Orthodontics Is Great For Your Dental Health

Orthodontics can help children, teens, and adults of all ages look better throughout their lifetime. Adults today are much more aware than in the past of the importance of creating and maintaining a beautiful smile.

With longer life expectancy, a healthy, beautiful smile is as important at age 70 as it is at age 16. Rhode Island Orthodontics specializes with the education, experience and expertise to help patients of all ages attain properly aligned teeth and jaws for a lifetime of dental health.

Today’s orthodontic treatment options are not as noticeable and treatment time is much less than in the past. Traditional braces are small and sleek, whether metal or a tooth-colored ceramic. Some braces are not braces at all, but are clear, removable “aligners,” called Invisalign. They are used to nudge teeth toward their ideal positions for a younger look.

Whether you are self-conscious about wearing braces or not. Our team at Rhode Island Orthodontics will guide you through the process and help you reach your goal of a beautiful, healthy, and radiant smile to last a lifetime.

Tips To Prevent White Spot Lesions

As you may have discovered, braces can make it extra-challenging to keep your teeth really clean, because the brackets and wires may get in the way of your brush and floss. That’s why Rhode Island Orthodontics always stresses how important it is to make the extra effort. While you’re wearing braces, there are several things that can be done to prevent white spots. First, keep up a high level of oral hygiene. In addition to normal brushing and flossing, there are special brushes that can be used to clean around orthodontic brackets and wires, and floss threaders to help you work with dental floss. You can also try using a “water flosser” to flush material from between teeth and beneath the gums. This works by pulsating water at high pressure through a handheld device that looks something like a power toothbrush.

There are also some professional therapies that may help if you are at high risk for developing white spot lesions. These include at-home use of prescription fluoride toothpastes or rinses, or in-office application of fluoride gels, sealants or varnishes. While these methods can produce improvement, the effectiveness of particular treatments is still being studied.

There’s yet another way to keep white spots from forming, and even potentially reverse their damage: Keep the environment of your mouth healthy! It’s well known that acidic and/or sugary foods and beverages cause demineralization and erode tooth surface enamel. If you choose to consume these products at all, it’s essential to limit them to mealtimes and avoid between-meal snacking. That gives your saliva — nature’s own acid neutralizer — enough time to do its work. You can help here, too: Keep your mouth moist by drinking plenty of water, and by avoiding tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. If your mouth does get dry, try mints that contain xylitol; these promote salivation, and can help reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Did You Know...We're a Top 1% Invisalign Provider

Rhode Island Orthodontics is a top 1% Invisalign Provider, meaning that we are in the top 1% in the area for providing Invisalign treatment.
Not only is Invisalign aligners virtually invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also more comfortable than traditional braces, with no metal or wires, which also usually means you spend less time in your doctor's office getting adjustments. Invisalign treatment also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

How does it work?
You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move — little by little, week by week — until they have straightened to their final positions. You'll visit us about once every six weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages nine to 15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.

For more information on Invisalign, you can visit the Rhode Island Orthodontics website and click the Invisalign tab.

The Reality of Retainers

Our goal at Rhode Island Orthodontics is to help your smile stay beautiful and healthy for a lifetime. Your cooperation is essential in order to achieve this goal.

Here Are A Few Things To Remember During The Years Of Retainer Wear

1. Wear your retainers as prescribed by Rhode Island Orthodontics.

2. The safest place for your retainer is in your mouth. When retainers are not in your mouth, ALWAYS keep them in your retainer case.

3. Do not wrap retainers in a paper towel or napkin, this is the easiest way to lose them.

4. Do not place loose retainers in your pocket, this is the easiest way to break them.

5. Keep retainers away from pets — dogs LOVE them.

6. Clean your retainers by brushing them with toothpaste and water or with antibacterial soap. NEVER soak your retainers, this causes them to rust and/or break. Be sure to brush your teeth without your retainers in. Do not boil your retainer or put it in hot water.

7. Do not place retainers in the dishwasher, microwave or in boiling water — they will melt or warp.

8. Your lower retainer may be a fixed retainer bonded onto your teeth. It is not considered permanent and can be broken or detached from your teeth, if you are not careful with it.
9. Bring your retainers to your check-up appointment. If anything happens to your retainers (i.e. it doesn't fit, it's broken, or it's lost) please call us ASAP. If your lower bonded retainer wire comes out, keep it and bring it in at your next appointment for rebonding.

10. The first set of retainers is included in your treatment fee. Any repair, replacement of your retainer, or rebonding of your lower retainer will be additional and charged to your account.

The benefits of orthodontic treatment will last a lifetime if you keep these important patient responsibilities in mind. If you have any further questions regarding retention contact Rhode Island Orthodontics at your earliest convenience.