This Year, Make a New Year’s Resolution to Smile About!

Let’s face it- when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year’s resolution? At the orthodontic practice of Dr. Warren Phillips, we believe the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable. If you haven’t yet picked a New Year’s resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!

For example, resolve to brush twice and floss once a day. Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in your oral health and overall health too! For more oral health-themed resolutions for you and your family, check out this article.

We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2011!

-Happy New Year, from your friends at the orthodontic practice of Dr. Warren Phillips

Thanks to Invisalign, you can give the gift of a "clearly" amazing smile this holiday!

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff at Wilmington Braces can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Stay Healthy this Busy Holiday Season, Consider Replacing your Toothbrush.

Yes, it is still the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Phillips will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Wilmington Braces if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

The importance of retainers, from Dr. Phillips

If you recently completed treatment at Wilmington Braces, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Phillips will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Phillips is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

Ask Dr. Phillips : What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with the Orthodontic Practice of S. Warren Phillips Jr. than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.
Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.
Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Phillips the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Happy Thanksgiving, from Wilmington Braces

Dr. Phillips and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It's a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat with those braces! If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we'd encourage you to send them along or call our office and ask how.

Gobble Gobble!

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here for us at Dr. Phillips' office, and now that Halloween is passed, we bet you and your families have begun to make plans for Thanksgiving.

Today we wanted to ask you, our wonderful patients, "How are you spending your time this fall?" Our team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment within the Wilmington, NC area. We are interested in learning about what makes your community “yours.”

Orthodontic fun facts!

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Wilmington Braces thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.
• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).
• The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.
• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.
• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.
• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.
• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.
• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.
• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Distinguishing the myths and facts about orthodontics

Trust us when we say Dr. Phillips and our staff know there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) floating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists set the record straight (no pun intended) and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Wilmington Braces, feel free to give us a call.

A few Halloween safety tips

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, Dr. Phillips would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has provided trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

We wish you all a happy, safe, and spooky Halloween!

A Great Braces Friendly Halloween Recipe

Our team knows how tempting this time of the year can be on our sweet tooth. With all of the caramel, candy corn, and lollipops that are often passed around to trick-or-treaters, we realize that it can sometimes be hard to find hard, chewy, sticky, and crunchy candy alternatives.

However, there is good news! Today, we would like to share a great braces-friendly Halloween recipe with all of our patients, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO, and “The Braces Cookbook” by Pamela Waterman. This Spider Bites recipe is delicious, and provided that you remember to brush and floss after indulging, this is a cookie that won’t bite back!

Spider Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 1 Tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa
• 1 Tsp. salt
• ½ Tsp. baking powder
• 1 package black rope licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces**
• 1 small tube of white (or color of choice) frosting
• Toothpicks

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine shortening, sugar, water, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add eggs into the mixture and blend. Slowly mix in flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder using low-medium speed. Drop tablespoon helpings of mixture onto ungreased cookie sheets and roll each helping into a ball.

Bake 9 minutes at 375 degrees. The batch should produce around three dozen cookies.

Let cookies cool for about 10 minutes. Then using a toothpick, create four small holes in either side of the cookie. Still using the toothpick, push one end of a piece of the cut licorice into each hole, creating the “legs” of the spider. Once all eight pieces are in place, create eyes or decorate at will using the white frosting. Then eat and enjoy!

**Licorice can sometimes stick to braces; parents should monitor

October is National Orthodontic Health Month

Can you believe October is already upon us? October happens to be National Orthodontic Health Month, and this month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

If you happen to damage your braces, please give Dr. Phillips and our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into our office.

The First Adjustment

Part III on Mallory's story with braces is below. Hope you enjoy!

My first time back in the dental chair after braces was a little intimidating. I was nervous about what it would feel like to have my wires changed and I definitely was nervous about being sore again. Whenever I sat down, we looked at my pictures from before I got my braces on then took a look in the mirror to see how my teeth look now. What a big change from where I started!! Julie took my wires out and then let me go brush and floss. It felt really good to be able to floss and brush without the wires in. I sat down again and Julie clipped the wires to make sure they would not poke me. She then inserted them and clipped them again to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. After she got the new wires in, she recommended that I take ibuprofen again to keep the soreness to a minimum. I also got a power chain put on my braces. This is used to close the small spaces in between my teeth. When I got home that evening, I was a little sore from the adjustment but made sure to eat soft foods and keep taking the ibuprofen. The next day was not bad at all! I was back to eating normal foods and felt just fine!

The First Week With Braces

Check out Part II of Mallory's story with braces below:

I was not sore whenever they first put the braces on. I started taking ibuprofen like Dr. Phillips recommended when I left the office so I was not too sore later on. It was a little hard to eat because my teeth were a little tender. I kept taking the ibuprofen as the directions said on the bottle, every 6 hours with a meal. I ate pasta for dinner and some ice cream for dessert! The cold ice cream made my mouth feel really good. The next day, I was still adjusting to the braces and they still felt a little funny. I ate softer foods for the next 3 days. It was easy to eat things like soup, pasta, potatoes, french fries, jello, and my favorite, ice cream! I was extra careful not to chew anything in a way that might knock one of my braces off. I made sure to brush 3 times a day to keep my teeth really clean. When I brush, I get really close to the mirror and inspect my teeth to make sure that they look clean and that there is no food or anything stuck under the wire or in between the brackets. After the 4th day with braces, I hardly even noticed they were there anymore. I am still very careful with what I eat and it paid off! I haven’t lost one bracket!

Getting Braces On For the First Time

Over the next few weeks, our team member Mallory will be sharing her journey with orthodontics at our office. She had her braces put on recently, and below is her first entry, entitled "Putting the Braces On". We hope you enjoy!

I got my braces put on by Dr. Phillips on August 25, 2010! Getting the braces on was a lot easier than I expected. First of all: It didn’t hurt at all. In fact, I didn’t even feel a thing! Julie, the assistant, placed cheek retractors in my mouth to hold my cheeks back while they got my teeth ready. She then helped Dr. Phillips prepare my teeth for the brackets. She placed a green gel on my teeth and then rinsed me out. She then put another material on my teeth and then Dr. Phillips came over to begin putting the braces on with the glue that they use. Throughout this process, I did not feel anything!

As soon as Dr. Phillips put the last bracket on, Julie shined a blue light on my teeth. This light helps the glue harden, and ensures braces stick to my teeth. I got to take the cheek retractors out after Julie was done with this light. feeling the braces for the first time with my lips was a strange feeling at first, but like I said befrore, it was painless and much better than I expected! After I got to rinse out, Julie put my arch wires in. While placing them, made sure that I was comfortable by clipping the wires so that they would not poke me.

While we offer colored bands at our office, I didn’t pick any colors because I chose clear braces instead. But if I would have gotten colors, I think I would have gotten red! Julie showed me some great brushing and flossing tips when she finished. She also gave me advice on how to take care of poking wires or soreness. I then made my next appointment and got to go home!

Stay tuned for next week's post from Mallory, which describes her first week with braces!

What do you love about Wilmington Braces?

From your very first visit to our office, we strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Phillips' work? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you!

All the cool kids do it!

Braces today are “cool” and—many would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with us, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited Wilmington Braces for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Regular checkups are essential in maintaining good oral health

Are you brushing and flossing daily properly during your orthodontic treatment? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every 3-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting our office, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health, especially during orthodontic treatment.

Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam your dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in the greater Wilmington, NC area!

With Wilmington Braces, 24/7 access to your account

At Wilmington Braces, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Wilmington, NC.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! And, because we know folks sometimes forget, you can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

Ask Wilmington Braces: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work, says Dr. Phillips. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Phillips is a certified Invisalign provider in Wilmington, NC. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.

Ask Wilmington Braces: Why is it so important to have straight teeth?

Some people wonder why Dr. Phillips and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Wilmington Braces can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Phillips can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Welcome to our blog!

Welcome to the official Wilmington Braces blog! We've recently installed new ways to stay connected to our patients, including our Facebook page, YouTube channel and our very own blog, which we’ll be updating weekly! Visit us by clicking on any of the social network icons located on the left side of our page.

We look forward to seeing you soon!
Dr. Phillips and team

Meet Our Orthodontist

I chose the field of orthodontics because I enjoy seeing the smiling faces of my patients as they leave my office. It is my intention to build a long-lasting relationship with each patient that I see and make sure that they receive the most optimal care.

I received my bachelor of science degree in Dentistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I was accepted into the University of North Carolina's Dental School one year early, and completed my Doctor of Dental Surgery with Distinction from UNC, graduating in the top 5% of my class of 78 students. Following my DDS degree, I completed 3 years of postdoctoral study at UNC-Chapel Hill where I earned my master of science degree in orthodontics and my certificate in orthodontics.

I enjoy spending my free time reading and in the outdoors, diving, hunting, and fishing. I am also an active member of the Wrightsville United Methodist Church.