The Daily Brush

Helping you get and keep your teeth healthy and white

COVID-19 & Dental appointments 0

General Dental Care / Orthodontic Dental Care / Pediatric Dental Care

COVID-19 & Dental appointments

Now that we all have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from individuals to big corporations and no matter what we do, “staying in place” has become the norm, at least for now. Your dental offices are one of the most highly affected businesses next to the hospitals and medical offices. After all, dentists, regardless of the practice model, endodontists, oral surgeon, orthodontists, pediatric dentists all work in the one of most cautious areas on the body, the mouth. Talking about coughing and sneezing being dangerous, would you want to work in someone’s mouth right now? I don’t think so....

Love your Orthodontist…but now your moving away 0

Dental Care Finance

Love your Orthodontist…but now your moving away

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Among the many decision there are to make when going into orthodontic treat, the decision of what to do when you need to move away from you beloved orthodontist can be a bit stressful. When a patient starts orthodontic treatment the last thing they have on their mind is what to do if the situation arises where they will need to find an orthodontist.  Unlike when you seek another physician, finding another orthodontist can be a little tricky. First and foremost, remember all orthodontist do not practice the same.  They may use different type of braces.  Yes...

Importance of keeping orthodontic appointments 0

Orthodontic Dental Care

Importance of keeping orthodontic appointments

Over the years I have seen patients who have not come on a regular basis for their orthodontic checkups. As many as 11 months have gone by and the patient is just wandering around with braces on and no one has checked them.  This bad habit can lead to quite a few problems: If the patient is not the greatest at brushing and taking care of their teeth decalcification can develop Unhealthy teeth can lead to unhealthy gums…gum disease Unmonitored orthodontic appliances means no progress is being and lead to longer treatment time One of the worst times that this...

Removable retainer vs Fixed or bonded Retainer 0

Orthodontic Dental Care

Removable retainer vs Fixed or bonded Retainer

After orthodontic treatment everyone and I do mean everyone should get a retainer to hold their now straight teeth in place. One of the biggest questions is which retainer will you get.  Depending on orthodontist you get one or the other, unless for some particular reason the orthodontist chooses one over the other. Be aware there are challenges that come along for each type of retainer, so let’s compare: Removable retainer: First of all it is removable which means the patient has the responsibility of making sure they keep up with the retainer and wear as instructed to maintain that...

When can I get my braces off? 0

Orthodontic Dental Care

When can I get my braces off?

How many times has your child thrown this question at you? In all of my years of working in an orthodontic office, occasionally there’s comes that patient that just doesn’t want treatment.  They don’t care about having straight teeth (at least not while there going into 7th, 8th, or especially 9th grade).  All they want is to be left alone with their crooked teeth and are not interested in anything that has to do with straightening their teeth. Usually, they have muddled through with treatment but during the entire process they complain, “this hurts, that hurts, everything just hurts!”   They...

Let’s get started… Initial Banding, Bonding or Placement of Braces 0

Orthodontic Dental Care / Pediatric Dental Care

Let’s get started… Initial Banding, Bonding or Placement of Braces

Okay, now that you’ve had your Q & A with the doctor and pretty much have an idea of what to expect during treatment, now comes the fun part and the beginning of a committed and long term relationship with your orthodontist and his or her team. The initial banding or bonding is when your teeth will have their first encounter with the whole orthodontic experience. What to expect Depending on your/or your child’s individual treatment plan will determine which teeth the braces may be placed on first.  Back in the day (there’s that term again) or in the past,...

Are baby teeth just as important as adult teeth? 0

General Dental Care / Pediatric Dental Care

Are baby teeth just as important as adult teeth?

It’s funny but over the years I have heard some parents say, “Oh, they’re just baby teeth”, and others will say, “But they’re his/her baby teeth!” So who’s right and what’s the real answer to this question…Are baby teeth just as important as adult teeth? Well first let’s think of it this way.  Although babies can’t always express everything they are thinking, they still try to speak, need to eat and of course before vanity sets in, let’s face it babies love to smile! While a toothless smile is cute, a smile with one or two teeth is even better...

Wedding_Day_smile_p2 0

General Dental Care

The Wedding Day Smile, Part II

Here comes the bride…zilla…again! Ok so in my intro piece I talked about how one shouldnt wait until the big day is almost upon you to decide to get your teeth ready for those all of those photographs you will be taking and of course showing to everyone for the rest of your life. Isn’t that the real point?, you want a smile you can show for the rest of your life?  Therefore, you need to start by talking with your dentist about the condition of your teeth as soon as the proposal is out in the open. Let’s say...

Wedding_Day_Smile_p1 0

General Dental Care

The Wedding Day Smile, Part I

Here comes the bride…zilla! So you’re getting married in let’s say in 2-3-4 months or even a year from now.   You’ve been planning for the big day… You got the church and the place for the reception The flowers The caterer The cake Mom’s outfit The bridemaids and their dresses The vows The ring(s)…oops maybe that the groom’s job! And the photographer and videographer Wow life is looking pretty good right now until you’re standing there in the mirror looking at yourself trying to figure out what hairstyle will make that veil pop!  Then all of a sudden you smile...

Breaking Down Dental Insurance 0

Dental Care Finance

Breaking Down Dental Insurance

In order to understand what will be or what WILL NOT be covered by your dental insurance plan, you must understand some of the jargon and/or guidelines.  These guidelines can vary from one insurance to another as well as from one company’s dental insurance plan to another depending on what was included in the plan from the start. In Network:  Your dentist or dental office participates in that particular insurance plan, it’s like being a member of a club, their name is on the list. Out of Network:  Your dentist/dental office DOES NOT participate in the plan, NOT a member...

Dental Sealants: Protection for your little one’s teeth (and some big kids too!) 0

General Dental Care / Pediatric Dental Care

Dental Sealants: Protection for your little one’s teeth (and some big kids too!)

During your child’s last dental check up the dentist suggested having dental sealants placed on your little one’s teeth.  Now you’re wondering, why? Let me try to clarify the mystery of sealants… Dental sealants are a special resin to help prevent the development of cavities on the chewing surfaces of the bicuspid and/or molar teeth.   Think of them as a sort of protective shield like applying a coat of wax on your car.  No one sees it but you know it’s there keeping the elements from ruining your car’s finish. The procedure is simple.  The dentist simply isolates the tooth/teeth...