Archive for category: BRO News

We’re excited to announce that Dr. Luke Roberts was invited to come on Worldwide Business with kathy ireland® to discuss Impressions.

While we were extremely pleased to get this opportunity (and may have popped a couple bottles of bubbly to celebrate), the real benefit goes to you, our patients. With the spotlight on Impressions, we’ll have more opportunities than ever to focus on this profound at-home treatment option for orthodontic care. We couldn’t have made it this far without your support and assistance, so from all of us at Blue Ridge Orthodontics, we want to offer a warm and heartfelt thank you!

The interview was broadcast on Fox Business this Sunday, June 3rd, 2018. Did you miss it? No problem, we saved the recording!

Where Did Dr. Roberts Get The Idea for Impressions?

Dr. Roberts created Impressions with a simple goal in mind: help align patients teeth based on proven technology in a way that is easier and more accessible, thus able to reach a wider audience.

“I created Impressions to be better than other companies out there,” says Dr. Roberts. “We help build brighter, more beautiful smiles with a simpler and lower cost replacement for conventional braces.”

It All Starts With a Scan

The Impressions treatment starts with a 3D scan that captures a detailed picture of the shape and size of a patient’s teeth. This removes all the guesswork out of imaging and enables an orthodontist to create the most accurate treatment plan possible. Not only does this save a patient the worry of receiving ill-made aligners, it saves them time overall because they know that the treatment is designed to work as effectively as possible.

Blue Ridge Orthodontics then delivers up to 25 aligners at once, more than any other company, so that the patient can see exactly how their teeth are going to change over the course of this treatment. Each aligner can be worn up to a week, at which time the patient will move on to their next set. Having them at home means an easier and faster treatment time, though we do offer live orthodontic care and advice should a patient need it.

What Makes Impressions Different?

“When I developed Impressions I wanted to be better than the other companies who were doing at-home orthodontics at every single level,” says Dr. Roberts. “First we start with an Itero 3D scan of the teeth. Without that 3D scan, you can’t get perfect information about how to fix someone’s smile to be the best it can be.”

Other at-home treatment options used to start with messy impression paste that a patient had to apply themselves, which is hard enough for professionals inside a dental office. That system left a lot of room for error, but that’s not the case with the iTero 3D scan. A 3D scan takes a complete and trustworthy picture of the shape and size of a patient’s teeth, allowing orthodontists to devise the best treatment plan possible, which is what all of our Impressions patients have come to expect.

After the initial appointment, smile scan and possible refinement scan, patients don’t have to come back until treatment is over. They are more than welcome to make visits if they’d like (after all, our new offices are pretty sweet), but the remainder of treatment will take place in their home. They’ll have a complete set of aligners (up to 25 sets) mailed to them within a couple weeks. The Impressions patient wears each set of trays for 20 to 22 hours a day over the course of a week, similar to Invisalign®, only removing them to eat, drink, brush and floss.

While each smile is unique, most patients will complete their Impressions treatment within six to twelve months. Plus, Impressions is managed by a Diamond-level Invisalign® provider, so patients know that they’re getting top-notch quality care. Dr. Roberts used the Invisalign® system to develop Impressions, which means that patients are getting the best product made with the best materials in the clear aligner industry!

To recap, here are a couple of highlights that come along with Impressions:

• 3D iTero scan一a complete picture of teeth without the mess or confusion
• Most of the treatment happens at home, so patients have more time for their regular lives
• More affordable treatment than traditional braces and Invisalign®
• Clear aligner trays made from the best material possible
• Complete treatment without bulky metal wiring, meaning patients won’t have to sacrifice comfort or confidence

How Do You Get Started With Impressions?

Getting started with Impressions is a breeze. Patients can visit the ImpressionsHub (our office here in Asheville) and ImpressionStops (in the near future) for initial consultations and smile scans in Western North Carolina. Besides coming in for the initial consultation, Impressions patients can perfect their smile from virtually anywhere.

“We’re excited to be able to help patients who trust our Diamond Invisalign status and the Invisalign brand, but who live many miles from our practice,” explains Dr. Roberts. “We have Impressions patients in North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, California and now even in Europe. We’re excited about our time with Kathy Ireland and her viewers – and that even more people are learning about how they can transform their smile with Impressions.”

One of the most exciting parts of being spotlighted on Kathy’s show is the opportunity to expand the Impressions network. Hopefully in the near future, we’ll be able to establish ImpressionStops all across the country! Follow us on social media to receive updates and find out the latest in Impressions news.

Our ImpressionsHub, where you can come for an initial consultation and smile scan, is located within our headquarters in Asheville. Since Impressions only requires an initial consult, refinement visit and final records appointment, patients can be virtually anywhere.

“We’re excited to be able to help patients who trust our Diamond Invisalign status and the Invisalign brand, but who live many miles from our practice,” explains Dr. Roberts. “We have Impressions patients in North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, California and now even in Europe. We’re excited about our time with Kathy Ireland and her viewers – and that even more people are learning about how they can transform their smile with Impressions.”

Planning on traveling to Blue Ridge Orthodontics for your first consultation? We are offering gift cards (up to $200 in value) to anyone who needs to travel more than 2 hours to visit us. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at (828) 585 – 6045 or sign up here.

Conclusion

This is a very special time for the team here at BRO, and we could not have done it without the support of our Asheville community. Anyone who has had the opportunity to work with Dr. Roberts and experience Impressions knows how revolutionary this system is, and now with thanks to Kathy Ireland, the world will know more about the easiest and most affordable at-home orthodontic treatment available.

Worldwide Business with kathy ireland® is a weekly half-hour show featuring global executives sharing their business insights and framing the opportunities shaping their industries. Kathy herself is a business mogul and one of the world’s greatest corporate leaders. The show broadcasts on Fox Business Network and globally on Bloomberg International.

If you’ve begun orthodontic treatment with Invisalign, congratulations! You have taken the first step in transforming your smile for the better. You may know why Invisalign has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional braces, but do you know how it works? One especially important rule is keeping the Invisalign aligners on your teeth for a minimum of 22 hours each day, but equally important is remembering to keep your aligners一and teeth一clean.

This is not just recommended for cosmetic reasons (no one wants to walk around with cloudy, sediment-filled trays, do they?), but also because Invisalign aligners are susceptible to bacterial buildup, which can negatively impact your oral hygiene and overall health.

Bad breath can afflict the best of us, but an aligner that has not been properly cleaned is especially at risk for germ and bacterial retention, which can cause a stink. Not good! The bottom line is that Invisalign aligners, much like teeth, need to be cleaned every single day to ensure good treatment. Below we detail a suggested daily routine, as well as plenty of at-home and store-bought methods to clean your trays and keep them sparkling.

Suggested Daily Routine for Best Care

What does a normal day look like for invisible aligner maintenance? Fret not if you haven’t got a clue一we’ve put together a routine just for you!

1) Clean Both Teeth and Invisalign Trays When You Wake Up

Since you’ll be sleeping with your aligners on, the first thing to do each morning is remove them, clean your teeth, and clean the trays themselves before placing them back in your mouth. A lot of bacteria can buildup while you sleep, so this step is especially important. It should be repeated before bed as well.

2) Rinse Your Aligners Each Time They Are Removed From Your Mouth

Make sure to rinse your invisible aligners with cold water every time you remove them to wash away dried saliva, and never leave trays out in the open if you’ve taken them out. Keeping your case handy is incredibly important to maintaining good oral hygiene. Never rinse with hot water as that can warp the trays and cause discomfort or bend them out of shape.

3) Always Brush and Floss Before Replacing Trays

Ideally, your trays should only be removed for eating or drinking. After such time, always remember to brush and floss before replacing the trays. If you don’t adhere to this step, you’ll have a much higher risk of trapping food particles in the trays, which can lead to cavities or other dental issues later.

via GIPHY

4) Soak Your Trays Daily

The best way to ensure a clean set of aligners is to soak the trays daily in either Invisalign cleaning crystals or a denture cleaner. Never soak your trays in mouthwash or hot water, as they can damage your trays. After soaking, use a spare toothbrush to rid the trays of lingering plaque or food particles.

Tips to Keep Your Trays in Good Condition

Though the daily routine is important to follow, we’d also like to equip you with some suggestions so that you can take the best possible care of your aligners. The following are tips recommended by the doctors here at BRO.

1) Don’t Leave Your Invisible Aligners Out in the Open

Leaving your aligners exposed to open air when you’re not wearing them could lead to bacterial buildup, which is not only a source of bad odors but can also make you sick! Remember to bring your case with you always, just to be safe. If you do leave them out, make sure that you rinse, soak, and rinse again before putting them back in your mouth.

2) Take Your Aligners Out of Your Mouth Before You Eat or Drink

Whenever you are going to eat or drink anything that isn’t water, be sure to remove your trays first. This protects them from bacterial buildup and protects your teeth from trapped food particles, which can cause dental issues later on. These trays are not built for chewing, and the action can damage them inadvertently or stain them.

3) If You’re Traveling, Bring the Next Set of Aligners With You

An easy way to get off track with your treatment is to forget to bring your next set of aligners while travelling. It happens to people all the time, but it can seriously set you back. One way to avoid this is to have your next set shipped to the destination that you’ll be staying at. Due to the frequency of lost or delayed luggage, we recommend that if your traveling with your aligners, you keep your case in a personal bag that you’ll have with you at all times.

4) Don’t Use Toothpaste to Clean Invisalign Aligners

A common mistake made by many first time Invisalign patients is cleaning aligners with toothpaste, but this is a huge no-no! It can damage or discolor trays, or cause a dull sheen that makes them more noticeable in your mouth. The whole point of this option is discretion, so you won’t want to make this mistake if you can help it.

5) Don’t Clean or Soak Your Invisalign Aligners in Hot Water

We mentioned this above, but it bears repeating: hot water can severely damage trays, so never use it to rinse or soak your aligners. Cold water is a much better alternative to protect the special plastic that Invisalign trays are made from.

6) Avoid Colored or Scented Soaps when Cleaning Aligners

There are plenty of tried and true methods that you can use to clean your aligners, but one that you’ll definitely want to stay away from is any kind of scented or colored soap. They can stain your trays and leave a unpleasant residual taste一not ideal for something that needs to be kept in your mouth for 22 hours a day!

Proven Ways to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners

You may have noticed that cleanliness is important to those of us here at Blue Ridge Orthodontics. Follow up each of these methods with a quick scrub using a clean, soft bristle toothbrush. Maintain good tray hygiene with the following cleaning tips for clear aligners.

1) Soap and Water

Use a bit of a gentle, unscented liquid soap in a cup of warm water and stir until you see suds, then soak your trays in the solution for 20-30 minutes. After which, you’ll want to brush and rinse your Invisalign aligners and probably the glass, unless there’s someone in your household that you feel like pranking.

2) Vinegar and Water

One of your parents has probably spoken of the merits of vinegar一add tray cleaner to the list! Using one part white distilled vinegar to three parts water, soak your aligners in the mixture for about 20 minutes before brushing, rinsing and replacing them in your mouth. You’ll want to make sure that you rinse thoroughly to avoid a residual vinegar taste.

3) Peroxide and Water

Mix together equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water, and soak for up to 30 minutes. Remember to brush and rinse before popping those bad boys back in your mouth!

4) Baking soda and Water

This may require a bit of elbow grease. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda into ½ cup water until the mixture is consistent. Place your trays inside the liquid for 60 minutes before a thorough brush and rinse to ensure no residue remains.

5) Retainer Cleaner

There are a number of quality, professional retainer cleaning products available on the market today. Most are a tablet or powder that is dissolved in water and becomes an effective cleaning solution that targets bacteria and stubborn plaque. There are also some options that come in a wipe form, which can be convenient for on-the-go cleaning. Though they will be pricier than the DIY versions listed above, they are still cheaper than replacing aligners that have become too embedded with plaque or bacteria.

Conclusion

The most important part of ensuring dental and oral hygiene during your Invisalign treatment is keeping your trays as clean as possible. Do so by establishing a routine. It will help you keep track of the recommended actions by trained orthodontists, and it will make the process of aligner care much easier to follow. If you’re interested in Invisalign or simply have questions about its care, get in touch with one someone from our team or come in for a complimentary consultation!

 

You’ve heard of braces. You’ve heard of Invisalign. But now it’s time to introduce you to the new kid on the block! Blue Ridge Orthodontics is proud to introduce BRO Impressions, an exciting new treatment that combines Invisalign technology with the convenience of your home.

Check out our infographic to get the full details on Impressions:

If you love our infographic, please share it! (use the embed code below)

</p><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><strong>Please include attribution to blueridgeorthodontics.com with this graphic.</strong></p><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><a href=’https://www.blueridgeorthodontics.com/impressions-alternative-treatment-invisalign/’><img src=’https://www.blueridgeorthodontics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/impressions-new-alternative-treament-to-invisalign-e1515100993497.png’ alt=’Infographic for clear aligner orthodontic treatment Impressions in Asheville’ width=’2550′ border=’0′ /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p>

What Exactly is Impressions & Why Should I Care?

Do you have an overbite or some other malocclusion that leaves you feeling self-conscious about your smile? If you’d rather not deal with traditional braces, and Invisalign is a bit out of your price range, we’re happy to introduce a revolutionary orthodontic treatment: Impressions!

BRO’s Impressions is an at-home take on traditional Invisalign. Check out the info below to learn more about this incredibly convenient method of achieving your dream smile.

Did You Know…

• 1 out of every 5 orthodontic patients in North Carolina is over the age of 18.
• 30% of our patients at Blue Ridge Orthodontics prefer clear aligners over traditional metal braces.

Impressions vs. Invisalign – What’s the Difference?

Do you know anyone who has gotten Invisalign before? Blue Ridge Orthodontics has been ranked among the top 1% of Invisalign providers in the country for the last 2 years. With the traditional aligners, Invisalign uses attachments that guide your teeth into their proper places.

Since aligners can be removed to eat and brush, this orthodontic treatment is more convenient than traditional metal braces. However, Invisalign patients are still required to come into the office for several check-ups over the course of their treatment.

With Impressions, you’ll receive clear aligners that will be changed on a weekly basis in order to move your teeth into proper alignment. This treatment doesn’t require any attachments on the teeth, such as with traditional Invisalign. Additionally, the in-office time required for this form of treatment is very minimal. Patients will come in for their initial scan, a refinement scan and possibly a retainer appointment (depending on the type of retainer that you choose) – and that’s it!

What Can Impressions Treat?

Our Impressions can be used to treat the following:

• Crowding of teeth
• Spacing of teeth
• Over bites
• Under bites

How Long Does This Type of Treatment Take?

Incredibly, our Impressions program requires an average of 9 months to correct mild to moderate orthodontic issues. How does this compare to traditional metal braces and Invisalign?

• Metal braces typically take 24 months (on average) to correct moderate to severe orthodontic issues.
• Traditional Invisalign requires an average of 18 months to correct moderate to severe orthodontic issues.

How Much Does Impressions Cost Compared to Invisalign?

For traditional Invisalign in Western North Carolina, the cost for this treatment is around $6,800. Depending on the type of insurance a patient has, anywhere from $500 to $1,500 can be covered. The cost for Impressions, on the other hand, is around $3,500. That’s a significant difference, and your insurance could cover the same amount as with Invisalign. With Impressions, we’re offering top-of-the-line orthodontic treatment at a much more accessible price.

If you have more cost and financing questions, please click here.

Appointments

While traditional Invisalign requires regularly scheduled appointments, Impressions only requires three:

1. Your Consult: During your complimentary consultation, we’ll scan your smile with our state-of-the art Itero scanner and determine whether or not Impressions is a good treatment fit for you.
2. Your Refinement Appointment: If Impressions is the right treatment for you, your entire set of aligners will be sent to your home. Halfway through the treatment, you’ll stop by our office for a check-in.
3. The Retainer Appointment: Congratulations, this is the final step! As with any orthodontic treatment, you’ll need to use a retainer in order to  keep your teeth in their newly straightened places. You can order Vivera retainers, which look like Invisalign trays, or we can give you the free house-made set.

Of course, we are always here for you if you need us. Though the major benefit of Impressions is saving the time and money you’d otherwise spend on trips to our office, you can add appointments if you need them. They are an additional $200. Also, if at any point in your treatment, you decide you’d prefer the full Invisalign process, you are welcome to make the switch.

Home Routine

About six weeks after your consultation appointment, your new aligners will arrive in the mail. They’ll come with an instruction manual and are marked with the number in which they will be worn, for example “1 of 25”. You will also receive cases for trays and “chews.”

via GIPHY

After reading the manual (we promise we won’t bore you – it’s short with fun illustrations!) you can open the aligner #1 bag and “seat” the aligners.

To seat the aligners, you:

1. Look for the markings that distinguish Upper “U” from Lower “L”
2. Using even pressure, put the aligners in place like you would vampire fangs for Halloween
3. Place chewies between your top and bottom teeth and bite down
4. Make sure the aligners are tightly on your teeth without gaps

Like with traditional Invisalign, you’ll wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day. You take the aligners out to eat and drink anything besides water. It’s also important to brush your teeth and aligners before putting them back in.

Conclusion

We are extremely excited to finally introduce Impressions and the added flexibility this treatment offers busy adults and teens! Impressions costs about half of what traditional Invisalign or braces do, and aligners are still made with Invisalign’s highest quality material. You also can upgrade to our comprehensive Invisalign treatment at any point.

If you are interested in learning more, please fill out the form on the bottom of our Impressions page or give us a call at 828-585-6045. As always, you can join the party on Facebook or follow along on Instagram!

Can you believe it’s already December? The holidays are upon us!

The most wonderful time of the year doesn’t have to be any less wonderful if you’re currently wearing braces. In fact, it might just *sparkle* with even more magic than usual.

Foods to Avoid

As much as we love to see you, we hope you won’t need to interrupt any holiday cheer with an emergency appointment.

If you have traditional braces, here are some festive foods you’ll want to avoid:

• Candy canes
  • Remember, this includes peppermint bark and chocolate covered candy canes!
  • If you break off pieces to suck on rather than crunching down (even at the end, when it’s tempting!) you should be okay.
• Caramel apples
• Corn on the cob
• Hard cheese and charcuterie
• Hard cookies
• Meat on the bone
• Pecan pie
• Peanut brittle
• Toffee and other hard candies

Here are some festive foods you can indulge in:

• Cake
• Cranberry sauce
• Eggnog
  • If you’re an adult who is over 21 that is! (Be sure to check out our Lifestyle Guide to Adult Braces)
  • Of course, eggnog can also be served without alcohol for the kiddos or anyone who prefers it that way.
• Green bean casserole
• Ham
• Hot chocolate
• Jello
• Pudding
• Soft cheese and charcuterie
• Soft cookies (just make sure they don’t have any hard candy or nut chunks)
• Stuffing
• Turkey

We know you all are smart cookies (food pun intended!) so we also want to encourage you to just use your best judgement. There are lot of “in between” foods that could go either way. Take s’mores, for example. Crunching down on a graham cracker with your braces isn’t the best idea, nor is biting into a hard chunk of chocolate. However, if you were to let the toasted marshmallow melt the piece chocolate on a place, and then either eat it sans graham cracker or break the cracker into smaller pieces, you would probably be fine.

The same thing goes for dinner rolls: tearing off a crusty bite with your teeth might pop a bracket, whereas using your hands to pull off piece or sticking to soft options like Hawaiian rolls will protect your teeth.

Colorful Cheer

One of the most exciting parts of having braces (besides looking forward to perfectly straight teeth!) is getting to change the colors of your elastics.

Will you go with a popping combo like red and green for Christmas or blue and silver for Hannukah? Or maybe just keep it festive-chic with all gold, all silver, or a metallic wintery grey?

The world–and the BRO office–is your oyster!

Invisalign

If you have Invisalign or BRO Impressions, you already know you can eat whatever you want– during your 2-4 hour eating window, that is!

We recommend setting a timer on your phone when it comes to your allotted time. This season often includes a busy social calendar, and it can be easy to lose track when things are merry at the office holiday party, jolly at an ugly sweater party, or peaceful and bright while driving around looking at Christmas lights with a canteen of hot chocolate.

We recommend planning ahead a little extra during the holidays. If you know you have a social engagement on the calendar that evening, try to keep breakfast and lunch short. Also don’t forget that this season is all about peppermint– and that includes the taste of toothpaste when you brush your teeth before putting those aligners back in! 😉

Conclusion

We hope you and your family are having an amazing holiday season! We can’t wait to wish you a merry everything when you come in for your next appointment. And if we don’t see you before 2018, we hope you finish this year with lots of love and laughter!

If you do end up having an orthodontic emergency, please get in touch with us! We are always a phone call away at 828-585-6045, or you can view additional contact information here.