Archive for category orthodontics
Cold and Flu Season……
Posted by NettOrtho in orthodontics on January 19, 2011
It’s that time of year again…cold and flu season! To promote healthy and clean environment in our office, we give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization at all times.
For the protection of other patients and Dr. Nett and his staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have ANY type of cold or illness that can infect others.
Maintaining and protecting your toothbrush is also important to stay healthy during this flu season. To protect your toothbrush from harmful bacteria follow these simple steps:
• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain so your toothbrush will dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush after every cold or flu or every 3-4 months when bristles appear worn
Hope this helps all of our patients or potential patients to stay healthy!!
December 2011 Share-A-Smile Winner
Posted by NettOrtho in fun, orthodontics on January 16, 2011
Congratulations Nicole & Our Runner Up Winners!
Nicole Santoro was the winner of the “Share A Smile” referral program! Each time any one of our patients refer someone to our office for an orthodontic evaluation by Dr. Nett, their name goes into a drawing. On December 15th, we had a random drawing and Nicole was our lucky winner. In appreciation for the referrals, Nicole got a $250 gift card to any restaurant or store of HER choice! Nicole choose to get a gift card to Costco where she plans to possibly purchase a computer or one of their notebooks. Congratulations Nicole and thanks again for referring your friends to us for their orthodontic needs. We appreciate the compliment very much!
In addition to Nicole Santoro being the 1st Place winner, we also had three Runner Up winners!! Hannah Gohlke, Phoebe Berka and Jesse De Clair each received a Harkin’s movie cup, along with Harkin movie passes and candy to enjoy while at their movie. Our next drawing will be on June 14, 2012. If you know someone who is interested in “remodeling” their smile, have them call our office to schedule a NO CHARGE orthodontic evaluation. If they tell us that you referred them, you too will be entered in our next drawing for a chance to win an awesome prize! You can refer more than one patient which will increase your chance of being our next lucky winner. In addition to creating beautiful smiles, we want to make your experience in our office memorable and have fun along the way too!
A HUGE “thank you” to all of you who have referred someone to our office, as that is the greatest compliment we can receive!!
Winner of the “Guess the Number of Candy Corn” contest
Posted by NettOrtho in fun, orthodontics on November 8, 2010
Congratulations to Dylan Wogernese as he is our latest contest winner. Dylan guessed the closest to the actual number of candy corn candies in both jars! He won a $25 gift card to a restaurant or store of his choice and he chose a gift card to Target. Way to go Dylan and have fun shoppin’!!
INVISALIGN treatment VS. TRADITIONAL BRACES…..that is the question!
Posted by NettOrtho in orthodontics on October 14, 2010
Invisalign is one way to straighten teeth. The orthodontic correction is achieved through a series of clear, removable aligners or trays which are worn all the time except when eating, brushing or flossing. Each set of aligners are worn for about 3 weeks. As each aligner is replaced with the next set of aligner trays, the teeth are re-aligned little by little until the desired alignment is achieved. Of course the length of treatment and the number of aligners needed differ with each individual as everyone is different. COOPERATION WITH ALL THE TIME WEAR CAN NOT BE STRESSED ENOUGH!!! Before the aligners can be made, special models are made of the patient’s teeth and sent to an Invisalign lab where they are made. This involves additional costs.
When patients come into our office to learn about Invisalign treatment and if it is a right option for them, we try to educate them on the differences. We have found Invisalign treatment to be an option for those patients who have had orthodontic treatment in the past and did not wear their retainers as they should have and their teeth have relapsed some. What we have found to be true is, although patients have the best of intentions of wearing the aligner trays all the time, they don’t!! Anytime the teeth are moved or re-aligned, the teeth get sore. When the trays are removed for eating, brushing or flossing, and the teeth are sore, the patient does not want to put the aligners back in!! For the proper movement to be achieved the aligners must be worn 22 out of the 24 hours of each and every day or the next set of aligners will not fit as they should. Cooperation with full time wear is the biggest problem we have seen with Invisalign treatment.
We have found that most patients who come to see us regarding orthodontic treatment are most often best served with traditional braces instead of Invisalign treatment. When the braces are bonded or fixed to the teeth, the patient CAN NOT remove them, thus cooperation is not a factor! Dr. Nett can control the movement of each tooth with the wires and adjustments he makes to the wires. Also, the total cost of traditional braces is considerably less than Invisalign treatment as the lab costs to fabricate the aligners are eliminated. For those patients where esthetics is a concern, ceramic brackets are an option. These brackets are tooth colored, so they blend in with the color of the teeth, thus making them less noticeable.
If you are interested in speaking with Dr. Nett to see what we can do to re-align your smile, please give our office a call and we’ll schedule a NO CHARGE exam to answer all of your questions.
The Perils of Oral Piercings
Posted by NettOrtho in orthodontics on October 6, 2010
What are Oral Piercings?
Oral piercings are any piercings of the tongue, lips or cheek. These types of oral piercings have become a form of self-expression. As with pierced ears, the metal jewelry used in oral piercings comes in different styles, including studs, barbells and rings. However, piercing your tongue, lips or cheek involves greater health risks than piercing your ears. Before having any part of your mouth pierced, seek advice from your dentist.
What are the Different Risks Involved with Oral Piercings?
You may not be aware of the potential side effects of oral piercings. These include but are not limited to:
- Infection — our mouths contain millions of bacteria, which can lead to infection after an oral piercing. Handling jewelry once it has been placed in the mouth also increases your chances of getting an infection.
- Prolonged bleeding — if a blood vessel is punctured by the needle during piercing, the result can be difficult-to-control bleeding and serious blood loss.
- Pain and swelling — pain and swelling are common symptoms of oral piercings. In extreme cases, a severely swollen tongue can actually close off the airway and restrict breathing.
- Chipped or cracked teeth — contact with oral jewelry can fracture teeth. Teeth that have fillings or restorations, such as crowns, can also be damaged if the jewelry strikes them.
- Injury to the gums — not only can metal jewelry injure soft gum tissue, it can cause the gums to recede. In addition to looking unattractive, recessed gums leave your tooth root more vulnerable to cavities.
- Interference with normal oral function — jewelry in the mouth can cause excessive saliva flow, which can affect your ability to pronounce words correctly, and cause problems with chewing and swallowing.
How long do Oral Piercings Last?
As long as your mouth stays free of infection and your oral piercings do not interfere with normal function, they can stay in your mouth indefinitely. Just be sure to see your dentist at the first sign of pain or problems, in addition to your regular dental check-ups Because of the risks involved even after the initial wound has healed, such as damage to the teeth or jewelry that becomes loose and gets ingested, your safest bet is to avoid oral piercings altogether.
If you are considering piercing your tongue, lip or cheek, please be aware of these concerns. There are some dental and health issues to consider before making this decision. Your dental/oral health is very important to maintain a life-long smile you can be proud of!!
What Is Palatal Expansion?
Posted by NettOrtho in orthodontics, Uncategorized on September 1, 2010
Palatal expansion is the process of widening the upper jaw when it is too narrow or smaller than the lower jaw. An appliance is made which fits in the “roof of the mouth” and is attached to the upper molars. By activating the appliance through a series of turns, a wider palate is created. The expander will correct crossbites of the molar teeth and make room for crowded teeth. This appliance is most effective in young, growing patients, but can be used effectively until the end of adolescence. Not all patients need to have an expander. When you meet with Dr. Nett at the initial exam appointment, he will evaluate your individual needs and let you know if you are a candidate for this orthodontic appliance.
HOW IS THE PALATAL EXPANDER ADJUSTED?
The appliance is expanded one turn each day for the first 2 weeks. Each turn is equal to one-quarter of a millimeter. The first few days of expansion the teeth may feel “tight” or sore. This is normal. Advil or Tylenol can be taken if needed. We will show you how to make the turns and you will be given an opportunity to turn the appliance before leaving our office.
WHAT TO EXPECT
As expansion takes place, a small space may open between the two front teeth. This means the expansion is working correctly. Don’t worry, as the space will close by itself once the expansion phase is completed. The expansion phase will last approximately 4 weeks on an average, but Dr. Nett will let you know how many turns he will need for your particular orthodontic needs. Once the appropriate width has been achieved, the expander will remain in place for about 5-6 months.
BRUSHING AND DIET
Extra time is needed when brushing to make sure to remove all food particles. We will give you special brushes and some helpful hints to help keep everything clean. We ask that you avoid eating food and candies which are hard and/or sticky as this would cause the appliance to become loose, which could slow down progress.
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Location
Nett Orthodontics
2060 W Whispering Wind Dr. Suite 167
Phoenix, AZ 85085Phone: 623.434.9223
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Share A Smile
The greatest compliment we can receive is a referral!
We are very excited to announce our Share A Smile referral program as a way to say "Thank You" to all of our patients!
Read about the program - Share A Smile.
Don't forget to pick up your referral cards on your next visit!