Natick orthodontics

As the nation prepares to observe the 16th Oral Caner Awareness Month this April, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, the American Academy of Oral Medicine, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Association and the American Dental Hygienists' Association have joined the Oral Cancer Foundation in its campaign to raise awareness of this silent killer.

Be mindful of symptoms

The mouth is one of your body's most important early warning systems. Between dental visits, it is importance that you be aware of the following signs and symptoms, and see a dental professional if they do not improve or disappear after two to three weeks:

• A sore, or soreness or irritation that doesn't go away
• Red or white patches, or pain, tenderness, or numbness in mouth or lips
• Lumps, thickening tissues, rough spots, crusty or eroded areas
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your jaw or tongue
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth

Factors that may increase your risk of oral cancer

Research has identified a number of factors that may contribute to the development of oral cancer. Historically, those at an especially high risk have been heavy alcohol drinkers and smokers older than age 50, but today the cancer also is occurring more frequently in younger, non smoking people. The human papillomavirus 16 (HPV) is related to the increasing incidence of oropharyngeal cancer (most commonly involving tonsillar tissue, including the base of the tongue) in the younger population.

If you have never had an oral cancer examination, there is no better time to schedule one than during Oral Cancer Awareness Month in April! When you do, be sure to ask that this examination be made routine at all your future dental checkups.

One of the most common orthodontic appliances used in children is the palatal expander. Arch expansion is one of the most common ways to eliminate mild/moderate crowding and cross-bites in growing patients. Successful expansion requires that the growth plate in the roof of the mouth (the midpalatal suture) is not fused. This fusion usually occurs between age 14-16. An expander is attached to the upper arch by bands placed around the first molars (and in some cases around the 1st premolars if they are erupted). Although there are removable expanders, fixed ones have an importance advantage in that they cannot be lost or forgotten.

Interestingly, the lower jaw (mandible) is not amenable to expansion. The suture in the mandible fuses soon after birth so true expansion is not able to occur. If the back teeth have an excess tip inwards (Curve of Wilson), then a Swartz removable expander is useful to upright teeth to the ideal position. This does allow some space creation in the front teeth as well.

Expanders are relatively painless for our patients. Some report that they feel pressure on the teeth, in the roof of the mouth, behind the nose, and even between the eyes as their expander is activated (or turned). This pressure fades within minutes. Besides pressure, we also tell parents to expect the child to speak differently for the first few days. Additional saliva production may also occur as well as slight modifications to eating. One of the most visible signs that the suture is opening (the desired effect) is the appearance of a space between the upper central incisors. Once the expansion is complete, it is normal for the space to close spontaneously. This occurs as the elastics fibers surrounding the gingival tissues return to their original positions. The underlying bone, however, remains expanded. It is normal for the anterior teeth to feel slightly loose and sore as they move together.

Because there is always some relapse, I generally choose to over-expand the palate slightly and then hold the expander in  place for an additional 4-6 months. Following the removal of the expander, I will provide a Hawley retainers that is to be worn at night (of after school and night) so as to ensure the stability of the correction and then follow the patients quarterly until they are ready for comprehensive orthodontic evaluation (when all the permanent teeth erupt).

As always, if you have any questions about this appliance or any orthodontic treatment, please don't hesitate to talk to Dr. Hughes or one of the assistants at the office.

Vincent was the winner of our Summer "Count the seashells in the jar" contest. He won a $25 Visa gift card. Congratulations Vincent!!

This year, our office participated in the annual 4th of July parade in Natick. We handed out over 1,500 tooth brushes along the way! It was wonderful to see many of our patients out there cheering us on! We sure had a great time and can't wait until next year to participate again.

Announcing the birth of Silas Coffin! Brandy and her husband welcomed baby Silas on Friday, May 17 at 5:48pm. Silas weighed in at 8lb 6oz and 20 1/4 inches! Mom and baby are doing just fine. Congratulations Brandy!

Hannah was the winner of our Valentine's Candy Corn Counting Contest. She won a $25 itunes gift card! Congratulations Hannah and we will see you soon at your next appointment!

Jesse was the winner of our website scavenger hunt and won a $50 gift card to the Natick Mall. Congratulations Jesse!

Many adults ask the question, "Am I too old for braces?" and the answer is absolutely not! Orthodontic treatment for adults is becoming more and more common. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed since the '90s and many offices now have 25% adults receiving orthodontic treatment! Adults are realizing that orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, and can help improve the esthetics of the smile and health of the mouth at any age. In a society where appearance matters and can help make the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing wisely to invest in orthodontic treatment.

Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:

• Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart

•Teeth have shifted over the years because a retainer was not worn

• Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw

As an adult patient, we recognize that you have different needs than our younger patients, and we will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit us for a consultation. We understand you have a busy schedule, therefore our office offers evening and Saturday appointments in order to find a time that is convenient for you. Please give our office a call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Hughes today! Make 2013 a better, brighter, healthier New Year.

Sofia won our Fall Candy Corn contest and walked away with a $25 iTunes gift card. Congratulations! Stay tuned for our next contest..... a scavenger hunt on our website for more great prizes.

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces! Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

We hope this helps, and remember to give our team a call if you ever have any questions!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month
Dr. Hughes wants you to Share Our “FLOSSOPHY”
Halloween With Braces Can Be Sweet
Avoid the Treats that Can Play Tricks on Your Braces
Anything that is hard, sticky or chewy — like these:

Hard nuts, hard pretzels, caramel, ice, taffy, popcorn

Enjoy braces-friendly treats —and be sure to brush and floss after indulging.
Find braces-safe recipes on www.braces.org or check out our facebook page where we will be sure to have a couple fun recipes for you too!

Stop Zombie Mouth

This Halloween, Dr. Hughes, the ADA and PopCap Games are redefining what a Halloween “treat” can be… by giving FUN instead of candy. Lakewood Park Orthodontics is giving away Plants vs. Zombies™ download games as a sugar-free alternative, and you can join in the fun!

At your next appointment, ask us for the limited-edition, collectible Plants vs. Zombies trading cards with the code for a free Plants vs. Zombies download game.

But remember..... to really stop Zombie mouth you MUST Brush 3-5 times (in braces), floss once a day and see your dentist regularly !!

Enjoy Halloween and the game!

Dr. Hughes wants to hear from you.....Check out our latest  contest!

Be entered into a raffle to win a $50 Olive Garden gift card

Simply “Like” us on Facebook or write a good review on Facebook, Yelp, Google or Yahoo to be entered into a raffle for your chance to win!

Visit Lakewood Park Orthodontics on Facebook.com, yelp.com, google.com or yahoo.com to write a review. The deadline for entries is Monday October 5^th. Good Luck!

In honor of those hectic (and expensive)back-to school days....we are offering a postcard promotion during the month of August and September! The promotion includes a complimentary orthodontic records appointment which includes photographs, pan x-ray, ceph x-ray, and study models (a value of $400). This records appointment will be completed after your orthodontic exam (which is always complimentary). Even if you did not receive the postcard, we will honor this promotion if you mention it from our blog. Enjoy those last days of summer and we look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!

The Olympics have been so exciting to watch this summer! Like many of you, this summer has brought us the Olympics as well as wonderful weather to go outdoors and enjoy all the sports we love! So, it is also an appropriate time to remind you about the importance of taking a few precautions to preserve your teeth and be protected from facial injuries, whether at a practice, at a game, or simply enjoying some fun in the neighborhood. How can you play it safe?

*Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact and help prevent damage to one’s head.
*Wear protective eyewear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable to damage, especially when playing sports.
*Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin. Hockey pucks, basketballs, and racquetballs can cause severe facial damage at any age.
*Wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports. Mouth guards can help prevent injury to a person’s jaw, mouth and teeth; and they are significantly less expensive than the cost to repair an injury.

Dr. Hughes wants you to have fun, but play safe. Let’s talk about the right mouth guard for you at your next visit!

Today, nearly four million children in the United States and Canada are receiving treatment from orthodontists. And while parents know that orthodontic treatment results in a healthy, beautiful smile, many don’t realize the important long-term health benefits.

1.    Why is orthodontic treatment important?
A: Straight teeth and properly aligned jaws contribute to good dental health as well as overall physical health. Orthodontic treatment can boost a person’s self-image as teeth, lips and jaws move into position and improve appearance.

2.    How do parents know if their child needs orthodontic treatment?
A: The best way is to visit an orthodontist. The AAO recommends that all children get a check-up with an orthodontist no later than age seven.

3.    What if my child still has baby teeth at age seven? Should they still see an orthodontist?
A:  Yes.  By age 7, enough permanent teeth have arrived for orthodontists to evaluate how the teeth and jaws meet, and to identify current or developing problems.

4.    How does a child’s growth affect orthodontic treatment?
A: Treatment and growth often compliment each other. In some cases, the orthodontist takes advantage of a child’s growth to guide jaws and teeth into their ideal positions.

5.    How often do you visit your orthodontist while in orthodontic treatment?
A: Typically a child will see the orthodontist every 6-12 weeks throughout the course of treatment.

6.    How do I find an orthodontist?
A: Ask your family dentist, pediatrician, family and friends or check out the AAO website for a list of providers in your area. It is important to choose an orthodontist who is a member of the AAO.  Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.  Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists may be members of the AAO.

7.    What is the average cost of orthodontic treatment?
A: Fees will vary, depending on the treatment needed.  Most orthodontists offer convenient payment plans, making treatment more affordable than ever.  Most orthodontists will work with you to find a plan that fits your family budget.  In addition, many patients have dental insurance that includes orthodontic benefits.