Are Dentists and Orthodontists the Same?

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When it comes to getting your teeth straightened, you need to know the difference between dentists and orthodontists. It’s important to know that all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. This is because the dentistry profession, like medicine, is divided into primary care dentists and specialists. All dentists attend college, usually for four years, then attend another four years of dental school. In dental school, they are taught the basics of several procedures, and learn to clean teeth, diagnose cavities and oral diseases, and do crowns, bridges, root canals, and silver and tooth-colored fillings. They also learn to perform a number of surgical procedures, make complete and partial removable dentures, and much more. Once they graduate from dental school and pass their clinical exams, they earn their licenses to practice as dentists. At this time, these dentists are called general dentists, general practitioners, GPs, or primary care…

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Halloween Survival Guide! The bacteria in your mouth are probably more excited to eat Halloween candy than you are! When the bacteria eat the sugar and leftover food in your mouth, a weak acid is produced. That acid is what attacks the enamel of the teeth and can contribute to cavities. Here are a few ideas to help you sort through the trick-or-treat bag loot and make sure kids keep their teeth healthy and braces intact! Choose Candy Carefully! Chocolate is probably your best bet, especially for kids with braces on!  This is good because it’s also the most popular kind of candy handed out on Halloween!  Chocolate can wash off your teeth easier than other types of candy. Dark chocolate is even better because it has less sugar than milk chocolate. Sticky candies cling to your teeth, which makes them some of the worst candies for your teeth!  Watch…

October Updates and In-Office Contests

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Pumpkin Decorating Contest: Each team member took home a pumpkin and decorated it for an in office decorating contest. We have pumpkins in each office and we need your help to vote for your favorite pumpkin. Any person that votes will receive 5 extra points on their rewards card. Contest will run until 10/31. You can vote two ways: In office when you come to your appointment On our Facebook page In Office Contest:   We are asking out patients to guess the number of cheese balls in the pumpkin container. The person who guesses the correct amount (without going over) will win a $25 Amazon gift card. This contest runs until 10/31. Halloween With Halloween around the corner we are asking all of our patients to be careful with sticky, chewy, hard and gooey candy. Hard food and or candy puts a huge amount of pressure on your braces…

Invisalign is an option for YOU!

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Orthodontics has improved dramatically since the mid-eighties when I first became certified as an orthodontist. Braces are engineered to be more esthetic as well as well as more “patient-friendly.” They are easier to brush and keep clean, as well as healthier for the teeth and gums. Arch-wires also make the orthodontic experience more comfortable and efficient. They deliver lighter forces more continuously than in the past. This enables patients to finish treatment faster with fewer patient visits to the office. Since 1999, Invisalign has dramatically improved the orthodontic experience. Clear removable plastic aligners are worn in sequence to achieve orthodontic treatment goals. They must be constantly worn 20 – 24 hours per day to gain results akin to what achieve with braces. Additionally, they work best with full adult dentition which limits its use to adults and teenagers. We ask all prospective Invisalign patients to “know thyself” and envision whether…