Ask Drs. Davis & Davis: What's the deal with retainers?

If you recently completed treatment at Davis and Davis Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you on your beautiful new smile! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Dale or Lisa Davis will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Dale or Lisa Davis is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Davis and Davis Orthodontics, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

Cool kids get braces, from Davis & Davis Orthodontics

Today, braces are seen as “cool” and—many teens would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are undergoing or have completed orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as Invisalign® and iBraces™, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with (Insert Name of Doctor), and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited Davis & Davis Orthodontics for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Davis and Davis Orthodontics wants to know: are there teeth grinders in your house?

Grind, grind, grind. If you live with a teeth grinder, this unpleasant sound may be all too familiar, especially recently. A recent study by Head & Face Medicine suggests that people often cope with stress by grinding their teeth. In addition, the Chicago Dental Society suggests that since the recession began, teeth grinding, or bruxism, is on the rise.

The Chicago Dental Society surveyed more than 250 members about the connection between stress and oral health. Nearly 75 percent of dentists said their patients reported increased stress over the past year, largely due to the economic recession. During stressful times, teeth grinding can be a nuisance that causes headaches and sleep problems, but it also can cause lasting problems for your teeth and gums, including chipped teeth, worn enamel, chronic pain, or even TMJ, a painful jaw disorder.

The first step of recovering from teeth grinding is noticing the problem, says Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis. Symptoms of teeth grinding include:

• Sensitivity in the teeth
• Tightness or pain in the jaw
• Dull headaches, earaches, or facial pain
• Chipped, worn down, or loose teeth

An important thing to remember is that people frequently grind their teeth in response to stress, and taking measures to reduce or eliminate stress can help solve the problem. If the teeth-grinder in your house can’t stop, schedule an appointment to see us by giving us a call. Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis and our team at Davis and Davis Orthodontics can help determine the cause of the problem.

Summer savings for new patients at Davis & Davis!

Have you been considering Ibraces, Invisalign, full or interceptive orthodontic treatment? Luck for you, Davis & Davis offers special online coupons for our web savvy consumers! With individual coupons ranging from $100 to $250 in savings, we're offering amazing summer savings to all of our new patients! Best of all- these coupons do not have an expiration date!

For more information and to print these special offers, check out the bottom of the Happenings page of our website! If you are already a patient of Davis & Davis Orthodontics, these special offers are great to share with friends and family who may be seeking orthodontic treatment in Midland, MI. We look forward to meeting you!