Smiles by Palmer Orthodontics Blog

There are a lot of things to keep up with during the holidays. From travel arrangements to preparing the guest bedrooms for loved ones, things can get hectic quickly. On top of that, there’s also the food. Cooking special holiday meals takes a lot of preparation, but the end result is worth it. Even so, eating during the holidays looks a little different if you have braces. Continue reading to learn three helpful tips that will make eating holiday meals with braces a breeze.

Stockings are iconic to the holiday season, but along with them come some treats that aren’t great for your child’s metal braces. The sweets that normally become stocking stuffers can potentially snap a wire or pop a bracket. If you want to protect your child’s teeth and engage in this tradition, here are some things that could take the place of sticky sweets this year.

Did you know 1 in 5 orthodontic patients is over the age of 18? It’s never too late to invest in a healthy, straight smile with traditional braces. Following your orthodontist’s instructions, like brushing and flossing, will prevent any delays in your journey to a better smile; however, accidents can happen. Although you might not expect any orthodontic emergencies, it’s best to plan ahead just in case. Here’s what you need to know to prevent an orthodontic emergency from interrupting your day.

(more…)

When you experience broken braces, your first instinct might be to panic. After all, aren’t these metal brackets and wires supposed to be really sturdy? The fact that they suddenly broke must mean something is seriously wrong with your treatment! However, this reaction is neither helpful nor called for. It’d be better if you took the necessary steps to fix your problem. Luckily, your McMurray dentist is here to help that happen. Read on to learn four things you should do if your braces malfunction.

When it comes to quickly and subtly improving your smile, few options are as impressive as clear aligners. Provided you do things correctly, they can effectively fix misaligned and crooked teeth and give you a straighter, healthier set of pearly whites. However, even though it’s crucial to wear your aligners for about 22 hours a day, there will still be times when you’ll need to take them out. But there’s nothing to worry about—this is easier than it sounds! Keep reading to learn about five tips that will help you safely and correctly remove your aligners without compromising your treatment.

When your child is gleeful about the new gap in their grin and excitedly awaiting a visit from the Tooth Fairy, it doesn’t get much cuter than that. But what if your child knocked out a tooth unexpectedly? While this can be scary for your youngster in the moment, it can be stressful for you too. Like anything that happens without being anticipated, it’s always better to have a plan. Keep reading to find out from an orthodontist in McMurray what you should do immediately after the tooth loss as well as learn how your child’s emergency dentist can restore their smile to a pain-free state.

Now that you have clear aligners, you are probably curious as to how you should take proper care of them. Because they’re a flexible orthodontic solution that allows you to remove them before eating and drinking, it’s essential that you understand what steps you should take to ensure the health and safety of these clear trays. In this article, we’ll look at four ways you can take better care of your smile and your aligners and avoid a possible delay in treatment.

After finishing your Invisalign treatment, you’ll be given a retainer to help preserve your hard-earned results. It’s incredibly important that you wear it as instructed by your orthodontist. Otherwise, your newly straightened teeth will start to gradually shift back to their original misaligned positions. If you weren’t diligent about wearing your retainer the first time around, you might be wondering if using it again will help realign your teeth. Read on to learn why you should consult with your dentist or orthodontist before you think about using your old retainer again.

Thanks to advancements in the field of orthodontics, straightening your teeth no longer requires you to wear metal brackets and dark-colored wires. Now, you can use discreet, effective, comfortable clear braces to do the job! With that being said, it’s important to do your research when determining which teeth-straightening treatment is right for you. So, keep reading to learn five things you should know before getting clear braces.

Do you know how many children undergo orthodontic treatment each year in the United States alone? 3.9 million! So, it’s safe to assume that your child will need braces at some point. Since teeth-straightening services, like traditional braces and Invisalign, can be quite an investment, many parents wonder, “Does dental insurance cover orthodontic treatments?” Keep reading to find out!