Debunking 8 Braces Myths

Even if you’ve NEVER had braces before, you’ve probably still heard a lot of things about what they’re like. Well, don’t believe everything you hear, because there is some bad information out there. That’s why today we’re going to bust eight of the most common braces myths. 1. Braces Rust While braces are often made of metal, they do not rust. The metals in braces are stainless steel and titanium, so you don’t have to worry about them rusting in your mouth. 2. You Can’t Play An Instrument With Braces It certainly takes some adjusting to play brass or woodwind instruments with braces, but it’s still entirely doable! Don’t feel like you have to choose between proper dental alignment and the instrument you love, because you can have both! 3. You Can’t Play Sports With Braces If you play a sport, particularly a contact sport, you may have heard that…

How To Clean Invisalign

One of the biggest advantages to Invisalign® treatment is that they can be removed before eating or drinking anything. But before they go back in, they need to be cleaned properly to prevent discoloration and buildup of bacteria. Invisalign® and Invisalign Teen® are available from Dr. McSurdy’s office, your local orthodontist for Collegeville and Gibertsville. How To Clean Invisalign® To keep your teeth and your Invisalign® clean try following this list of Do’s and Don’ts: Do: Aligners should be rinsed under lukewarm water each time they are taken out to prevent bacteria and plaque buildup. After eating and or drinking (anything other than water) brush your teeth and your aligners. Floss every day Use a soft toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste to clean your aligners. Some have found that using toothpaste can scratch the aligners because it is abrasive. If you do not want to use toothpaste, try…

Smile Direct Club Part II

Since our blog on June 8th, 2017, Smile Direct has opened up smile shop locations throughout major cities in the U.S. At these locations patients can have their teeth digitally scanned, thereby eliminating the need for the home impression kits which the company initially required. Who Should Use Smile Direct Club? When patients take their own impressions, they run a risk of distorting the model, which leads to aligners not fitting 100%. When the aligners do not fit as they are supposed to, teeth do not track accordingly. The digital scanning method (which SDC and our office both have) greatly improves the accuracy and fit of the aligners and would be the method of choice for all patients. Smile Direct Club is limited to only treating cases that have a mild to moderate crowding or spacing issue. But those patients who have a more difficult treatment, Smile Direct Club might…

The Advantages of Invisalign

The trend in orthodontics is clearly moving toward Invisalign. Invisalign employs clear, this plastic appliances that surround the crowns of the teeth. Progressively, patients align their teeth by changing to a new appliance weekly so that small movements occur toward a straighter condition. The Advantages of Invisalign® The key advantages of Invisalign® include: Comfort – there are calibrated movements that keep the teeth moving without over-stressing the teeth. Esthetics – the appliances are clear and much less noticeable than braces. No emergencies – There are no wire pokes or broken braces. No food restrictions – braces come with a list of foods that should be avoided during treatment. Invisalign aligners can be removed at any given time, so there are no food restrictions. Health – Aligners can be removed when it is time to brush and floss maintaining great oral health. Shorter treatment times – In most cases, by virtue…