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There is a lot of excitement at Kennell Orthodontics! If you haven’t visited our office recently, we now have a cool new way to sign-in when you arrive for your next visit! Just touch the finger scanner at the reception desk and it will recognize you and sign you right in! Of course, we would have to introduce your finger to our computer, so if you have not used the Finger Scanner before, let us know and we’ll get you registered.  If you would rather just type in your name, that’s fine too, just use the touchscreen.

BUT don’t worry Mom and Dad, our finger scanner is very safe!  This is how it works: DigitalPersona software never stores fingerprint images. DigitalPersona software creates a fingerprint template, which is a highly compressed and digitally encoded mathematical representation of fingerprint features. This template is created when a user registers a finger and is stored in an encrypted file. When the patient later touches the fingerprint reader to authenticate, a new template is created and compared to the 'registered' template. If there is a match, the authentication is successful.  It is a one-way conversion that cannot be reversed. This means that fingerprint templates cannot be used to recreate the fingerprint image.

The finger scan is not the only new technology we have in our office. Our new software, Ortho2 EDGE, provides the latest in orthodontics software technology designed to provide us with the most effective practice management tools to increase efficiency, provide smoother workflow so you receive only the very best care and service.

Having braces can present some new challenges when it comes to oral hygiene. Preventing tooth decay can be a big challenge simply because of the tendency for braces to trap food under the wires and between the teeth and the brackets.

Here are a few tips to keep your teeth healthy while wearing your braces:

1. Eat Braces-Safe Foods
Keeping your teeth from decay starts with a proper diet. Foods that are high in sugar or starch can cause more plaque, which is difficult to remove during your brushing. There are certain foods that should be avoided while wearing your braces. First, sticky foods like caramel or gum can get stuck in your braces and be difficult to remove during brushing. Next, hard foods such as nuts and candy could bend wires or even break a bracket. Foods that are firm or hard to bite into like apples, carrots, or corn on the cob should be avoided. As much as we like to snack on them, those crunchy treats can harm your braces. Things like chips, ice, and popcorn can also bend or break your braces. On the other hand, bananas, mangoes, milk, water, poultry, and pasta all tend to be low in enamel-busting acids.

2. Proper Brushing
You want to place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums in order to clean the whole tooth, and brush gently in the area between the wiring and the teeth. Use a softer toothbrush with fluoride paste for best results. Rinsing every day will help, too. Rinsing is important regardless, but especially important when you have braces as you need to disinfect the entire mouth, including those spots under the braces where your brush can't always reach.

3. Ask About Special Cleaning Tools
There are also special brushes, or other tools, to get under and clean your braces. You can find many of these items at your local pharmacy.

4. Regular Teeth Cleaning
It's important to keep your routine appointments with your dentist and dental hygienist for a thorough cleaning twice a year or as directed. The exact frequency of these visits will be up to your dentist as some types of braces are more demanding of a regular cleaning than others.

As long as you practice good oral hygiene and follow these basic tips, you should have no problem keeping your teeth from decaying while you wear braces.

Visibly crooked teeth are not the only reason to take your child into the orthodontist. There are some subtle things to look for as well, which may indicate the onset of more serious orthodontic issues. Many orthodontic issues are much easier to address if treated and corrected during a child's development.

Waiting until facial development is complete or until the permanent teeth have come in can make correction of many orthodontic issues more challenging. Both children and adults can benefit from orthodontic care at any age, but addressing issues early is almost always the ideal choice.

If you're wondering if you or your child might have need for orthodontic care, there are some things you can be on the lookout for. Here are some of the most common warning signs of orthodontic issues:

• Difficulty when chewing or biting
• Chronic mouth-breathing
• Sucking the thumb, the fingers, or any other oral sucking habits that continue after the age of six
• Overbite - when the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth by more than 5mm
• Top front teeth that cover more than 25% of the bottom teeth while biting
• Underbite - when the top front teeth go behind the bottom row of teeth when biting
• Crowded, crooked, overlapped, misshapen, misplaced teeth or extra teeth of any size
• Crossbite - when one or more teeth tilt toward the cheek or toward the tongue causing excessive stress on the jawbone
• The center of the top and bottom teeth don't line up
• Uneven teeth-wearing
• Baby teeth coming out too early for the child's age
• Pain in jaws
• Clicking in the jaw joints
• The jaw shifts off-center while chewing or biting
• A jaw that protrudes, or recedes, too much
• Difficulty speaking or enunciating clearly
• Chronic biting of the inner cheek or roof of the mouth
• Asymmetrical facial structure
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth

If you notice that either you or your child has one or more of these conditions, they could be signs that there is a risk of orthodontic or health problems. The sooner these problems are addressed, the wider and brighter you will be able to smile going forward!

Life after braces…what happens when the wires have all been clipped?

You’ve been marking your calendar for days, months even, to celebrate the day when your teeth are free and your new, beautiful and straight smile is finally all yours!

Did you know the time period immediately after having your braces removed is as critical as the entire length of your treatment?  First and foremost, give your mouth time to heal!  Your teeth are going to be weak and may even be a little looser than you are used to.  Most patients are fitted for a retainer at this time.  Your teeth can shift once all the wires and brackets are removed.  It is key to wear the retainer you’ve been fitted for, exactly as your orthodontist tells you.  It takes about nine (9) months for your new smile to “remember” it’s new position.

There are various types of retainers.  If you’re wondering about your life “after braces” contact Dr. Kennell for answers to all your questions.  Remember, wearing your retainer after braces, as instructed, helps to ensure your smile will remain in place for years to come.  You’ve worked hard for it – so SMILE…SMILE BIG…and SMILE OFTEN!