February 21st, 2012
The Westfield Braces team encourages all of our patients to wear mouth guards when participating in any sports. Not only will it prevent orthodontic breakages and protect your teeth, but it also provides shock absorbancy against a hard hit. At our office, we provide mouth guards to our patients. They do not need to be molded, as your teeth are always moving while in treatment. We even have mouth guards for patients with herbst appliances!
Please do not hesitate to ask for one at your next visit or call the office for an appointment if needed!
February 17th, 2012
When you get braces at Westfield Braces there are a few things you’ll have to adjust to get optimal results in the shortest amount of time. If you have any questions about the “do’s and don’ts” of living with braces, feel free to ask Dr. Thomas Burns or any member of our staff during your next adjustment!
Eating
When you have braces, there are a few types of food that can damage your brackets and bend your wires, leading to more appointments and longer treatment times. By simply avoiding sticky, chewy, crunchy, and hard foods, as well as foods that require biting into like corn on the cob, your orthodontic experience will be much easier.
Cleaning
You’ll never believe the amount of food that can get stuck between your braces when you eat. In addition to causing bad breath and tooth decay, it looks pretty gross, too. It’s so important to brush your teeth after every meal and floss every day, and even though it’s kind of a hassle, it’ll all be worth it in the end.
Sports
Protecting your smile if you play sports is essential when you have braces. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury. Dr. Thomas Burns can create a custom mouthguard just for you if you plan on participating in any kind of contact sport!
February 10th, 2012
Your smile is totally unique, so the time you’ll need to spend undergoing orthodontic treatment will also be unique. Generally, orthodontic treatment will take about two years, and this is for good reason. During this time, your teeth will slowly move into their desired positions, leaving you with a great smile with as little discomfort as possible. Rushing treatment can result in a less than perfect smile with a greater chance of tooth movement after your treatment is complete. At Westfield Braces, we don’t want to waste your time with treatment that won’t retain your smile for the rest of your life.
Of course, treatment time will vary depending on your specific situation. Very minor tooth movement may only take a few months to correct, while serious malocclusion (poor bite) may need more than two years to correct. Only Dr. Burns will be able to accurately estimate the time your treatment will take. But trust us—it’ll all be worth it in the end!
Has your child or teen visited Westfield Braces for an orthodontic consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help him or her begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!
February 3rd, 2012
Each February for the past 62 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. New options for braces such as Invisalign Teen, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.
If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Thomas Burns is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!
