mykosmile

With the new year starting, getting your teeth fixed might be, or should be part of your New Years Resolutions! Whether it is for your child or for yourself it could be a good idea to see an orthodontist. Knowing the difference between Phase I and Phase II treatment can help give you a better understanding of how soon to have your child looked at and the importance of it.

Let's start with Phase I, or early age orthodontics. This phase of treatment can be very useful in cases when patients have crowding, misaligned bites, jaw discrepancies, and or protruding teeth. Phase I treatment usually starts in young patients between 7 to 10 years old. A child is still growing and developing with a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth during this age range. This gives the perfect advantage to start correcting dental issues before they can get worse.

Some options for Phase I treatment include retainers, palate expanders, space maintainers, braces, and in some cases Invisalign. Removable retainers can help teeth stay in place to prevent shifting, guiding adult teeth into place, and even help with jaw development. Space maintainers will aid in maintaining the space needed to allow the adult teeth to grow and erupt correctly. Palate expanders help with correcting jaw growth problems in patients with narrow palates. Expanding the palate will make teeth less crowded and make room for the proper alignment of adult teeth. The use of limited braces is typically for cases when patients have overcrowding or issues with their bite.

All in all, Phase I orthodontics will do the early work in guiding the adult teeth in the right direction, whether its making space or maintaining the space for them to develop.

This now leads us into the next phase of treatment, Phase II orthodontics. Some patients who were in Phase I treatment will still need Phase II treatment later on, but less work is needed. Other patients do not need Phase I treatment and will just begin with Phase II.

Depending on how severe the misalignment of the teeth are, or if there are any jaw discrepancies or impacted teeth, it would be important for the patient to begin their treatment sooner than later.

The most common treatments in Phase II orthodontics include braces, traditional or clear brackets, and clear aligners, usually Invisalign. Both treatments can succeed in fixing misalignment or malocclusions based on what the patients needs are. It also depends on preferences, if you do not prefer to have the braces showing, maybe clear brackets or clear aligners would suit you best. In certain cases, extractions may be a necessity to make room for overcrowded teeth. If a patient has impacted teeth they may need surgery to expose the tooth and guide it in the right direction. The orthodontist will develop a treatment plan that will go over all of the expectations throughout your treatment.

To conclude, the main difference between Phase I and Phase II orthodontic treatment, is the desired result. Phase I aims to fix urgent issues that cannot wait until the permanent teeth develop. Whereas Phase II is important in making sure the adult teeth come together in proper alignment.

Setting up a consultation with your local orthodontist would be a good idea, especially when it comes to whether your child will need Phase I treatment or not. Dr. Kennell of Laconia, Plymouth, and Littleton, NH offers free consultations and will inform you if Phase I treatment is needed or if there is still time to wait!

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!

When we think of October, Halloween is usually the first thing we think of! That is why it is the perfect month to also be thinking of orthodontic oral health. This is the month to celebrate healthy, beautiful smiles, while also taking the precautions to keep them that way.

Everyone gets excited to get all dressed up and go trick-or-treating! Patients with braces should absolutely still go out and enjoy Halloween, but just be careful with certain candy! Some of the candies you should trade with your friends are things that are going to be sticky, ooey-gooey, crunchy or too hard on your braces.

Candy to avoid:

• Caramels, Taffy, Jellybeans, Bubblegum
• Jolly Ranchers, Twizzlers, Starbursts
• Popcorn and Nuts

In return, the candies your friends can trade you back with are anything that is soft, or could melt in your mouth.

Candies you can eat safely:

• Chocolate (without caramel or nuts)
• Peanut butter cups
• Kit-Kats
• 3 Musketeers
• Pixy Stix

Equally important, Dr. Kennell, along with other orthodontists, would appreciate you taking the initiative to care for your braces this Halloween season. Although it is acceptable to eat certain candy, candy still contains sugar. It will be crucial for you to make sure you are brushing your teeth after you enjoy your sweet treats. The best way to do this is by brushing for at least 2 minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing at least once a day, and finishing up with a fluoride mouth rinse. Alongside, broken brackets only lead to elongating the time you are in treatment, so keep away from the hard/sticky candies.

Have a fun, healthy, and safe Halloween! Don't forget to celebrate Orthodontic Health month this month and throughout the year!

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

As 2022 comes to an end, we like to reflect on all of the positive things we were able to achieve as a team!

With the help of our amazing patients we were able to collect & donate food to our local Boys and Girls Club! With donation boxes in each of our office locations, we had donations from Laconia, Plymouth & Littleton!!!

We are also participating in a second food drive for the month of December!!

All donations will be donated to our local Boys and Girls Club.

The Kennell Ortho team also got to celebrate our Christmas party in style this year! In NYC!! Taking a break from our busy work schedule and spending time team building! We attended the Rockettes at Radio City. Also visiting Times Square & Rockefeller Center! An experience of a lifetime!

As we reflect on the year we've had, we are thankful for our wonderful team. As we couldn't make it through the days without such hardworking, dedicated and passionate employees. We are also fortunate to be able to work with so many amazing patients! To be able to create beautiful smiles is everything to us, but to do it laughing and building  those relationships with our patients means the world to us. Thank you all for a wonderful year. We're excited to see what 2023 has in store for us!

Sincerely,

The Kennell Ortho Team

Happy October! For those who don't know, it’s National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Dr.Kennell and our team realize that this is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene.

Brushing and flossing is essential in maintaining good oral hygiene. While in orthodontic treatment you want to make sure you're brushing after every meal and flossing daily. We understand that during the month of October Halloween is a commonly celebrated holiday. We won't want you to miss out on this fun so listed below are braces friendly candy.

• Hershey’s Chocolate Bar
• Hershey’s Kisses
• Peppermint Patties
• 3 Musketeers
• Kit Kat

The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jellybeans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum

National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Dr. Kennell and other dental professionals in Laconia, NH.

And of course, if you ever have any questions feel free to give us a call at the office or ask at your next appointment.

Rule of thumb is, if you're unsure about being able to eat certain foods or candy. We will ask that you bring it into the office so Dr.Kennell can try said food or candy himself. He will then let you know if it's braces friendly or not!!

As much as we love Summer, we know the beginning of August is a reminder in a few short weeks, Back to School activities will be in full swing!  Kennell Orthodontics wants to send your children back to school prepared for school life with braces or new orthodontic treatments. Pack your child their very own "Back to School with Braces" kit - something as simple as a ziplock plastic bag including items such as:  Orthopicks, orthodontic rubber bands, mini toothbrush and toothpaste, orthodontic wax, small mirror, floss, retainer case and tissues. This kit can easily be tucked into their backpack or locker and will help as a reminder of orthodontic care even when at school.  Start the school year off right with these reminders:

• Bring retainer cases to lunch room and keep retainer in it to avoid accidentally throwing it away with lunch trash.
• Always wear protective mouth guard for all fall sports - this will help prevent brackets from breaking and inner lip from rubbing against braces.

Stay ahead of the Back to School shopping rush by preparing these orthodontic kits now

The Kennell Ortho team would also like to invite you to our end of summer Patient Appreciation night!

When: Friday August 26th

Where: Smitty's Cinema Tilton NH 5pm-8pm

Just RSVP on our Facebook page! We will have food and prizes! 

Kick back and enjoy the last weeks of summer!!

Take a look at this years SPIRIT WEEK Themed Days and get ready to have some summer fun with the Kennell Ortho team!

This is a week you won't want to miss! 

• All patients who participate will receive 25 BONUS rewards points!!!
• Did we mention ice cream?! We will also be handing out ice cream to our patients during this week. From Monday July 11th-Friday July 15th
• Come in and don't miss the fun!!!

We would also like to mention we will be having a patient appreciation night!

(Movie ,Food, Prizes provided) All you have to do is visit our Facebook page and RVSP.

When: Friday August 26th

Where: Smitty's Cinema Tilton NH

Time: 5pm-8pm

We look forward to seeing you there!

Did you know? 

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
   

May is a very special month. It's a month closer to summer, flowers are blooming, and our days are a little bit brighter. Another special thing about the month of May is Mother's Day! When you're a patient at Kennell Orthodontics you're not only a patient but you are family. We not only enjoy creating beautiful smiles we like giving you a reason to smile!

Did you know when your a patient with us you automatically receive patient rewards points?! You accumulate points for a variety of different things.

Examples:

Showing up to appointments on time

No broken brackets

Scheduling your next appointment before leaving the office

-And hang in there with me this is where things get good..

*Doing our monthly rewards contest!!!*

These points can be cashed in anytime throughout your treatment and exchanged for a variety of different things.

• Gift cards (DQ, Amazon, DD)
• KO swag apparel
• Water bottles
• etc

We recently did a fun and very moving Mom Hero Contest 

We received some of the most heartfelt, loving, kind entries as to why our patient's Mom Hero inspires them. It was hard to pick just one entry winner! But we hope our lucky winner enjoys her spa basket! 

Today and every day all of you moms inspire us! Thank you for all that you do!

-The Kennell Ortho Team

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends to:
Play it safe!

Wear a mouth guard at every practice and every game!! Mouth guards and other types of protective gear can prevent or reduce injuries that happen during organized and recreational sports.

Mouth guards offer protection by absorbing high-impact energy from potentially traumatic blows.

Mouth Guard Care

• Keep your mouth guard clean - rinse before and after each use
• Store in a perforated container to let your mouth guard dry out
• Avoid chewing on the mouth guard
• Don't wear removable retainers with your mouth guard
• Replace your mouth guard when it shows signs of wear

Wish you could wrap your kids in bubble wrap to protect them?

Each February the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. Other options for braces such as Invisalign, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Alan Kennell and his team are available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing are some of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

Happy Holidays! 

The Kennell Ortho family would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season! This time of year is about giving, and spending time with your loved ones. If you are a current patient of ours, a previous patient of ours, or join your journey with us in the future. You know how much we enjoy giving to the community. For the month of November we held a food drive for our local Boys and Girls Club. We had an awesome turn out with the help of our wonderful patients!  We enjoyed this so much we decided to extend the food drive into the month of December! 

 How does this work? 

• Drop off a non perishable food item to one of our 3 office locations
• (If you're a current patient) you receive 20 patient rewards points for each donation
• If you're not a patient you can still donate to a good cause!

When do I need to turn in donations? 

• December 16th 2021 is the last day we will be taking donations

Where can I drop off my donations?

• Laconia office- 783 North Main Street
  Laconia, NH 03246
• Plymouth office- 94 Boulder Point Dr, Plymouth, NH 03264
• Littleton office- 81 Bethlehem Rd, Littleton, NH 03561

We would like to thank everyone who has donated and shared the word for this food drive. We appreciate all of your support!

It’s fall which also means it is apple picking season!
The problem is biting into an apple with braces is a no-no, it is best to cute it up into smaller pieces …or better yet, find some great braces friendly recipes to cook those apples into!

We have included some great recipes to try out!  Let us know your favorite!

Warm Apple Pie Smoothie
1 apple, cored and cut into chunks (peeled if you don’t have a high-powered blender)
½ cup / 120 ml water (for a creamier smoothie you can use yogurt)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon maple syrup (or raw organic honey)
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
A pinch of nutmeg
A pinch of allspice
1 scoop protein powder (optional)

Combine apple, water, vanilla, maple syrup and spices in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a mug and microwave on high for about 2 minutes.
Sprinkle with cinnamon, and if you’re feeling particularly daring, add a bit of whipped cream on top. Serve!

Apple Peanut Butter Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups shredded apples (about 2 medium)
1 cup low fat buttermilk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup coconut or canola oil
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.; line a 12 cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl, stir together the shredded apples, buttermilk, peanut butter, oil, egg, and vanilla. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry, stirring until just mixed, being careful to not over beat. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins. Combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the muffin tops.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool on a wire rack.

Crescent Roll Apple Pies
1 Apple sliced (tart)
3 heaping tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. melted butter
1 Pkg. of Crescent Rolls

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out the dough on a cooking surface, brush with butter and sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon.
Roll up 2 or 3 apple slice in the dough forming a crescent, place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Brush each crescent roll with remaining melted butter and top with cinnamon.
Bake for 12-15 mins until golden brown.
Remove from oven, serve and enjoy!

As much as we hate to admit it, August is a reminder in a couple of weeks, Back to School activities will be in full swing!  Kennell Orthodontics wants to send your children back to school prepared for school life with braces or new orthodontic treatments. Pack your child their very own "Back to School with Braces" kit - something as simple as a ziplock plastic bag including items such as:  Orthopicks, orthodontic rubber bands, mini toothbrush and toothpaste, orthodontic wax, small mirror, floss, retainer case and tissues. This kit can easily be tucked into their backpack or locker and will help as a reminder of orthodontic care even when at school.  Start the school year off right with these reminders:

• bring retainer cases to lunch room and keep retainer in it to avoid accidentally throwing it away with lunch trash;
• always wear protective mouth guard for all fall sports - this will help prevent brackets from breaking and inner lip from rubbing against braces.

Stay ahead of the Back to School shopping rush by preparing these orthodontic kits now - kick back and enjoy the last weeks of summer!!

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

Hope this helps!

Dr. Kennell and Team

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!

Successful orthodontics is a team effort and YOU are our key player!

We have created a Patient Rewards Program to recognize your accomplishments and congratulate your winning achievements!

As a patient of Kennell Ortho, you're already enrolled in the program. All you have to do is collect points by doing any of the below listed activities.

Our Patient Rewards Program is an incentive program based on your cooperation. You set the bar and every visit is an opportunity to earn points and cool prizes!

Here's how it works...

Check out all the great stuff you could get using your points!

Every time you sign in for your appointment, you can click "Patient Rewards" to see how many points you've earned. Most importantly, have fun and THANK YOU for being

a Kennell Ortho patient.

Patients of all ages are now smiling with confidence. With Invisalign®, you can get the beautiful, straight smile you deserve without the hassle of metal braces!

What is Invisalign and how does it work?

Invisalign uses a series of clear and removable aligners to straighten your smile. Invisalign is made with highly effective 3D computer imaging technology to show you exactly how your orthodontic treatment will progress.

You will wear your aligners around the clock, removing them only during mealtimes and to brush and floss your teeth. As you move on to each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move slowly until they have straightened to their final positions. You'll visit us at Kennell Orthodontics about once every six weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time typically lasts nine to 15 months, and the number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both numbers will vary from case to case.

Why would I want Invisalign?

Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time here at Kennell Orthodontics in Laconia getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

Request a complimentary consultation with Dr. Alan Kennell to see if Invisalign is right for you.

True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment with our office.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you get in to see us…

The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:

Poking Wire: Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

Loose Bracket or Band: If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue.

Loose Wire: Using a tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax does not help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.

Loose Appliance: If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.

Headgear Does Not Fit: Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, headgear becomes more comfortable the more it's worn, so be sure you’re getting in the prescribed hours.

General Soreness: When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.

Remember, after alleviating your discomfort, it is still very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem.

You're engaged, you're planning your wedding, and you couldn't be happier-except for one thing. Your smile! Maybe your teeth are a little crooked, or you have a gap-but you're an adult now and you don't want braces! Rest easy-as long as your teeth are only moderately crooked and you have three or four months till the big day, you can see drastic improvement using clear plastic braces. While most people think only Invisalign® makes such a system, you actually have several options to achieving straight teeth and the smile you always wanted!

If you're not familiar with the technology, Dr. Alan Kennell can (in appropriate cases) use clear plastic trays to move your teeth, rather than the traditional wires and brackets. Clear braces are less painful and almost invisible-unless someone is very close to you, they won't even notice you are wearing them! You take the trays out to eat and brush your teeth, and while your teeth will feel sore and may even throb periodically for the first few days, after that you'll hardly notice when the trays are in. (While wearing the trays you won't be able to drink anything but water, which will also help with that wedding day diet!)

If you have at least a year until you walk down the aisle, you can go with Invisalign®. This is used with more complicated cases and you will get a new tray every two to four weeks (if you wear them correctly!). However, if you have less time, you can choose Simpli5®, Red White & Blue®, or RW II®. With the latter three options, your orthodontist takes a mold of your teeth and sends it to a laboratory. There, a technician makes your trays based on incremental movements of your teeth.   Red White & Blue® treat only one or the other, not both arches. These are for treatment of teeth with only very mild crowding or spacing issues. Red White and Blue® is a series of three aligners worn for six to twelve weeks, while RWII® is a series of two aligners worn for two to eight weeks.

Call Dr. Kennell today to make your appointment for beautiful, straight teeth for your wedding and Smile down the Aisle!

When you visit Kennell Orthodontics for your orthodontic consultation, you’ll probably have a lot of questions. We want you to be prepared for your appointment and feel in charge of your orthodontic treatment decisions, so keep these questions in mind to ask when you come in for your appointment:

• How long will I have to wear braces?
• Will getting braces hurt?
• Will I have to wear additional appliances to correct jaw problems while I have braces?
• What can I eat when I have braces?
• Are there certain things, like playing sports or playing an instrument, which I won’t be able to do?
• How can I make sure my teeth stay clean and healthy while I have braces?
• How often will I need to come in for appointments?
• How much will my orthodontic treatment cost?

The team at Kennell Orthodontics is here to answer all your questions and concerns, and we’re happy to explain all aspects of your treatment plan and expected outcome. Your orthodontic experience should be comfortable, hassle-free, and most importantly, leave you smiling!

If you recognize any of these signs or concerns in your child or yourself, it might be time to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kennell.  Together we can review what your options are.

• You want a beautiful smile
• You feel a great smile will improve your self-esteem and self-confidence
• You want the best for your family
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Sucking the thumb or fingers, or other oral habits
• Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or are recessed
• Speech difficulty
• Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
• Protruding teeth
• Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don't meet at all
• Facial imbalance or asymmetry (features out of proportion to the rest of the face)
• Grinding or clenching of teeth
• Inability to comfortably close lips

Did you know a simple smile can affect self-esteem?

Did you know it takes 12 muscles to smile and 113 muscles to frown?

When you smile at another person, a warm, genuine smile, you tell that other person that he or she is likeable, attractive, pleasant, safe and secure in your estimation. A single smile is so powerful that it can often transform a person with low self-esteem, jolting them from negativity to a person with a positive attitude.

When you smile at another person, the physical action releases endorphins in your brain. Endorphins are called nature’s “happy drug.” They make you feel happy and raise your self-esteem. When you smile, you feel and act in a more personable way to everyone around you and exude a feeling of positive attitude.

Every time you smile, you not only make other people feel better about themselves, but you raise your self-esteem, increase your level of positive attitude and feel better about yourself as well.

All it takes is the intentional decision by you to smile at the people around you, and to express to them that you are genuinely happy to see them.

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'd 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
2018 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 VISA cash card and be entered to win the 2018 GRAND PRIZE!

What is the 2018 GRAND PRIZE?!?!

One lucky name will be drawn and the winner will win a brand new

*Selected winner to be notified in December 2018. Restrictions may apply.

Dr. Alan Kennell and his staff at Kennell Orthodontics are pleased to announce the winner of the 2017 Refer-a-Friend contest –Tarryn R. of Plymouth, NH!  Kennell Orthodontics realizes the greatest compliment received is when one of their patients refers a friend or colleague to their practice.  In an effort to show appreciation to patients for these referrals, Dr. Kennell developed the Refer-a-Friend campaign.  This campaign, which focuses on new patient treatment plans from qualified referrals, rewards Refer-a-Friend participants with a Visa Cash Card and an entry into the grand prize drawing. Tarryn had multiple entries from her multiple referrals – this gave her a greater advantage on having her name picked as the Grand Prize Winner!

As the Grand Prize winner, Tarryn is the new recipient of an Apple MacBook Air Computer.

Dr. Kennell thanked Tarryn for being a valued patient and for recommending Kennell Orthodontics to her family and friends.  “We are honored to have such loyal patients who continue to refer to us and share their positive experiences here at Kennell Orthodontics with others.”

Take a look at this years SPIRIT WEEK Themed Days and get ready to have some summer fun with the Kennell Ortho team!

This is a week you won't want to miss! 

• All patients who participate will receive 25 BONUS rewards points!!!
• Did we mention ice cream?! We will also be handing out ice cream to our patients during this week. From Monday July 11th-Friday July 15th
• Come in and don't miss the fun!!!

We would also like to mention we will be having a patient appreciation night!

(Movie ,Food, Prizes provided) All you have to do is visit our Facebook page and RVSP.

When: Friday August 26th

Where: Smitty's Cinema Tilton NH

Time: 5pm-8pm

We look forward to seeing you there!