There’s been a  growing uptick in orthodontic care in recent years, and research indicates a number of social and lifestyle trends are at the root of this newfound fascination in smile enhancement. A number of factors contribute to this growing trend, but a few of the biggest may come as a surprise. Discover more about this increased demand for orthodontic care, and some of the reasons behind it.

The Power of a Perfect Smile

In today’s social media-driven world, outward appearances are more important than ever. Having the right look online can boost your followers, views, or likes. Because of this emphasis on physical perfection, many have turned to orthodontic care to help them achieve the smile they want. And, it’s a trend that is not only driven by social media. Job candidates are finding their smiles could be a make or break reason for landing a new position. A research study uncovered that Americans think individuals with straight teeth are 45% more likely to land a job than those with crooked teeth.

The Convenience of Clear Aligners

A massive spike in popularity for clear aligners has been seen in recent years and is poised to keep growing. The fact that these aligners are clear and removable makes them a popular alternative to braces. You can take out your aligner to eat, brush your teeth and floss, without having to worry about food buildup like you would with braces. The convenience and the aesthetic look of normal teeth versus having metal in your mouth is another reason why more people are choosing clear aligner orthodontic treatment to improve their smile. The next few years show big potential growth for this area of orthodontic treatment.

Treatments that Cater to Adult Smiles

The most surprising jump in business for orthodontic care is the increased number of adults seeking personal orthodontic treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists has noted that one in five orthodontic patients today is an adult. While both clear aligners and more traditional options like braces are being used, more adults are seeking straighter smiles later in life. Most adult patients are new and are seeking their first treatments towards a straighter smile. Some adult patients have previously undergone orthodontic treatment, and are coming back for additional care.

Patients both young and old are finding their perfect smiles, and the numbers continue to grow each year. If you have been considering orthodontic treatment for any reason, contact our orthodontic office today for more information.

Orthodontic treatment and teeth whitening are two of the most common methods for cosmetically improving your smile. The question is, can you achieve straighter and whiter teeth at the same time?

For many patients the answer is yes – it is possible to whiten your teeth while wearing braces. But perhaps a better question is, will you achieve better results if you wait until after your orthodontic plan is completed? Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself to help plan the best timing for whitening your teeth.

What Type of Braces Do You Have?

Patients with traditional metal or clear braces have brackets that are glued directly onto their

teeth. Attempting to whiten the surrounding areas during treatment could lead to uneven results

when the braces are removed. Whitening during orthodontic treatment may be a viable option

for those white lingual braces, which are worn on the back of the teeth. Likewise, those with

Invisalign aligners could be candidates for simultaneous orthodontic and teeth whitening

procedures, depending on the overall condition and health of their teeth and gums. A personal

consultation with our team can determine if you can achieve better results by waiting until your

teeth finish moving into their new position, to avoid having to re-whiten newly exposed tooth

surfaces later.

Which Whitening Option Do You Prefer?

There are several effective methods for achieving a whiter smile, including in-office “chairside”

whitening, performed using a high-strength bleaching agent that is activated by a high-powered

light. This technique is performed by our dentists and the best results will be achieved once

orthodontic treatment is finished. Some patients prefer to whiten their teeth over a period of

weeks at home, using custom trays. Since these trays are created in-office to exactly fit your

teeth, waiting until braces are removed is recommended.

Making an investment in your smile is a long-term commitment. If you have already begun orthodontic treatment, the best way to avoid unwanted staining or discoloration is by practicing good oral hygiene habits and maintaining your routine cleanings and check-ups. Contact our orthodontist office in Portage, MI for a personalized consultation to discuss your smile goals, and find out the best way to achieve a healthy, dazzling smile.

You probably see your regular dentist twice a year for routine exams and preventative care. Perhaps, you have recently begun to consider straightening your teeth using an orthodontic treatment plan. If so, you may wonder whether you actually need to see an orthodontic specialist. The fact is, both general dentists and orthodontists have unique training and perform very specific roles when it comes to managing your overall dental health.

The Role of your Primary Care Dentist

Your primary dentist is almost always a general dental care provider. They’re your first line

of defense when it comes to addressing concerns or offering preventative maintenance

for your mouth. Your general dentist will assess your ongoing oral health and develop a

treatment plan that best suits your needs. Visits to your general dentist typically cover the following services:

• Cleanings
• X-rays
• Fillings
• Crowns
• Bridges
• Veneers
• Root canals
• Teeth whitening

When to See an Orthodontist

In some cases, a general may offer limited orthodontic services. Quite often, however, your general dentist will refer you to an orthodontist when you have serious concerns about teeth misalignment.

Advanced Training You Can Trust

Orthodontists are very similar to dentists in that they receive the same amount of initial

schooling. This typically requires four years of undergraduate studies,

followed by four years of medical school. At this point, a dentist may begin to

practice general dentistry. A dentist aspiring to become an orthodontist must continue

on with a specialized residency in orthodontics for an additional two to three years.

During this time, they will learn more about tooth movement and proper jaw alignment.

Making Appearance and Health a Priority

Achieving a beautiful smile isn’t the only reason why you’d seek out or be referred

to an orthodontist. An orthodontist’s primary focus is addressing any malocclusions or an

“improper bite” in your mouth. Proper bite alignment allows you to chew food more

efficiently and can also minimize tooth wear as you grow older. In some instances, orthodontia may mend speech problems and reduce pain caused by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) while improving the overall appearance of your teeth. An orthodontist can help if you have gaps in your teeth, overcrowded teeth, an overbite or an underbite. Through nonsurgical means, orthodontists can offer treatments such as braces, retainers, and aligners.

Maintaining a healthy smile is a team effort that starts with your very first visit to the

dentist. It’s also important to understand the specialized role an orthodontist plays when

tackling alignment issues with your teeth. Their expertise can benefit you in several

ways including improved facial appearance, pain reduction and a boost of self-

confidence. To learn more about why an orthodontist might be right for you, contact our office in Portage, MI today.

Choosing to receive orthodontic care can be a big decision for you and your child. If you’re looking for a straighter smile, or you have physical issues such as a misaligned jaw, orthodontic treatment can be very beneficial. Thanks to myriad treatment options, more people are seeking orthodontic treatment in the U.S., including adults who want a straight, healthy smile. If you are considering an orthodontic treatment plan for yourself or a family member, read on to learn what to expect.

Begin With a Consultation 

All patients from children to adults start their treatment process with a consultation. During this initial visit the doctor will take x-rays and digital photos of your face and teeth, perform an examination, and review your medical and dental history to make sure orthodontic treatment is possible. Based on the information gathered during this consultation, we can outline the recommended orthodontic treatment and the length of time to complete treatment.

Receive Your Orthodontic Appliance

After the consultation, a treatment plan is scheduled including impressions, molds, and the ordering of appliances.  During the appointment when you  receive your appliances (braces, expanders, aligners, etc.) the process can take anywhere from one to two hours. After your appliances are fitted, we’ll plan future appointments in intervals of 4 to 8 weeks apart for adjustments or repairs. These routine appointments generally take about 15 to 30 minutes.

Maintain Your Hygiene Habits

The professional maintenance and care we provide can only go so far after you leave our office. The general care for your teeth and appliances still relies on you. Brushing twice daily and flossing once a day are basic steps needed to maintain your teeth and your appliances. Taking care of your teeth goes beyond maintaining oral hygiene. Protecting your teeth and appliances can help you avoid any additional visits to our office.  We will advise you on foods to avoid while wearing your appliances to prevent potential damage. It can take some time to get used to living by these new rules, but remember it is only temporary and proper care will help you protect the investment you are making in your smile.

Orthodontic treatment is a big decision and you are likely to have many questions. Contact our office in Portage, MI today to initiate a consultation where we can discuss your specific situation. We’re here to help you and provide the care needed to improve your smile.

Do I need to go to the dentist if I have braces and am seeing an orthodontist? We hear this question all the time. The answer is yes, absolutely! Whether you’re wearing braces or aligners, we recommend that you see a dentist every six months for regular checkups. Here are just a few reasons why: 

Orthodontist Portage MI

To Remove Plaque and Tartar Buildup

During orthodontic treatment, brackets and wires provide the perfect hiding places for food particles, while plastic aligners create a warm, moist environment where bacteria can grow. When debris isn’t removed during everyday brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can form and cause cavities. A professional hygienist in your dentist’s office can remove buildup on your teeth to prevent this from happening. 

To Protect Your Teeth from Decalcification

When acidic and sugary foods settle into hard-to-reach areas around brackets, bacteria can form and eventually strip away calcium and phosphates on your teeth. This process, called decalcification, results in unattractive chalky white spots, and that’s not something you want to see when your braces come off! Fluoride treatments during regular dental exams can strengthen your enamel, protecting your teeth from bacteria that cause decalcification.

To Prevent Gum Disease

Since flossing between teeth isn’t easy with braces, there’s a higher chance that bacteria will enter your gums and cause infection. During a regular dental exam, your dentist will watch for inflammation in your gums and tell you how to reverse it before it progresses.

To Keep Your Orthodontic Treatment on Track

Most likely, your orthodontist has given you an estimated time frame for how long you’ll be in braces or aligners, but gum disease or tooth decay can delay your treatment. You can stay closer to your original completion goal by receiving professional cleanings and fluoride applications that keep your teeth strong and healthy.

To Love Your Smile When You’re Finished

Remember the reason you started orthodontic treatment in the first place: to achieve a bright, beautiful smile! If you do everything you can to take care of your teeth with braces or aligners on, you’ll be thrilled with the results when you get your braces off!

We’re proud of the wonderful relationships we’ve built with many dentists in the area, so if you’re looking for a dentist to help keep your teeth clean and healthy during your orthodontic treatment, call our orthodontist in Portage MI, today. We’ll recommend one of our trusted colleagues who cares about our patients as much as we do.  

If you’re waiting until teenage years to take your child to an orthodontist, you may want to reconsider. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, seven is the ideal age for an evaluation in order to monitor how a child’s jaws and teeth are developing. When we see a child in our office at a young age, we’re able to determine whether the following potential problems exist, and how to correct them.

Portage Orthodontics

Crowding

Without enough room in the mouth, permanent teeth have trouble coming in where they should. This could result in them coming in at an angle, overlapping, or even staying in the gums if there’s nowhere for them to go – and that can be painful. By placing spacers in those crowded areas, orthodontists can guide teeth into a position that will shorten orthodontic treatment time later. 

Oral Habits

After the age of two or three, thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can cause front teeth to protrude, making them susceptible to damage. Either habit can also lead to improper growth of the jaw and misalignment of the teeth which can cause speech problems. We can discuss natural ways to break these habits while children are young and, if necessary, place habit-breaking appliances in the mouth.

Bite Problems

If a child has a jaw misalignment such as an overbite, underbite or crossbite, it can cause chewing and even breathing issues. We can guide the jaw into place as it grows to reduce the chance for surgery later on. 

Missing Teeth and Eruption Issues

Even if your child’s teeth look perfect on the outside, there may be underlying issues you don’t see. By taking X-rays and looking at digital images in the office, our orthodontists can tell where permanent teeth are missing or which teeth may never come in on their own, and then develop a plan to address the issue. 

Being able to detect oral development issues early is important for preventing major problems, but another reason we love to see young patients is to get to know them better – and for them to get to know us. When kids feel comfortable as they begin orthodontic treatment, it makes the whole process easier. Schedule an appointment today with our Portage orthodontist to introduce us to your child. We can’t wait to meet you both!   

It’s not surprising that some patients are a little unsure about how orthodontic treatment works. To clear up some misconceptions you may have, we’d like to set the record straight on some of the most common myths we’ve heard.

Portage Orthodontist

Only Kids Need to See an Orthodontist

While it’s true that a lot of teens and adolescents wear braces and aligners, there are actually over one million adults in America currently undergoing orthodontic treatment. Whether they didn’t receive orthodontic care as children, their teeth have shifted since having braces, or they suffer from jaw joint disorders that cause headaches and chewing problems, patients at any age can benefit from visiting an orthodontist.

The Reason People Wear Braces or Aligners is to Improve Appearance

Many of our patients come to us in search of a beautiful smile, but the truth is that wearing orthodontics delivers multiple other benefits including:

• Making it easier to brush and floss between crowded teeth, which reduces the possibility of future oral health problems.
• Fixing jaw alignment problems to alleviate speech and chewing issues.
• Eliminating teeth grinding.
• Reducing the risk of injury from protruding front teeth.

Orthodontic Treatment Fixes Teeth Permanently

Did you know that your teeth can remember where they were before? It’s true! After braces or aligners come off, teeth try to return to where they were before treatment began. This is why it’s really important to wear your retainer for as long as we recommend. At first, you’ll need to wear it throughout the day and at night, and as time progresses and your teeth start to feel comfortable in their new “home,” you’ll be able to wear it only at night.

Children Shouldn’t See an Orthodontist Until They’ve Lost All Their Baby Teeth

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, children should actually have an orthodontic consultation at the age of seven. We like to examine patients while baby teeth are still present to see how permanent teeth are erupting, and to evaluate how the jaw is growing. After examining a young child, we may recommend early orthodontic treatment if we find issues such as:

• Irregular Jaw Structure. Intervening while bones are still soft can prevent oral surgery when they’re older.
• Bite Problems. A crossbite, underbite or overbite can cause chewing problems, speech impediments, and other major issues. Early orthodontic care can address these before they become bigger issues.
• Potential for Crowding. By making plenty of room for permanent teeth to come in, we allow space for thorough brushing and flossing, reducing the chances of oral disease as they grow.
• Dangers of Protruding Teeth. Young kids can sometimes be clumsy, and if their front teeth aren’t protected behind the lips, they’re likely to be damaged during a fall. Early treatment can pull the teeth back into a safer position.

Confused About Orthodontic Treatment?

If you have any questions about how orthodontics works, we’re always happy to answer them. Just give us a call or make an appointment with our Portage orthodontic office and we’ll be glad to address your concerns.

Good oral hygiene habits are essential to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. What you might not know is that research has found the health of your mouth actually mirrors the overall condition of your body. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, there is a direct relationship between gum disease and many serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The good news is, research also shows that good oral health may actually help prevent certain diseases from occurring.

Orthodontist in Portage MI

Understanding the mouth/body connection

Poor oral habits can cause bacteria to build up on your teeth, making your gums more prone to disease and infection. When that happens, your immune system goes to work attacking the infection, leading to inflammation and gum disease, also known as periodontitis. Left untreated, periodontitis and chronic inflammation can wreak havoc on the rest of your body, leading to a host of health problems. Thankfully, this “worst-case-scenario” is easily preventable. Here’s what you can do to elevate your oral hygiene habits and keep unwanted health concerns at bay:

• Brush twice a day for at least two minutes using a soft-bristled brush. Be sure to choose a toothbrush that is the right size for your mouth so you can reach back teeth easily. If you have any questions about which toothbrush we recommend for you, you can ask our office during your appointment.
• Remember to replace your toothbrush every three or four months.
• Choose an American Dental Association-approved fluoride toothpaste to keep teeth free from decay.
• Floss daily to remove tooth decay-causing bacteria that tend to linger between teeth. Regular flossing also helps remove plaque under the gumline and minimize your risk of contracting gum disease.
• Eat a healthy diet that limits sugary beverages and snacks.
• Avoid cigarettes and other tobacco products, which are known to contribute to gum disease and oral cancer.

In addition to maintaining good daily oral health habits, seeing your dentist regularly is one of the best ways to keep your mouth – and your body – healthy. These exams allow our team to monitor any changes to your teeth and gums and make recommendations that will help you avoid future health problems. Call our 49002 orthodontist office today to schedule an exam.