What is an Expander?

What is an Expander?

Expanders are used for certain conditions when the upper jaw or palate is narrow. Expandtion can be done before adulthood, the palate is actually two seprate bones connected down the middle by a non-bony suture.

Fixed Rapid Palatal Expander

Advantages of this technique include more room to align the teeth, a broader more esthetic smile, a more stable final result and sometimes even easier to breathing through your nose!
Relatively heavy forces applied quickly (to minimize orthodontic tooth movement) will cause the two palatal bones to separate.  After a period of time new bone fills in and preserves the increased width of upper jaw.

A typical expansion procedure involoves activation of the appliance once a day for about 3-4 weeks.  This is followed by 3-4 months of stabilization before the appliance is removed.

For most patients it is the size and bulkiness of the expander that make it the most uncomfortable. Soreness of teeth can be expected and, as the appliance expands the mid facial bones, some discomfort under the eyes and around the nose may occur.  A large space can be expected to open between the front, center teeth.  This is because one tooth goes with the right side the other goes with the left side, each is a seprate bone.  This movement stretches the gum tissue between the incisors; and over a period of a few months they will be pulled back together.  Fixed (glued in) appliances are almost always necessary to acheive an ideal alignment.

When expanding:

If you experience a GREAT deal of pain activating the appliance, you are unable to turn the screw, or if the appliance becomes loose we ask our patients to call our office and make an appointment IMMEDIATLEY!

If you are unable to make the observation appointment during the expansion phase DO NOT continue to expand past your appointment date.

The most important part: Might not be fun, but it is FAST!

Candy is Bad for your Bite!

Halloween is one of the best times of the year but the worst time for your teeth and braces.  We ask our patients to refrain from eating sticky or chewy things when braces are on.  We encourage our patients to dress up go out and trick or treat.  We ask them to choose candy that will not break brackets, if they get a choice.  We ask that our patients eat a few pieces in at a time and then brush or rinse their teeth afterwards.  If patients receive candy that they can not eat or don't want to eat we allow our patients to bring in unwanted or hard & sticky candy.  We Swap them 1 coin per every pound that they bring in.  For every pound they get to fill out one raffle ticket for a chance to win one of three prizes.  We just ask our patients to bring candy in between November 4th and 7th.  (If you don't have an appointment please call first).  We will then use the candy to make gift bags for the military troops over seas.  Patients who bring in candy after November 7th may still get coins for turning in candy but won't be entered in the raffle.

Please Eat Responsible!

Why are Braces like Trains

Trains and teeth and Orthodontics…

Here is another way to help you get done faster

 if you are supposed to wear elastic bands!

Think of your teeth as individual train boxcars….

 

Think of the arch wire (connecting

the individual teeth together) as the railroad track, guiding the movement of the boxcars

Finally, the train cannot move without an engine…nor can your teeth move without the power of your elastic bands.

Moral of this story…..If you’re not wearing your elastics, your orthodontic train is sitting on a siding in the middle of nowhere not getting anywhere. 

 Wear your elastics and get to your destination…. your braces off and a great smile!

 

So get moving!!!!

Facebook Challenge

Challenge: Get 1,000 "Likes" on Facebook by 

August 31st, 2013.

Our office staff needs your help!  We need to to visit our Facebook page and like our page.

After you like our page ask your friends family and peers to like our page too.

The more likes we get the better chance for us to get our name out there.  

Beginning in APRIL we are having a Facebook photo contest.  Our Staff members will design their own Century Orthodontic Tshirt.  Our patients then will have to like our page, then like which Century T-shirt that they like the best.  

IF we reach our goal of 1,000 by August 31st, 2013. The Staff member who's Tshirt got the most likes will win a Special Day at the Spa.  

For all of our new Facebook friends don't feel left out you will all be entered to win a special prize too.  IF we reach our Goal of 1,000 by Aug 31st, 2013.  You will win a Prize of an i-pad mini.

We want you to know that we are also making our Start and Removal photos Available to be viewed on Facebook too.  All that we ask is that the patients tell us they want to be on Facebook. 

You may also be able to play our office contests at home if you become our friend.  

If you would like a chance to receive deals at Century follow us on twitter. 

If you want to keep up on whats going on in the Orthodontic field please follow us on Twitter:

@centuryortho   #centuryortho    #Centurysmiles

Getting Blingy with It!

Silver and Bling

Some of our patients have been making our Century Orthodontic T-shirts more girly!  The girls have been putting anything from flowers to rhinestones. These girls are very talented.  If any of our patients would like to earn more coins they can decorate their T-shirt to fit their personality.  

Puff Paint

 Another patient took home an example invisalign  aligner and used it as a stamp and it turned out very cute.

Neons

Flowers

Nice teeth

Here is our newest Century T-Shirt designer

Nice job Gracie!