A Happy Marriage: You and Your Retainer

Retainer, meet patient. Patient, meet retainer. Get to know each other well because you will be seeing a lot of each other. In fact, I now pronounce you patient and retainer til death do you part. Yes, retainers are for life, but the good news is, your teeth are straight for life as well! 


Retainers are completely loyal to you as long as you are loyal to them. But if you should decide that you would rather be single for awhile, when you come back to your retainer, the retainer may not be the right fit for you anymore. So what happens when your retainer doesn't fit? Well, it's time to schedule a visit with me. The best case scenario - I'll make you a new retainer. Worst case scenario - you will need to start treatment all over again to get your teeth straight again. 


If you have found that you haven't been tried and true to your retainer and it isn't fitting right anymore, schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. If you think that all hope is lost, it might not be. There are affordable products available that can help make small changes - perhaps that's all you need. Either way, it's best to see an orthodontist just to make sure your bite hasn't shifted and that everything is aligning properly.


After you have finished your treatment and have been in retention (wearing a retainer) for over a year, I always recommend that my patients schedule a yearly appointment to make sure that everything is fitting properly.


There are a few different kinds of retainers. I've highlighted a couple of them below:

Hawley retainers are very common and you probably have seen this type of retainer before. These retainers are removable, and usually gum-colored, but they are available in a number of different colors and patterns. They are a great option for most patients and are a sturdy, reliable retainer.

This is a fixed retainer and is a permanent retainer, so it cannot be removed. It consists of a passive wire bonded to the lingual (tongue) side of the teeth. The wire is thin and barely noticeable. This is a great option for patients who aren't compliant, lose retainers, or don't want to deal with a removable retainer!

For Invisalign and Invisalign Teen patients, Vivera retainers are a good option. They are clear, just like aligners, but are thicker than typical aligners to help hold the teeth in place. These are nice retainers, but for long term, permanent use, I try to encourage other types of retainers.

Spring aligners can serve multiple functions. In addition to being a retainer, they can also be used as a night guard because they are made from a hard acrylic. Spring aligners are also great for making minor adjustments to teeth.






Retainers are essential to keeping your teeth, jaw, and bite in the alignment they were in when you got your braces off and finished your treatment. The key to a happy marriage? Wear your retainer.

Dr. Salins and team wishes you a happy Thanksgiving!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season knocking at our door, Dr. Sheldon Salins and our entire staff at Salins Orthodontics wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality orthodontic care that we have given you.

We hope that this Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Ask Dr. Salins: “My braces are on…now what?”

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before prior to your orthodontic treatment.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Sheldon Salins and our team at Salins Orthodontics recommend that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse as well; just ask us for a recommendation!

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.

Dr. Salins and team will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Lastly, in addition to visiting Salins Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

Questions? You may also give us a call!

Are you wearing your mouth guard?

With fall sports close to wrapping up and winter sports right around the corner, many patients here at Salins Orthodontics will once again pick up the ball, bring the cleats out of seasonal retirement and hit the fields for the return of sports action! During this time, however, Dr. Sheldon Salins and our team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this fall and winter, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as basketball, wrestling and hockey
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps! Dr. Salins  and team will tell you protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our office or ask us on Facebook. Stay safe!

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month!

At Salins Orthodontics, our team knows the way you care for your teeth at home doesn’t just affect your oral health – it can impact your overall health as well. In recent years, researchers have found clear links between the mouth and other parts of the body, and the evidence is especially impactful for people with diabetes.

November marks Diabetes Awareness Month, and a great time to learn about how keeping your mouth healthy is vital to your overall health, too. If you are one of the nearly 26 million Americans currently living with diabetes, there is some good news: you can protect your gums and teeth from the effects of diabetes by visiting our office for regular check-ups and cleanings. Most people should have at least two dental appointments per year, but those folks living with diabetes may require additional visits to make sure their dental health remains in top shape. Many insurance plans provide expanded benefits for diabetic patients.
Dr. Snow and our experts can tell you how often you need to come in for your dental visits.

For more information on how we can help, please give us a call:

Orthodontic Recipes

I recently came across this great website from an orthodontist in Pennsylvania.

Check it out and let me know your thought
http://www.drmalerman.com/treatment/cookielady.shtml

Ask Salins Orthodontics: “I got my braces. Now what?”

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before before orthodontic treatment began.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Salins recommends that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse is recommended as well; ask us for a recommendation.

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.

Our team at Salins Orthodontics will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Lastly, in addition to visiting Salins Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

Questions? Please let us know by giving us a call!