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

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

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

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

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.

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 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

3 Sweets to Avoid this Christmas if You have Braces

The Holidays are here and that means snow, endless sweets and of course no school for kids. The holidays are the perfect time to celebrate with family and also a time where we can slip up on certain foods to avoid, especially if we have braces. From sugar, to cookies to gingerbread houses, there is no end in the sweet treats. Here are three foods to avoid this holiday season.

1. Candy Canes: 
These beautiful perfect treats are one to avoid this season if you have braces. The hard candy could damage your braces and the stickiness of the peppermint candy can get stuck in between your orthodontic appliances.

2. Popcorn:
If you string popcorn around your tree, you know this how involves eating the popcorn as well. Popcorn is a great treat, however you may want to stay away from it this year. Popcorn is notorious for getting stuck in between teeth and your braces.

3. Caramel Sweets
Who doesn’t love the sweet caramel treats this time of year. From caramel apple to caramel drizzled on your popcorn to your Starbucks drink, seems like caramel is everywhere this time of year. Be sure to stay away from this sticky treat, because it can be damaging to your teeth and braces.

2 Smoothie Flavors for those with Braces

Congratulations on getting braces! Your on your way to a healthier beautiful smile. At first you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! The discomfort and soreness you are feeling is perfectly normal. Your teeth may be tender to biting pressures, which can make it tough to chew and eat solid food. Here are 2 delicious smoothie recipies that are delicious, healthy and filling.

1. Delicious Red Fruits and Oats Smoothie

This delicous smoothis will make it easy for you to consume, especially in your first few days after getting braces. The added oats, will fill you up.

1 cup sliced strawberries
1 sliced banana
1/4 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon maple syrup

2. Peanut Butter, Banana and Flax Smoothie
This delicious combination will have you feeling full of creamy goodness. The yogurt and peanut butter will have you feeling full and the honey combined with bananas will leave you craving for more.

1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
1/2 cup vanilla fat-free yogurt
2 tablespoons ground golden flaxseed
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ripe banana, sliced

Halloween Recipes for a Fun Night

If you just received braces or looking for something different to try this Halloween, here are two incredibly delicious alternative to sweet treats and hard candy that can harm your teeth if you have braces.

Halloween Parfait:
What You Need:

• 3 boxes instant vanilla pudding 
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring  
• 1/2 teaspoon yellow food coloring 
• one 9-ounce package plain chocolate wafers  
• 6 cups milk chocolate syrup to taste  
• One 8-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained 

Directions:

• Combine pudding mix and milk in a large bowl as directed on the package. 
• Refrigerate until firm. 
• Crush chocolate wafers into crumbs, using a food processor, or put the wafers into a plastic food storage bag and crush with a rolling pin. 
• Combine red and yellow food coloring in a small bowl. 
• Stir into pudding thoroughly, until pudding is orange. 
• Alternate layers of pudding with layers of chocolate crumbs in a parfait cup or glass for a total of three layers of pudding. 
• Top each layer of crumbs with chocolate syrup to taste before adding the next pudding layer.
• Top each parfait with mandarin oranges and additional chocolate wafer crumbs. Makes eight 8-ounce servings.

Dental Health is Orthodontic Health

There are major differences between a dentist and an orthodontist. While all orthodontist are dentist, only a small percentage of dentists are also orthodontists. However the dental health benefits are the same for everyone. When you care for your teeth, it benefits your smile and helps your orthodontic treatment go as planned.

• Achieve a balanced diet. This can be achieved by eating a variety of foods preferably from each of the five major food groups: breads, cereals and other grain products; fruits; vegetables; meat, poultry and fish; milk, cheese and yogurt. 
• Limit the number of snacks that you eat. If you do snack, choose nutritious foods, such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt or a piece of fruit. Each time that you eat foods that contain sugars or starches, brush your teeth. 
• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. 
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners. 
• Maintain your regularly scheduled check-ups with your dentist.

Invisalign for Teens: Apple Tree Orthodontics

Invisalign has remained a top choice for people seeking orthodontic treatment because of its functionality. Aligners are removable and virtually invisible, which means you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. You can still eat and drink what you want. There are no wires, metal or bracket!

Now teens don’t have to worry about embarrassing metal braces in their yearbook photos or Instagram selfies! Invisalign Teen is the clear way to straighten teeth without metal braces, using aligners.

What is Invisalign Teen?

• A clear way to straighten your teeth without braces.
• Series of clear, removable, custom-made aligners.
• Uses no metal wires or brackets.
• Custom-made for comfort.

How does Invisalign Teen work?

• Wear each set of aligners for 1 to 2 weeks.
• Remove only to eat, drink, brush and floss.
• Your teeth will move gradually each week.
• Visit us every 6-10 weeks.
• Elastics may be used with the clear aligners to align the bite.
• Most cases require 1-3 refinements or fine tuning of the final alignment and bite.

Utilizing Invisalign, we can treat a broad range of dental and orthodontic conditions such as, overly crowded teeth, widely spaced teeth, crossbite, overbite and underbites. Give us a call to schedule your complimentary appointment 603-434-0190

Your First Visit with Apple Tree Orthodontics

Fear of the unknown is human nature and some nervousness is to be expected prior to starting orthodontic treatment. Your first visit to our office is a time for us to get to know you and determine what your main concerns are. 

We will ease your fears by giving you as much information as needed to help you feel comfortable. Each member of our team is friendly and accessible and we encourage our patients or parents to ask questions. We believe that patients will feel more comfortable if they know what to expect and are well informed of a procedure before it occurs.

We try to avoid any unexpected surprises and let each patient know everything we are going to do, before we do it. 

At your first visit, you will be greeted by one of our staff members and given a tour of the office. Initial paperwork will be completed and a complimentary, no obligation orthodontic exam will be done. During this time, we evaluate many things relating to the face, the smile, the fit of the teeth and the amount of room for all of the teeth. From this initial visit, if a patient is ready for treatment, diagnostic records may be taken or scheduled at a later date per patient preference. If indicated, treatment fees, general payment options and insurance benefits are discussed. 

If a patient is still developing and is not yet ready for treatment, we will recommend the patient be placed into an observation phase where we will follow growth and development to determine the appropriate time for treatment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at (603) 434-0190. We hope to see you soon! 😃

Guard That Smile

Does your child play a contact sport? 

Photo provided by www.oralanswers.com

Appletree Orthodontics wants to remind patients, coaches and athletes to play it safe when suiting up for recreational and organized sports.  

Since April is National Facial Protection Month, we wanted to share some information with you about a small piece of safety equipment that can make a big difference in preventing head or facial injuries...a Mouth Guard. 

While we encourage everyone to play sports, we also want to encourage everyone to stay safe. Appletree Orthodontics hopes that if you are playing sports this year, that you guard your goal of a healthy straight smile by wearing a mouth guard. Each year, more than 2.6 million children 19 years of age and younger are treated in hospital emergency departments for sports and recreation-related injuries. This fact alone should tell you just how important it is to protect your teeth and your orthodontic appliances with a mouth guard. 

Mouth guards are made of flexible material that is fitted to protect your upper and lower teeth. Mouth guards help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue or jaw. 

We want all of our patient athletes to be equipped with the proper mouth guard to ensure they are protected and comfortable. Please contact Appletree Orthodontics if you have any further questions regarding protecting your smile or purchasing mouth guards.  

Mouth guards are a smart investment for your health, so be sure to make the use of a mouth guard a routine.

The Breakfast Club

Photo Provided by crackerbarrel.com

Waking in the morning is already be a daunting task, not to mention the fact that you have to try and muster up the energy to prepare for the full day ahead. 

There is one sure fire way to get an extra boost in the morning…eat breakfast.  

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Who are “They”? And why do they say this? Well…”They" are those doctors and scientists who have spent their life’s work figuring out ways to help us be a healthier society…so it’s probably safe to say that we can trust them. 

When they say that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it’s because eating breakfast not only provides you with the energy you need for a productive day, but it is also helps in maintaining a healthy weight. Some people skip breakfast in an effort to lose weight, but did you know that skipping meals, especially breakfast, can actually make weight control more difficult? People who skip breakfast tend to eat more food than usual at the next meal or they eat high-calorie snacks when they get hungry throughout the day. 

While adults need to eat breakfast each day to perform at their best, kids need it even more. Their growing bodies and developing brains need regular refueling often. When kids skip breakfast, they don't get what they need to be at their best. Studies show that children who skip breakfast are tardy and absent from school more often than children who eat breakfast on a regular basis. Preparing a good breakfast can be as quick and easy as splashing some milk over cereal or making oatmeal or a healthy smoothie. 

Feeling short on time in the morning? Enroll your children in a school breakfast program or pack a breakfast that they can eat on their way to school. 

3 Tips for Starting Your Day the Healthy Way 

• Purchase portable breakfast items such as fruit, yogurt or breakfast bars. 
• Get up 10-15 minutes earlier than you usually do in the morning to eat breakfast. Waking up earlier will allow you to make sure you have time to set and eat in the morning. And when you think about it…15 minutes is not that big of a deal, it’s like 1 less hit of the snooze button. 
• Replace drinking a cup of coffee with drinking a glass of milk or orange juice as both are proven to provide natural energy. 

Always remember…make sure that the foods you are consuming for breakfast are healthy and good for your body and your oral health.