Smiles by Palmer Orthodontics Blog

There are a wide range of reasons that you might’ve accidentally lost your Spark clear aligners. Maybe you wrapped them in a napkin at a restaurant or misplaced them at home, but it might’ve left you stumbling to find them. Regardless of what happened, it’s important you take action to avoid any delays to your treatment. Here’s what to do and why it’s crucial you call your orthodontist.

If you’re on your Spark clear aligners journey, you’re already making an excellent choice for your smile’s future—but something else you need to also do is keep up with your oral hygiene throughout your treatment! Otherwise, all that hard work straightening your smile may be lost due to cavities, gum disease, and other issues. Daily oral hygiene includes both brushing and flossing, but some patients feel a little stumped when it comes to maintaining their flossing habit while wearing their aligners. Here’s what you need to know.

Braces are a popular orthodontic treatment that has helped countless people achieve straighter teeth. From slight crowding to severe bite concerns, orthodontic issues are no match against traditional braces! Despite this, if you had them in the past, you may notice that your teeth have slowly started to drift out of alignment. You might wonder if you can go for round two with braces. Read on to learn about how you can still benefit from this treatment.

Have you heard of orthodontic relapse? In short, it’s the phenomenon where teeth move out of their perfectly aligned positions in the months or years following orthodontic treatment. While this does happen to upwards of 50% of patients, don’t get discouraged. After all, there’s one way you can dramatically reduce the chances of that happening: wearing your retainer as instructed. With this in mind, keep reading to learn how to take care of your retainer so it lasts and, in turn, your teeth stay where they should.

Braces aren’t just for pre-teens—they’re used at every stage of life to restructure the jaws and teeth. But does that apply to kids with baby teeth? In some cases, yes! Early interceptive treatment, also known as Phase 1 orthodontics, can help prevent bigger problems down the road. But why would a small child need braces, and how do Phase 1 orthodontics work? Continue reading to learn more about this treatment and when it might make sense for your child.

Wearing traditional braces is a time-honored way to straighten your teeth and improve your bite. But in order for your treatment to work properly, your wires and brackets should be in good working order. If you notice a bracket has come loose or fallen off your tooth, here’s what you should do, and why when it comes to repairing your braces time is of the essence!

You might have heard from your peers that metal braces can come with some “interesting” sensations. But after your latest dental appointment, your teeth really feel like they’re going to fall right out! Are your orthodontics wiggling them loose?

Take a deep breath – there’s no cause for alarm in this scenario. Keep reading to learn more about what’s going on with your pearly whites and why you shouldn’t worry.

Although we tend to think of orthodontics as being for teenagers, plenty of adults benefit from having braces. Over time, even the straightest smiles can shift out of alignment due to the constant pressure from chewing. This impacts more than just your appearance because crooked or overcrowded teeth are also harder to clean, which can cause dental dilemmas.

There’s no shame in undergoing treatment to improve your oral health, but you might worry about how to take care of the metal brackets while you’re working. Continue reading to learn 3 tips to help you maintain your orthodontics on the job!

Wearing metal braces has its advantages. Their ability to produce straighter teeth and healthier smiles makes them a time-tested solution that orthodontists continue to rely on when treating patients with crooked, crowded, misaligned, and gapped teeth. However, their design can cause problems for some individuals. If you are struggling with discomfort, sensitivity, or another similar issue, read on to discover 4 things you can do to ensure a more enjoyable orthodontic experience.

Clear aligners distinguishes itself from traditional braces in all kinds of ways, one of which is the freedom that it gives you. The fact that clear aligners are removable means that you can eat and drink whatever you want, so long as you take your trays off beforehand.

However, that freedom also comes with a level with responsibility when it comes to cleaning. For example, you might find that your aligners have become discolored after a while of wearing them. Here’s why that could be, and what you can do about it.