Prairie Pointe Orthodontics

Eating with Braces What can you eat? Let’s talk about what you shouldn’t eat! If you’ve been wanting to drop a few pounds, the first week wearing braces is just your chance! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you’ll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you’re wearing braces. Foods to Avoid Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips Sticky foods: caramels, gum Hard foods: nuts, candy Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer. General Soreness When you first get your braces on, your teeth may be tender when eating for three to five days. You can relieve this by rinsing your mouth vigorously with one teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of water. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for a headache or similar pain. Your lips, cheeks and tongue may become irritated until they toughen and get used to the braces. We will show you how to use orthodontic wax to cushion any spots that are especially bothering you. Tooth Mobility During orthodontic treatment, you may notice that some of your teeth feel loose. Don’t worry! This is normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. Your teeth will become rigidly fixed in their new — corrected — positions. Loose Wire or Band Don’t be alarmed if a wire, bracket or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If you have a wire sticking out and irritating your cheek, use the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the irritating wire in towards your tooth. If this doesn’t help, use wax or a piece of cotton to protect your cheek, and call our office. We’ll get you in as soon as possible. If you do have a bracket or band come loose, don’t throw it away — bring it in with you to your next appointment. Care of Appliances Successful treatment depends on the orthodontist and the patient working together. In order to achieve the desired results, the doctor may prescribe rubber bands, headgear, or other appliances. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently follows the doctor’s instructions. Brushing When you have braces, it’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly. You do need to brush after every meal. We will show you the proper technique to use in order to keep your braces clean and shiny. Meticulous oral hygiene will ensure that you have healthy teeth and gums when your treatment is finished.

What is the advantage of two-phase orthodontic treatment? Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a very specialized process that involves both tooth straightening and physical, facial changes. Phase I treatment usually takes place between ages 7-10. When a child is still growing, the orthodontist can use a number of different techniques and appliances to reduce crowding, close spaces, and guide the growth of the upper and lower jaws into the ideal positions. Phase II treatment is usually full upper and lower braces, and focuses on aligning the teeth into the desired positions to produce a healthy, functional, and attractive result. What if I put off treatment? Although orthodontics can be started at any age, early treatment is very effective because your orthodontist can work in conjunction with the natural growth of your child’s teeth and jaws. The goals of Phase I treatment are to (1) adjust the jaw size to accommodate all the permanent teeth and (2) to ensure the upper and lower jaws fit together properly. Your orthodontist can tell you after an examination whether your child’s jaws are growing at the desired rate. Planning now can save your smile later Because they are growing rapidly, orthodontic appliances are especially effective for young children. Early intervention often eliminates the need for extractions or other surgical procedures, and ensures a stable, beautiful smile. The steps involved in multiple phase treatment Before treatment is started, your orthodontist will take what is called “diagnostic records,” which includes photographs, two x-rays, and study model impressions. Using these tools, the doctor will come up with a specialized treatment plan that includes the type of appliances needed, the estimated treatment duration, and the frequency of visits. The next step is the active portion of Phase I treatment, and starts with inserting all the necessary appliances. Patients are seen every 6-8 weeks for checkups/adjustments. This portion of treatment usually lasts from 8-12 months. Interim period between Phase I and Phase II After the desired results are achieved in the active portion of Phase I, there is usually a resting period before Phase II where the remaining permanent teeth are allowed to erupt. After all the permanent teeth are in, Phase II (full upper and lower braces) is started, and usually lasts from 18-24 months. Once all of the teeth are ideally positioned and stable, the braces are removed and we make a custom retainer to keep the teeth from shifting.

Braces are not just for kids! One out of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over age 21. We offer Invisalign® and Clarity braces, which can make orthodontic treatment virtually unnoticeable by other people. At your free orthodontic consultation, Dr. Neuer will let you know all the options that available for your treatment, including Invisalign, clear braces and Lingual Braces.

Braces Metal Braces Metal braces are the most common type. They are made of high-grade stainless steel. Today’s metal braces are smaller, more comfortable, more attractive and most durable. Clear Braces Our clear braces (brackets) are made of translucent ceramic-porcelain material that does not stain. They are most popular with patients due to their cosmetic appeal. Self Ligating Braces The self ligating brackets utilizes (sliding-door) technology known as “self-ligation” that allows the wire to slide back and forth within the bracket. No elastic or steel ties are used with these brackets. This technology creates less friction and results in greater comfort for the patient. In addition they often reduce both treatment time and the number of adjustments that are usually performed. Lingual Braces What are Lingual Braces? Invisible, intelligent, and individualized, Lingual Braces are a new generation of orthodontic braces for teens and adults. Your Lingual Braces are created using state-of-the-art technology and are 100% customized to the shape of your teeth and to your dental situation. Lingual Braces are placed behind your teeth so no one will know that you are wearing braces unless you tell them. With Lingual Braces you get efficient, effective tooth movement and great aesthetics. Plus, Lingual Braces are comfortable to wear. Why choose Lingual Braces? Invisible: No one knows you have braces! 100% customized Shorter treatment & fewer visits Minimal discomfort and speech interference Won’t damage outer surfaces of your teeth Brackets are made from gold, eliminating nickel allergies Who wears Lingual Braces? Lingual Braces are great for men and women ranging from the age of 13 to 60+. Most people who can be treated with regular braces can be treated with Lingual Braces, but only your orthodontist can tell you if Lingual Braces are the right treatment option for you. Lingual Braces can be used to treat: Adult professionals People who want to avoid damage to the front surfaces of their teeth People who are concerned about wearing braces that show Musicians who play wind instruments Adults and teens playing contact sports How are Lingual Braces made? Your orthodontist takes a very precise impression of your teeth. These models are scanned into a computer where your 100% customized brackets are designed by a highly-skilled lab technician. Each wire and bracket is made specifically for you with your unique prescription built in. When the brackets are complete, we will schedule your bonding appointment to place the Lingual Braces on your teeth. You get the smile you’ve always wanted, and no one knows you are wearing braces! Accelendent Aura Braces AcceleDent Aura - Prairie Pointe Orthodontics Faster Treatment. Better Results. Affordable Monthly Payments. New AcceleDent Aura complements your orthodontic treatment. This device may accelerate your tooth movement up to 50%! How does Accelendent work? By inserting the Mouthpiece — fitted around your existing orthodontics — and turning on the Activator for 20 minutes every day, AcceleDent Aura can speed up tooth movement by using SoftPulse Technology™. Faster tooth movement may decrease the duration of your orthodontic treatment and can even help to make your orthodontics more comfortable. The Benefits of Acceledent Will Make You Smile! You’ll accelerate your orthodontic experience without sacrificing aesthetics AcceleDent can be used for adolescents, teens, and adults, and it is completely safe for patients of all ages. The AcceleDent appliance is lightweight and comfortable. You may even forget you’re using it! The hands-free design allows you to achieve a beautiful, straight smile faster than you ever thought possible – even while reading, watching television, listening to music, or doing school work. Sleep Apnea and Snoring Are you drowsy during the day with no explanation? Do you snore loudly or wake up breathless in the middle of the night? If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be one of more than 12 million Americans who are affected by sleep apnea. What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing stops periodically during sleep, as many as 20-30 times per hour. Each time you stop breathing in your sleep, the resulting lack of oxygen alerts your brain, which temporarily wakes you up to restart proper breathing. Since the time spent awake is so brief, most people with sleep apnea don’t remember it, and many feel like they are getting a good night’s sleep when, in fact, they are not. The constant wake-sleep, wake-sleep cycle prevents those with sleep apnea from achieving deep sleep, resulting in a constant drowsy feeling during the day. What are the signs of sleep apnea? The following symptoms can indicate the presence of sleep apnea. If you notice one or more of these, contact our practice.

Dr. Neuer is a Certified Invisalign® Provider. Consider Invisalign to get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted — without braces. A complimentary consultation with Dr. Neuer can determine if Invisalign is right for you. Call the office today for a complimentary Invisalign consultation. What is it? Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign is made with 3-D computer imaging technology, and has been proven effective. More than 70% of orthodontists in the US and Canada are certified to treat with Invisalign. Why would I want it? Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor’s office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete. How does it work? You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move — little by little, week by week — until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Neuer has prescribed. You’ll visit Dr. Neuer about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.