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Kennell Orthodontics is offering an end-of-year Invisalign special running now through the end of December 2017!  If you begin Invisalign treatment with us during this time, we will discount the $350 records fee off of your treatment fee- call us for details!

With our new iTero scanner and the Treatment Simulator, you can see what your teeth might look like at the end of your orthodontic treatment! 

At Kennell Orthodontics we now take all of our records for our patients using our new iTero scanner.  This means no more goopie impression material!  The iTero also has a feature that allows us to show you what your teeth could look like once your orthodontic treatment is complete.  How awesome is that?!

Once braces come off we know it is exciting to see how great your new smile looks.  And you want to keep it that way, right?  However, some patients forget how important it is to wear their retainers to maintain that beautiful smile after orthodontic treatment is complete.  At Kennell Orthodontics, we give specific instructions to all of our patients on how to properly wear retainers.  Typically, retainers are worn 24/7 for the first three days after braces are removed, then just during sleep thereafter.

Retainers must be worn for life in order to maintain the teeth in position.  Minor tooth movement can occur throughout life, which is why we strongly encourage our patients to always wear their retainers.  Oh - and remember to keep those retainers away from the dog.  Dogs don't just eat your homework, they eat retainers too!

Happy Halloween! Learn what treats you can and can't eat with braces to avoid a SPOOKY smile tonight :)

Good Treats:

• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• Kit Kats
• Plain M&M’s
• 3 Musketeers
• Oreo’s & Soft Cookies
• Hershey Bars & Hershey Kisses
• Candy Bars without caramel or nuts

Bad Treats:

• Caramel
• Bubblegum
• Hard Candy
• Taffy
• Licorice
• Nuts
• Jelly Beans
• Candy Corns
• Popcorn
• Chewy Candy
• Caramel/Candy Apples

Five orthodontic-friendly recommendations by the Lakes Regions orthodontist, Dr. Alan Kennell

October is National Orthodontic Health Month. And each October, thousands of kids have one thing on their mind: Halloween candy!  For orthodontists, the Halloween season is all about helping patients avoid potentially sticky situations.

October is the perfect time of year to learn about orthodontic health and how an orthodontist helps patients achieve beautiful, healthy smiles. Besides, everyone knows that Halloween candy can give any orthodontist a scare!

The Lakes Region and White Mountains orthodontist Dr. Kennell of Kennell Orthodontics offers these five timely tips to help protect braces, aligners and other orthodontic “appliances” while protecting teeth from decay.

1. Let sticky foods RIP. If it’s hard, sticky, chewy or crunchy, stay away! Avoid caramel, taffy, bubblegum, licorice, gummies or any snack that can damage brackets or wires. Also, be sure to say “boo” to hard-shelled peanut candies, nuts or nut-filled candies, taco chips and popcorn (especially unpopped kernels).
2. Choose “spooktacularly” soft foods. Opt for soft chocolates, peppermint patties, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties.
3. Dare to take extra care. Sweets can cause cavities, which is why brushing and flossing are even more important than ever during the Halloween season. Orthodontic patients should be especially vigilant about brushing and flossing immediately after eating sugary or starchy foods.
4. Set yourself up for success. Kennell encourages parents to keep acceptable treats on hand to substitute for “off limits” candies for trick-or-treating. Parents can also find free, Halloween-themed recipes such as Quirky Quesadillas for Halloween, Delightfully Devilish Deviled Eggs, Mummy Pizza Biscuits, Spooky Spider Web Bean dip and others, on the American Association of Orthodontists’ website at https://www.mylifemysmile.org/recipes.
5. Commit to oral health. Deciding to avoid hard and chewy sweets before the Halloween season increases your rate of success – and reduces the likelihood that you’ll break wires.

“We want kids to have fun on Halloween,” says Dr. Kennell. “And there’s no need to feel left out. Patients are free to enjoy acceptable treats in moderation. The payoff is a healthy, beautiful smile. It’s always worth it in the end!”