It's National Orthodontic Health Month!

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Along with National Dental Hygiene Month, October is also Orthodontic Health Month. Dental health is something that effects everyone, having healthy teeth and gums contributes to a nice smile and gets you on the right track to a lifetime of comfort and well being.

Orthodontists are just one of the dental practitioners your child could visit at some point in their life. The goal of orthodontic treatment is to enhance the smile, by adjusting the bite (malocclusions). Malocclusions affect the way one smiles, chews, and cleans the teeth. With the right orthodontic treatment and dental health practices, teeth can last a lifetime!

And some of these practices include eating for healthy teeth! With Halloween around the corner, if your child is currently undergoing treatment  - you likely know the dangers of sticky sweets with braces. Caramels, jellybeans, tootsie rolls, laffy taffy, the list goes on! Not to mention the hard candies that could crack braces.

This year try to keep your children in the safe zone with the below options (just be sure they brush their teeth once they're done snacking!):

• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• Hershey’s Chocolate bar
• Kit Kat Bar
• 3 Musketeers
• Peppermint Patty

Although an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at age 7. If you are unsure if your child qualifies, make an appointment for a FREE orthodontic consultation at one of our offices. Let us help you identify and reduce problems early on to make sure your child’s orthodontic experience is easier in the long run! Call us today!

 

Braces vs. Invisalign - What's Right for My Child?

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As orthodontic methods have advanced through the years, there are now more options than ever for straightening teeth. The two top contenders? Traditional braces and Invisalign.

Benefits of Braces:

• Made of high-grade stainless steel, today’s metal braces are smaller, more comfortable, and more attractive than years past
• The wire and brackets that form part of the braces help support closing of gaps and correcting crooked teeth
• Braces are not removable, and thus can’t be taken out and lost
• Braces typically work quicker in correcting teeth and work efficiently in fixing complex tooth issues

Benefits of Invisalign:

• The invisible smile corrected - Invisalign is a series of clear, removable, custom-made aligners that work to adjust teeth without anyone knowing
• Invisalign can be removed to eat, brush, floss, etc
• Invisalign is extremely useful for ethic purposed and simple dental issues
• Invisalign is comfortable and convenient, and are easier on the teeth overall

So which is the better option for your child? The decision ultimately depends on your child’s specific needs. While braces can be a hassle when eating and can cause mouth abrasions, the success of Invisalign is directly related to the patient wearing their aligners when required.

If you're seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, consult with one of our orthodontists here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics. We’ll be able to help you determine which treatment is best for your child.

Braces and Invisalign do more than just straighten teeth - they are valuable in correcting bite issues that often require special diagnosis and treatment. Get your child started on the path to a lifetime of great oral health!