We often ask why an Orthodontist as a Specialist?

Trust a specialist: Whether you’re considering clear aligners or conventional braces, an orthodontist is best suited to care for you. Your smile deserves the best possible care, which is why you should go to an in-person consultation with a board certified orthodontic specialist. Orthodontists diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities to correctly align teeth and jaws. Orthodontists receive an additional two to three academic years of specialized education beyond dental school at an accredited orthodontic residency program.

More than an easy fix: Orthodontics is about more than just straightening teeth or closing space. It’s about your bite, the way your teeth come together, and how your jaws move. Orthodontic care does provide a beautiful smile and added aesthetic benefits, but even a small adjustment can affect the overall look, feel, and function of your mouth and face. The alignment of your teeth and jaws influences the way you eat, breathe, sleep, and speak.

Beware of Direct-to-Consumer Companies:  In recent years, some people have resorted to at home orthodontics with the view that it is cheaper and quicker. There are a number of factors and questions you may want to consider. Orthodontic treatment involves the movement of biological material, which if not done correctly could lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changed bites, and other issues. Remember that orthodontic treatment is not a product or device – orthodontic treatment is a professional, dental service. When your care is personally supervised by an orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, you are assured that your orthodontist spent years in a post-doctoral residency program focused on providing orthodontic treatment to patients. Before making any decision about orthodontic treatment, consider doing some research and having an in-person consultation.

Oral Health Month in Londonderry

June is Oral Health Month. A good oral hygiene routine is the foundation to a healthy smile, especially for young children. For parents, leading by example, should establish healthy habits like brushing, cleaning between your teeth and seeing your dentist. This ultimately leads to the big difference in the health and happiness of your entire family and in children, less fears about visiting their dentist.

Here are 2 tips from the American Dental Association that are a great reminder to enforce.

Start a Routine and Stick to It:
You may be tempted to let your child skip brushing after a long day or during times when your normal schedule is off (like vacation), but keep at it. The more second nature brushing becomes the easier it will be to make sure your child is brushing twice a day for two minutes.

Kids Need to Floss: 
It doesn't matter if you clean between ​your child's teeth before or after they brush as long as you clean between any teeth that touch. You can use child-friendly plastic flossing tools to more easily clean between your child’s teeth until your child learns to do it.

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Such a bright smile celebrating patient appreciation with us. Sarah you are a pleasure to have!

A post shared by Apple Tree Orthodontics (@appletreeortho) on Jun 19, 2019 at 5:07am PDT

Patient Appreciation Day

Orthodontic Staff Appreciation Week

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Here’s wishing a Happy Orthodontic Staff Appreciation Week to our entire staff! Thank you for all you do to provide excellent care for our patients. #osaw2019

A post shared by Apple Tree Orthodontics (@appletreeortho) on Jun 4, 2019 at 1:22pm PDT

2 Facts Parents Should Know

Baby teeth are essential, as they act as placeholders for our adult teeth and effect the way we speak and eat. Here are three facts parents should know about their baby’s first tooth.


1. Schedule an Appointment by their First Birthday: 

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that infants be seen shortly after the first tooth erupts or no later than their first birthday. This first visit will help establish a dental home for your child.

The earlier you start, the better chance we have to prevent any potential problems. In addition to checking for decay and other conditions, our staff will teach you how to clean your child’s teeth properly, identify your child’s risk for cavities, and offer you helpful advice that will help your child build a lifetime of good dental habits.


2. Help Soothe Teething Pain

Babies may show signs of discomfort in the area where the tooth is coming in, the gums around the tooth may be swollen and tender, and the baby may drool a lot more than usual.

Parents can help ease teething pain by massaging their baby's gums with clean fingers, offering solid, not liquid-filled, teething rings, or a clean frozen or wet washcloth.

Smiles Ready For Summer

Summer is just around the corner! We love what we do and love seeing our patients smile with their final result. Here are just a few of our amazing patients, who light up our office.

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Summer is almost here! Join us at the office on June 12th from 2-5pm for our Patient Appreciation Day! We will have plenty of activities, raffles, and prizes for all of our fantastic patients and guests 😃

A post shared by Apple Tree Orthodontics (@appletreeortho) on May 22, 2019 at 12:14pm PDT

5 Reasons Why Summer is the Perfect Time to get Braces.

1. There is more time to learn how to care for braces.
2. Dealing with the soreness of new braces is more manageable at home.
3. It's helpful to be home when adjusting to eating with new braces.
4. It's easier to schedule appointments with more flexibility.
5. It's helpful to adjust to braces before school starts.

Summer will be over before you know it! Call to schedule your appointment today. New Patient consultations are always complementary.

Don’t Forget Your Retainers

Congratulations! You are near the end of your smile journey and your braces are about to be off! Nothing like that feeling. Even long after our braces are off, teeth shift and it is natural as we grow older. There is one thing you can do to ensure your smile remains the best it can be and that is wearing retainers.

No matter your situation, it’s almost a guarantee you will be wearing some form of a retainer after having your braces are removed. It might be removable retainer, which is removed for eating and cleaning or a bonded retainer, placed discreetly behind your teeth.

There might be a minor adjustment period when you first put your retainer on. Don’t worry, this is completely normal and will pass soon enough.

Retainers are essential for helping your teeth stay in place in their new positions after wearing braces.

2 Common Bites in Orthodontics

Our smiles are uniquely ours. However so is our bite. “In orthodontics, “bite” refers to the way the upper and lower teeth come together. A bad bite, called a “malocclusion,” happens when teeth meet improperly, or they don’t meet at all,” according to the American Association of Orthodontist.

There are various bites that affect how we speak, eat and our overall mouth. Two common bites, orthodontic treatment can fix is a crossbite and underbite.

A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth fit inside of lower teeth. Can be caused by misalignment of teeth or a misalignment of the bone; can affect a single tooth or groups of teeth. Your jaw may shift to one side if not corrected and wears down on your tooth enamel.

An underbite happens when the lower jaw sits in front of the upper jaw. An underbite impacts tooth wear and adds a stress on your jaw joints. Through orthodontic treatment, these bites can be corrected and help keep you healthy, beyond an aesthetically pleasing smile.


Dr. Polgrean and her highly trained staff have been creating beautiful smiles in Londonderry, Derry, Hudson, Salem, Manchester, Litchfield, Windham, Candia, Raymond, Hooksett, and surrounding areas for over 25 years. Our doctor and staff attend numerous continuing education courses throughout the year as part of our commitment to providing you with the highest quality of care.

Spring Smiles

At Apple Tree Orthodontics we utilize the latest technological advances in the profession to achieve fantastic results for our patients. We have seen many smiles transform through our office and love seeing the results on our patients. Here at Apple Tree Orthodontics, we recognize that each patient has unique needs, and we pride ourselves in tailoring our treatment to meet these requirements. Here are some amazing smiles. #AppleTreeOrtho

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Monday’s masterpiece in the making!...keep following for updated progress and final results. #invisalignteen #clearaligns #openbitecorrection

A post shared by Apple Tree Orthodontics (@appletreeortho) on Apr 15, 2019 at 1:10pm PDT

Your First Day in Braces

At Apple Tree Orthodontics we believe you have taken the first step toward a healthier and more beautiful smile but you are probably wondering what comes next. The first week is the biggest period of adjustment, and there is a lot to learn in this short time. What to eat?  How to brush?  No worries, in a very short time your braces will feel completely natural.

On the first day, your braces will probably feel sort of like a mouthful and it may take time to get used to them. By the second day, you may feel some soreness or discomfort. If you are going to experience any discomfort, the second and third days are when it will happen. If you do experience discomfort it can be dealt with by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Tylenol.

If you have any questions or concerns the team at Apple Tree Orthodontics is here to help you! We have some great information right on our website - available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Simply click here to access our site.

Facial Protection Month: Wear a Mouth Guard

April is National Facial Protection Month! National Facial Protection Month serves as a reminder over the importance of wearing mouth guards during sports, protecting your beautiful smile.

67% of parents surveyed by the American Association of Orthodontists said their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet 70% said their biggest fear is their child getting hurt when playing sports. The most effective way to protect your childs teeth and prevent injuries is to wear a mouthguard.

About 80% of traumatic dental injuries occur to the two front teeth. Injuries can happen at any age and any skill level. So when should you wear a mouth guard? Here are just a few.

• Basketball
• Baseball
• Football
• Soccer
• Skiing
• Rugby
• Softball
• Tennis  

Facial Protection Month

Did you know from the ages of 7 to 11 years old, children are most vulnerable to sports related mouth injuries? The importance of protecting our smile should be stressed enough and should remind our friends and community how easy it is to protect our teeth.

Wearing a mouthguard is the safest way to protect your teeth while playing sports or just enjoying sports related activities. Athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer a teeth related injury if they’re not wearing a mouth guard.

Here are the three types of mouth guards you can wear, especially if you are currently in orthodontic treatment.

Custom fitted mouth guards - these are made by your dentist and can be molded to fit your smile perfectly

Stock mouth guards - these type of mouth guards are  performed and may be a bit bulky

Boil and bite mouth guards - are mouth guards that are softened by boiling water and then insert your mouth, to form to the shape of your mouth.



National Facial Protection Month from AAOMS.org on Vimeo.

National Nutrition Month: Smoothie Recipes

Here are at Appletree Orthodontics office-approved smoothie recipes that taste great and help you get the nutrients you need. We want to show you that eating healthy, delicious food is still possible after you’ve started your braces journey. Yes, there are certain points in your treatment process when your mouth might be more sensitive than usual, but that doesn't mean you don't get to enjoy a delicious meal or snack. Smoothies are the perfect solution for when chewing just doesn’t sound all that fun!

You can prep and freeze these 3 super quick and easy smoothie recipes. Choose your own base of yogurt, juice, milk, tea, or water and some ice to blend these ingredients up into something spectacular for your taste buds!

SWEET SUNRISE:

• 1C Raspberries
• 1 Orange
• 1/2 Banana
• 1C Mango

KIWI REFRESH:

• 1 Kiwi
• 1& 1/2C Watermelon
• 1 &1/2C Grapes

GREEN MONSTER:

• 1 Grapefruit
• 1 Banana
• 1C Pineapple
• 1C Spinach

3 Health Foods for National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month and a perfect opportunity to showcase foods that help our teeth remain healthy and our smile in tip top shape. While we know the health benefits of eating healthy, the foods we consume on a daily basis, also greatly affect our teeth.

Dairy - Dairy is healthy in various ways, such as yogurt, milk and cheese. The calcium help our teeth remain strong and healthy.

Lean Protein -  Foods rich in protein such as meat, poultry and fish help to strengthen your teeth and contribute to your overall health in your body. Be sure to floss after every meal or at least once a day.

Nuts - Nuts are delicous and greatly benefit our teeth. Various types of nuts contain protein and minerals. Several nuts are low in carbohydrates don’t add to your risk of cavities and help avoid tooth decay. If you are going to snack on a snack, nuts are a safe bet.

Of course, if you have braces or in the middle of an orthodontic treatment, avoid nuts and hard foods alike.

Check out some of our patient’s beautiful smiles. Contact us to set up an appointment or if you have any additional questions.

Do I Need to See a Professional?

Did you know that children should really be seen by an Orthodontist as early as age seven for an evaluation?

We know seven sounds crazy and way too early to be thinking about braces. However, early diagnosis and treatment can help guide facial development and tooth eruption, thereby preventing more serious problems from occurring later in your child's life. And treating children during these early growth stages allows results to be achieved, that may not be possible once facial bones have fully developed.

A check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine. Or it may determine that early treatment is indicated to prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing as Dr. Polgrean can detect subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. While your child’s teeth may appear to be straight, there could be a problem that only Dr. Polgrean can detect.

Through an early orthodontic evaluation, you will be giving your child the best opportunity for a beautiful, healthy smile.

Don't worry if your child is older than seven because it's not too late for a check-up, especially if you or your family dentist notice a problem.

Get in contact with us today, to schedule an appointment.

Avoiding Orthodontic Emergencies

At Apple Tree Orthodontics we know that even with the best of care, braces can cause soreness to your mouth. This soreness is the way your body reacts to your teeth as they begin to move. Your braces play an important part in helping to create a healthy and beautiful smile but you may experience a few side effects while wearing them that are common and can be easily treated.

Canker Sores
Canker sores are a common occurrence when braces rub inside the mouth. There are ointments available to reduce the pain and irritation associated with mouth sores. We recommend Canker-X gel and we can provide you with a sample to try.

Loose Brackets
If you have a loose bracket you can apply a small amount of orthodontic wax to the bracket temporarily. You might also apply a little between the braces and the soft tissue of your mouth. Please call the office for an appointment as soon as possible!

Loose Bands
The band will need to be reattached. Please call the office for an appointment and remember to bring the band with you.

Broken or Protruding Wires
The eraser end of a pencil can be used to move the wire carefully to a less painful spot. If you are unable to move it, apply orthodontic wax to the tip. If a mouth sore develops, rinse with warm salt water or antiseptic rinse. Please call the office for an appointment to trim or adjust the wire.

Loose Spacers
If a spacer (separator) becomes dislodged it may need to be repositioned and sometimes replaced. Please call the office to see if they need to be replaced.

Remember, braces aren't forever but your smile is! If you ever have any questions or are having discomfort - we're just a call away! (650) 434-0190

How Does Invisalign Work at Apple Tree Orthodontics?

At Apple Tree Orthodontics we utilize the latest technological advances in the profession to achieve fantastic results for our patients. We have seen many smiles transform through our office and love seeing the results on our patients. Here at Apple Tree Orthodontics, we recognize that each patient has unique needs, and we pride ourselves in tailoring our treatment to meet these requirements.

Invisalign treatment is a technique that straightens your teeth without braces, using a series of clear, removable aligners that are custom-modeled to fit your teeth. The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth into a smile of which you will be proud.

So you may be wondering, what is the process like at Apple Tree Orthodontics?

1. Start with a complimentary consultation with Dr. Polgrean. Dr. Polgrean will examine to see if the Invisalign system is right for you. If invisalign is right for you, we will create an individual treatment plan using custom-molded aligners to solve your particular needs.

2. Our technology is to create a custom treatment plan that is suited to your specific treatment. We start with a fast, precise digital scan. This will tell us everything we need to know and will allow Apple Tree Orthodontics to map out a custom treatment plan just for you. You'll even get to preview your new smile.

3. Once your treatment plan has been established, we begin on creating your custom aligners made just for you.

4. Time for your aligners to be picked up. From the first day of treatment to the last, you're never on your own. Dr. Polgrean and the team at Apple Tree Orthodontics will be here, if you need anything.

5. Live your life and smile with confidence.

Not everyone is a candidate for the Invisalign aligner system. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Polgrean to see if the Invisalign system is right for you. Schedule a complimentary consultation. 

Orthodontic Terms to Know and What they Mean

When it comes to orthodontics, there are few things you may not know. One being terms and what they mean for you and your health. We love educating our community of Londerderry on having healthy teeth.

Here are a few orthodontic terms you should know about.

Two Phase Treatment - 
Two phase orthodontic treatment is a very specialized process that encompasses tooth straightening and physical, facial changes. The major advantage of a two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, and aesthetic result that will remain stable throughout your life.

Banding - 
The process of fitting and cementing orthodontic bands to your teeth.

Bonding - 
The process of attaching brackets to your teeth using a special safe adhesive.

Interceptive Treatment - 
Orthodontic treatment that is usually done between the ages of 7 and 10. The objective of interceptive or early orthodontic treatment is to provide orthopedic intervention, so that later orthodontic treatment is less complex.

A Major Benefit to Invisalign -

Invisalign treatment is a technique that straightens your teeth without braces, using a series of clear, removable aligners that are custom-modeled to fit your teeth. The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth into a smile of which you will be proud.

The advantage to Invisalign is the range of issues it can fix including: Overly crowded teeth, Widely spaced teeth, Overbites, Underbites, and Crossbites. This is the major benefit to invisalign. You can continue to live your life and your aligners are mostly invisible.

• Clear, virtually invisible aligners
• Removable, will not get in the way of your activities
• Easy to remove to eat, brush, and floss
• Graduate to a new set of aligners every 1 to 2 weeks
• Easy to monitor your progress with regular appointments

Not everyone is a candidate for the Invisalign aligner system. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Polgrean to see if the Invisalign system is right for you.

Braces Friendly Foods for the Big Games

A big holiday is upon us! It is the unofficial holiday all over the United States, The Super Bowl! Which team are you rooting for? If you just received braces any holiday, especially The Super Bowl could be tough, finding which foods you can and can not eat.

First thing’s first, which foods are off limits? Stay off and avoid these types of foods. 

• Hard nuts, candies, hard fruits (like apples and pears)
• Hard vegetables (like carrots and corn on the cob)
• Chips
• Taco shells
• Pizza crust
• Pretzels
• Sticky stuff like taffy, gum and caramels
• Foods high in acidity that could cause discoloration like lemons, limes and sodas.

Superbowl Friendly Foods: 

• Burger Sliders
• Mashed Potatoes 
• Guacamole
• Meatballs 
• Smooth potato salad
• Cole slaw
• Soft Tacos
• Ice cream
• Cupcakes
• Creampies
• Soft pastries
• Soups
• Pasta

2 Benefits of Straight Teeth:

Fear of the unknown is human nature and some nervousness is to be expected prior to starting orthodontic treatment or even just learning more information on orthodontic treatment. You may even be second guessing if orthodontic treatment is right for you. There are many options to receiving orthodontic treatment, however the ultimate goal is a healthy straight smile.

Here are 2 benefits of having straight teeth, you may have never thought of.

1. Healthier Gums: 

When your teeth are aligned perfectly, your gums are healthier. The proper treatment allows your teeth to be aligned properly into place, therefore your gums fit better around each tooth. This allows bacteria to grow in few places. This all decreases your risk of gum disease.

2. Improves Your Overall Health: 

There is a big bridge between your teeth and oral health and your the overall health of your body. The tooth decay and gum disease associated with crooked teeth are caused by decay. Left untreated, this bacteria can lead to mouth sores, bleeding gums and possible tooth loss.

Studies by the ADA have also proven that bacteria can create oral infections, which may lead to more serious problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and pneumonia.

Understanding that orthodontic treatment is so much more than improving your teeth. Your smile benefits both your physical and mental health.

2 Healthy Habits to Adopt this Year

Happy New Year! It is another fantastic start to a new year and we are so excited for all the smiles that will be transformed at Apple Tree Orthodontics. With the new year it is exciting to adopt new healthy habits and keep your smile in check. Here are 2 of our favorite habits we are encouraging our patients to adopt in 2019.

#1) Switch Toothbrush: Switching your toothbrush is a big step, most people disregard. Replacing your toothbrush can have a valuable impact. The Academy of Dental Association, recommends switching out your toothbrush every 3-4 months for health reasons and because the bristles can become too stiff, which can be too hard for your teeth and enamel. This simple step will keep your mouth and teeth feeling healthy.

#2) Pledge to Floss: Your smile is what makes you, YOU! This year, pledge to floss more. It’s never too late to begin flossing. Flossing not only helps you get rid of food debris, it also helps your overall healthy by removing plaque buildup and fighting against cavities.

Potential Harm to Your Braces with these Foods

For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.

Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:

• Gum (sugar-free or regular)
• Licorice
• Sugar Daddies
• Toffee
• Tootsie Rolls
• Caramels
• Starburst

Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:

• Ice
• Nuts
• Hard taco shells
• French bread crust/rolls
• Corn on the cob
• Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
• Bagels
• Chips
• Jolly Ranchers
• Pizza crust
• Uncooked carrots (unless cut)

Minimize Sugary Foods like:

• Cake
• Ice Cream
• Cookies
• Pie
• Candy

Prevent Enamel Damage:

Here at Apple Tree Orthodontics, we recognize that each patient has unique needs, and we pride ourselves in tailoring our treatment to meet these requirements. We also pride ourselves in providing the best information and being proactive in taking care of our teeth.

Your tooth enamel is the hard, outer surface layer of your teeth that serves to protect against tooth decay. In fact, tooth enamel is considered the hardest mineral substance in your body, even stronger than bone. Your tooth enamel acts as a protection shield against your teeth. There are several actions you can do to prevent enamel damage such as decaying or discoloration.

Preventing enamel decay can be as easy as cutting out or limiting high-acidic foods from your regular diet. High-acidic foods include items such as blueberries, sugar, honey, vinegar, soy sauce, cranberries, and more.  Another thing you can do is remove high sugar drinks from your diet in addition to acidic foods is also a good idea.

The easiest way to avoid decay is to steer clear of high-acidity foods. This may not always be possible, but eliminating sugary fruit juices and soda from your diet is a good start.

Brushing your teeth after each meal and flossing frequently also preserves your enamel. Another good idea is to rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after eating to wash away high-acidity particles.

Although enamel damage is common, it does not have to be an inevitable occurrence. Knowing the foods that harm your teeth gives you the tools to prevent discoloration and decay. With some easy preventive measures, your teeth will stay strong and white for years to come!