length of time.

The Braun Oral-B toothbrush is another popular electric toothbrush that gets good reviews. The motion of the Oral-B is different from that of the Sonicare. The Oral-B has an oscillatory motion, while the Sonicare has a vibrating movement. Both toothbrushes perform well, however for someone with braces, in our opinion, the Sonicare would be the toothbrush of choice.

Get a Gold Medal Smile

What kid doesn't want to be an Olympic star? Not only can these athletes inspire our kids to "go for the gold" but this year they will be inspiring them to "Get a Gold Medal Smile". February is National Children's Dental Health Month. What better time to give your kids a refresher course on what it takes to keep their smile healthy and beautiful!

Good oral hygiene is important during all fazes of life but never more important than when your child is wearing braces! At DiCiccio Orthodontics, we put a HUGE emphasis on healthy teeth and gums. Our patients earn double the points for getting a "good grade" on their oral hygiene, not to mention the points they earn for seeing their general dentist for regular check-ups.

So just what does it take to keep a smile healthy and beautiful? If you are wearing or have worn braces, you have accomplished the first step! Straight teeth not only look great and make you feel proud of yourself, they are also much easier to keep clean. If your teeth are in proper alignment, food is generally directed away from the gum line and it is much easier to brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

If you haven't worn braces, that is a great place to start! Our office would be happy to schedule a complimentary consultation to get the ball rolling. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child be seen by an orthodontic specialist by the age of 7. There are many developments things that the specialist can see. You will then be guided to the proper timing of treatment for your child. Keep in mind, you do not have to be referred by a general dentist to take this very important step.

Here are some other things that you can do to get that "Gold Medal Smile" and keep it that way.

• Brush twice a day
• Clean between your teeth daily
• Visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings
• Wear a mouthguard when playing sports
• Stay away from sugary, carbonated beverages
• Chew sugarless gum
• Limit your snacks and eat healthy foods
• Make sure your child has an evaluation by an orthodontic specialist by age 7

It's really NOT that difficult to "Get a Gold Medal Smile" but it does take some discipline and a little bit of work each day. It is not that much different than "going for the gold" I guess!  And it is definitely worth the effort!

Brushing, what's the big deal??

What is the big deal about brushing? Most likely you have been told the majority of your life to brush and floss your teeth twice a day. You have heard it from your parents ever since you can remember and your dentist and orthodontist tell you every time you go in for an appointment. But why is it such a big deal? Here's why...

Most young people don't understand that if the teeth aren't kept nice and clean, especially when wearing braces, that they can actually end up with permanent stains (decalcification) or even worse, cavities on their teeth. These white colored stains will never go away. They are caused by plaque, which can easily be removed with a toothbrush and floss.

Plaque is a sticky substance, made of bacteria, that forms on the teeth from the foods you eat. You know that "fuzzy" feeling you get on your teeth when you haven't brushed in a while...that's plaque. The bacteria in the plaque produces acids, which if left on the teeth, destroys the enamel and causes decalcification and cavities. The plaque also cause the gums to become red, puffy and bleed easily. Over an extended period of time, it can lead to the loss of bone that supports the teeth in the mouth.

So that's why! Hopefully, now that you understand the reason behind all the fuss, you will pull out that toothbrush and floss on a daily basis and brush those braces until they sparkle. If you aren't quite sure exactly how you should be brushing, take a peek at the brushing video below. By angling the toothbrush, you can more easily reach the surfaces of the teeth next to the gum line above and below the wires. Brush away!

A Picture is Worth...

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the phrase..."A picture is worth...?" Most likely you said... "a thousand words!" This statement has never been more true than in the office of an orthodontist. 

There are three main types of records that the orthodontist uses to help determine the best possible treatment plan for their patients. The first two are study models and X-rays. The third, which may be seen as a luxury or an unnecessary waste of time,  is clinical photographs. At DiCiccio Orthodontics, photographs are an invaluable tool and provide many benefits to our patients throughout the course of their treatment. 

With the huge advances in technology and training, the orthodontic specialist now has the ability to go beyond simply achieving the traditional orthodontic goals of a "well-aligned and functional dentition." Orthodontist are now placing more and more emphasis on creating facial balance and smile esthetics for our patients. Good clinical photographs during the treatment plan stage gives us the ability to study the soft-tissue patterns and facial balance from many angles. These photographs are an essential part of our treatment planning stage.

Another reason that the clinical photographs are a benefit to our patients is that with the improvements in digital technology and the quality of our X-rays, we no longer find it necessary to put our patients through the grueling task of taking study models. You no longer have to sit there, for what seems like an eternity, with "goop" in your mouth, just so we can have the visual of your teeth. If you've ever had to have study models, you would think this was a huge benefit.

The photographs also become part of your permanent record. Your memory of exactly what your smile looked like prior to treatment often becomes a bit fuzzy. These photographs give us the ability to show you the progress you've made throughout the stages of your orthodontic treatment. They are a great motivational tool and help us to encourage you throughout your treatment. 

From an educational point of view, there is nothing better than a picture. We use the photographs to give instructions and to better communicate with you. For example, the photographs allow you to look more closely at areas that you may be missing with your toothbrush or see what we are trying to correct by having you wear the rubberbands a certain way. We also have the ability to share these images with your family or other dental provider when the need arises. 

We are sure that you can now understand why, in our office, you see lights flashing all the time! Photographs are common occurrence at most of your regular appointments. And if you need a visual reminder of exactly where your treatment began, feel free to ask us to pull up those beginning photos. We will be happy to show you exactly where you began! 

We Love What We Do

Just what is it that makes our job so much fun? There are many answers to that question. We would like to share our top three and then let you decide. 

First off, we love being able to make a significant difference in peoples lives. It is amazing to watch the transformation of a person's personality from shy and self-conscious to smiling and self-confident. A beautiful smile can do this. We love creating beautiful smiles!

Second, the DiCiccio Orthodontics team is one, big, happy family. And each patient that walks through our door becomes part of that family, too. Not only do we enjoy working with one another, but we enjoy spending time with our patients and getting to know each one. It is really fun to catch up at each appointment and see how they are doing. Our patients are the best!

Lastly, we love working with our doctor. Dr. DiCiccio is a very skilled orthodontist and up to date on all the latest technology. Besides being good at what he does, Dr. DiCiccio is genuinely concerned about each of his patient and wants the best for them. He communicates with the kids on their level and has a lot of fun during their appointments. He is also an understanding boss and takes really good care of his team.

The greatest compliment you can give us is to refer your friends and family to us for their orthodontic care. Take a look at the video below to see what some of our patients say. We LOVE the things they are saying about us...it's no wonder we love what we do! We'd love to hear what you think...

Thumbs Up for Growth & Guidance Appointments

It's no small task getting your child to an appointment of any kind, that's for sure! And when the appointment is very short and seemingly unimportant, it may seem like a waste of time and not worth the effort. 

One type of orthodontic appointment that may be seen this way is what we call a Growth & Guidance appointment. These very short, sometimes only 15 minute appointments are scheduled for children who are not quite ready to start braces. The recommendation by the American Association of Orthodontists is that every child be evaluated by an orthodontic specialist by age 7 or 8. Read further to find out why these appointments are very valuable and possibly some of the most important orthodontic appointments you can go to!

The primary objective of the appointment is to screen for developmental issues such as missing, impacted, or ankylosed permanent teeth which do not always show up on the typical check-up xrays taken by your general dentist. These developmental problems, if not recognized early enough, can complicate the orthodontic treatment making it more difficult and costly in the future. 

The second objective is to evaluate which primary or "baby" teeth your child has lost and which of the permanent teeth have come in. It helps the permanent teeth come in straighter if the primary teeth are lost at the right time and in the right order. Sometimes something as simple as asking your general dentist to remove a baby tooth early can also significantly help guide the permanent teeth into a better location. In most cases, the general dentist will not do this without a request from an orthodontic specialist.  

Another objective of the appointment is to guide your family as to the most optimal time to begin treatment. Our office philosophy is to provide the highest quality care, in the shortest amount of time possible with the fewest number of visits for today's busy families. We do not believe in putting braces on a patient until that patient is absolutely ready. Starting too early will mean that your child may have the braces for too long which increases their chances of negative side-effects, as well as cooperation issues because your child has gotten burnt-out on wearing the braces. If the treatment is complicated because of problems that were left unmonitored, treatment can end up extending into the later years of high school and the important activities that go along with those years. Most high school kids don't want to have their braces on for their senior pictures or their high school graduation!

As you can see, these Growth & Guidance appointments are very important. By closely following your child's development, we can help them get the treatment they need when they need it. Although the appointments are very short and can seem like a waste of time, we want to make sure your child is progressing towards an excellent orthodontic result.