What do rubber bands do?

Rubber bands, or elastics, can be an integral aspect of orthodontic care, so if Dr. R. Scott Smith has prescribed elastics as a part of your treatment, it’s important to follow the directions fully. Elastics help to align your bite or cause teeth to move in different directions and straighten more quickly. We will instruct you how to hook one end to an upper bracket and the other end to a lower bracket so the rubber band goes vertically or diagonally from one bracket to another. The tension of the rubber band produces pressure on the bracket, which causes the teeth to move and straighten. This tension is also sufficient to correct an overbite or an under bite in the jaw.

If rubber bands are a part of your treatment plan, there are a few things to keep in mind. With rubber bands, you won’t be able to open your mouth fully, so they will have to be removed when you eat and reapplied after meal time. Many times, rubber bands are only needed at night, so you won’t need to worry about eating with them. Also, if you try to open your mouth too wide, your rubber bands might snap – so be careful!

Failure to wear your elastics full time or as instructed can lengthen your treatment time and may make it more difficult to achieve an optimal result. But don’t worry; your time in elastics will be well worth it when you see your beautiful, new smile.

Do we have your current contact info at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics?

Happy holidays from all of us at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics! As you probably know, you can always connect with Dr. Scott Smith and our team on our Facebook page, but we also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you. Thank you!

- The team at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

Answering your burning Invisalign questions, with Dr. R. Scott Smith

Are you wondering what Invisalign treatment is really like, and what effect it will have on your day-to-day activities? Will it slur your speech? Will people know you're in treatment? You're not alone in your concerns! Dr. R. Scott Smith and our team thought we’d share this list of questions and answers for anyone pondering Invisalign treatment at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics.

How exactly does Invisalign work?

Using 3-D computer imaging technology, Invisalign creates a series of custom-made, clear aligners exclusively for your teeth, based on the treatment plan that we specify for you. Each aligner moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

Will I experience pain during treatment?
Most people experience temporary discomfort for a few days after a new aligner is placed. This feeling of pressure is normal and is a sign that Invisalign is working by sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination.

Can other people see that I'm in treatment?

One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.

Can I smoke during treatment?

We discourage smoking while wearing the aligners as they may become discolored.

Are there any foods I shouldn’t eat while in treatment?

You can eat normally during the entire course of treatment. One of the advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable. Simply take the aligners out before each meal, brush when you're finished eating, then reinsert the aligners afterward.

What about chewing gum?

We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks, as gum and other chewy substances can stick to the aligners.

How often must I wear my aligners?

Aligners should be worn all day, except when eating, brushing, and flossing.

Will my speech be affected by the aligners?

As with any orthodontic treatment, aligners may temporarily affect your speech. If this does happen, your tongue will adjust within a day or two and your speech should return to normal.

How do I clean my aligners?

The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water.

How often must I visit the office during treatment?

For most patients, visits every 4-6 weeks are frequent enough for us to determine that your treatment is progressing properly. We will provide you with a specific schedule that supports your individual treatment plan.

If you have additional questions about the Invisalign treatment, please give our office a call.

The "Parent Discount" at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

As parents, we tend to put the needs of our children before our own. Very often, Dr. Smith and Dr. Raney treat multiple children in the family, and we get to know our parents very well. Once the last child has completed treatment, we frequently hear, "I'm going to miss all of you", from a parent. This is also the time when parents often say, "Maybe the time is right for me," or "It's my turn now." They're right, it is the right time, and with so many choices, adults can now customize their treatment.

One of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21. At R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, adults can opt for traditional braces or Invisalign. Dr. Smith always offers a "parent discount" and we will work with our adult patients to create an affordable payment plan.

Is it your turn for a healthy and perfectly-aligned smile? Please take this opportunity to set up an appointment at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics today!

Invisalign® and your oral health, from R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with R. Scott Smith Orthodontics than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health.

Here’s how:
Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Smith or Dr. Raney the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Age 7 is the magic number for an orthodontic check-up

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. Scott Smith for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Scott Smith to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

What is new with Drs. Smith and Raney this summer?

Drs. Smith and Raney and our team serving Springfield and South Hadley, MA and Enfield, CT has been enjoying their Fridays off with their families. Long hot weekends in the summer, what more can you ask for?! It's even worth all the hard work Monday through Thursday!

Our team at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics has been busy planning for the fall, which will include a "Back To School" Trivia Contest. We are also busy planning our semi-annual Invisalign Days. Watch for more information, which will be posted on the social networks in weeks to come!

We hope everyone enjoys August. Thanks to our patients who shared their smiles on vacation. Keep sending us your pictures. We will be choosing lucky winners in early September. All winners will receive a $25.00 Visa Gift Card to spend on something fun! For more details, visit our Show us your smile! blog entry.

Have a great week,

The team at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, supporting Moms for Mouth Guards

Hey, Moms! Have you signed the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge?

Here at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics in Springfield, MA, we care about your pearly whites, and we want to help keep you protected from sports injuries that can be damaging to your beautiful smile. As a way of ensuring that children are using proper facial protection equipment, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontics have introduced the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge.

Drs. Smith and Raney will tell you that mouth guards are vital to protecting your teeth from sports related injuries while participating in sports, such as football, soccer, baseball, hockey and basketball, just to name a few. The Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge is a way for moms nationwide to make a commitment to protecting their children’s smile from facial injuries.

We’ve discussed the importance of using facial protection in the past. Today, we thought we’d invite moms to take action by visiting the Moms for Mouth Guards website and taking the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge.

Have a safe week everyone!

Ask Drs. Smith and Raney: Am I just too old for orthodontic treatment?

At R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, nobody - and we mean NOBODY - is "too old" for braces. As a matter of fact, our staff read an interesting statistic not too long ago: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Of course, braces help make your teeth strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason more adults are getting braces is this: people want to look and feel great.

In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Smith or Raney can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

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