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!