What to Know About Palatal Expanders

Many parents are surprised to learn that we recommend that children are seen for their first orthodontic visit when they are over the age of seven. It is not uncommon for parents to think that our job is to merely to straighten teeth and not realize all of the components that need to work together to create the perfect smile. Long before we can work on straightening the teeth with braces, we need to improve the jaw alignment if the upper jaw is not the proper size. When the jaw is too narrow, we may introduce hardware known as a palatal expander.

Play Ball!…Even With Braces

With the arrival of spring and the brighter and longer days upon us, we know that many of our patients are returning to playing a variety of sports. We are often asked if patients need to refrain from sports during their orthodontic treatment, and our answer is always that our patients are free to enjoy all the sports they love. However, we do make our patients aware that athletes with braces carry a higher risk of injury to the mouth while playing sports. It can be nerve-wracking and expensive to deal with the consequences of mouth injury while playing. Continue reading to learn about proper care for braces while playing sports.

Common Orthodontic Questions

At The Best Braces, we are here to take care of all your orthodontic needs. We know that it can be a little overwhelming when your dentist refers you or your child to our office for an evaluation. Orthodontic treatment doesn’t just can make a huge impact on you or your loved one’s self-esteem by giving you beautiful straight teeth to show off. In many cases, you are creating a healthier environment for your teeth to prevent potentially expensive decay issues. We have answered three of the most popular questions that we get when it comes to orthodontic care.

Don’t Forget This Important Step on Your Journey to Straight Teeth

We know that there is nothing more exciting than the day your braces are finally removed. It is a day that you dream of for many months: the day you can look in the mirror and finally see all the hard work pay off—your teeth are straight and beautiful. Even though you are excited to show off your new smile, it is important to understand that your journey to straight teeth is not over yet. You still need another device to help your teeth remain in this beautiful condition. Continue reading to learn more about the next step in your journey.

Can Orthodontics Improve a Child’s Speech?

It’s not uncommon for children to have some form of speech defect or impediment from when they begin babbling in infancy through the toddler years. Most children reach developmental milestones and outgrow these issues, while there is a percentage who continue to display concerning speech delays. The concept of speech is a complex process where many issues can come into play. Speech can be impacted by a multitude of body and development functions such as hearing issues, nerve and muscle control, the brain’s processing ability, and birth defects, not to mention the tongue, lips, vocal cords, nasal cavity, and the placement of teeth and jaw bones.

It Is Not Too Late To Get The Smile Of Your Dreams

Do you dream of having perfect teeth but feel like your age is holding you back? Or do you feel like there is only one orthodontic option to change your smile? Gone are the days of only teenagers receiving orthodontic treatment. If you missed out on the experience when you were younger and were always self-conscious of your less than perfectly straight smile, it is not too late to get the smile you have dreamed of for years. Better yet, we have numerous options that can fit into any lifestyle, even if you have little to no time or don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home. Continue reading to learn about the different orthodontic options for adults.