Say NO to Sticky Treats This Halloween

Photo provided by nutritiouseats.com

Is it just one of the greatest coincendence that the month children are estatic about celebrating Halloween, is the same month over 17,000 orthodontist spread awareness about orthodontic health? 

Being that sugary sweet treats are prevalent during Halloween, it gives our orthodontist here at Rhode Island Orthodontist Group a great opportunity to share tips on how to protect your teeth.

• Avoid sticky situations with your braces and aligners. Stay away from hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy candy and snacks. These include caramel, gummies, licorice, taffy, bubblegum (even the sugarless kind) and jelly beans.

• Say “boo” to hard-shelled peanut candies, nuts or nut-filled candies, taco chips and popcorn (especially unpopped kernels).

• Spooktacular news - not all Halloween candy is off-limits.  Good alternatives include soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties. The American Association of Orthodontists even offers orthodontic-friendly recipes for Halloween on its website at http://www.mylifemysmile.org/pressroom.

• Sweets can cause cavities which means brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season. Orthodontic patients should be especially vigilant about brushing and flossing after consuming sugary or starchy foods. 

These tips are escpecially important to our patients with braces, aligners and other orthodontic appliances. We want all of our patients to enjoy Halloween, but to also remember to take care of their teeth. While under orthodontic treatment your work on creating a beautiful new smile, let’s not let one night set us back. For more information on keeping your teeth healthy visit website for oral hygiene tips.

Pumpkin Mania

As we enter October it’s time to get into the spirit and have some Halloween themed fun!

Although Halloween is at the end of the month it is not too early to get into a decorative mood. Orange and black will be the most popular colors seen around this month, but their no doubt that the official October mascot is the pumpkin.

There many different ways you can have fun with pumpkins during the Halloween season. From foods like pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes to decorative craft projects, there is reason to love pumpkins. Here are some fun ideas you can have with real pumpkins. Head out to the pumpkin patch and pick out some prime candidates for your craft fun.

Here are some things you can do with pumpkins:

Carve a Smile

Thumb-Tac Decor

Paint a Fun Portrait 

Create a "Mumkin"

Sharpie Drawing

Share your designs on Facebook with us here at Rhode Island Orthodontics and we’ll share your fun photos on our page.

Moms & Dads Are Choosing Invisalign

When you choose to undergo braces treatment you are presented with multiple choices metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces and Invisalign. Now days Invisalign has become a popular option with adults.

photo provided by Inviaslign.com

Deciding to undergo orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth not only affects your appearance, but it affects your lifestyle as a whole. As an adult that is undergoing treatment this is a very important choice. Many associate traditional braces with children and young adults. This stigma deters many adults from seeking orthodontic treatment. Invisalign provides the most flexible option for adults. 

Invisalign are clear aligners that provide a high level of discretion. Invisalign alignment trays are created from molds of your teeth to giving you custom aligners. Unlike the other braces Invisalign braces are removable. You can take out the aligners when necessary, which makes Invisalign a flexible option.

Benefits of Invisalign:

• Easy to remove
• Allows for brushing a flossing like normal
• No food restrictions, being that you can remove your aligners to eat
• Can remove for physical activity
• No brackets and wires to worry about
• Invisalign are practically invisable to the naked eye

We're seeing more and more adult orthodontic patients these days, and it's not hard to figure out why. Appliances that are barely noticeable have been developed to give adults more discreet choices when it comes to orthodontic treatment. And many adults realize that investing in a smile makeover can have significant benefits, socially and professionally. Straightening teeth can be an important part of that confidence-boosting makeover process.

To find out if Invisalign is right for you schedule an appointment at one of our 7 convenient offices today!

Fall & Crafts

Photo provided by Blogwithmom.com

As we transition into fall the environment begins to change and we leave the heat struck summer days behind. This new season is the perfect time to help get together with family and have fun.

One great thing about fall is that nature suddenly becomes more active. With the beauty of nature right outside your door, plan a day for you and your family to get together for a fun mini project. To get into the spirit of fall and teach kids a lesson about nature, making bird feeders is a great project. Bird feeders attract birds and provide them with a food source. By having a feeder you give your family a free lesson on birds and how they interact with nature.

How to Make a Bird Feeder

What you’ll need:

Pine cones

Yarn

Butter knives

Peanut butter

Margarine

& your choice of seeds (ex: sunflower seeds)

Steps to making a bird feeder:

Photo provided by frugalfun4boy.com

1. Find pine cones.
2. Tie a three to four foot piece of yarn around the top of the pine cone for the hanger.
3. Mix two tablespoons of peanut butter with two tablespoons of margarine.
4. Spread the peanut butter and margarine mixture onto the pine cone.
5. Pour some seeds onto a plate and roll the pine cone in it.
6. Place the seed-covered pine cones in the freezer for about an hour or until it is firm.
7. Hang it outside in a tree!

You can monitor the bird feeder and see what birds stop by to grab a bite. We want to see your bird feeders, take pics and post them to Facebook and tag us!

How Technology Helps Perfect Your Smile

At a time where technology is so prominent in our culture, the world of orthodontics is keeping up with their own advancements. 

Photo provided by itero.com

Apple just released the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch, sending the tech world into frenzy. Bigger screens and technology infused watches have been the topic of discussion. However, did you know orthodontics has made its mark in the teach world also.

One of the most advanced products, and used by our office, is the digital scanner. We utilize a digital scanner that allows us to capture digital images of your teeth and bite rather than using uncomfortable, unpleasant-tasting, messy and sometimes inaccurate impressions.

Using a digital scanner allows us to create computer generated models of teeth within minutes. Unlike digital techniques, traditional techniques involve using multiple materials and steps. Patients view digital scanning as a much more comfortable process. There is much more room for efficiency and accuracy when using digital scanning. Also it is possible for the doctor to send impressions to the lab via email rather than sending them through mail.

As stated by yourdentistryguide.com digital scanning benefits include:

• Improved image/impression quality for better-fitting restorations
• Less chair time
• No need for distasteful impression materials that cause some patients to gag
• More comfortable, less anxious experience for patients and the dental team
• Reduced possibility of impression-taking errors and elimination of material inaccuracies for fewer restoration mistakes
• Patients tend to appreciate the new technology and state-of-the-art dental care, so they become more engaged in, and better informed about, the treatment process because they can see their impressions on-screen chair-side.
• The scan of the teeth being restored, as well as the opposing teeth and bite, can be completed in just three to five minutes.
• The digital impression can be stored electronically indefinitely, which saves space, contributes to efficient record keeping, and supports a paper-free environment.
• Green dentistry and eco-friendly aspects include eliminating the need for disposable plastic trays and impression materials, which otherwise would be polluting landfill space; digital data is eliminated with the "delete" button.

To learn more about the techniques used in our office call us today and schedule an appointment

New School Year, New Check-Up

Photo Provided by shropshire.gov.uk

It is that time of the year again, the kids are settling into their new classrooms and transitioning from the routines they became accustom to during their carefree summer days. With the beginning of this new chapter you want to make sure your kids are getting off to a good start, and what better way to start than making sure their oral health is up to par.

It is said that one of the first things people notice about you is your smile. Your children will come in contact with hundreds of other students daily and you want your child to be showing off their best ^nd grade or second year of college, visiting the orthodontist is important smile. As we state on our site and fully stand by, “A healthy, straight smile is an investment that will last a lifetime.” Whether your child is entering the 2

Early orthodontic treatment can prevent serious problems with the teeth and jaw from developing. At older ages all hope is for oral correction is not lost. Orthodontic treatment at later stage can dramatically improve oral health and enhance personal appearance.

So while you’re making your back to school to-do list be sure to add a trip to one of our 7 Rhode Island Orthodontics Group offices and schedule your appointment today!

The Common Factor: Gummy Smile

Have you ever seen a smile where the gums stand out more than the teeth? This is called Gummy Smile.

Formally known as “Excessive Gingival Display”, this orthodontic problem gives the appearance of overly exposed gum on the upper arch. Not only does this problem cause issues with how the smile looks, but it can also reveal underlying orthodontic problems.

Gummy smile occurs when teeth, gums and the upper jaw are not proportional to one another.  

This is caused by:

• Abnormal eruption of teeth
• Upper lip positioned higher than normal
• Position of the upper jaw in relationship to the skill

There are several treatment options available for this problem. In minor causes laser treatment to remove excess gum tissue is an option. Braces treatment to move teeth is an option as well. In severe cases surgery may be necessary to reduce the vertical length of the upper jaw. Treatment options vary depending on what is causing gummy smile.

If you have questions regarding Excessive Gingival Display do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with us so we can give you all the information you need.