5 Things to Say to Your Kids After They Get Braces

It is not uncommon for children to be less than thrilled with their braces. After your braces appointment your child may be disappointed and upset about the mild discomfort. The behavior is completely normal and will adjust as their braces become part of their routine. On that ride home, try these helpful phrases to ensure your child that braces are in their best interest.

#1: “The pain is temporary.”

Yes, it may hurt right now, but the pain is temporary and only lasts a few days. The pain comes from the teeth beginning to shift into their proper place. Give them some over-the-counter pain medication to diminish the soreness.

#2: “You sound just the same.”

Another thing that is temporary is any kind of speech impediment. Whether it is a lisp or difficult to pronounce certain letters, it just takes some time to get used to braces. One suggestion is to tell them to read out loud, so they can get used to talking with braces.

#3: “You can have a smoothie for dinner.”

One of the only benefits of the pain or discomfort from getting braces is that your kids can have smoothies for dinner (and possibly ice cream for dessert).

#4: “You can change your colors.”

Metal braces often require elastic ligatures or bands. The elastics come in different colors, so your son or daughter can pick different colors based on their mood or time of year. The fun colors make braces a little more bearable and gives them something to think about when appointments are approaching.

#5: “Your smile will be beautiful for life.”

The good thing about braces is that they are temporary. The objective is to correct orthodontic issues and straighten your child’s teeth so that they can have a confident, beautiful smile. When they get down in the dumps, remind them to keep their eye on the prize – a beautiful smile.

At Wright Orthodontics we make every effort to keep your child excited about the process of correcting their teeth. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation.

April 15, 2018January 22, 2024

Can Invisalign® Fix an Overbite?

Our patients with an overbite frequently inquire whether Invisalign® is a potential solution. The answer is “yes!” Invisalign® is a technologically-advanced orthodontic treatment that uses clear aligner trays to straighten teeth without being very noticeable. They are offered to adults seeking orthodontic treatments because they require more diligence and responsibility on the part of patients to consistently wear and care for them.

In its inception, Invisalign® was used to treat mild issues such as overcrowding and minor teeth realignment. As the treatment progressed, Invisalign® has been recommended for more orthodontic issues, including an overbite.

What is an Overbite?

An overbite is a dental condition in which the upper teeth noticeably protrude out from the lower teeth when the mouth is closed, and teeth are clenched together. It may result from thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, excessive use of bottles or pacifiers, or, simply, genetics.

For those with an extensive overbite, it is common for the upper teeth to protrude over the bottom lip (horizontal overbite). When adults suffer from overbites and want to correct their teeth, they may be even concerned about the awkwardness of wearing metal braces.

How Does Invisalign® Fix an Overbite?

Invisalign® is used most often in patients with mild to moderate orthodontic issues. Unless the overbite is severe, orthodontists can fix an overbite with Invisalign®. The key to successful treatments for overbites is following the protocol and wearing the aligners continuously to ensure the teeth are moved into the correct position.

With Invisalign®, clear aligner trays are worn about 22 hours a day – all the time except when eating and brushing. Over time, the aligners push protruding teeth back and into their proper position. Every two weeks, new trays are placed over the teeth to continue the process of moving the teeth.

Patients with overbites typically require treatment times of up to two years depending on the extent of the protrusion. Once the treatment is complete, they must wear retainers to ensure their teeth stay in place until the gums and bones around the teeth are able to secure the teeth.

What About Severe Overbites?

Severe overbites may require a more extensive protocol such as traditional metal braces. This is due to the control that the wire and brackets have in shifting teeth back into their correct positions then pushing them back to diminish the overbite. Some severe overbites require orthodontic treatments to expand the skeletal area of the mouth to accommodate the repositioning of the teeth.

Can Overbites be Prevented?

Overbites can be minimized or prevented by averting childhood habits like thumb sucking and nail-biting. When genetics is at play, early intervention is important. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children see an orthodontist as early as age seven.

Let’s Correct Your Overbite

Adults with overbites have options to correct their misaligned teeth. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Marc S. Wright to see if Invisalign® or another treatment is the best option to correct an overbite.

March 30, 2018January 22, 2024

Foods That Turn Your Teeth Yellow

There are foods that dull the whiteness of your teeth, making them look yellow. With that in mind, we want to give you a list of some of the foods that make your teeth yellow.

Lemons and Other Acidic Foods

People often put lemon in their water and eat healthy foods that are high in acid. While they are very good for you, they are not good for your teeth. The acid can eat away at the enamel slowly exposing yellow tinged dentin.

Orthodontics in Atlanta and Marietta, GA

Coffee, Tea and Soda

Whether you drink coffee, tea or soft drinks, you are at risk of them dulling or yellowing your teeth. Coffee and tea have tannins in them that discolor teeth. They also alter the pH balance in your mouth which can speed up the damage from acidic foods you eat.

Dark Berries

Remember seeing the commercials about how dark berries stain dentures? Well, the same thing applies to your teeth primarily because of the pigment in them. However, dark berries have strong health benefits. If you indulge, just be sure to brush your teeth immediately after.

Wine

Whether red or white, wine causes teeth to lose their whiteness. With red wines, those pesky little tannins get hold of your teeth and discolor just like they do with coffee. White wine is more acidic which eats away at the enamel. This causes substances to stick to those pockets leading to discoloration from other foods along with making your teeth look discolored. This doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking wine altogether; you just need to maintain moderation (but you knew that).

Candy and Sweets

We preach and preach to our patients about the negative effects of candy and other sugary treats, so there is really no reason to go into detail. While a lot of foods offer a variety of health benefits, candy and sweets provide none, so it is best to simply avoid them. And, on those occasions where you just “need something sweet,” brush and floss as soon as you can so the sugar doesn’t sit on your teeth.

How to Prevent Yellow Teeth

Even though foods can cause your teeth to yellow or lead to tooth decay, there are steps you can take to prevent yellow teeth. For most people, it all goes back to brushing and flossing on a daily basis. Luckily, when yellow teeth just happen, we have advanced treatments to whiten teeth.

If you are interested in finding out more about how to whiten your teeth or need a new dentist, please contact us to schedule an appointment.

March 15, 2018January 22, 2024

4 Ways to Remember to Wear Your Retainer

One of the most important parts of orthodontics is wearing the retainer once your actual treatment plan is complete. We understand you may not want to wear it or simply forget to put it in your mouth, but if you don’t wear it as we recommend, your gorgeously straight teeth are going to shift. Then guess what? The braces may have to be reapplied to your teeth again.

At first, you typically wear the retainer all the time except when eating and brushing your teeth. Over the course of time, you eventually will only need to wear it at night. This is typically where it gets tricky to remember to put wear it. To help you, here are five ways to remember to wear your retainer:

#1: Ask friends and family to remind you.

Probably the easiest way to make sure you wear your retainer is to ask friends at school and family at home to remind you. At school, pick a good friend who eats lunch with you to remind you to wear it if he or she notices you don’t have it in your mouth. That’s a good friend!

#2: Place a note on your mirrors.

If you have a note on the mirrors you use the most – bathroom and bedroom – you are much more likely to remember to put your retainer back in your mouth.

#3: Set a reminder or alarm on your cellular phone.

Setting a reminder on your cell phone is a great way to remember your retainer. The best time to set the reminder is about 30 minutes before you typically go to bed. If you forget or go to bed early, your alarm will still go off.

#4: Keep your retainer case in plain view.

You can also place your retainer case where you see it as a reminder. We recommend keeping it on your bathroom counter. Note that it is easy to accidentally throw your retainer away with lunch at school. Keeping the case where you can see it also helps you avoid tossing it in the trash. Don’t forget, never wrap your retaining up in a napkin or paper towel, and always use the case.

You don’t have to wear your retainer forever. The purpose is to give your teeth time to adjust to their new positions and allow the bones to stabilize around the teeth. If you forget to wear your retainer occasionally, don’t worry too much. It won’t compromise our work; however, not wearing it for an extended period of time may create issues. So, make sure you are diligent about wearing it.

We worked hard to give you a beautiful and confident smile. It’s up to you to keep it that way!

February 28, 2018January 22, 2024

The iTero® Scanner: New Technology for Improved Precision

We’ve got good news to share… no more goop! The iTero® Scanner is a new state-of-the-art scanning system that takes full scans of the mouth in under 15 minutes. The goop-free scans are used to create unique Invisalign® aligners that deliver a perfect fit. The scans can also be used to fit retainers. Wright Orthodontics is excited to add this technology to our practice, which offers patients multiple benefits:

Increased efficiency
Goop-free
Better fitting aligners and retainers
More comfortable scanning process
Less orthodontic appointments (thanks to the accuracy of the scans)

Increased Efficiency and Accuracy

Using harmless light for the scanning process, the iTero® Scanner can be used for higher quality measuring and diagnostics in all patients with full scans taking less than 15 minutes. Scans build a 3D model in real-time, giving greater insight and allowing doctors to tailor treatment based on exact models of your mouth. For those with braces or Invisalign®, scanning impressions are more accurate and efficient than ever and can even simulate the final look of your new and improved smile.

Increased Comfort

Since the scanner works with the Invisalign® system, creating new aligners is more comfortable than ever, with up to seven times fewer fit issues and more than 10 times fewer rejections than older impression processes. Fewer problems with the aligner results in more comfort for the patient and fewer appointments for fittings.

Faster Process with Less Error

Overall, the iTero® Scanner is up to 50 percent faster at providing accurate scans when compared to other conventional impression methods. The sensors in the wand pass over each tooth individually with unprecedented accuracy and gives a clear image of your teeth with less error than other scanning methods. At Wright Orthodontics we take pride in offering the most cutting edge and advanced procedures to help you achieve your best smile. The iTero® Scanner allows us to deliver the absolute best results to our patients – our number one goal as an orthodontic practice.

Schedule a Consultation Today

If you want to know how the iTero® Scanner could benefit you, visit us at Wright Orthodontics so we can help you start your journey to fantastic smile. Contact our Atlanta or Marietta office to schedule a free consultation today.

February 14, 2018January 22, 2024

Improve Your Invisalign® Results with the iTero® Scanner

Improve Your Invisalign® Results with the iTero® Scanner

One of the biggest drawbacks of the otherwise amazingly beneficial Invisalign® treatment system is the need to return to the office to take new updated teeth impressions for new aligners. Well, we are happy to announce that the process of getting new Invisalign® aligners is now faster, more accurate, and more comfortable than ever before thanks to the iTero® Scanner.

In less than 15 minutes the iTero® Scanner can take a complete blueprint of your mouth. The iTero® Scanner is specifically tailored to work with Invisalign®, resulting in less hassle and more comfort for our Invisalign® patients.

The Most Precise Way to Secure Impressions

The iTero® Scanner features a wand-like instrument that emits safe, harmless light to scan the inside of the mouth and teeth. The computer program scans each and every tooth individually and in real time, resulting in far more accurate scans and 3D models. These results give orthodontists the power to control the minute details in a patient’s Invisalign® treatment. The iTero® Scanner is the most comfortable way to take impressions as opposed to biting down on gross molds – no more goop! The iTero® Scanner is comfortable and pain free for all patients regardless of the treatment type.

7x Fewer Visits to the Orthodontist

Orthodontists using the iTero® Scanner with Invisalign® across the country have reported seven times fewer fit issues and 10 times fewer aligner rejections when compared to older conventional impression procedures (goop impressions). Less problems for you means fewer visits to the office.

Learn More About the iTero® Scanner

Interested in learning how the iTero® Scanner could benefit you and your Invisalign® treatment? Come see us at Wright Orthodontics so we can help you start your journey to a fantastic smile using the iTero Scanner. Contact us today at either our Atlanta or Marietta office to schedule a consultation.

January 29, 2018January 22, 2024

Brighten Your Look with Zoom!® Whitening

Are your teeth stained or discolored from a lifetime of eating and drinking or lack of proper dental hygiene? Are you self-conscious about your smile? Do you dislike the way your teeth look when you wear white? If you can answer “yes” to any of those questions it may be time to seek professional teeth whitening services.

Wright Orthodontics offers a quick and easy way to achieve long-lasting teeth whitening that will keep your smile bright for years to come. Philips Zoom!® WhiteSpeed Teeth Whitening System is a safe and effective treatment to combat stained or damaged teeth. Here at Wright Orthodontics, we take pride in offering the most cutting edge and advanced procedures to help you achieve your best smile and Zoom!® Teeth Whitening allows us to do just that.

Longer Lasting than At-Home Kits

To get your teeth shining bright again, Zoom!® Teeth Whitening employs innovative techniques to lighten your teeth within hours of treatment. While the exact details of the procedure varies from patient to patient, Zoom!® Teeth Whitening utilizes an advanced bleaching gel that, when activated with ultraviolet light, seeps into the enamel of your teeth to whiten and remove even the most stubborn stains. Zoom!® Teeth Whitening penetrates deep into the inner enamel of your teeth, guaranteeing longer-lasting and more effective whitening results than any at-home whitening kit could achieve.

Results in 60 Minutes

We know that time is valuable and our patients do not want to waste their time sitting in a dentist chair or undergoing long, complicated procedures. At Wright Orthodontics we work hard to get brighter smiles for our patients quickly and efficiently. The Philips Zoom!® WhiteSpeed Teeth Whitening System is no exception and delivers results almost within the blink of an eye! Once you are out of the chair results can often be seen immediately with full results appearing as fast as 60 minutes, revealing teeth that are up to eight shades brighter! Now that’s something to smile about.

The First Step Toward Whiter Teeth

So, if you have been meaning to improve your smile, come see us at Wright Orthodontics so we can help you start your journey to fantastic teeth and improved self-confidence. Contact us today at our Atlanta or Marietta office to schedule a free consultation and learn more about our treatment options.

January 11, 2018January 22, 2024

The Best Ways to Care for Your Teeth With Braces

Braces create many pockets for harmful plaque buildup. Even though patients visit with Dr. Marc S. Wright once a month, regular oral hygiene is really a responsibility of the patient. In order to maintain and properly clean your teeth, it requires daily dedication. There’s no doubt that keeping your mouth clean and healthy will guarantee a mouth full of shining, straight teeth when your braces are removed. Follow these simple steps from Dr. Marc S. Wright to avoid discoloration and cavities during your orthodontic treatment.

Brush After Every Meal

If you can keep food from getting stuck in the natural crevices of the teeth, you are more likely to avoid the buildup of plaque. At Wright Orthodontics we recommend brushing your teeth after each meal to dislodge bits of food from between your teeth and brackets. When brushing, make sure to focus on all the surfaces of your teeth, from front and back to top and bottom. Brush for at least two minutes and spend most of your time focusing on the hard to reach places in the very back of your mouth. If brushing causes you pain Dr. Marc S. Wright recommends investing in toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

Use an Interdental Toothbrush

Your toothbrush will likely need replacing more often when you begin brushing with braces. We often recommend our patients purchase an interdental toothbrush, which can make it easier to get between your brackets and in hard to reach places.

Floss Twice Per Day

At the very minimum, you should brush and floss twice per day – regardless of whether or not you are an orthodontic patient. However, flossing is more important than ever when you are wearing braces. Many of our patients find that floss threaders or floss picks make it easier to get between your teeth than standard string floss. While flossing, pay attention to getting the floss under your gum line on both sides of your tooth, then massage between your teeth and gums to dislodge any lingering bacteria or plaque. You may choose to rinse with water or an oral rinse with fluoride. Fluoride is your best friend while wearing braces; not only does it prevent cavities, but it can reduce the chances of staining.

See a Professional Regularly

Finally, the most important step in maintaining your oral health while wearing braces is to attend regular checkups with your orthodontist. At Wright Orthodontics, your health and comfort are our top priorities. Dr. Marc S. Wright will work with you to make sure you get the best possible results from your orthodontic treatment.

Although paying so much attention to brushing and flossing might sound cumbersome, the majority of our patients find the more they pay attention to their oral hygiene routine, the less work brushing and flossing becomes. If you keep your mouth clean, brushing will be a breeze.

Contact us at Wright Orthodontics today at our Atlanta or Marietta office to learn more about keeping your braces clean and our full service orthodontic treatments.