A Great Smile At Any Age

Photo Provided by invisalign.com

Braces aren’t just for kids anymore. Fact of the matter is…healthy teeth can be moved at any age. 

Over time our bodies start to wear out, including our teeth. As our teeth wear, the lower and the upper jaw move closer together, causing our lips to change and creases to form on the sides of our nose and mouth. And as we all know…these things are the tell-tail signs of aging. Straightening your teeth and correcting a bad bite can be an important part of improving your appearance, as well as your self-esteem. 

If you've been thinking about improving your smile but thought that traditional metal braces were your only option...think again. Technological advances in orthodontics have made appliances that are barely noticeable, which gives adults more discreet choices when it comes to treatment.  

Clear Braces are made of ceramic, plastic or a combination of both and are hardly visible. 

Clear Aligners are removable and are an alternative to the fixed orthodontic appliances. Clear Aligners are a series of clear plastic “trays” that fit over your teeth exactly. Each tray moves your teeth a little bit at a time until they are in the proper position.  

Lingual Braces are metal braces are bonded to the back of your teeth so that no one can see them.

So, don't let your age stop you from having the perfect smile you've always dreamed of. We're seeing more and more adult patients these days, 

and it's not hard to figure out why.

Eggs, Eggs and More Eggs

Easter is just around the corner, so it's time to start thinking about coloring those eggs!

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Now, we all know that there are many Egg Dying Kits on the market today. And even without a kit you can still dye your Easter Eggs by adding a little food coloring to some house-hold vinegar. But there are a million different ways to decorate your Easter Eggs without even dunking them. So before you get out those plastic cups...give a few of these ideas a try.

Glittery Eggs

Photo Provided by yummyfunny.com

OMG...how can you not love these super sparkly eggs! Glue and glitter is all you need to get this look. And it doesn't take nearly as long as waiting for your eggs to reach the deep, rich color that is on the box of the Egg Dying Kit.

Tie-Dye Eggs

Photo Provided by firstpalette.com

Now this one does use food coloring and vinegar. But the effect is so cool, we just couldn't pass about telling you about it. These eggs do require a little bit of wait time for the colors to set...but the unveiling of your masterpiece eggs is well worth it! 

Metallic Eggs 

Photo Provided by The Crafty Bee

Leave it to Martha Stewart to suggest that we gold leaf our hard boiled eggs...or as she would like to suggest, imitation gold leaf our hard boiled eggs. However...is there anything better than a REAL Golden Egg? We don't think so.

 

We hope you have a great time this Easter! 

Now...get to decorating and let us know how it goes!

Solid As a Rock!

Congratulations! You’ve gotten your braces off and your smile looks amazing! 

If you don't want to lose your nice, straight smile (that you spent months achieving) make sure you wear your retainer.

 

Photo Provided by allposters.com

We know we have already told you that you'll be needing a retainer to keep your teeth straight and in-line. But we really can’t stress how important wearing your retainer truly is. Because guess what? If you don’t wear your retainer as it was prescribed, your teeth WILL move out of alignment and back into their original, crooked places…just as if you never even had braces at all. 

Rhode Island Orthodontics

You may not realize this, but your teeth aren't set rigidly into your jawbone. They are held in place by a network of fibers called the periodontal ligaments. After your teeth have been moved into their ideal position, it takes several months for the periodontal ligament to adjust. The slightest pressure from your lips and tongue can cause your teeth to shift out of alignment. Even if your teeth and smile don’t look any different right away, that doesn’t mean they haven’t moved. If you decide to ignore your prescribed retainer treatment, your teeth will continue to move until misalignment is noticeable again. 

We know you didn't go through orthodontic treatment just to have your teeth go crooked again. So if you want to keep that amazing smile, it's essential to wear your retainer as directed.

You’ve Only Got One Face

April is National Facial Protection Month

Photo provided by myoms.org

We would like to take a minute to remind you the importance of protecting yourself against injuries to you face and mouth while in braces.  

Even if you don’t play in a physical sport, protecting your smile while in braces is something you should be thinking about in any physical activity you do.  Research estimates that about 2 percent of all children or adolescents who participate in a physical activity will eventually suffer a facial injury severe enough to require medical attention. One little fall off your bike or skateboard could cause an unwanted trip to the oral surgeon.  So remember this one thing…mouth guards aren’t just for football players.

Photo provided by intelligentdental.com

Mouth guards cover the teeth and can cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and orthodontic appliances. A properly fitted mouth guard will stay in place and will be easy for you to talk while wearing it. Mouth guards can be purchased inexpensively at any sporting goods store…and these days they look pretty cool. They are offered in a wide variety of colors and designs and some even have straps on them so they stay with you if they fall out of your mouth. If you’re having trouble finding just the right mouth guard…ask us. We are here to help.

Mouth guards have been proven to significantly decrease the risk of oral injuries so you should always wear a mouth guard while playing sports or while doing any physical activity. Look at it this way…a mouth guard is less expensive than the cost to repair an injury to your mouth or orthodontic appliance.

You’ve only got one face…protect it!