smile

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!

Congratulations, your orthodontic treatment is complete! You are now in the retention phase of treatment. This can also be known as the preservation period, because you will actively be working towards preserving your new smile. When treatment is complete and orthodontic appliances are removed, there is a “settling” period in which teeth can adjust as you bite, chew, swallow and speak. These small changes in tooth position are not a failure of orthodontic treatment, but a natural process.

Your orthodontist will give you a set of retainers to be worn as prescribed. If your retainer is not worn as your orthodontist recommends, then you may have large changes in tooth position. This can be disappointing after you dedicate many months to orthodontic treatment. If you are in the retention phase of treatment and you notice any unwanted change, it is important to contact your orthodontist right away.

Retainers are a lifelong commitment. The best way to maintain your beautiful new smile is to wear retainers as prescribed by your orthodontist!

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!!!

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!

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.

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!