Everything in Moderation—Including Halloween Candy!

Halloween is one of our favorite times of year here at the office, and it’s always a nice surprise when a patient comes in dressed in costume.

But one thing that will forever be connected to Halloween is candy—and believe us, we’re guilty of indulging in way too many M&Ms from time to time as well. However, if you have braces, eating too much candy can cause problems for a number of reasons. Take some time to understand why and how eating candy can potentially harm your orthodontic treatment and have an effect on your teeth and gums for years to come.

Eat Sweets in Moderation

As you well know, candy is packed with sugar—and not the good kind. It’s also a carbohydrate, which can cause bacteria and acids to form on your teeth, potentially leading to tooth decay. Even if you don’t have braces, candy can be pretty bad, causing cavities or a multitude of other problems. Eating too much candy can make it more difficult to reach around the bracket and band attachments when you brush your teeth and floss.

Candy is Candy!

Although candy can take on lots of different forms—sucking candies, chocolate, chewy candies—it’s all functionally the same when it comes to your braces. While hard candies can cause hard glucose buildup on your teeth, softer candies can seep into hard-to-reach crevices between your teeth and your orthodontic treatment.

Often times, candy can cause a bracket or band to jolt loose, bringing your journey to straight teeth back for 1 to 2 months—and, of course, you’ll have to schedule an appointment with Dr. Reed to get it fixed.

Have a Happy Halloween, Club Reed! Enjoy yourselves and have a safe, but not-too-sweet holiday!

It’s 2013: Braces Aren’t Just “Kid Stuff” Anymore

20 years ago, you might have done a double-take if you saw an adult with braces walking down the street. But today, with many more convenient, unobtrusive options for teeth straightening, more and more adults are turning to orthodontics—even those whose smiles are constantly in the spotlight.

Country singer Faith Hill wasn’t shy about showing off her braces at last November’s Country Music Association Awards, at one point Tweeting, ““Wear your braces proudly.”

Whether you have Beiber fever or not, you’ve got to appreciate that he decided to straighten his teeth at age 17, at the peak of his celebrity, with Invisalign braces:

And more, recently, across the pond, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, decided to straighten her teeth using lingual braces. Since lingual braces bond to the back of your teeth rather than the front, she was able to enjoy a flawless smile on her wedding day:

For adults looking to straighten their teeth with minimal effect on their smiles, there are lots of solutions now, between steel braces, ceramic braces, transparent aligners, and lingual braces. According to Dr. John Buzzato, president of the American Orthodontic Association, most of these treatments take between a year and a half to two years to complete, often followed by a retainer.

Whether you’re young or old, it’s never too late to get your teeth straightened. Contact us today for a consultation, by clicking here to send us a message, or calling us at (412) 421-8565.

Invisalign – the Great Alternative to Braces!

Reed Orthodontics happily provides Invisalign as a great alternative to traditional braces.  Invisalign treatment involves a series of completely clear removable slipcovers, each designed to move your teeth closer to the final result of straight teeth and a great bite. 

During treatment, patients wear their aligners all day and night expect when eating meals and brushing/flossing.  Since the aligners are clear, no one knows that your teeth are gradually straightening! You can learn more by watching this quick video.

The first step in treatment with Invisalign is a consultation with Dr. Reed to ensure that your teeth and bite will respond well to Invisalign therapy.  

Step two is to take a set of impressions of your teeth as well as one xray and some photos.  All of this information is digitized and sent to Invisalign so that the aligners can be fabricated by their state of the art laboratory.  

Approximately two weeks later the patient returns to receive the first set of aligners.  Dr. Reed and her staff review the process of wearing the slipcovers and will have the patient return every 6 to 8 weeks for minor adjustments and to evaluate the progress.

To find out if you are a great candidate for Invisalign treatment, we invite you to call Dr. Reed’s office  to schedule your initial consultation. 

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The Facts on Braces

Braces are a fact of life for many kids (and some adults) today. Some of us are left wondering, "What  details do I need to know?"

We have put together some facts about braces and orthodontic care for you. Take a peek and let us know what additional questions you have. We will do our best to answer them.

This article covers many questions people have about getting braces. Why do you need them? How do you care for them?

Quick Facts:

• Almost 70% of people in the US need some sort of orthodontic treatment (that's a lot!).
• Tons of your favorite celebs have had braces including Tom Cruise and Gwen Stefani! 
• The perfect age to start orthodontic treatment is between 3-10.

You can read about additional basics of orthodontic care here.

We know it is an intimidating road to go down, but it will also leave you feeling confident and happy when you can greet the world with a beautiful smile!

Like our Facebook page today for more information on orthodontic care and to learn more about Club Reed (offered at our Squirrel Hill office).

Preparing for Your Orthodontic Consultation

The first appointment at any orthodontic office begins with an initial consultation.  You can get the most out of this appointment by knowing in advance what is most important to you regarding orthodontic treatment.

Dr. Reed and her staff thought of a list of questions that are routinely asked before and during treatment.  They thought the list would help new patients begin the process of thinking about what it is that they want as a result of treatment and what things are important in getting to that result.

Below are just a few examples:

• How long will it take to make my teeth straight?              
• Are there different options for treatment?
• How much should I expect to pay for my treatment?  Are there different options for payment that will be discussed ahead of time?
• Will insurance cover treatment?
• Does getting braces or Invisalign hurt?
• Can I still play sports with braces, expanders, Invisalign, etc.?
• How often would I have to visit Dr. Reed once treatment is started?
• Should I wear a retainer after treatment; for how long?
• Do I still need to see my general dentist once treatment begins?
• Will my wisdom teeth effect my treatment later?
• What sorts of foods will I have to avoid?

Dr. Reed and the orthodontic team are here to help answer any questions you may have.  When your consultation is over, Dr. Reed encourages her patients to call or email her with any other questions that may arise after they leave.

From the initial consultation to the day your braces are removed, your treatment should be a smooth and simple process with results that make you feel great.  Feeling well-informed every step of the way is an important part of the process!

Pittsburgh Honors Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol once predicted that everyone would have their own fifteen minutes of fame.

Well, the bridge bearing his name received a warm makeover just last weekend and is now the talk of the town!

Knit the Bridge got over 250 volunteers together after raising an impressive $100,000 to cover the Warhol bridge with 600 colorful blankets. In an effort to pay homage to the thriving art culture in Pittsburgh, one group member said, "Unlike graffiti, yarn bombing can be done without any damage to historic structures and is temporary and easily removable."

In the Pittsburgh area? You can see this piece of functional art on display through September 6th and it's quite a sight to be seen:

What do you think of the makeover? Does it look like something Andy Warhol would like? 

What’s the “Point?” Community Connections, Through Art

One of Pittsburgh’s most famous landmarks is its famous “point.” Adorned by a natural spring fountain in Point State Park, and also featuring a history museum and countless events throughout the year, “the point” is a central location for the greater Pittsburgh community.

During last week’s Three Rivers Regatta, two young children decided to sit under a canopy at the Point, and created the first two squares of the “Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural.” These were the first two of 2,400 pieces that will eventually make up the entire mosaic.

According to an article in Pittsburgh City Paper, the project is intended to be a creative outlet for inner city youth—in Pittsburgh and beyond:

The program, founded in 2007 by artist Kyle Holbrook, provides kids with a creative outlet and an opportunity to take ownership and pride in their communities. “We try to help the inner-city youth,” through various summer mural projects in Allegheny County and other communities, said Ojeda. 

The project displays 250 murals in Allegheny County and has left its brushstrokes across the country in Miami, in Charlotte, N.C., and outside the U.S. in Haiti and Brazil.

For more information on the Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project, including how to lend your artistic support as a young (or adult) artist, click here.