If anything should arise while you are on vacation always remember that we are here for you whether you are in town or out of town on vacation. Just simply give us a call and we may be able to address the problem over the phone. Second, if we are unable to help you fix the problem over the phone, we will help you with some home remedies. Third, if a serious situation we could help you find an orthodontist that is in your area. If you experience problems reaching our office, we suggest going online and searching for orthodontic practices in your area. Most orthodontists will lend a helping hand to another orthodontic patient and get them out of pain or discomfort. If you have braces, we suggest steering clear of the following foods to avoid broken brackets and/or wire distortion while you are on vacation: Chewy, sticky, or…
braces
What is Onychophagia?
I think I just won the spelling bee! Better known as fingernail biting, it can be damaging to your teeth and gums. Tooth wear, enamel chipping and cracking, is most often the result of nail biting. In our practice, we have also witnessed extreme cases of gum recessions – especially when the patient has a bonded lingual retainer on the lower front teeth. Nail biting can tip the crown back and the root forward exposing the root to the tooth. This can lead to the need for gum grafting and six months of orthodontics to reposition the root. Jaw problems can also be a result of nail biting. The Academy of General Dentistry determined that it costs patients around $4,000 extra to repair damages from nail biting. The most common treatment is to use a nail polish (that tastes terrible) for a while to help break the habit. Denatonium benzoate…
New Product — Air Floss
Every little but helps and it is very time consuming to floss with braces on. I have received great feedback from hygienist of referring dentists, so I purchased an air floss unit for myself. After one week of use, I give it an enthusiastic thumbs up! Technique is important and the tip should be aimed directly between the teeth and gum line. I use mouthwash rather than water and peroxide can be substituted as well. You can purchase the Sonicare Air Floss online at sonicare.com or Amazon. If you go on Sonicare.com they are offering a coupon for $15 off http://philips.to/U7mPDL. It is definitely worth the investment. Especially if you or your child have braces. Dr. David McSurdy
Skin Protection
Spring has arrived at last! So outside we go to watch our kids on the athletic fields. Please remember to apply sunscreen to your exposed skin to prevent skin damage. SPF 30 and above is the best to reduce the risk of future skin cancers. Remember that skin damage due to sun exposure is cumulative so it is especially important to apply sunscreen to your children. It is probably wise to choose a sunscreen that stays on well with perspiration and swimming. I prefer sunscreen that contains zinc oxide. For example, Neutrogena Sensitive Skin, which can be purchased at any local Target for under ten dollars. Pools will be opening soon so let’s get ready and purchase the sunscreen now! Dr. David McSurdy Orthodontist Serving both the Collegeville & Gilbertsville areas
No More Messy Impressions That Make You Gag!
In our quest to always be at the forefront of modern orthodontics, we will soon have a new technology in our office that will allow us to take a series of photos of your teeth using a specialized intraoral camera. The system is called “iTero” and it will be used specifically to take needed impressions for Invisalign patients without all the gagging and goop! Images of your teeth and gums will be immediately uploaded to a computer that will allow us to send this information directly to Invisalign. The benefits for you, the patient are amazing! No more goop in your mouth, and no more gagging when getting your “impressions” or “molds” for Invisalign. Also, because the images are uploaded immediately, processing time is decreased, so you will be able to get started with your aligners more quickly! In fact, the intraoral camera is so accurate that when you finally…