Retainers and You - By Salins Orthodontics

If you recently completed treatment at Salins Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Salins will provide—or has provided you—with retainers.

After braces are removed, teeth have the ability to shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Salins is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.) OUT OF YOUR FACE - IN YOUR CASE!
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

EARTH HOUR

Three years ago in Sydney, Australia, 2.2 million homes and businesses disconnected from the modern world by turning off cell phones, televisions, computers, video games AND the lights for one hour. This was a stand against climate change and marks the very first Earth Hour. One year later, Earth Hour became a global movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Major global landmarks such at the Sydney Harbor Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Rome’s Coliseum, all braved the darkness as a symbol of hope for our earth’s future.

In March of 2009, Earth Hour had grown and hundreds of millions of people participated. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries took a one hour time out to pledge their support for the planet. This was the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

This year Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 27th at 8:30 pm (local time). This is your chance to stand up, take responsibility, get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future for all mankind. So sign up now and make 2010’s Earth Hour the BIGGEST yet!

Dr. Salins Answers, "Am I too old for orthodontic treatment?"

No one is "too old" for treatment. A few weeks ago, we blogged about who benefits from braces and thought we'd get a bit more specific and discuss adult orthodontics. Recently, there was an article that reported adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! In fact, did you know one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over the age of 21?

In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing to invest—rather wisely—in orthodontics. While orthodontic treatment is often associated with teens, adult orthodontics and braces at our Manhattan Beach and El Segundo offices can achieve amazing results for adult patients. With treatments such as Invisalign, you can have your teeth straightened less noticeably. Orthodontic treatment at Salins Orthodontics can be successful at any age, and our staff knows adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Salins would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Ask Salins Orthodontics: Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Dr. Salins will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment; whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, and your life!

Dr. Salins supporting National Children’s Dental Health Month

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing traditional braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. New options for braces such as Invisalign Teen, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Salins is available to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited Salins Orthodontics lately? Give us a call!

Mouth guards and sports injuries, with Salins Orthodontics

At Salins Orthodontics we know how important it is to protect your face. The spring months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. We also know sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. That’s why the team at Salins Orthodontics are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Dr. Salins may recommend the best mouth guard for you.

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Salins Orthodontics.

Wake Up!! It's Thursday! SMILE!

This is AWESOME - Some people are so talented!!! Hope you enjoy too...