Archive for category: BRO News

Congratulations, you made it! Your teeth are finally going to be free of braces. As exciting as this time is, there are still a couple of important things to remember in order to set the right expectations for getting your braces removed. 

After Braces Keep Your Expectations Realistic

As you have likely been waiting for this moment for a long time, it is very important to stay realistic. Of course, when you have braces, teeth shift in between appointments. It is possible that even though you set the appointment to have your braces removed, your teeth could still need a little bit more time to adjust. The worst thing would be if you got your braces removed and your teeth weren’t ready. You could have to get braces again in the future or maybe even not keep that straight smile you worked so hard for! So, don’t be discouraged if you go in and the doctor says you need a little more time. 

Budget at Least an Hour for Your Appointment

Removing braces is not a quick process. You should budget for approximately an hour long appointment. During this appointment, your orthodontist will use a special device to loosen each bracket on your teeth. After your orthodontist pops off your brackets, wires, and molar bands, your teeth will need to be thoroughly cleaned. Then, you will be taken to get x-rays and potentially to have a bite impression done to make sure your braces have done their job. To prevent your teeth from shifting, your orthodontist will fit you for a retainer and instruct you of proper use. Needless to say, this process can take some time!

Expect new sensations

Throughout the removal process, you will likely experience some new feelings that you have never experienced before. With the squeezing of brackets there could be some pressure, popping, or cracking. After your brackets are removed the orthodontist will need to remove the dental glue or cement from your teeth. This will be a scraping sensation. While these sensations may be slightly uncomfortable, they are completely normal. Generally the process of having your braces removed is relatively painless and will all be worth it once you get to see your wonderful, braces-free smile!

Time to Celebrate (And Maintain)

Once your braces are off, you will need to make sure you take the proper steps of cleaning your teeth and wearing your retainer to maintain your gorgeous smile. You will want to allow some time to rest and take it easy as your teeth may be a little sore. Be sure to choose what you eat carefully considering your teeth may be a bit sensitive. Of course, don’t forget to celebrate your hard-earned smile!

Now, how do you whiten your teeth after getting your braces removed?

If you don’t like your smile, you’re not alone: plenty of people don’t like their smile. In fact, 57 percent of Americans cover their mouths while laughing because they’re insecure about how their teeth look. You might think straightening your teeth is a complex process that costs a lot of money, but we make it easy and cost-effective.

If you’ve had crooked teeth, an underbite, or an overbite, your whole life, you might still think it’s fine to live that way. After all, the saying is, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” But having straight teeth will improve your quality of life in the future, and we want what’s best for you.

Not having your teeth aligned is detrimental, and you’re probably unaware of the benefits of aligned teeth. You’ll learn why you should straighten your teeth here!

Come into Blue Ridge Orthodontics if you’re considering braces or other means of straightening your teeth. Request an appointment here!

Straight Teeth are Easy to Clean

Everyone brushes their teeth twice a day and flosses to prevent plaque build-up. But it takes more work for people with crooked teeth, underbites, or overbites. Crooked teeth can create pockets of hard-to-reach places; if they’re hard to reach, they’ll be hard to brush.

Unbrushed areas lead to plaque build-up. After a certain amount of time, plaque hardens and becomes tartar which is harder to clean and discolors the teeth. Plaque can also cause cavities that permanently damage the tooth by developing holes. An untreated cavity leads to a broken tooth.

Plaque can also cause gum disease, or gingivitis, which leads to tooth loss if untreated. You get the point. Plaque is terrible, and straight teeth allow you to hit all necessary nooks and crannies easily! Imagine not having to concentrate on brushing crooked teeth. Straight teeth help you give all teeth equal care.

Straight Teeth Help with Life Longevity

Straight teeth can improve your quality of life by making eating easier and decreasing the chances of diseases. A study in 2016 has shown that infected teeth are connected to coronary disease. Coronary disease causes chest pain, lightheadedness, and more dangerous symptoms. If untreated, you could have a heart attack or develop an arrhythmia.

Eating Will Be More Comfortable with Straight Teeth

Eating can be hard when your teeth are out of alignment due to an underbite or overbite. The average person uses 70 lbs per square inch of bite force when chewing food. You know it isn’t comfortable if you’ve ever bit down on your teeth while trying to eat food. In fact, it probably hurt so bad that it ruined your appetite. One of the benefits of straight teeth is you don’t even have to worry about biting another tooth.

Straight Teeth Improve Confidence

Nothing is more welcoming than a smile, but 7 in 10 people feel insecure about their smile. Instead of feeling insecure about it, book an appointment. Our doctors and staff have resurrected confidence by straightening teeth with braces for years. We help adults straighten their teeth, and we help teens get braces or Invisalign as well. Blue Ridge Orthodontics office has everything you need for a beautiful smile, from whitening to oral surgery!

Blue Ridge Orthodontics

We are committed to helping you achieve a gorgeous lifelong smile with many options! If you have further questions about other benefits of straightened teeth, our team is here to help.

If you are local to western NC and are considering orthodontic treatment, Blue Ridge Orthodontics offers free consultations. Contact us at 828-537-5363.

How to handle orthodontic emergencies

While only a minimal percentage of orthodontic emergencies truly require immediate attention by an orthodontist, most situations can be treated at home. If you experience discomfort or pain with your orthodontic treatment, we strongly recommend reaching out to us as soon as possible to repair the issue. In the meantime, here are a few orthodontic emergencies that can be temporarily treated at home:

When my metal wire rings (ligs) or rubber bands (colors) come off, what do I do?

The tiny wires and small rubber bands on your braces hold the wire to your brackets. If one of these rubber bands came off, you can reattach it using sterile tweezers. You can also use sterile tweezers to remove a loose wire. If the wire is not loose but is sticking into the lip, you can bend it back down with a q-tip, or the end of a pen.

Make sure to communicate these issues with your orthodontist because if one ligature pops off, it is likely that others could follow as well.

What do I do about mouth sores?

Mouth sores and ulcers can be extremely uncomfortable, and some individuals are more susceptible to them than others. These mouth sores are not caused by braces but can be irritated by them. These sores can occur on the tongue, lips, or cheeks. To alleviate the discomfort, apply a small amount of topical anesthetic to the sores using a cotton swab. You can also use warm salt water to rinse a couple of times a day.

How do I relieve lip and cheek irritation from braces?

The easiest way to relieve irritation is by using a small piece of wax to cover the irritating metal. To do so, pinch off a piece of wax the size of a pea, flatten the wax, and completely cover the irritating metal with it. The metal can sometimes irritate you while you are eating; if you use the nonmedicinal wax while you’re eating and accidentally ingest it, don’t panic, it is harmless!

How do I deal with a protruding braces wire?

Sometimes the end of your wires can be displaced. This can lead to irritation of your cheeks and gums. If you have a protruding wire, using a Q-tip to press the wire down flat against the teeth. If this does not relieve it, use wax to cover the wire to prevent further irritation. In an extremely irritating case, and you cannot see an orthodontist, you may clip with a very sharp pair of wire clippers. This should be a very last resort, as clipping the wire in your mouth could cause you to swallow the sharp metal piece.

Make sure to consult with your orthodontist before doing so. Please give the office a call if the irritation continues so we can get you in ASAP. If you have made yourself comfortable, give us a call and we can get you in in a few days to make sure everything is still fully engaged. 

How do I fix loose braces brackets?

Brackets are fixed to the teeth using a special adhesive. These can be knocked off by eating hard, sticky, chewy foods or if you are struck in the mouth. It is important to speak with your orthodontist as soon as possible to determine the best next steps to take. If you cannot go into the office and your bracket is rotated or sticking out, you can temporarily fix it.

To put the bracket back in place, use sterile tweezers to move the bracket across the wire until it is situated between two teeth. Rotate the bracket into position and move it to the center of the tooth.  If it starts to rub, place wax over the bracket. Take extra care to protect from swallowing any of the metal pieces. If you have an upcoming appointment, give us a call and let us know that a bracket is off so we can have what we need ready to repair it!

Experiencing orthodontic emergencies? Always be sure to contact your orthodontist first. If you are a BRO patient, please call 828.585.6045 to discuss what the next steps should be. We are happy to help!

After orthodontic treatment, you will need a retainer in order to maintain that perfect smile that you got through orthodontic treatment. Unfortunately, we don’t have the technology for an eternal retainer (yet). You will need to eventually schedule an appointment for retainer replacement.

5 common signs that mean your retainer needs to be replaced

Need to replace your retainer? You can easily request an appointment through our website. With orthodontic offices in Asheville, Hendersonville and Brevard, we have a convenient location for anyone in Western North Carolina.

1) Small Cracks in the Retainer

Orthodontic retainers come in a variety of different options. Depending on when you got your braces (or other type of orthodontic treatment), you might have a retainer that is primarily made of wire, or you might have one that is made of a material similar to what’s used for Invisalign aligners. After you’ve had a retainer for a year or more, the material starts to break down. If you notice that there are cracks in your retainer while examining it, then it’s probably time for a retainer replacement.

Left unaddressed, these cracks will only continue to get bigger. Eventually, the retainer will lack the structural strength needed to keep your teeth in their proper alignment. Letting a retainer go means that you’re running the risk of losing that perfect smile that you invested so much in to.

2) Your Retainer is Loose

If your retainer starts feeling loose, that’s a strong sign that it’s time to replace it. This doesn’t mean there is an issue with your teeth. Retainers wear down overtime and grow wider. This is why they can feel loose eventually, even if you have been good about wearing it. The issue here is that you are no longer getting the benefit of wearing the retainer. A loose retainer will not keep your teeth in place. We strongly urge you to get a replacement retainer before getting to the point that it no longer fits. Your teeth can begin to shift (slowly) back to their original position without that retainer in optimal condition.

That perfect smile means a lot to you and it means a lot to us at Blue Ridge Orthodontics. Being mindful of your retainer and replacing it before it loses its function is essential in keeping your smile looking perfect for life.

3) Your Retainer is Warped

Modern retainers are great, but those benefits come with a greater risk of them getting damaged or warped. Remember, a retainer that doesn’t fit is one that doesn’t work. A common scenario that we’ve dealt with here at BRO is a retainer that got warped because someone put it in the dishwasher or you tried to use very hot water to clean it. This is a situation where you would want to give us a call.

If you go for an extended period of time without wearing your retainer, it may hurt when you put your replacement retainer in for the first time. This is not a defect with the retainer itself. It means that you need to wear your retainer more often.

4) Too Much Calcium Has Built Up in the Retainer

Even if you are diligent about proper retainer maintenance, calcium can build up on your retainer over time. The problem is that calcium buildup can easily discourage one from wearing their retainer as often as they should. If you or your child has stopped wearing their retainer do to a nasty calcium buildup, it is time to get a replacement. You can easily schedule an appointment with Blue Ridge Orthodontics to get a retainer replacement at one of our orthodontic offices in Western North Carolina.

5) You Lost Your Retainer

Losing things is a frustrating but natural part of life. Remember that you are going to be using your retainer over the long run in order to maintain that beautiful smile. Over the years, moves, career transitions, new relationships and so much more present numerous opportunities to lose your retainer. It happens to the best of us.

If you have lost your retainer, please don’t wait too long to get a replacement. Our orthodontists will want to bring you to take a new impression for your replacement retainer. If it has been a while since you lost your retainer, then the new one will gently squeeze your teeth back into alignment. It’s also recommended that you establish a good place to store your retainer, so it is easy to put them back in before you go to bed.

Retainer Fatigue – What is That?

As a diamond level Invisalign provider, it should come as no surprise that many of our patients end up with clear retainers after their orthodontic treatment has finished. Like Invisalign and our impressions aligners, these clear retainers are highly discrete and this makes it easier for our patients to wear them more often.

However, there is a downside to this type of retainer – the material will fatigue over time. Every time that you take out your clear retainer, it actually stretches the material a minute amount. The retainer will eventually be stretched enough to allow for micro movements in your teeth. If you don’t get your retainer replaced, that stretching will continue and your teeth will be allowed to move further out of their proper alignment.

Retainer fatigue is the reason why people can still experience some minor movement in their teeth even if they’re diligent about wearing their retainer. The simple truth is that your teeth are stronger than your clear retainer – crazy right? If we were to give a former patient a brand new retainer produced from the mold we took after they got their braces off, it would feel tighter.

Order Your Replacement Retainer From BRO

You need to wear your retainer if you want to maintain that perfect smile that you’ve earned through orthodontic treatment. This can come as a surprise to patients, but your retainer is so important. if your retainer is broken or lost, we urge you to not let it go. Order your replacement retainer from Blue Ridge Orthodontics in Western North Carolina. The process is simple, convenient and very affordable.

Call us today at (828) 585-6045 if you have any questions about your retainer or getting a replacement. BRO has offices in Asheville, Hendersonville and Brevard. we have a friendly and very talented orthodontic team that’s ready to answer any of your questions.