Dr. Kennell was one of only 20 US orthodontists recently invited to attend the Invisalign Study Club at Align Technology's Treatment Operations Center in San Jose, Costa Rica.
All Invisalign scans taken at Kennell Orthodontics are sent to the 63,000 sq. ft. Treatment Operations Center in San Jose. Here, the 3,000 member operations team processes thousands of scans from all over the region using Align's sophisticated, internally developed computer-modeling program, which allows the teeth to move individually. Treatment plans are then created according to Dr. Kennell's exact specifications. Once the treatment plan (also called a ClinCheck) is approved by Dr. Kennell, the digital plan is forwarded to either Mexico, China, or Poland for fabrication of the aligners.
While at Align's facility, Dr. Kennell attended special Invisalign lectures about new Invisalign features & products, current research findings, and tips on improving the ClinCheck process.
During this time, Dr. Kennell also had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with his personal Invisalign CAD designer and overseeing doctor. Over 1 hour was spent modifying Dr. Kennell's personalized Invisalign prescription (IPP) to give his patients the best result possible with Invisalign.
The day wouldn't be complete without a photo in Align's "Pura Vida" lounge!
As much as we hate to admit it, it is that time of year again...back to school! With our patients starting treatment, it is important to be prepared for school. Here at Kennell Orthodontics, we recommend making your own "Orthodontic Survival Kit" to ensure your child has everything when they are away from home. You could use any kind of bag, a Ziplock will do just fine! Then, you can fill it with the necessities for braces such as flossers, travel size toothbrush and toothpaste, proxy brushes, orthodontic rubber bands, orthodontic wax, and maybe even a small mirror!
For our patients in Invisalign; floss, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and your aligner case will be most important. We even recommend leaving your aligners in the classroom or in your backpack where they will be safe. Most aligners get thrown away being in the lunchroom and we don't want that to happen!
For our patients playing sports, PLEASE wear mouthguards if your sport requires one! Keeping your teeth from harm, especially with braces on, is so important! Let us know at your next appointment if you need one. They are also kept in our emergency boxes at all offices so help yourself! Or if you can't make it in, give us a call and we will send you one!
We hope you enjoy the last few weeks of summer and make sure to add these supplies to your back to school shopping lists!
While you are at it, don't forget to fill out our new September Monthly Rewards Activity: "Back 2 School: This or That" and you will earn 20 points!
As most orthodontic patient's might remember, getting alginate impressions of their teeth was never an enjoyable experience. The ooey-gooey material would take what felt like forever to set up and always made everyone want to gag! It was something you wouldn't forget and that you hoped you'd never have to do again!
Thankfully, technology has advanced so much over the years that alginate impressions are not as common in orthodontic offices. Digital intraoral scanners, such as the I-Tero, have been created to capture every nook and cranny of the teeth in a much easier and efficient way. The scanner is capturing hundreds of pictures per minute to create a 3D impression of the teeth. This 3D impression can now be used for the orthodontist to create a treatment plan. It can also be used to send to the lab to have retainers and other appliances made. So much easier than having to mail out an actual plaster model of the teeth!! It used to take forever!
Here are some of the benefits of using the I-Tero intraoral scanner instead of alginate impressions:
Patient Comfort - One of the most important things that matters to our office is that our patients are comfortable during treatment. The I-Tero scanner is much quicker, easier, and much more comfortable than traditional impressions.
No more mess or wasted materials - With traditional impressions, you need to size the impression tray meaning you would have to take time to clean the ones not used. Then, you have to quickly mix the alginate material with water really fast to then load it in the impression tray. It gets EVERYWHERE, all over the sinks, all over the assistants, all over the patients. If the impression did not come out good the first time, you have to keep trying until it is right. This means many wasted supplies and materials. With the I-Tero scanner, the only material being switched out for every patient is the wand tip. It is quick and easy to clean the device and put a new one on.
Patient Involvement - It is so important for patients to be involved in treatment and understand why we recommend the things we do. With traditional impressions, patients most likely don't get to see their plaster models after they have the impressions done. The I-Tero scanner allows patients to see their teeth as a 3D model, right in front of them. Not many people get to see their teeth from that perspective. It also allows patients to point out their concerns and ask questions!
Faster and More Accurate - Traditional impressions may have taken up to 10 minutes to do both top and bottom, but could be longer depending on if you had to re-do them and set-up time. Dr. Kennell's Orthodontic office averaged just over 4 minutes to scan the upper and lower arches with a bite scan. Way faster! The I-Tero scanner is so much more accurate and precise compared to traditional impressions that could have bubbles and voids.
Efficiency - After impressions were done, they were made into plaster models of the teeth and had to be mailed to labs and also took up a lot of space to store them. Now, with the click of a button the 3D models can be sent to the lab in seconds. Then they are 3D printed to make appliances, aligners, and or retainers out of! Super efficient!
All three of Dr. Kennell's offices, Laconia, Littleton, and Plymouth are equipped with one or more I-Tero scanners of the newest model. After recently going to the AAO conference in Louisiana, the Kennell Orthodontics team was able to try out the newest I-Tero wand. Being able to physically try out the wand convinced Dr. Kennell and his team that they needed it in their offices!!
The I-Tero "Lumina" intraoral scanner has even more benefits:
Takeshigh-quality, photorealistic scans
Has a wider field of view, making it easier to capture
Ergonomically easier on the assistants
More comfortable for patients since the wand is 50% smaller than the older version
2x the speed to capture the entire mouth
Dr. Kennell's orthodontic office is excited to share this new technology with their patients to make for an even better experience! He will continue to stay up to date with the newest technology, who knows what will be created next!!
With Invisalign becoming more and more popular, you may be wondering what to expect if you were to get Invisalign treatment. There are many common questions we get asked on a day to day basis at Kennell Orthodontics. Thankfully, Dr. Kennell and his team are here to put your mind at ease!
First of all, lets start with, How does Invisalign treatment work?
Using 3-D computer imaging technology, Invisalign creates a series of custom-made, clear aligners exclusively for your teeth, based on the treatment plan that we specify for you. Each aligner moves teeth incrementally and is worn for two weeks, then, is switched out for the next aligner in the series until the final position is achieved.
Will I experience pain during treatment? Most people experience temporary discomfort for a few days after a new aligner is placed. This feeling of pressure is normal and is a sign that Invisalign is working by sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination.
Can other people see that I'm in treatment? One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are clear. Most of our patients need to have little bumps placed on their teeth called attachments to help guide the teeth into the aligner, but luckily these attachments are tooth colored and are also not very noticeable.
Are there any foods I shouldn’t eat while in treatment? You can eat normally during the entire course of treatment. One of the advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable. We do ask for you to be aware that attachments could fall off if you were to eat something too hard, but other than that there are not restrictions to your eating. Simply take the aligners out before each meal, brush your teeth before reinserting the aligner. If you are unable to brush your teeth due to being at work or school, a good rinse with water will do the trick too!
What about chewing gum? We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks, as gum and other chewy substances can stick to the aligners.
How often must I wear my aligners? The most important part of the Invisalign treatment is that you wear your aligners for any progress to be made. With saying that, aligners should be worn all day, except when eating, brushing, and flossing.
Will my speech be affected by the aligners? As with any orthodontic treatment, aligners may temporarily affect your speech. If this does happen, your tongue will adjust within a day or two and your speech should return to normal.
Can I smoke during treatment? We discourage smoking while wearing the aligners as they may become discolored.
How do I clean my aligners? The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water. Invisalign also provides you with "cleaning crystals" to put in a cup of water with your aligners. You can use these every so often and leave them in overnight to give them an extra good cleaning.
How often must I visit the office during treatment? For most patients, we will provide you with 4-5 aligners at a time. This makes visits every 8-10 weeks which is frequent enough for us to determine that your treatment is progressing properly. We will provide you with a specific schedule that supports your individual treatment plan.
Dr. Alan Kennell has OVER 20 YEARS experience and extensive training with Invisalign. General dentists receive minimal orthodontic training in dental school and usually attend a weekend hotel course to learn how to do Invisalign. If your dentist (or your child's dentist) offers orthodontic treatment, insist on seeing an orthodontic specialist! If you have any questions please give our Laconia, Plymouth or Littleton offices a call.
At Kennell Orthodontics, we know orthodontic emergencies are never convenient nor timely. If you are a patient of Dr. Kennell's orthodontic office, he and his team are committed to your dental health and are more than willing to see you after hours or over the weekend. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem as soon as possible. If you have a orthodontic emergency after regular office hours, you can still give us a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts to learn how you may be able to solve the problem yourself, or, if you cannot, how to contact Dr. Kennell and team. Someone is always on call and will be able to get back to you as soon as they can.
Tooth soreness is to be expected after getting braces or Invisalign treatment, this would not count as an emergency as it will take a few days to get used to them. Some things that help are sticking to a softer food diet (ex: ice cream, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, etc). Taking Advil or Tylenol can help relieve the soreness as well. If your gums are irritated, using a warm saltwater rinse can help with healing. At our office, we provide wax to put on your braces to help protect your lips and cheeks from any other irritation as your mouth gets used to having them on.
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you visit our office.
Common emergencies include:
-Broken Braces (If still attached to wire, you can leave it be or add wax if it's irritating you. This is not urgent unless it is causing persistent pain) -Broken Wires (If it is poking you can try to put wax on it or use the end of a pencil eraser to protect your lips/cheeks. If it is not poking, you can leave it be and give us a call) -Tie has come off of a Brace (This is not an urgent emergency, it can be fixed at your next appointment, but if you call and let us know we can fix it easily) -Loss of a Separator (Give us a call, if it is close enough to the next appointment it should be okay, but if not, we will schedule you to come in and get it replaced) -Wire Poking (At the beginning of treatment the wires tend to get long. You are welcome to try and clip the wire yourself with CLEAN nail clippers, or any sharp pliers that are small enough to fit in the mouth. You can try to cover it with wax, or a pencil eraser for the mean time)
To conclude, it doesn't hurt to give us a call if you are having concerns, but hopefully after reading this you can be alleviated that not all of your emergencies are URGENT!
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!
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!
The holiday season is all about spending time with family and friends, giving gifts, and of course eating plenty of food. Unfortunately not all of the foods during the holidays are braces friendly. We want to make sure you are aware because our office will be closed from Christmas until after the new year. Nobody wants to spend their holiday break with broken brackets!
Let's see what is on the Naughty and Nice lists this year!
Naughty List of Foods:
Candy Canes are a Christmas classic, but are very hard. If you do choose to have them make sure you only lick/suck on them!
Caramel is usually included during some holiday desserts, unfortunately it is so gooey and sticky that it will be stuck all over your braces.
Snack Mix usually has nuts and or other hard, crunchy ingredients that you'll want to avoid.
Popcorn is a typical holiday treat that comes in all different flavors, but the kernels will get stuck in your braces, especially the caramel corn. Steer clear even though its tempting!
Nice List of Foods:
Pie in flavors like pumpkin, apple, cherry or any other fruit will do!
Ice Cream is a great side to have with your pie!
Fudge is a nice, soft dessert to have as long as it doesn't have caramel or nuts.
Deviled Eggs are a great snack that is so easy to overeat, but were not judging!
Veggie Platters are a healthy choice to have just make sure your carrots and crunchy vegetables are chopped up smaller before you eat them.
Meat is usually the main course for holiday dinners, whether its turkey or ham you should be good. If you're enjoying a prime rib just make sure to cut it up into smaller pieces!
So, if you want to stay on Santa and Dr. Kennell's nice list, you will do your best to avoid naughty foods this Holiday season! It is totally fine to still indulge in some wonderful sweet treats, but don't forget to keep up with your brushing and flossing too!
We wish you a merry and bright holiday season this year from Dr. Kennell's Orthodontic Office!
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!
It’s that time of year again and if you're just starting out in Ortho treatment or need a quick reminder, here are some ideas on what to pack in your lunchbox for school!
Soft foods are easier and more comfortable to eat and are less likely to be caught in braces. However choices like gummies, fruit roll ups, taffy etc. will stick like glue!
Some other brace friendly suggestions:
Banana slices, grape halves, and thinly cut (peeled) apples (dip them all in a bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning)
Canned peaches or pears, fruit cocktail and Mandarin orange slices
Applesauce or any of the mixed fruit “sauces” in individual servings
Thin carrot-curls made with a scraper, plus a small container of grated cheese or hummus, with torn-up fresh pita bread for scooping
Individual pudding and yogurt cups
Avocadoes sliced or mashed
The goal is to be soft enough to chew, healthy and filling to keep your mind and teeth strong.
Monthly rewards: Don't forget to fill out & bring your monthly rewards to your next appointment! An easy 20 patient rewards points! Keep your eyes out for our September monthly rewards!
September back to school contest!!!!
Have you entered our back to school contest?
Guess how many Invisalign aligners are in the jar! One lucky winner will receive a backpack full of school supplies!!!
-We hope you had a fantastic summer, and have an easy transition back to school!
Happy October! For those who don't know, it’sNational 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 beloware 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:
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!!
When in orthodontic treatment your oral hygiene is something you want to stay on top of. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you succeed great oral hygiene.
Brush after every meal
Maintain a 45 degree angle with your toothbrush. It’s important to brush each tooth at the gum line and both above and below the bracket
Brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth along with the inner surfaces closest to your tongue
Don't forget to floss!!!
And of course if you have any questions, Dr.Kennell and the team here at Kennell Orthodontics are just a call away!
Important reminder now that its back to school time.
We recommend patients in orthodontic treatment to brush after every meal. If you're unable to brush after lunch at school it's okay! Just remember to do so when you get home, then again after eating dinner!
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!
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 movingMom 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!
True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur, we are here to assist 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 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 saltwater 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 what you would 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.