Am I Too Old?

Am I too old for braces?

Our adult Patients ask this all the time. 
You are never too old to have a beautiful smile.  Teeth will move at any age.
(This is why we suggest all patients wear a removable retainer at night for the rest of their lives)

Patients think that coming to the orthodontist is something that is for teens only, but this just isn't the case.  We treat patients from all ages 3-85+.  Our oldest patients was 85 and drove a red mustang so you are only as old as you feel. 

We think that everyone should have the opportunity to have a pretty smile.  Patients may have had straight teeth all their lives may have movements or crowding in their adult years.  So if you are an adult don't feel bad you are not alone.

The rest of our bodies are always changing what makes are teeth different? NOTHING!

The leaps in technology allow our adult patients options that were not available 20 years ago.  Orthodontist can now offer you straight teeth without anyone knowing you are straightening your teeth.  There are now products on the market that allow doctors to straighten teeth using nearly invisible brackets and or clear plastic aligners.  These tools attract our adult patients because they won't have to show off a silver smile while the work is being done.

Clear braces and Invisalign give confidence to patients that could not have orthodontic treatment when they were young.

A smile is the best thing you can put on in the morning so wouldn't you like to show it off??
Make a call to the Orthodontist today if you are thinking about making your smile straight.

What will I need after I get my Braces?

Care Package

              Patients who are receiving braces or orthodontic appliances for the first time are going through a lot of uneasy feelings. 

They are thinking:  Is this going to HURT tonight?
                               What am I going to LOOK like?
                               Will I TALK funny?
                               What am I going to EAT?
                               Do I have to wear a MOUTHGAURD?

To ease your transition into the whole orthodontic experience,  we tell our patients that it will be a little achey, or tight like a new pair or jeans, but to take Ibuprofen.  We tell them to improve their speech to read a book out loud or sing in the car ride home.  Soft foods are the best for the first few days and Milkshakes and smoothies are GREAT, and mouth guards are a must when it comes to Sports.


Here are  a few things that will help you on your journey to straight teeth:

• Ibuprofen
• Books or Magazines- to read out loud and keep their minds off the appliances in their mouth
• Smoothie King Gift Card
• Jump Rope- To keep their mind off of their teeth hurting
• Sugar-less Gum- For our braces patients that can not take medication to ease the pain
• Favorite soft foods
• Chap stick, Lip gloss or ESO - To prevent dry chapped lips
• Wax- for if you get bumped in the mouth or get a sore from the braces rubbing

These will make your loved one feel so much better and comfort them in their time of need.  Remind them to Smile it makes the whole process go faster!

Let the Games Begin

Century Orthodontics is starting some Social Media games

for our patients as well as a reason to read.

The first contest is a #hashtaggame to promote our Instagram and Twitter accounts.  This will help get our patients involved in what is going on in our office.  As well as a chance to win some great prizes.  Here is a picture of our #Hashtag Game:

 

The first #hashtag is #licensedtosmile.

Please follow us @centuryortho on your twitter and instagram accounts

 

 

 

 

The next contest is a Book Swap. 

We ask our patients to bring in unwanted books in good condition they will then receive a ticket.

They are then entered in a raffle to win a special summer prize.

(Barnes & Noble gift card & Panera Bread)

 

We give all of our patients the opportunity to take a book to read.

 

 

Our goal is for our patients to read so we say:

 

Please leave a book.

 

Take a book.

 

Read a book.

Why do I need Braces?

Why do I need braces?

Many of our patients come to us after seeing their dentist and they ask "why do I need braces?"  The answer to this question has many different answers.  Some reasons are obvious, you have crooked teeth, you don't like your smile or it hurts to bite but that isn't always the case with every patient.  Each patient is different and has different concerns with their teeth.  Only your orthodontist can tell you personally why you need braces.

Some of the purposes for having braces on teeth are:

• Straightening teeth- To align the teeth in an arch pattern so that it is easier to clean and chew. A bad        bite will have a negative impact on chewing, head and neck aches, as well as speech.
• Correcting Bites- Malocclusion are "Bad Bites," and have different terms to group them according to the bite alignment. 
• Cosmetic- These changes to your teeth will have no change in the functionality of your teeth but will enhance your smile.  Orthodontics for a cosmetic reason are to arrange the teeth in their correct place to obtain a "perfect" smile.

Reasons for straightening teeth:

• Straightening ones teeth makes it easier to chew and digest food.  
• Improvements to the roof of your mouth can help with breathing and reduce snoring.
• Having a beautiful smile brings confidence to the owner and makes others smile around you.

Patient with Over-Jet & Over Bite Before

After

Severe Crowding Before

After

How Do I Take Care of My Braces

Fixed Appliance Care

       We are glad to be working with you to create a great smile!  We need your cooperation to make youe treatment as pleasant as possible.  The following instructions should help you care for your appliances and your oral health while under going orthodontics treatment.

Initial Soreness:

        Ibprofen, or what you would normally take for a headache, may be taken as needed for discomfort.  It is best to keep ahead of the pain by taking the medication early and for 2-3 days after the appliance is placed and also for major adjustments.

        Wax may be used to cover brackets, bands, wires or any sharp areas.  A pea-sized ball pressed onto the area will relieve the sharpness.  Remove the wax before brushing and if you find it helpful to keep it on while eating, try not to swallow it!  Unusually sharp spots may require adjustments at our office.  Please call us for any questions regarding this.

       A mouth rinse of 1tsp. salt to 1 cup warm water maybe used yo help heal cuts or scrapes in your mouth.

Conscientious Oral Health:

          Brush teeth at least twice a day with a soft bristled or an electric tooth brush.  You will need to angle the bristles to remove all the plaque and food from your teeth.  You will need to angle your bristles above the brackets, on top of the brackets and wire and under the brackets.  Make sure to apply enough press so the bristles touch your teeth.  Often times it is necessary to pull your lips and cheeks back (especially the lower lip) to get at the area between the gums and braces.  Check your teeth when you finish brushing.  Your teeth, braces and wires should shine.  Gums should be pink and firm.  If they are not, you haven't brush adequately.

          Floss daily.  Use a floss threader or super floss to ease the process.  Use a proxy brush (the "Christmas tree" shaped brush) to clean under and around wires as well as between teeth.

         After your evening brushing and flossing, rinse with a half a cap full (1tsp) of fluoride rinse.  Swish in mouth for 60 seconds and spit it out. (DO NOT SWALLOW)  Bedtime is a good time to do this so the fluoride can work while you are sleeping.

Signs of Improper Oral Hygiene:

• Red, Puffy gum tissue that bleeds easily during brushing or flossing.  This doesn't mean to stop brushing and flossing!  When the gums heal up the bleeding will stop.
• Presence of plaque (Sticky film on braces and teeth)
• Bad Breathe
• Decalcification (white marks on the teeth)
• All these problems are preventable with good oral hygiene.

Breakage Instructions:

• Check your braces daily for any loose or broken bands, brackets or wires and call the office if you need a repair.
• Breakage can cause undesirable tooth movement that will prolong treatment time so please be careful.  Damage to the teeth and soft tissue is also possible if broken appliances are not repaired.
• Wax may be used to cover anything sharp or to hold things in place until you can get into the office to get them fixed.
• Remember if you have a broken bracket this could extend your orthodontic treatment.

Mouth and Lip guards:

• We offer generic mouth guards for active sports. Please let us know if you need one.
• We offer lip guards for patients who play certain musical instruments or who are in gymnastics or "Cheering" Poms.
• When you are finished with your fixed appliances, we also offer custom made mouth guards for patients who play sports and would like a guard that will also help keep their teeth straight.

Modified Eating Habits:

• Please do not chew anything HARD, such as ice cubes, hard candy, pens or pencils, and fingernails.
• Please do not chew anything STICKY, such as taffy, caramel, gummy bears, bubble gum etc. (sugarless gum is okay and even encouraged)
• Please do not bite into anything tough with your front teeth, such as apples, corn on the cob, bagels, and meat that is on a bone. (cut these things into pieces small enough to eat with a fork daintily)
• Please LIMIT amounts of carbonated drinks (soda), flavored water (propel), sports drinks (Gatorade), energy drinks (Red Bull) or juice.  Basically anything besides water.  If you drink these drinks, try to drink them with a meal and always remember to brush or at least rinse with water afterwards.
• Nothing STICKY, CRUNCHY, HARD or CHEWY!!!!!    All of these thing have a higher opportunity to weaken loosen or break brackets.  These loose or broken brackets could lengthen your treatment time, so it's up to you 

       

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!

Summer Time and Straight Teeth

Summer is one of the best times to get starting on teeth straightening.  This time of the year hours or more relaxed and flexible.  Patients are out of school which means you won't be missing school.  We have early morning and lunchtime hours so you won't miss camp or work.

We also have many patients starting invisalign.  They are really enjoying that we don't have to take impressions to make the invisalign anymore.  With our new I-tero scanner patients will have a 3-D model of their teeth in around 10 minutes.  Then those models are set directly to invisalign.  Doctors turn around time on invisalign has never been faster.  Don't have invisalign?  Make an appointment today!

Retention-  Remember to wear your retainer!  If you go for any length of time without wearing your retainer and it is not fitting properly please visit your orthodontist today!  The longer you go without a retainer that fits properly the more likely your teeth will move.  Patients get out of schedule without having daily schedule and vacations and camps and we understand but your teeth do not.  Make sure to bring your retainers with you on trips and make sure that you store them in a case and in a cool or room temperature environment.

Cleaning- Make sure that you clean your retainers when you clean your teeth and remember that we will clean your retainer anytime just call before you come in.

Remember to support Century Orthodontics by wearing your Century Orthodontic T-Shirt when you travel and to bring in or share a photo with us!

What's Next?

After I am finished with my orthodontic treatment 

what comes next?

              After you are finished wearing braces or Invisalign the next step is retention.  Retainers come in many shapes and sizes.  Each patient is special and has special needs for their teeth so retainers vary from patient to patient.  Whatever type of retainer is chosen for you should be worn for as long as you would like to keep your teeth straight.  So if you would like your teeth to stay straight forever, the only way that you can ensure that they do is to wear a retainer for 4-12 hours everyday or as instructed by the doctor.

In our office we typically use these retainers for these types of orthodontic procedures:

Full fixed (Braces)- Traditional retainer and a bonded (glued in retainer).
Invisalign- Essix (clear in office invisalign type retainer) or a Vivera (made by Invisalign)


What does that mean?

Types of retainers and their pros and cons:

• Traditional Retainers-  These retainers are an oldie but a goodie.  They are more bulky but they have lots of advantages.  These retainers can last 20-30 yrs and still do a great job.  These can have a picture or color choice added to them so that they can show off your personality.  These retainers can be adjusted if teeth have moved and are more forgiving if you slack in wearing them a few nights.  Traditional retainers also are a little less comfortable then the other types of retainers.

• Bonded Lower Retainers- Are a great way to keep your teeth straight and not have to worry about remembering to put it in your mouth.  These retainers are one of the easiest to wear but one of the hardest to keep clean.  Glued in retainers make it difficult to floss and to brush behind but it is possible.

• Essix Retainers- These in office clear plastic retainers are super comfy and invisible but they do have a few drawbacks.  These retainers are great but only last about a year to a year in half just like contact lens.  They can become expensive if you are going to wear them for a life time because you have to replace them yearly.  (About $100 an arch)

• Vivera Retainers- Invisalign's retention appliance is a great option for patients who love the clear aligners but aren't available to get to an orthodontist every year.  These retainers are made by either taking an impression or a LED Scan.  They are made by Invisalign and are made 4 sets at a time.  So you won't have to come back in for appointments yearly.  Also the scans are saved by invisalign so as long as your last aligner fits you may never have to take an impression again.     

"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.

 

How do I know if I have a type of gum disease?

Gum Disease-

You may not have pain or any “problems,” but there are a few ways to tell if you need to go see your dental professional.  

            Some ways to know are your gums bleed when you are brushing or flossing, your gums are red and swollen, and/ or  you have mouth sores or bumps that will not go away.  
         
         When you are at the dental professional’s office, it is important that you ask what steps to take to improve your oral hygiene.  Even though you maybe brushing you may be doing it incorrectly or not brushing or flossing long enough.

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

How long do I need to wear my retainers?

How long do I need to wear my retainers?

This is a question that is asked almost everyday in our office. The answer is an easy one, you need to wear them as long as you would like to keep your teeth straight. If you would like your teeth to be straight until you are 90 then wear your retainers until you are 90. We can only ensure that your teeth stay straight as long as you wear your retainers and they fit properly. Dr. Waxler always says "Our bodies are ever changing no matter how long you've held your teeth straight they can still move as you get older. Even people who had "perfect" teeth when they were young, often find their teeth moving slightly as they age."

So what good were braces?

The secret of a good orthodontic result is to put the teeth in the most stable position that is possible considering the person's facial structure and dental problems. After a few years in retainers, the tooth arrangement should be reasonably stable; although corrected dental and skeletal problems all have varying tendencies to "rebound". This is like people who always have to be on a diet or wear glasses to correct a problem, some teeth need to be retained forever.

If I decide not to wear my retainer...., should I still see my Orthodontist?

After approximately two years of retainer wear we enter into a post-retention period. We require appointments on a "as needed" basis. Unless you are told that your problem is particularly unstable, you may only need to wear your retainer 2-4 nights a week. If you lose, break or your retainer no longer fits please call our office to make an appointment so we can advise you on what options will fit your situation best. If you have graduated from our office there may be an office visit charge or a replacement fee.

What about my bonded (or glued in) retainer?

You may come back to see us anytime to have our office check your bonded retainer, but your regular dentist can evaluate this retainer for you at your dental check ups. If anything appears to be wrong please call us immediately to have it checked. If we need to remove this retainer we suggest getting a removable retainer to ensure that your teeth will stay straight. You may have this retainer removed at anytime and take an impression for a removable retainer to be made (at the current fee). This removable retainer will be asked to wear at night time for as long as you would like to hold those teeth straight.