Invisalign

A common question you might be wondering is if you can still whiten your teeth while being in Invisalign treatment. We used to always inform patients that they should wait until they are done with treatment to use whitening strips. It still holds true that you should not use whitening strips, but there is now a solution to the whitening!

Invisalign now offers the Invisalign Professional Whitening System that is safe to use during and after your treatment.

Why it is safer to use this system than whitening strips is because it will be able to whiten your teeth despite the attachments. Trying to use a whitening strip would not be able to go through the attachments, leaving spots that are not as white when they some day come off. This Invisalign Professional Whitening System contains 10% carbamide peroxide formulation which breaks down into water, oxygen, and reactive oxygen molecules. The reactive oxygen molecules are what are able to change the stained molecules, making them lighter. Due to this reaction, the whitening solution will spread through the entire tooth without actually having to cover every part of it. So even the tooth surface underneath the attachments will still be getting whiter just the same.

The at-home kit allows you to easily whiten your teeth professionally! The kit comes with 4 syringes of whitening gel. At Dr. Kennell's orthodontic office they are sold for $150 and can be used throughout your treatment. It is instructed for you to lightly insert the gel just enough to cover the aligner so that it does not overflow to your gums. It is recommended for you wear them for at least 8-10 hours to get the full benefits. It is important to know that if you start to feel any sensitivity during these whitening treatments, you should take the aligners out. Using a toothpaste like Sensodyne along with your treatments will be helpful in reducing the sensitivity. This whitening gel is also made with potassium nitrate, used to reduce dental hypersensitivity, and fluoride, which helps strengthen the teeth.

Luckily, this whitening system can be used for Invisalign patients (during and after treatment), any patients that are in a Vivera/clear retainer, or anyone that is simply interested in just whitening their teeth! Make sure to ask your orthodontist/dentist about the Invisalign Professional Whitening System next time you are in the office, it will be worth it!

What is TMJ anyways? TMJ stands for the Temporomandibular Joints, which are two joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull.

It is important to bring awareness to TMJ as approximately 36 million Americans suffer from TMJ disorders. TMD stands for the Temporomandibular disorders which are a common group of related pain conditions involving the TMJ, jaw muscles and associated structures.

The symptoms to look for are:

• Pain in the TMJ or jaw muscles
• Joint sounds such as clicking or popping
• Limitations in jaw movement
• Tension in face or neck
• Headaches, especially in the temples
• Difficulty chewing/swallowing
• Fatigue

Once diagnosed, there are some ways to help ease the pain on your own. For example, eating softer foods, avoiding repetitive functions (nail-biting, chewing gum), using heat packs, or practicing relaxation techniques to minimize jaw tension. If that does not do the trick, it could be beneficial to let your dentist know. Your dentist will be able to to recommend some jaw exercises, prescribe medications if it is necessary, or even create a night guard/bite plate to decrease the clenching and grinding you may be experiencing.

Can orthodontic treatment help TMJ disorders?

Orthodontic treatment CAN be helpful in treating TMJ disorders, but it is never a GUARANTEE that it will completely fix it. An orthodontist or a dentist could recommend the use of a night guard to help the jaw muscles relax and heal while you are asleep. If a patients occlusion is the main factor in causing TMJ, then getting braces or Invisalign treatment could be recommended by your orthodontist.

If prior techniques do not seem to be working, it would be a great idea to at least schedule a consultation. Thankfully, Dr. Kennell at Kennell Orthodontics of Laconia, NH offers FREE consultations. He will give a detailed exam and provide his expertise on what actions to take next. If this sounds like something you have been experiencing, come see us soon!

School is out for Summer and we're ready for sunshine and time to relax!

As school ends and you're on Summer break, we still want you to be conscious of the foods you're eating. If you're in Invisalign treatment you may remove your Invisalign trays and consume whatever foods you wish. (Making sure you brush well before putting your trays back in).

Here are a list of brace safe foods and treats!

• Sugar Cookies
• Chocolate Bars without nuts or caramel
• Ice Cream
• Cup Cakes
• Hamburgers
• Hot Dogs
• Fruit
• Potato Salad
• Pasta Salad

Foods to Avoid:

• Corn on the cob
• Smore's
• Hard chips or pretzels
• Popcorn
• Caramel
• Gum

We want you to enjoy your summer and indulge in treats, just make sure you're mindful of the things you're eating!

We hope you enjoy a safe & fun summer! And can't wait to hear all about the trips and fun adventures you were able to go on this summer!

It's almost that time for school to be out for summer! We know you'll be busy with fun summer activities, and we wanted to join in on the fun! The week of June 26th will be a fun filled spirit week here at Kennell Orthodontics. Patients in all three of our locations will be able to take part in this fun filled week! What an easy and fun way to earn patient rewards points too!

Not only is School out for summer & we have spirit week. June is also National Smile Month!

According to the American Dental Association, a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature, which is why it's important for our team at Kennell Orthodontics to support National Smile Month this June!

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

•  Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Here's a helpful video showing you how to brush with your braces on.
•  Floss every day to clean between your teeth.
• Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Kennell.
•  Visit your dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

The team at Kennell Orthodontics strives for your satisfaction with every visit and wants you to love your smile!

To schedule an appointment with our office give us a call!

• Laconia: (603) 524-7404
• Plymouth: (603) 536-7404
• Littleton: (603) 444-7403

At our office we know that one of the most anticipated appointments for patients is the day they will get their braces off and see their brand new smile for the first time. One of the most fun and rewarding parts of our job is sharing in the excitement alongside them. We decided to dedicate a full day to this on May 4th, and we celebrated Star Wars Day with a Braces-Off celebration!

Our team decorated the office for the occasion with smile balloons, which created the perfect backdrop for fun pictures. One of the best parts about getting your braces off is being able to eat all of the hard and crunchy foods that you couldn't have before. We had this in mind when we gave out special Rocky Mountain candy apple treats to our patients, along with other goodies. We are SO grateful that our Braces-Off celebration was a successful experience for our patients, and we're already planning another Braces-Off celebration in the Fall at our Plymouth location!

Here at Kennell Orthodontics, the greatest compliment we can receive is one of our patients referring a friend or colleague to our practice.

A successful practice doesn’t just happen. It is the result of a strong commitment to excellence in our treatment and in our relationships with patients and doctors. We would like to take a moment to thank you for showing your confidence in our practice by recommending us to your friends and colleagues. We’re gratified to find how many new patients regularly call on us based on your words of advice.

To show our appreciation, we are kicking off our 2021 PATIENT REFERRAL PROGRAM!

If Kennell Orthodontics begins a treatment plan with a new patient (child or adult) from your qualified referral, you will receive a $50 AmEx CASH CARD and be entered to win the 2021 GRAND PRIZE!

WHAT IS THE 2021 GRAND PRIZE?!?!

One lucky winner will receive a

SEGWAY NINEBOT S!

We are excited to resume normal operations on May 18, 2020!

We can’t wait to see all of our patients once again!  These past few weeks have been quite challenging for ALL of us, but we’ll make it through and be stronger because if it.  All of our patients’ appointments are currently being confirmed, so rest assured if you have not been contacted, you will be.

While the office has been closed, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to ensure we can reopen safely and efficiently.  We have always taken pride in the cleanliness of our office and our strict adherence to infection control standards, and we will continue to provide comfortable, safe, and effective orthodontic care as we resume our regular business hours.

Kennell Orthodontics follows the infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA.)  We stay up to date on all new rulings and guidance issued to ensure we’re adhering to the most current information and recommendations.

However, as you might imagine, we are going to be taking additional safety measures to help protect both our patients and our team.

Here are a few changes we have implemented in the office:

We will be calling patients the day before the appointment to confirm the appointment time and ask a few screening questions.  You’ll be asked these same questions again when you enter the office.

*** Please RE-SCHEDULE your appointment if you feel sick, have a fever, or have been in contact with someone who has been sick in the last 14 days. ***

We ask that everyone entering the building please wear a mask or other acceptable facial covering.

Please do your best to arrive at your scheduled appointment time – not too early and [please!] not late.

• If you arrive early, we ask that you wait outside the office until your scheduled appointment time.
• If you are more than 10 minutes late, please call the office to let us know so that we can determine the best time to see you.

The Sign-In screen [and finger scanner] have been temporarily disabled to minimize touching/contamination. Please let the Front Desk Team know when you arrive so they can check you in.

Upon checking-in, a team member will greet you in order to perform a Wellness Screening consisting of a brief Questionnaire, Consent Form, Temperature Check (non-contact), and Hand Sanitizer.

There will also be hand sanitizer available in the reception area and other places around the office for you to use as needed.

Our Team will be wearing enhanced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including clinical jackets, face shields, enhanced face masks, and safety glasses.  This may vary depending on the risk level of the procedure(s) we are performing.

We have adjusted our schedule as to allow more time between patients in an effort to adhere to social distancing by reducing the number of people in the reception area at one time. This may result in fewer scheduling options for your appointment.

Although sitting in the waiting area will most likely notbe necessary, please do your best to allow ample social distance from others that may also be sitting in the waiting area.

We ask that only 1 adult accompany their child into the office for their scheduled appointment.

Teen and adult patients should come alone, unless a parent/spouse/etc.. has a question for Dr. Kennell about the patient’s treatment.  We ask that everyone else please wait comfortably outside or in your vehicle.

Sadly, the X-Box games and Photo Booth will be off-limits until further notice.

We are no longer offering magazines or other reading materials in the reception area, these items are difficult to keep clean and disinfected.

For now, our Toothbrushing Station is a Handwashing Station.  Please remember to brush your teeth (and floss!) at home, before coming to your appointment.  If you need to brush at the office, we will provide you with a pre-pasted disposable toothbrush to use in the restroom.

Let’s keep all office talk positive and have fun together - safely!

We’re coming up with cool ways to say hello with “virtual hugs” and “virtual handshakes”!

We will still have fun prizes, contests and giveaways! - Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

If you have any questions about your child’s treatment progress or the steps we’re taking to keep you safe, we’re happy to answer them!  You can email us at info@kennellortho.com or give us a call (603) 524-7404.

Thank you for sticking with us through these uncertain times!  You are family to us, and we appreciate you so much.  We can’t wait to see you all in the office again soon!

Keep smiling and stay safe,

Dr. Kennell and The Kennell Ortho Team

There are many options for straightening teeth and the decision of one treatment over another can be overwhelming.  Which treatment is best?  Which will fit your lifestyle?  Which can you afford and maximizes treatment time?  All these questions can be answered by Dr. Kennell and his Kennell Orthodontics team!  One type of treatment offered by Dr. Kennell is Invisalign.  This revolutionary approach uses aligners that are clear, smooth and plastic - versus brackets and wires bonded to your teeth.  This treatment offers the convenience of an orthodontic treatment without interfering with your appearance.  Check out bracesinfo.com/invisalign for more information and contact Kennell Orthodontics today to discuss whether Invisalign is right for you!!!