What to Expect When You’re Expecting…Braces!

When patients (and parents!) come in to our office for the first time, it’s natural for them to be a little nervous. But orthodontic treatment like traditional braces and Invisalign are a great start toward a straighter smile your child will be proud to show off for a lifetime—it can be helpful to look at your first orthodontic appointment as the beginning of a new era.

So what can you expect when you take that first step by scheduling an appointment with Reed Orthodontics?

Get to know each other! At your initial visit, our staff will get to know the patient and their family. We’ll also orient you with our office and our processes. We’ll perform a thorough exam to determine if (and what kind) of orthodontic treatment might be needed. And, of course, we’ll answer any questions you may have about our pricing and payment options.

Get into the nitty gritty. As you’re probably aware, orthodontics isn’t just about making chit-chat—as much as we love to! After your initial consultation, we’ll take photos, X-rays, and create molds of the teeth. This helps our staff design a specialized treatment plan that’ll work for you.

After the initial visit, our team will meet again with you to review our proposed treatment plan and answer any questions that you or your child may have, then finalize the paperwork.

Next, comes the initial appliance placement, which is typically a longer appointment than the others, especially if the treatment plan involves conventional braces. We’ll install the appliance and once again review instructions for caring for and cleaning it.

And here begins our active treatment phase, which may include monthly adjustment visits and progress reports to make sure everything’s going smoothly. Once our team feels your treatment is complete, we’ll remove the appliance and give you instructions for your retainer, if applicable—and of course, we’ll have regular check-ins and adjustments in that case, too.

Have a question for Reed Orthodontics or would like to make an appointment? Click here to send our staff a message or call us at 412.421.8565.

National Children’s Dental Health Month

Happy February, Club Reed! You probably know that February is Black History Month and the month of several presidential birthdays—but did you also know that it’s National Children’s Dental Health Month?

Every February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors this special month to raise awareness about the importance of healthy teeth. It’s important for youngsters to develop good habits early on, and the ADA has provided lots of helpful tools to help parents, teachers, and patients get on track for a healthy lifetime of smiles.

Among their resources is a complete catalog of interactive activity sheets and puzzles for kids to complete—if you’re a teacher or a parent with a child (especially one with braces), these are a great, fun way to encourage good dental health. So grab a marker and go wild!

Fun Activity Sheets for Kids

·       2MIN 2X Coloring Sheet (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) 

·       Sets of Two Activity Sheet (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) 

·       Super Smile Story (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) 

·       Super Smile Crossword Puzzle (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) 

·       Super Smile Decoder (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) 

·       Super Smile Certificate (English PDF) (Spanish PDF)  

·       Super Smile Nutrition Match (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) 

·       Super Smile Shirt Logo  (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) 

·       Super Smile Puppet Cutout (English PDF) (Spanish PDF)

·       Super Smile Reminder (English PDF) (Spanish PDF)

·       Tooth Anatomy (English PDF) (Spanish PDF)

 

Full Sets of Activity Sheets

·       Guidelines for Usage of the 2014 NCDHM Slogan (English PDF)

·       Download the full set of 2013 Activity Sheets  (English PDF/1.2MB)   | (Spanish PDF/1.13MB) 

·       Download the full set of 2012 Activity Sheets  (English PDF/2.1MB)  | (Spanish PDF/.7MB)

·       Download the full set of 2011 Activity Sheets (English PDF/1.5MB)  | (Spanish PDF/.8MB)

Click here for more information on National Children’s Dental Health Month!

For Less Extreme Cases, Make a Smart Move

Dr. Reed’s patients love the way that Invisalign can straighten teeth with minimal effect on their appearance, and a less stressful treatment process in general.

However, Invisalign isn’t the only less invasive option out there. Reed Orthodontics is also proud to offer Smart Moves, a less expensive alternative to Invisalign that can usually be applied to less extreme orthodontic problems.

The Smart Moves Invisible Hard/Soft aligner system is a predictable treatment option for patient who truly value comfort. This treatment really does a great job, and can correct most minor cases of rotated teeth in about 3 months.

Smart Moves uses two aligners—the first aligner is a unique, highly elastic hard/soft material that provides controlled, predictable tooth movement. It’s extremely easy to seat and comfortable to wear.

The second aligner is hard and made of 1mm Invisacryl—each aligner is only worn for two to three weeks.

To learn more about Smart Moves, click here. Interested in Smart Moves or another treatment option? Click here or call Dr. Reed’s office today at 412.421.8565.

Get the Down-low on Overbites, Underbites, and More

One of the most common reasons patients first visit our office for a consultation is an apparent overbite. Although one’s reasons for seeking orthodontic treatment are usually aesthetic, overbites are a complex condition that can have a multitude of different causes, solutions, and risks if not treated properly.

In fact, overbites are just one of three main “bite” related issues that orthodontic treatment like Invisalign or traditional braces can remedy. In fact, our friends at Invisalign have published a nice guide on the different conditions that braces can fix:

OVERBITE 

What people commonly refer to as an "overbite" is known to dental professionals as "overjet." It occurs when the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth. It's typically caused by genetics, bad oral habits, or overdevelopment of the bone that supports the teeth. This can lead to gum problems or irritation, and/or wear on the lower teeth, and can cause painful jaw and joint problem 

 UNDERBITE 

Underbite can occur when the lower teeth protrude past the front teeth. It's usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or both. It can also be caused by missing upper teeth. This can prevent the normal function of front teeth or molars, which can lead to tooth wear. It can also cause painful jaw and joint problems.
  

OPEN BITE 

Open bite often occurs when some teeth are unable to make physical contact with the opposing teeth for a proper bite. Most often caused by a genetic abnormal jaw structure or excessive thumb-sucking, an open bite can cause poor or painful chewing, and even speech impairment. It can also lead to greater issues like thermo-mandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
  

CROSSBITE 

Crossbite can occur when the upper and lower jaws are both misaligned. It causes one or more upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth, and can happen on both the front and the sides of the mouth. This can cause wear of the teeth, gum disease and bone loss. 

Click here for the full article on treatable cases, from Invisalign.

Wholey’s Fish Will Have to Smile Somewhere Else

Here at Reed Orthodontics, we’re known for producing some of the best smiled in the ‘Burgh.

But besides our patients one of the most famous “smiles” in Pittsburgh is the famous smiling neon fish that marks the location of Wholey’s in the Strip District. Since 1989, the fish has been a landmark in the popular food and shopping area, costing about $50,000 and measuring in at 100 feet long.

But soon, that fish will need a new home. The building that the fish is mounted on will be undergoing renovations, which means that the famous Wholey’s smiling fish to migrate to another location. And that’s where YOU come in.

“As we look to the new, we don’t just want to throw out the old. We don’t want to throw out the smiling fish of Pittsburgh,” Mayor-elect Bill Peduto said. “You help us find the location. You get the permission from the property owner and then the city will help you to make it real.”

The campaign for ideas will run through January 31, but there are a few fules—it must be within Pittsburgh city limits and consent from the property owner is required. It also must meet local zoning ordinances.

Do you have a great idea for where the Wholey’s fish should relocate? You can drop your idea into the red drop box in front of Wholey’s in the Strip District, or you can head over to their Facebook page, or you can Tweet at them @wholeys (using the hashtag #smilingfish). Or, email your ideas to smilingfishsign@gmail.com.

To read more coverage of the Wholey’s smiling fish contest, click here.

Life After Braces

If you have braces already, congratulations! You’ve taken one of the best, proactive steps towards your long-term oral health.

We know as well as you do that orthodontic treatment can be a long process, but by and large, our patients find that the treatment is well worth the cost and effort.

When you get your braces off, chances are your teeth will be straight, but in order to keep those pearly whites in great shape even after your last orthodontist appointment, there are several things you can do—thing of it as an insurance policy on your orthodontic treatment.

Here are some tips courtesy of NewBeauty.com:

Give your gums some TLC 
If you had wire braces, there's a chance that your gums are in need of a little bit of care since "many patients have difficulty keeping their gums as healthy as they should be due to the difficulty of flossing with wires in their mouths," says one California dentist. "If your gums are slightly puffy, rinse with hot salt water three times a day until they are firm again." 

Schedule a dentist appointment 
The same reasoning applies here-there's a good chance your teeth were slightly neglected while you wore braces or aligners, so once you're finished wearing them, make sure to schedule a check up and cleaning with your dentist, along with dental x-rays (especially if you wore metal braces) to check for tooth decay. 

Never stop wearing retainers 
This might go without saying, but there are plenty of people who choose not to wear their retainers (or simply stop wearing them after awhile). But if they aren't worn regularly, your teeth will move back to their original position pretreatment.

Click here to read the full article.

If you don’t have braces yet, but think that you might need orthodontic treatment in Pittsburgh, call Reed Orthodontics today for a consultation, at (412) 421-8565.

Yearbook Photos: A Memory Lane and a Crystal Ball, All in One

Out of all the photos you’ve had taken of yourself, chances are your yearbook photo is at least a little bit embarrassing. In high school and college, we’re still very much finding ourselves, and looking back at our smiles of yesteryear can be an entertaining source of laughs and jokes amongst friends.

But did you know that your yearbook photo can predict a lot about your future? It’s true, according to a recent study.

Matthew Hertenstein, associate professor of psychology at DePauw University, reviewed the following yearbook photo facts in a recent Wall Street Journal article:

It turns out that those who smiled least in their photographs were about five times more likely to divorce at some point in their lives compared with those who smiled most.

• People who remained in their relationships tended to smile more warmly and brightly compared with their divorced counterparts.
• Future divorcées were more likely to look somewhat stoic-faced. They either didn't smile or, if smiling, tended not to contract their orbicularis oculi, producing the sort of look you might find on the face of someone who is tired of talking to you at a cocktail party.
• A 2001 study by LeeAnne Harker and Dacher Keltner in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that women flashing bright, warm smiles in their college yearbook photos reported experiencing less anxiety, sadness and despair in the 30 years after graduating.
• In a study published in Psychological Science in 2010, researchers Ernest Abel and Michael Kruger even showed that professional baseball players who smiled warmly in photos taken in the early 1950s lived, on average, until the age of 80, compared with age 73 for their non-smiling counterparts.

Whether you’re happy or unhappy with your yearbook photo, people of all ages have a range of orthodontic treatment options when it comes to fixing that smile—call Reed Orthodontics today for a consultation, at (412) 421-8565.