Is Invisalign For Me?

A lot of people have heard of Invisalign, but have you ever wondered what it really is, or how it works?  The doctors at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics are the most experienced Invisalign Doctors in the area, and have used this appliance to create beautiful smiles for lots of patients, INCLUDING A RECENT MISS NORTH CAROLINA!

So, what is it? 
Invisalign is an appliance for moving teeth made out of a clear plastic material.  The clear trays, called "aligners," are custom made to fit your teeth and produce tooth movements prescribed by the doctors at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics.

How does it work? 
To create the aligners, an impression is taken of your teeth and shipped to Invisalign. The impressions are then used to create a 3D digital model of your teeth.  Using this virtual model our doctors will prescribe the needed tooth movements to correct your crowding or bite.  Small movements of the teeth are accomplished with each aligner, so multiple aligners are needed to complete the full treatment.

Who Can Have Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign and Invisalign Teen are great for certain types of tooth movement and bite corrections and for some patients they are a good alternative to braces.  Only an orthodontist with as much experience as our doctors can accurately tell you if Invisalign will be right for you.

There are many other companies that try to copy the Invisalign process, but they don't have the same record of success.  Invisalign is the exclusive clear aligner appliance we use at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics.

To find out more about Invisalign and all the services offered by the doctors and staff at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville and Havelock, visit us at smilemakersnc.com or call to schedule your FREE Consultation!

"Treat Yourself" Right this Halloween!

While over 17,000 orthodontists throughout the U.S., Canada and abroad celebrate National Orthodontic Health Month every October, children eagerly await the end of the month to celebrate Halloween.  This festive holiday, and all its accompanying candy, can be a scary time for teeth.  Because Halloween treats can play tricks on orthodontic treatment, as part of National Orthodontic Health Month, the doctors of Coasal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock want to give patients and the entire community a few timely tips to protect braces and aligners and other orthodontic “appliances” while protecting teeth from decay.

• Avoid sticky situations with your braces and aligners. Stay away from hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy candy and snacks. These include caramel, gummies, licorice, taffy, bubblegum (even the sugarless kind) and jelly beans.
• Say “boo” to hard-shelled peanut candies, nuts or nut-filled candies, taco chips and popcorn (especially unpopped kernels). And whether in orthodontic treatment or not, the doctors at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics no one should ever chew ice.
• Spooktacular news - not all Halloween candy is off-limits.  Good alternatives include soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties. The American Association of Orthodontists even offers orthodontic-friendly recipes for Halloween on its website at http://www.mylifemysmile.org/pressroom.
• Sweets can cause cavities which means brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season. Orthodontic patients should be especially vigilant about brushing and flossing after consuming sugary or starchy foods.

It’s okay to enjoy some treats at Halloween without causing problems with orthodontic care, and we want everyone to have fun on Halloween, and we encourage patients to enjoy acceptable treats in moderation.  It’s important to remember that when orthodontic treatment is complete, and patients see their healthy and beautiful new smiles in the mirror, they will know all of their efforts were worthwhile!

If you would like to donate the candy you collect this year, we will be "upgrading" your candy for Smile Rewards Points.  For every 1 pound of candy you donate to Operation Christmas Child you will earn 10 smile rewards points.  You can donate candy during normal hours Monday-Thursday next week!
smilemakersnc.com

The Benefits of Smiling

The goal of orthodontic treatment at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics is to establish a good bite while optimizing aesthetics and achieving a beautiful smile that is in harmony with the rest of the face. 

A good bite makes it easier for you to  chew and, in some cases, speak. This can enhance your dental health and your overall health, and with good comprehensive dental care teeth can last a lifetime.

The benefits of a beautiful, healthy smile are limitless, but here are a few!:

• It makes you more attractive:  We are drawn to people who smile!

• It can Change your Mood: Smiling can trick you body into changing your mood!

• It boosts your Immune System: When you smile, you immune system improves due to increased relaxation

• It relieves Stress: That same relaxation that boosts your immune system can also help relieve tension

• It's a natural medicine: studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, serotonin, and natural pain killers

• It Makes you Look Younger: The muscles your body uses to smile actually lift the face and make you look younger and healthier

• Smiling Makes You More Successful: Smiling in a job interview can make you look more confident and maybe more likely to land you the job! 

At Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock, you can rely on our orthodontists’ expertise, which comes from their extensive education and more years of clinical practice than any other orthodontist in the area. 

Visit us at smilemakersnc.com to schedule your free consultation today.

Back to School With Braces

Going back to school is a busy and exciting time!  It is a time to reconnect with old friends and rehash your summer adventures. You have new teachers, new classes, and some will even have a new school.  It’s normal to feel nervous butterflies, but we at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics don’t want your braces to be a reason a stress! 

The Smile Makers Team at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock want to make your back to school experience pleasant and fun. Here are some tips to help you deal with your braces at school.

1) Pack Braces-Friendly Lunches

Packing a braces-friendly lunch for yourself or your child can be a challenge, but there are many great foods to choose from.

Remember, raw carrots, pretzels, nuts and corn chips may cause your teeth more pain and they may even damage your braces, and gummy foods such as taffy and fruit roll-ups get caught in braces and create a brushing nightmare or potentially embarrassing situation! 

Some fruits, like apples, are hard to eat whole, but they can be eaten easily when they’re sliced thinly.

Yogurt is a great option for kids with braces. Our Coastal Carolina Orthodontics patients also like muffins, pasta, quinoa, soup, pudding, avocados, mashed potatoes, applesauce, coleslaw and soft fruits like strawberries or blueberries. Add protein to your meal with beans, meatloaf, tofu, pulled pork, meatballs and tuna. Salsa and hummus are good snacks to bring to school, too, but bring softer pita slices instead of hard tortilla chips for dipping.

Watch out for sugary foods; you don’t want the sugar to stay on your braces and breed bacteria.

Slow-cooking food in a crockpot will make basically anything soft and easy to eat. You can also cook in bulk this way and freeze meals for later.

For some great braces-friendly recipes check out our Pinterest Page: http://pinterest.com/coastalcarortho/boards/

2) You’ll want to clean your teeth thoroughly after you eat. 

It’s helpful to have all the supplies you need for your braces in one place. Make your own braces survival kit, or browse already assembled kits online. Keep the kit in your backpack or in your locker so you can access it easily.

Here’s what you need:

•Dental wax for sores and scrapes

•Floss 

•Toothpaste and a toothbrush

•A small mirror to check for trapped food

•A small (or collapsible) cup for rinsing

•A spiral dental brush (a "Christmas Tree Brush")

•Lip balm

You may prefer a toothbrush made for braces, but a regular toothbrush will be effective too. Lip balm keeps lips from drying out. 

3) A Few More Tips!

If you are using Invisalign or Invisalign Teen to straighten your teeth, remember to remove your aligners before you eat. You should brush your teeth after your meal and put your aligners back in as soon as possible!

Remember to bring a protective mouth guard if you play sports during or after school.  If you need a mouth guard, contact one of our offices!   And, as always, contact your parents and your orthodontist if your braces or Invisalign need repairs

Whether you are in Morehead City, Jacksonville, or Havelock we at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics are always here to help you!

Circle of Safety International

The doctors and staff of Coastal Carolina Orthodontics consider the health and safety of the children of Carteret, Craven, and Onslow Counties to be of paramount importance.  In efforts to continue to provide parents in our area with opportunities to enhance the lives and well-being of their children, Coastal Carolina Orthodontics will be sponsoring the Circle of Safety International on August 9th and 10th in our Morehead City and Havelock offices, respectively.  This is a tremendous opportunity for parents in Carteret and Craven Counties to have a FREE medical and identification card made for their child.  The Circle of Safety Identification Card provides law enforcement, first responders, or medical personnel with vital information in case of an emergency. 

The card is intended be carried by anyone caring for your child, whether that be a parent, babysitter, daycare or school.  Additionally, the Circle of Safety Card has a parent/guardian signature line authorizing a caretaker to obtain medical care for your child in the case of such an emergency. 

All costs for the production of these cards will be covered by Coastal Carolina Orthodontics.  If you are a parent in the Morehead City or Havelock area we encourage you to schedule a FREE appointment by calling Coastal Carolina Orthodontics at 252-726-1137 to take part in this event.  Spaces are filling quickly and will be limited.  For directions, please visit smilemakersnc.com

Why your child should visit Coastal Carolina Orthodontics by Age 7

The doctors of Coastal Carolina Orthodontics and the American Association of Orthodontists recommend all children have a check-up with an orthodontic specialist by age 7.  Many times, however, we hear parents say “Why should I bring my child to see the orthodontist at such a young age?  My child isn’t ready for braces.”  And, the truth is, for most young patients that’s correct. 

Coastal Carolina Orthodontics is proud of the long history of our “Growth Observation Program,” in which we monitor the development of your child’s teeth and facial structures.  This program is offered at our Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock, NC locations.  With over 150 years of collective orthodontic experience, our doctors are experts at identifying orthodontic problems early in development and can provide guidance to help minimize their severity.  Some such problems are discussed in more detail on our website: smilemakersnc.com

These Growth Observation visits provide parents with useful information about their child’s individual orthodontic needs, as well as peace of mind knowing an expert in dental and facial development is looking out for their child’s best interest. 

To take part in our Growth Observation Program, call either our Morehead City, Havelock, or Jacksonville office to schedule a free consultation.  If more extensive dental records or early treatment are not needed, there is no cost to you for enrolling your child in this program, which typically involves a free exam in our office every six to 18 months.

Call us today to schedule a free consultation for the benefit of your child’s orthodontic health!

Morehead City: 252-726-1137

Jacksonville: 910-353-5234

Havelock: 252-447-1181

Reasons your child should schedule a consultation with Coastal Carolina Orthodontics by age 7: 1)       The permanent bite begins to be established with the eruption of the 6 year molars, allowing for early detection of developing overbites or underbites as well as width discrepancies between the jaws. 2)       Permanent front teeth usually erupt between 6 and 8 years of age allowing the identification of crowding, deep bites, open bites, and habits which may be harmful to dental development. 3)       Finally, and perhaps most importantly, early observation appointments allow your child to become familiar with the orthodontic team and office long before braces are needed.

Article Provided by Morehead City native, Dr. D. Walker, DDS, MS of Coastal Carolina Orthodontics, graduate of the UNC School of Dentistry, published research author, and former NIH Fellow