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.

Finances Should Never Be An Obstacle When It Comes To Your Smile

When you consider the cost of orthodontic treatment, also consider the lifelong benefits of a beautiful, healthy smile. The cost of orthodontic treatment will depend on many factors, including the severity of the problem, its complexity and length of treatment.

For your convenience, Rhode Island Orthodontic Group accepts cash, personal check, money orders and all major credit cards. We also offer in-house payment plans so you can spread the cost of your treatment over several months. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions concerning our payment options or your account.

If your insurance covers orthodontic treatment, you will receive the benefit of reduced personal costs. Many insurance policies have a lifetime orthodontic benefit that is distinct from regular dental insurance. This benefit is usually paid as a percentage of the orthodontic fee until the maximum has been reached. The orthodontic fee includes diagnostic records, initial fee, monthly payments, etc. Mostly likely, insurance will not cover the cost for lost or broken appliances.  Insurance policies vary, so we will review your insurance to determine the appropriate course of action.

Please remember that orthodontic insurance is a benefit for you or your child. Be aware of your benefits before treatment begins. Contact your insurance provider if you are unsure of your exact coverage. 

 Most misunderstandings about insurance can be eliminated if you are familiar with your policy:

• Be sure that you do have orthodontic coverage. Not all dental plans provide orthodontic benefits. 
• Inquire if there is an age limitation as some orthodontic plans can expire at age 18. 
• Be aware of the percentage which will be paid by your insurance and the amount of lifetime benefits provided by your plan. 

At Rhode Island Orthodontic Group, we believe that finances should never be an obstacle when it comes to a beautiful, healthy smile. Therefore, we offer convenient payment options to help you keep from worrying about the cost of braces and allow you focus on what matters most – your smile!

Do you have an Orthodontic Emergency?

True orthodontic emergencies are very rare; but when they do occur, we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call Rhode Island Orthodontics when you experience severe pain, or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you can temporarily solve many problems yourself until you can get in the office to get the situation resolved.

The following are some common orthodontic problems and solutions:

Poking Wire: By using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

Loose Bracket: If your bracket is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire bracket comes off completely, place it in a ziploc bag, and save it to bring to your next appointment.

Loose Wire: Using tweezers, try to place it back into place. If doing this and using wax does not help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.

Loose Appliance: If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.

General Soreness: When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater rinse. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8oz of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing an oral numbing gel may also help. If the tenderness is severe, take ibuprofen or what you generally take for aches and pains.  The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. 

We are always happy to show you how!

3 Friday the 13th Facts

Happy Friday the 13th! For many people, fear overcomes them on this day as well as so many superstitions. We thought it would be in good humor to go over some popular Friday the 13th facts. The superstition surrounding Friday the 13th is actually a combination of two separate fears — the fear of the number 13, called triskaidekaphobia, and the fear of Fridays.

Keep reading to learn about 3 Friday the 13th Facts!

1. Friday the 13th  have been considered an unlucky day since the medieval times.
2. It is generally considered bad luck to start anything on a Friday - a new journey, job, marriage, business project, giving birth, moving house
3. It is unlucky to cut fingernails and hair on Friday the 13th.

Whether you believe these superstitions or not, Rhode Island Orthodontic Group is crossing our fingers that you all have a very safe and lucky Friday the 13th today!