Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don’t want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It’s still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Newhart wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? – These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? – Though it’s not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? – The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you’ve brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Newhart Orthodontics, give us a call!

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Newhart. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call as soon as possible!
Hope this helps,
–Newhart Orthodontics

We asked one of our patients about how they liked our patient login system at Newhart Orthodontics. Take a look at what Mychael said below:

Were you able to find the answers you needed on Sesame?
Very Easily

How easy did you find it to navigate the Sesame menu?
Very Easy

How much more convenient is it for you to visit Sesame with your questions, as compared to calling your orthodontist’s office?
Much more convenient

Please give us an example of how the Ortho Sesame service has helped you.
Easy access in confirming and researching appointment and financial Info ~ my 2 greatest areas of concern

Which type of reminder do you prefer?
E-mail reminder. Can be access from anywhere at any time as oppose to waiting for and/or missing a call

How do you feel about making payments online?
Great

What do you like best about your orthodontist?
Both the efficient service and friendliness of the staff.

“Dentists, Orthodontists, they’re all the same right?” We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Newhart started out in dental school and earned a DMD. After dental school however, Dr. Newhart decided he wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics; which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn’t it nice to know there’s a dental expert here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?