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Have you heard about our Impressions invisible aligners? They are a new and discreet way to straighten your teeth at home. Similar to Invisalign, Our new invisible aligners are made from medical grade plastic material that is molded after a 3D digitized scan is taken of your teeth.

After your initial consultation and 3D scan here at our orthodontic clinic in Asheville, you will receive your impressions invisible liners at your door in about 6 weeks. within this Impressions box, you will find a full set of the liners and everything else you’ll need to stay on track with your personalized treatment plan.

Most of our Impressions patients have completed their treatment within 6 months!

With Impressions, our goal was to give adults in Western North Carolina more options if they need orthodontic treatment. You shouldn’t have to put your life on hold because you want to straighten your teeth. Impressions delivers all the results of traditional orthodontic treatment for half the cost and in half the time!

Impressions Vs Traditional Metal Braces

If an adult has traditional metal braces, they might feel a little self-conscious when going on a first date or into an important interview. This is why orthodontic advancements such as Invisalign were so revolutionary. Now, qualifying adults have the option to straighten their teeth in a much more discreet way.

Our orthodontists want you to know that traditional metal braces are still the recommended course of treatment for more complex orthodontic issues. that being said, our Impressions aligners can be used to treat the majority of orthodontic issues we see in adults.

Comparing Impressions invisible aligners to traditional braces, there are several distinct advantages we want you to know about:

• Our liners are much more convenient than traditional braces simply because they are removable.
• This makes it much easier to eat, drink and brush your teeth.
• Friends, family members and co-workers won’t even be able to tell that you’re wearing our liners and you’re talking to them.
• Impressions aligners are much easier to clean than traditional metal braces.
• With Impressions, there are only two required in office visits that patients need to make over the entire course of their treatment.
• Impressions invisible aligners cost half as much as traditional metal braces.

Impressions Vs Other At-Home Invisible Aligners

If you qualify, then making the choice between Impressions and traditional braces is simple. That being said, there are now several different at-home invisible aligners providers out there. So why should you choose Impressions if you live in North Carolina?

Infographic originally posted on the Impressions website.

Visiting ImpressionsHub and Starting with a 3D Scan

These other Invisalign aligner companies provide at-home kits that you can use to take an impression of your teeth. Ironically, we don’t do this with Impressions and there’s a good reason why. We discovered that these at-home impressions kits often fail to make an accurate impression of the teeth. There are just too many ways that things could go awry while trying to get that perfect impression.

Here are four common problems that people have when using these at home Impressions kits:

• You could receive impressions trays that are not the right size for your mouth, which means they will have to send them back and wait even longer to start your treatment.
• With these Impressions kids, there is a specific process one must follow when it comes to mixing the mold putty. Since this kit comes with two types of putty, it must be completely mixed together and then molded into the tray. Once you start mixing the putties, they start to harden. So you have about one minute to properly mix the putty, place it in the tray and then into your mouth in order to get a proper impression. When done at home, there are only so many ways that this can go wrong.
• If you managed to get the putty mix into the aligner tray without issue, it is still more difficult than it should be to get the perfect impression of your teeth. You’ll need to keep the tray very steady during this entire process which can be difficult. Otherwise, you could end up with a double imprint of your teeth and gums or slight distortions in the shape or length of the teeth.
• On top of how difficult it is to just get one perfect impression with these at home kits, you’ll need to complete this entire process at least three more times without error.

We have heard stories about how people received their aligners and none of them actually fit due to the poor impressions taken with those at home kits. This can significantly delay the start of your treatment. Since Impressions was developed by a diamond level Invisalign orthodontist, we felt it was best to start each patient with an accurate 3D scan of their teeth.

Because we always start with a 3D scan of your teeth at our Impressions hub, we can guarantee 100% accuracy for every patient. You aren’t going to have to worry whether your aligners are going to fit your teeth when you get your impressions box delivered to your door. the entire process is quick and painless, plus it won’t leave you with a bad taste in your mouth like the putty in those at home Impressions kits.

Additionally, we felt it would be great is our patients got the opportunity to see what their perfect smile would look like before they even get started. With our 3D iTero technology, you’ll be able to see what your smile is going to look like as soon as we’re done with the scan. It’s really cool!

Our Invisible Aligners Are Produced With Higher Quality Material

Unfortunately, we found that other at home invisible aligner companies have chosen to use cheaper material in the production of their aligners in order to save money and increase their own profits. If you’re making such a significant investment in your health, then you should know that you’re getting the best product possible.

When it’s not, the results can be shocking…

Impressions invisible liners use the same high-quality material that Invisalign uses. This means that our trees are more durable than some of “the other guys.” With these other at home invisible aligners, you do run the risk experiencing complications that could significantly extend the length of your treatment.

Impressions Connects You With a Real Orthodontist

Studies have shown that most American adults could benefit from some kind of orthodontic care. Unfortunately, too many don’t have the means to afford it. Dr. Roberts created impressions in order to bring affordable orthodontic care to more people in North Carolina.

In addition to the convenience offered by impressions, patients are also going to be connected with a real orthodontist. You will meet with Dr. Roberts, Dr. Schuler or Dr. Twomley during your first appointment and they are going to develop a customized treatment plan for your smile. We don’t want you to feel like you’re going to be on your own at any point during your treatment. You get all of the convenience of at-home orthodontic care with the peace of mind that you can reach out to one of our orthodontists with questions or concerns at any time.

With these other at-home invisible aligner providers, you are not going to be connected with a real orthodontist. You will more than likely be directed to a customer service number if you have any questions or concerns during your treatment. It can feel isolating…

Yes convenience is important, but who are you going to feel more confident with when it comes to correcting your smile? An orthodontist you can meet in person or a customer support representative?

Impressions Accounts For Your Bite & Overall Health

You’re probably looking at invisible aligners, because you want to straighten your teeth. This is what most at-home invisible aligner providers are solely focused on. Unfortunately, that can actually lead to some serious problems.

With Impressions, we knew that we could not only be focused on straightening teeth. We needed to know that we could achieve the best results without impacting the patient’s bite or long-term oral health. Again, this is something that we can guarantee, because we have a real orthodontist heavily involved in the treatment process from start to finish.

Many of those other at-home orthodontic providers haven’t appeared to take this into consideration. This critical oversight has led to significant issues for people that have tried them.

Conclusion

It really is amazing that adults who are seeking orthodontic care in North Carolina have so many options. If you are now considering at-home invisible aligners like Impressions, we have a few more things that we want you to know:

• We accept most private insurance providers for Impressions treatment.
• Impressions offers an extended payment plan as well.
• The ImpressionsHubs are located in real orthodontic clinics, not in a tent, a bus, a mall or a pop-up shop.
• Walk in consultations are available to you with Impressions, most other companies don’t have an office to walk into, and when they do, it’s by appt.
• You can upgrade to comprehensive Invisalign if desired thanks to the fact that Impressions is run by a diamond level Invisalign orthodontist.

If you’re an adult who needs to get braces, you may feel wary about the idea. Traditional metal braces aren’t exactly the easiest things to hide if you’re going for a first date or an important interview. That being said, straightening your teeth is extremely important. Not something we recommend avoiding because you are self-conscious about having braces.

That is why many adults in North Carolina look into options like ceramic braces, but are they right for you?

Let’s find out!

For adults in need of orthodontic care in 2019, there have never been so many options available. We have covered them extensively on the BRO blog, but today we’re going to look at ceramic braces. These types of braces actually blend in with your teeth making them much less noticeable — a popular option for adults in Western North Carolina.

How Do Ceramic Braces Differ From Metal Braces?

You already know that traditional braces are made with metal. The brackets are attached to the teeth and then a metal wire is strung through them in order to realign straighten the teeth as needed according to your orthodontist’s treatment plan.

For younger patients who are coming to Blue Ridge Orthodontics to get braces, we offer a variety of color bands that they can use to accessorize or personalize their braces. However, this is not the most popular option for adults. You could get white rubber bands, but traditional metal braces still remain visible.

Ceramic braces are different in that the brackets are made of ceramic instead of metal. This means that the only aspect of the braces that’s noticeable is the wire that runs through the brackets. The ceramic brackets closely mirror the color of the teeth, which makes them much less noticeable when you are talking with someone. If you are self-conscious over the prospect of having a mouth full of metal, ceramic braces may be the right option for you.

Some Cons to Ceramic Braces You Should Consider

As with many things in life, it’s not just as simple as metal vs. ceramic. There are other factors that you should consider as an adult. Both types of braces have their pros and cons and we wouldn’t be considered one of the best orthodontist practices in North Carolina if we didn’t take the time to thoroughly cover the differences here.

First, we want our patients to know that ceramic braces tend to be more expensive than traditional metal braces in North Carolina. This is an important factor for our adult patients when it comes to deciding on what course of treatment to take. If a bracket is damaged, ceramic braces are more expensive to repair too.

We also don’t recommend ceramic braces for patients that require a significant amount of correction. That’s because traditional metal braces can tolerate higher levels of pressure and shifting compared to ceramic braces. This is simply due to the material that they are made from. If you need significant orthodontic corrections as an adult, our orthodontists might not recommend ceramic braces for your mouth.

Types of Ceramic Braces

Clear Ceramic Braces

If you see someone with clear braces, they are either made with polycarbonate (plastic) or ceramic. The benefit of going with clear ceramic brackets are that they are more stronger and more stain-resistant than polycarbonate brackets.

Do you have very white teeth already? Then clear ceramic braces are likely the best choice for you. The material is transparent, leaving the surface of the teeth underneath visible. That’s why we recommend it for people who have already had their teeth whitened.

The brackets don’t stain easily, but you should be careful with what you eat and drink (just like with any other type of braces).

White Ceramic Braces

Orthodontists call these ceramic braces white, but technically they are tooth-colored. A pure white bracket would stand out from the teeth and be more noticeable. Even with whitening treatment, your teeth aren’t a pure white in color and these ceramic braces are designed to reflect that.

In fact, these braces work best with patients that have a slightly darker shade of color to their teeth.

The brackets are produced using a different aluminum compound than clear ceramic braces. Additionally, certain brands offer a custom service where they will make sure your brackets match the exact color of your teeth.

Colored Ceramic Braces

Most people pick ceramic braces because they want to straighten their teeth inconspicuously. That being said, ceramic braces also can come with a variety of colored ligatures for those individuals that like to make a statement. We tend to see more teenagers take advantage of this option at our clinics in Western North Carolina, but don’t let us stop you from expressing yourself!

Note that your ligatures are changed during each scheduled checkup at our office. So you can experiment with a variety of colors to highlight your ceramic braces.

Keeping Your Mouth & Braces Pristine With Ceramic Braces

If you don’t take care of your ceramic braces, then they can become discolored over time. You need to know how to take care of your ceramic braces and your teeth similar to patients with traditional braces.

Take precautions when drinking things like coffee or red wine. You also need to be careful when eating curry or foods with tomato sauce. Sticky or particularly hard foods should be avoided just like with traditional metal braces. Your ceramic brackets and wires can be damaged just as easily if you’re careless about what you put in your mouth.

We have an extensive post on the BRO blog that will teach you how to brush and floss your teeth when you have braces. Read this post please! It’s really important not to be lazy about cleaning your teeth when you have braces, and this is especially true if you have ceramic braces. Discoloration will be more noticeable and you can’t use any teeth whitening products during your treatment.

Conclusion

While it varies, adults who need braces will be wearing them from 18 months up to 3 years in total. If you need to straighten your teeth and you’re self-conscious about metal in your mouth, then ceramic braces may be the right option for you. In any case, this post is not meant to replace having a conversation with your orthodontist.

While we want our patients to feel comfortable and confident during their treatment, the primary goal is to correct their orthodontic issues and improve their oral health. Schedule an appointment with an orthodontist, so you can review your options and confidently pick the best treatment plan available.

Starting orthodontic treatment comes with lots of life changes, some of which are exciting, like feeling the subtle shift as your teeth are aligned into a brilliant new smile, but others can be less thrilling, like learning the proper way to brush with braces. One of the most important adjustments that a person has to make, once they’ve gotten past some of the normal side effects of braces like mild pain, is the way that they eat.

Whatever your diet was before braces, it will likely experience some changes during the time of your treatment. Braces are sturdy enough to shift your teeth into the ideal arrangement, but they are also fragile and susceptible to breakage. We’ve compiled the complete guide to help you navigate through all manner of snacking without damaging the hardware.

Enjoy Smoothies

An easy go-to right off the bat is smoothies. They can be as nutritious and delicious as you’d like and can pretty much be modified to suit all palates and dietary needs. Smoothies are an excellent way to get a full serving of fruits and veggies without the risk of doing any damage to your braces. Bananas, berries, yogurt, almond milk, blueberries, and almond butter are just a few smoothie staples that taste great and fill you up.

The Softer the Better

When it comes to certain foods, like cheeses or fruits, the softer the item, the easier it’ll be on your teeth and braces, especially the first couple weeks. You don’t have to cut these items out entirely, but try to limit them to their softest form. If you’re a diehard cheese fan, brie is always a great option, or throw a couple of slices of cheddar between two pieces of bread and make a grilled cheese. Fruits like grapes, bananas, and sliced pears are all easy solutions for a braces-friendly snack, and they taste great on their own or mixed together in a summer salad!

Cups Go Where You Go

Things like fruit and pudding cups have come a long way since I was a kid. Not only are they generally made with better quality ingredients and less unnecessary sugar, but they come in easy to pull-apart packaging that is good to go wherever your busy schedule takes you. If you have kids with braces, throw a couple in their lunch box to enjoy while they’re at school.

The Soft Side of Salads

Certain salads will be a much better option than others. These include soft fruit salads—like those featuring bananas, citrus, or pears, potato salad—macaroni salad, and couscous salad. Just be sure to chop up the pieces in your salad into small bite sizes. This will ensure that you’re not spending too much time or effort biting things in half and that your back teeth are doing most of the chewing work.

Go for a Wrap over a Baguette

Thick, crusty bread, while tasty, is not going to be your friend while you have braces. Instead, opt for a wrap, which is both easier to bite through and healthier overall. Fill it up with whatever ingredients you like that won’t cause an issue with your braces and slice your wrap into small pinwheels for snacking.

Tap Your Culinary Creativity

While following a diet that’s easy on your braces may feel restrictive, adding flair to your cuisine will keep things interesting and may spark an interest in cooking. Try your hand at creating your own peanut butter yogurt dip, make fun out of designing a fruit salad bowl, or, for the real gourmand, try your hand at making your own pretzel bites and switching up the way that you flavor them. Does homemade ice cream sound good to you? Us too! And it’s easy if you follow any one of these recipes:

• 10 minute homemade ice cream
• Top 50 homemade ice cream and popsicle recipes
• Cotton candy ice cream
• Homemade pumpkin pie ice cream

(Be sure to avoid adding chocolate chips or other items that might damage braces)

Just remember, when cooking at home with braces in mind, the softer the food, the better you’ll manage.

Foods You Should Avoid

While we’re always happy to share with you the delicious foods that you can indulge in as a daily snack, we feel it’s important to remind you of the foods that you should be careful to avoid. They include any food that you would consider tough, sticky, or hard. Foods that fit this description and should be avoided would be:

• Corn chips
• Popcorn
• Peanut butter (okay if blended into a smoothie)
• Nuts
• Hard or sticky candy
• Hard taco shells
• Ice
• Pretzels

Any foods similar to the above should be totally avoided until after treatment has been completed and braces are off.

Use Caution with These Snacking Options

While some items are off limits (see the above list), other foods are okay to eat but require a judgment call on the best way to do so. Things like raw carrots and corn on the cob can both wreak total havoc on a set of braces if they aren’t first prepared. For the carrots, chop them up into smaller pieces that can be chewed with a person’s back teeth. The corn should be cut off the cob and eaten with a fork. Doing this will save your braces from any damage and ensure that you’re not running off to an emergency orthodontist appointment for yourself or a loved one.

Other foods that require cautious eating are hard breads like a baguette or bagel, pizza crust, apples, chips, burgers, and sub sandwiches. When in doubt, cut something into manageable, bite sizes first.

Conclusion

Braces don’t have to spell doom for your diet—there are plenty of ways to keep what you eat healthy and interesting while simultaneously protecting your braces. Be sure to check out our Unbeatable Braces Friendly Diet for more recipe ideas. Orthodontic correction always comes with a bit of getting used to, but it’ll be worth it. Just remember to keep this guide handy and comment below with any questions.

Are you or someone you know interested in learning more about braces? Be sure to check out the things we think you should know before getting braces, then feel free to contact us to set up a complimentary consultation with one of our doctors. You’ll get to ask all the questions that you’ve always had about orthodontic correction techniques and come up with a payment plan that fits your needs.

You already know that we are big fans of Halloween here at BRO, but admittedly things can get sticky during this time of year if you have braces or Invisalign. As one of the top providers in North Carolina, we want to make sure our Invisalign patients can enjoy Halloween to the fullest.

If you are straightening your teeth with Invisalign, here’s how you can indulge that sweet tooth without feeling guilty!

Invisalign Vs Traditional Metal Braces

For anyone who has a sweet tooth and has metal braces, Halloween might not be as fun as it once was. It’s understandable, because you simply can’t eat certain types of candy. Caramel, taffy and anything that is really sweet and sticky can cause significant problems once they get stuck inside the wires and brackets of your braces. The last thing you want to do on Halloween is schedule an emergency orthodontic appointment.

If you missed it last year, we created this Halloween guide for our braces patients in Western North Carolina.

Invisalign patients on the other hand will have a completely different Halloween experience! Since your Invisalign aligners can be removed, you can still eat any type of candy that you want. Just make sure that you carefully clean your teeth and floss before you put your Invisalign aligners back in place.

How to Protect Teeth & Your Invisalign During Halloween

Remember that Invisalign’s virtually invisible aligners straighten your teeth by applying pressure to gradually move them into proper alignment. This is a very precise process which is why we take a 3D scan of your mouth at the onset of your treatment. People love Invisalign because it produces incredible results without requiring a major adjustment to your everyday life. However, this convenience can also lead to issues, especially during special events like Halloween.

If a piece of candy or food is left lodged in your teeth, this can disrupt the alignment process. Remember that your tray is meant to fit seamlessly along your teeth. If you’re investing in your smile, you don’t want a lingering piece of candy to mess things up!

4 Halloween Hygiene Tips For Your Teeth

Here are some tips to follow if you plan on indulging in some Halloween sweets and treats on October 31st!

1. If you plan on having some (or plenty of) candy, then our orthodontists recommend eating it during your usual meal times or shortly afterward. This gives your saliva a better opportunity to wash away the bacteria generated from the candy.
2. Avoid snacking on candy throughout the day. Not only is this bad for your teeth, but remember that you need to wear your Invisalign trays for 20-22 hours a day. You shouldn’t be removing the trays numerous times throughout the day. Plus, you’ll then have to brush and floss after each candy. Not exactly a recipe for a productive day!
3. Our orthodontists recommend staying away from candies like Jolly Ranchers that are going to stay in your mouth for an extended period of time. These candies are meant to dissolve in your mouth. That’s a problem because it generates bacteria and various acids that will coat your teeth. This is can lead to cavities and additional tooth decay.
4. Wash that Halloween candy down with a refreshing glass of water. Remember that nasty bacteria we mentioned before? Water will help wash that away! We recommend that you thoroughly brush your teeth and wash out your mouth before replacing your Invisalign aligner.

If you want some additional tips on how to keep your Invisalign aligners clean, check this post out.

4 Reasons Invisalign Wearers Love Halloween

So now that you know how to keep your Invisalign clean this Halloween, we have an extra treat for you.

Here are 4 reasons that you should be excited to celebrate Halloween with your Invisalign:

1. You have a legitimate reason to avoid overindulging in sweets. It may not be swimsuit season anymore, but there’s no reason to stop watching your waistline. As we mentioned before, you can still sample nearly all of your favorite candies with Invisalign, but you shouldn’t overindulge. We recommend having fun and avoiding the next day stomach ache!
2. You can still have your favorite candies! Binge warning out of the way, we are pleased to tell you that your favorite types of candies (whether it be crunchy or sticky) are approved for our Invisalign patients in Western North Carolina. Just take care if you have a passion for jawbreakers!
3. Be who you want to be on Halloween (except maybe a vampire! Let’s face it, those fake fangs just don’t work when you have orthodontic appliances of any kind in your mouth. That’s okay though, because Invisalign aligners won’t interfere with other classic Halloween costumes. Planning on being a scary witch, lumbering zombie or dazzling princess!
4. Don’t feel self conscious about that Halloween selfie! We know you’re looking forward to getting that perfect Halloween post for your Instagram and you have no reason to cover your smile if you’re wearing Invisalign. Remember that they’re nearly invisible! By the way, we also have some tips for getting the perfect smile if you have braces too.

Happy Halloween from the BRO Team

Now that you know how to enjoy Halloween and keep your Invisalign clean, we hope you won’t have anything to be scared of… except maybe this ↓

via GIPHY

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Dr. Roberts, Dr. Schuler, Dr. Twomley, and all of us BROmies want your holiday to be awesome and worry-free. Happy Halloween from our family to yours!