Century Orthodontics Interviews

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!

Facebook Challenge

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Century Orthodontics Facebook Page 

Whats going on at Century

Century Orthodontics has some new things that we are offering and doing different in our office.

We are promoting our Facebook page.  Why? Well we love to stay in touch with our patients.  We like to see whats going on in their lives.  It helps show off the great smiles that the kids and adults are receiving.  As you know smiles are contagious we would love to help more people smile.  The more smiles we can bring to the world means a better place for all of us.  So if you are not a friend of our staff page yet or haven't liked our business page please do so.

We will be offering great prizes this summer. We are trying to get 1000 likes but the end of the summer.  We need your help. Please help us reach this goal by sharing our link with your friends and family.  Starting April first we are launching our 1st Facebook only contest. Our Fans will have to like our page then pick the Staff members T-shirt who they like the best.  The staff member with the most likes will receive a Special Prize to the spa or dinner and the movies.  Everyone who voted for our staff members T-shirt will be entered to win an ipad mini.  ONLY if we get a 1000 likes.  So we are asking everyone and everyone that we ask to ask someone.

What other fun things are we doing?

We are changing the way we do contests in our office too.  We going to have more guessing contests. We will also have two photo challenge contests.  This Summer we are going to ask all of our patients to make their Century Orthodontic T-shirt fun.  They can design it anyway they want to.  We will take a picture and share it with all of our offices and on Facebook. July 28th will be the last day to share them for the August contest. Then In the month of August our patients will pick their Favorite T-shirt, Most Creative and Most Crazy.  The T-shirts with the most votes will get a Special Summer Prize that will be announced in August.

Faces without Braces

We will be asking all of our bracket removal patients if they would like to share their new smile with Facebook   We then take a special picture that can be shared on Facebook for friends and family to see.  We just ask that patients and parents sign a release so that only the patients that would like to have their picture on Facebook have them on Facebook.

New Brace Face.

Patients with their new tooth jewelry will also be asked if they would like to share their smile on Facebook   This is such a great way to share with your friends and family your new smile.  Patients love the chance to show off their new bling!  Most people don't realize that braces are some of the most expensive jewelry that most people will wear.  These brackets are beautiful and you may make them as colorful or camouflaged as you like.

Mother & Father's Day

Patients who schedule their appointments the week before Mother or Father's Day will receive a special gift to give to their parent or Motherly or Fatherly figures in their life.  We will also be taking pictures to share on Facebook with Parents and friends.

Please ask if you have questions about any of the new things that are going on.  If you haven't read our blog before please look at past blogs.  There are many interesting articles not only about how to take care of your teeth but also fun things that we do.  Don't forget to visit our Webpage www.centuryorthodontics.com

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

Go Green in March

For all of our creative artist out there or even our not so creative, we will be giving away an extra coin for showing off you green. 

If you make jewelry out of duct tape or purses out of juice boxes, send us a picture.

  If you make sculptures like Dr. Waxler we want to see them this month!

Here is a great website that shows off all the fun things that are green.

www.gogreenitems.com

Skate Party 2013

This Saturday 2-9-13

Century Orthodontics is hosting our annual SAKTE PARTY!

Please join us for Skating Pizza and Prizes.

We will have a FREE Tshirt for all of our patients and kids under 20 who join us for some SKATING!

Meet us at Skate Port Plaza in Manchester MO

from 4:30pm -6:30 pm 

What a great way to have fun with our Century Family and if you are a new patient to meet the doctors and staff.  

If you take photos on your phone or camera please tweet them to us or share them on instagram with #centurysmiles or #centuryortho or mention us at @centuryortho on twitter.

We love pictures from our patients please share them with us!!!

for more information you may like our Century Orthodontic Facebook page and become friends with our staff at Staff Century orthodontics also on Facebook

Here are photos of the Entry PRIZES

Movie Passes, i-tunes, ipad mini, ipod nano, candy, gift cards & More

My Glued in Retainer

In our office,  bonded (glued in) retainers are used for certain hard to hold orthodontic corrections.  These include lower front teeth, spaces between upper front teeth and teeth with weak gum and bone support.  

Bonded retainers are not indestructible!  So we reminder our patients and anyone who might have this type of retainer to be careful chewing on hard and very sticky things.  

              It can be more difficult to brush these the teeth with the retainer on.  Make sure you clean all around and remember to floss.  It will be harder to floss with the retainer but you can always use superfloss or floss threaders to get around the bonded retainer.  

                Every night when you brush your teeth check your retainer.  If any part of the retainer comes loose from your tooth, even if part is still attached, make an appointment at the orthodontist as soon as possible.  These bonded retainers are only for holding teeth where they are and do not straighten teeth.  If your retainer comes loose and teeth move or shift a different active appliance will be required to realign your teeth and there will be a charge.  

           As any other dental appliance regular monitoring of this retainer is necessary; either by your orthodontist or by your primary dentist at regular check ups or cleanings.  After a number of years the dentist or orthodontist can remove this glued in retainer and replace it with a removable retainer that can be worn just at night.  (There is a charge for a new retainer)

               In our office after the removal of your active orthodontic appliances and two years of retention office visits we let our patients go on an as needed basis.  This means that we no require them to come in for visits if their retainers are fitting well and causing no problems.  

             We call this a Post Retention Phase or PRP.  Your teeth are now as stable as they ever will be.  Unfortunately, this does not mean your teeth will never move.  So we request that you wear your retention appliances as long as you would like to keep your teeth straight.  At our patients PRP appointment we give them the option with their bonded retainer to leave it, remove it and get a removable retainer or to remove it and do nothing.  

              If a patient chooses to keep the glues in retainer we just ask that they have their dentist check it once a year to make sure teeth are continuing to stay straight and the teeth are being kept clean.  If a patient removes it and has a removable retainer made we just as them to wear this retainer at night with their other removable retainer.  If a patient chooses to go without any retention appliances we just ask that if at anytime their teeth start to move or shift they see an orthodontist as soon as possible so that they can adjust their teeth so they will not have to have full braces again.  We do not recommend this last option!

Wearing your retainer is the best insurance you have to keeping a healthy and attractive smile!

"Shopping" for Orthodontics?

Would you pick a heart surgeon on price alone? Now teeth are not quite life and death, but they do play a huge part in your appearance and well being!

Braces and Invisalign are simply tools. The results that are achieved are entirely dependent upon the skills of the doctor and staff. When evaluating your options, this is the most important factor to consider in your buying decision.

Our doctors are specialists in the field of orthodontics. Trained in all aspects of orthodontic diagnosis and correction, they have the ability to utilize many different techniques to get the best possible results in the minimum amount of time.

Our practice was a pioneer in the use of Invisalign since its inception in 1999 and our disignation as an Elite provider puts us in the top Invisalign practices in the country. Only 1% of orthodontics reach this status.

How We Practice

 Unlike most group practices, treatment at our office is a mutual collaboration, with Dr. Waxler and Dr. Cavanaugh jointly  diagnosing, treatment planning, and treating most of our patients.  We feel that the advantages of multiple insights has been extremely beneficial for our patients.  We do understand, however, that certain patients may desire or require a particular doctor. 

 Where We Come From

Our practice has been around for a very LONG time, over a century.  Dr. Edward Angle is considered around the world to be the father of modern orthodontics.  Among his many accomplishments were the invention of the edgewise appliance which are the "braces" used by the majority of the world's orthodontists, establishing the world's first school for orthodontic education right here in St. Louis in the year 1899 and finally founder and first president of what has become the American Association of Orthodontists which has its headquarters here in St. Louis.  As we traced our origins, we were pleased to discover that our founder and predecessor was this very same Dr. Angle, who started his private orthodontic practice in 1896.  His practice has changed hands and moved locations through the years but has always remained intact.

 

No More Goopey Mess

Invisalign Intraoral Scanner

Our goal at Century Orthodontics has always been to be the St. Louis Leader in Invisalign treatment. We were the first in the Missouri to use Invisalign and we have consistently been one of the top Invisalign providers in the country. That's why we are the first orthodontic office in St. Louis to acquire the iOC Invisalign intraoral scanner. The scanner will allow us to do away the gooey impressions that are normally used to created 3-D models of the teeth. While this machine costs as much as a nice new car, we feel that our patients are worth it!

The benefits of a 3-D dental scanner:

-no need to have impressions taken, leading to a much more comfortable experience and no gagging

-increased accuracy leading to better fitting appliances and thus better control of tooth movement

-elimination of rejected impressions and redo’s

-ability to see the 3-D image of your teeth immediately following the scan

-Ability to view Invisalign tooth animation in a few days vs. a few weeks, allowing us to start treatment 50% faster

The scans generally take between 15-20 minutes, which is comparable to the time required for a full set of impressions. Unlike other scanning systems, iOC is a laser and optical scanner, so there is also no concern about any radiation.

Our office has scheduled 3 days of hand-on training and will begin using the scanner for most Invisalign and Invisalign Teen patients shortly. We think this is going to really improve the overall Invisalign experience and look forward to helping you smile without braces!

What are Rubber Bands for Braces for?

Everyday at least one of our patients will ask, "Why am I wearing these rubber bands?" Patients wear rubber bands for many different reasons. Common reasons are to fix bite problems or to help guide the movement of teeth. Patients for the most part find that wearing their elastics is one of the most annoying parts of braces, but it is also one of the most important parts to getting the teeth straight and to having proper bite.

Why do I wear elastics? These elastics create a small but continuous amount of pressure on the teeth or jaws to move them into more desirable positions. If you wear your elastics as instructed, treatment will be completed more rapidly. When you are wearing your elastics full time, this means 24/7, taking them out only to eat and brush. We ask our patients to switch their elastics 3-4 times daily. Switching them ensures that the elastics will retain their strength, and the force will be steady. Your teeth will be sore when you start wearing your rubber bands, but the better you are with wearing them the sooner the soreness will go away. Just smile through the first few days, and your rubber bands will become easier and easier.

For patients wearing elastics the most difficult time of the day is right after lunch. Patients forget to put their rubbrt bands back in until after they get home from school or until after dinner. Forgetting will bring tooth movement to a halt and extend the amount of time in braces. It takes 10-12hrs for the teeth to start moving when wearing elastics.

Dr. Waxler tells patients their teeth are like semi-trucks. If two vehicles are on the highway and one is a sports car and the other is a semi-truck, they both can do the speed limit but when they have to come to a stop, it only takes the sports car a few seconds to accelerate back up to the 60 miles an hour. The semi-truck takes a lot longer to reach the speed limit. This is why those big trucks don't want to stop if they can avoid it.

Since your teeth are like semi-trucks, the only thing to keep them from stopping their movement is to wear your elastics as instructed. Teeth will stop moving if the elastics are out of the mouth for more then just eating and brushing. We tell our patients to put their elastics on their pinkie fingers when the bands are out of their mouths. When you are finished eating and brushing, you will look down and remember to put them back in