The BE Orthodontics Blog http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog The blog of Drs. Kathy Bailey-Bruster & Portia Ellis Carter - Orthodontists serving Smyrna & Marietta, Georgia (GA) Fri, 18 May 2012 18:13:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 “Am I Too Old for Braces?” http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/%e2%80%9cam-i-too-old-for-braces%e2%80%9d/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/%e2%80%9cam-i-too-old-for-braces%e2%80%9d/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 18:13:22 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=161 Absolutely not! Orthodontic treatment for adults is becoming more and more common. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! More adults than ever are realizing that orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, and can help improve the aesthetics and health of a smile of any age! In a society where appearance matters and can help make the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing wisely to invest in orthodontic treatment.

Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:

  • Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart, sometimes as a result of tooth decay or gum disease
  • Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw
  • A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly

Most of all though, adult patients come to our office seeking a healthier mouth and a more confident smile! Orthodontic treatment at our office can be successful at any age, and adults especially can appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

As an adult patient, we recognize that you have different needs than our younger patients, and we will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. We understand you have a busy schedule, and will work with you to find a time that is convenient for you. Please visit our website or give our office a call to schedule your appointment today!

]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/%e2%80%9cam-i-too-old-for-braces%e2%80%9d/feed/ 0 “What Should I Expect During My Initial Consultation?” http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/what-should-i-expect-during-my-initial-consultation/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/what-should-i-expect-during-my-initial-consultation/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 17:01:17 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=157 Great question! When you first come in for your initial consultation we will conduct a comprehensive examination to assess your oral health. This will better enable us to determine the best treatment method for you.
Your orthodontic evaluation will consist of an oral and facial examination to assess your oral health. We will have you take intraoral and facial photographs as well as panoramic and cephalometric X-rays to help determine the proper orthodontic treatment method. Then, an impression of your teeth and bite will be taken to construct a model of your mouth. (This will help us when examining your diagnostic records).
At your second appointment, we will discuss your options with you. Our team feels it’s important to take the time to carefully examine your diagnostic records after your consultation so that we can more thoroughly prepare for your treatment. This additional preparation will ensure that you receive the best orthodontic care possible. At this time, we encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about your treatment.
If you are seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, our staff asks that both you and your child attend the initial consultation. We feel it is important that both you and your child completely understand the doctor’s recommendations before we proceed with treatment.

Give us a call today and schedule a consultation! We look forward to hearing from you!

]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/what-should-i-expect-during-my-initial-consultation/feed/ 0 May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, from BE Orthodontics http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/may-is-national-teen-self-esteem-month-from-be-orthodontics/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/may-is-national-teen-self-esteem-month-from-be-orthodontics/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 09:00:17 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=155
At BE Orthodontics, we know image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today’s teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a consultation with Drs. Bailey-Bruster and Carter. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood?

We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/05/may-is-national-teen-self-esteem-month-from-be-orthodontics/feed/ 0 The Myths and Facts of Orthodontics http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/the-myths-and-facts-of-orthodontics/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/the-myths-and-facts-of-orthodontics/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:00:36 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=152 Trust us when we say that we are aware that there are quite a few myths about braces out there nowadays.

But before you buy into all those myths, we want you to get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, help set the record straight and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We definitely encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about braces or your orthodontic treatment at BE Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook or ask us during your next adjustment visit!

]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/the-myths-and-facts-of-orthodontics/feed/ 0 “When should my child visit for an orthodontic consultation?” http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/%e2%80%9cwhen-should-my-child-visit-for-an-orthodontic-consultation%e2%80%9d/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/%e2%80%9cwhen-should-my-child-visit-for-an-orthodontic-consultation%e2%80%9d/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:18:17 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=148 Great question! Braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for us to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We hope this helps! Please give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment! See you soon!

 

]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/%e2%80%9cwhen-should-my-child-visit-for-an-orthodontic-consultation%e2%80%9d/feed/ 0 Spring is here! Do we have your current contact info? http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/spring-is-here-do-we-have-your-current-contact-info/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/spring-is-here-do-we-have-your-current-contact-info/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:18:02 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=145 Spring is in the air! We also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

As you probably know, you can always connect with us on our Facebook page, but we invite you to please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you.

Thank you! Have a great week!

]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/spring-is-here-do-we-have-your-current-contact-info/feed/ 0 April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/april-is-oral-cancer-awareness-month/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/april-is-oral-cancer-awareness-month/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:06:31 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=141 Visiting your dentist during your orthodontic treatment will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy while you have braces, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Your dentist is specifically trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next adjustment appointment. Take care of your teeth!

]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/04/april-is-oral-cancer-awareness-month/feed/ 0 What’s the deal with retainers? http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/03/what%e2%80%99s-the-deal-with-retainers/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/03/what%e2%80%99s-the-deal-with-retainers/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:00:46 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=135
If you recently completed treatment at BE Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Carter will provide you with retainers. After braces are removed the teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receiver your retainer:

* Wear your retainers full time, until Dr. Carter instructs otherwise.
* Take your retainers out when eating…and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practicing speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them quicker is a good idea.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Try to remember to bring your retainers to your appointments.
* Retainer replacement is expensive…with proper care they will last for years!
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).
* Keep retainers away from hot water, pockets, the washing machine and napkins.

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!


]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/03/what%e2%80%99s-the-deal-with-retainers/feed/ 0 Why do I need a braces adjustment so often? http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/03/why-do-i-need-a-braces-adjustment-so-often/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/03/why-do-i-need-a-braces-adjustment-so-often/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:00:03 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=133 When you have braces, your wires will need to be replaced with new ones regularly. It is the slow, steady pressure placed on your teeth that move them into their desired positions, so these adjustments are a vital aspect of your treatment. Dr. Carter has set out a specific treatment plan to achieve your optimal results, and keeping up with your appointments will allow your treatment to be completed in the predicted amount of time.
Scheduling your adjustments sooner than planned may result in more pain and discomfort, because your teeth haven’t been allowed to settle into their new positions properly. Skipping appointments or scheduling them farther apart will result in a much longer treatment time. Visiting BE Orthodontics every four to six weeks will also allow us to answer any questions you may have, check for damaged appliances, and monitor your progress.

]]> http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/03/why-do-i-need-a-braces-adjustment-so-often/feed/ 0 What do rubber bands do? http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/03/what-do-rubber-bands-do/ http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/2012/03/what-do-rubber-bands-do/#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:00:12 +0000 googlelogin0226@sesamesearch.com http://www.beorthodontics.com/blog/?p=131

Rubber bands, or elastics, can be an integral aspect of orthodontic care, so if Dr. Carter has prescribed elastics as a part of your treatment, it’s important to follow the directions fully. Elastics help to align your bite or cause teeth to move in different directions and straighten more quickly. When Dr. Carter uses elastics, she will instruct you how to hook one end to an upper bracket and the other end to a lower bracket so the rubber band goes vertically or diagonally from one bracket to another. The tension of the rubber band produces pressure on the bracket, which causes the teeth to move and straighten. This tension is also sufficient to correct an overbite or an under bite in the jaw.
If rubber bands are a part of your treatment plan, there are a few things to keep in mind. With rubber bands, you won’t be able to open your mouth fully, so they will have to be removed when you eat and reapplied after meal time. Many times, rubber bands are only needed at night, so you won’t need to worry about eating with them. Also, if you try to open your mouth too wide, your rubber bands might snap – so be careful!
Failure to wear your elastics full time or as instructed can lengthen your treatment time and may make it more difficult to achieve an optimal result. But don’t worry; your time in elastics will be well worth it when you see your beautiful, new smile.

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