Our Blog

Traveling with Invisalign

Traveling can be a stressful undertaking, especially in the post-COVID age. Some people forget to consider how to best travel with their Invisalign and run into some tough situations as a result. 

When you’re in a new place, far from your orthodontist’s office, and stopping at so many different places, it’s easy to remove your aligners and leave them behind. Here are some tips from Dr. Barton Soper, Dr. Lauren Lewandowski, Dr. Mohammad Mainayar, and Dr. Gabriela Aragon at Advanced Orthodontics for traveling with your Invisalign , to make sure you don’t have to take time out of your vacation for an orthodontic emergency!

 

What if I Lose my Invisalign while Traveling?

When traveling for longer periods of time, always take your previous set of aligners, your current set, and your next set of aligners with you. Whether you will go back to the previous set or move forward to the next set if your aligners get lost will be determined by how long you have been wearing your current set. The general rule of thumb is if the current aligners are tight, go back.  If you can remove them easily and are in your second week, move forward to the next set. 

If you are going to be out of town for more than two weeks, we can order replacement aligners if needed and ship them to you directly. Continue wearing your previous set until they arrive and start again with the new set.

Read More

Why Your Visit to the Dentist is Essential

To ensure your teeth and mouth are healthy, you should visit a dentist at least once every six months, just like you have a health check with your general practitioner every year. In most dental checkups, your dentist will do a thorough checkup on your teeth and gums, followed by a dental cleaning.

 

What Happens at a Check-up?

A dental checkup is an important part of maintaining good oral health. During a checkup, the dentist will examine your teeth and gums for any signs of problems. They will also check for any cavities or tooth decay. If you have any concerns, the dentist will discuss them with you and answer any questions you may have. They may also recommend that you schedule an appointment for a teeth cleaning.

A teeth cleaning is a procedure that removes plaque and tartar from your teeth. It is important to have your teeth cleaned regularly to prevent cavities and oral health problems. X-rays may be taken to detect cavities between your teeth. They will also examine your tongue, throat, face, and neck. This will be to look for signs of redness, swelling, or possible signs of cancer.

Read More

Everything You Need to Know About Invisalign

Nowadays, Invisalign is as common as traditional braces. When you go to the orthodontist, chances are you’ll be shown multiple treatment options from Invisalign clear aligners to the traditional bracket-and-wire braces that come to mind when you hear the word orthodontist. But how exactly does Invisalign even work? Is a completely invisible treatment where you can eat whatever you want too good to be true? Not at all! Discover more about Invisalign from Dr. Barton Soper, Dr. Lauren Lewandowski, Dr. Mohammad Mainayar, and Dr. Gabriela Aragon at Advanced Orthodontics.

 

In This Post, We’ll Cover

  • What is an Invisalign Aligner?
  • Invisalign Treatment Breakdown
  • What is SmartForce?
  • What Can Invisalign Fix?
  • Can Kids get Invisalign?

Read More

Getting Braces: Surviving the First Week

The first week with new braces can be tough. You may experience some pain and discomfort as your teeth and mouth adjust to the new hardware. It’s important to take it easy and give yourself time to adjust. We want to make your journey to a beautiful smile easy and painless, so here are a few tips from Dr. Barton Soper, Dr. Lauren Lewandowski, Dr. Mohammad Mainayar, and Dr. Gabriela Aragon at Advanced Orthodontics, to get you through the first week with braces:

 

In This Post, We’ll Cover

  • How Long do Braces Hurt?
  • Eating with Braces
  • What to Expect When Getting Braces
  • Different Types of Braces

Read More

Everything You Need to Know About Your Retainer

So, you’ve finally gotten your braces off, finished your Invisalign, and you’re done with the orthodontist. Not so fast – after treatment, you’ll be fitted with a retainer to keep that smile perfect for years to come. Here we’ll address some common questions about getting a retainer and keeping your smile healthy long after braces from Dr. Barton Soper at Advanced Orthodontics. 

In This Post, We’ll Cover:

  • What are Retainers For?
  • Are there Different Types of Retainers?
  • How Long do you Have to Wear Your Retainer?
  • How to Care for a Retainer
  • What if My Retainer Doesn’t Fit Anymore?

Read More

What to Know About Mouthguards and Braces

We’ve all heard horror stories of sports injuries, or even worse, suffered one ourselves. After getting braces, you may be even more worried about a blow to the face during practice or a big game. The best way to protect your mouth from a painful fate is to invest in a mouthguard. Mouthguards protect not only your teeth but the soft tissue of your mouth and your jaw from injury as you play. Luckily for all of our athletic patients, getting braces doesn’t mean giving up the sports you love! Braces will not keep you from any physical activity. However, the price you pay for a beautiful smile is taking a little extra care of your mouth while in treatment.  Keep reading to uncover the significant role that mouthguards play in protecting your oral health and overall well-being from Dr. Barton Soper at Advanced Orthodontics.

In This Post, We’ll Cover:

  • Why should you wear a mouthguard?
  • Do Braces put you at a risk for a sports injury?
  • What types of mouthguards can I buy?

Read More