Life After Braces: Retention

Think you're all done with orthodontic care because you got your braces off? Not so fast, you're not done just yet. Once you completed the braces phase of your treatment you are ready to move to the phase, retention.

The retention phase focuses on holding your teeth in the position they have been moved to by braces treatment. The retention phase lasts for a minimum of 24 months.During this you only remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer before placing it back in your mouth, if you have a removable retainer. 

There are two types of retainers removable and bonded.

Removable Retainers (Clear or Hawley): Your retainers should be worn at all times with the exception of eating and brushing your teeth. Your retainer should also be removed when participating in activities that require a mouth guard or while swimming. After 12 months of full-time wear, we may revise your retention treatment, allowing the retainer to strictly be worn at night.

Bonded Retainers (Fixed): Bonded lingual retainers are cemented directly to the inside surface of your lower canines (eye teeth). This is one of the best ways to prevent your lower teeth from shifting as it is permanently attached. Patients with bonded lingual retainers must be careful with their bite as the bonding material may break due to incorrect biting and cause teeth to shift quickly. As with removable retainers, it is important to keep them clean. This is done by making sure to carefully clean the inside of your lower teeth as well as the wire while brushing.

Once it's time for your braces to be removed we will discuss which option best suits your treatment plan.Here at Bailey Orthodontics we offer various treatment options you can take advantage of to get the smile you've always wanted.

The retainer plays a special part is achieving the smile you want so be sure to follow instructions given by Dr. Bailey when it comes to your retainer. If you have any questions regarding retainers give us a call today.

Creative Gift Wrapping DIY 101

It is the gift giving season again and many of you will be givers and receivers this holiday. Christmas is the time for family and friends to gather together and spread joy and love. Gifts are used to show love and appreciation during this holiday. Gifts are all different but have one thing in common; they are all wrapped up only to be revealed on Christmas day.

Wrapping gifts isn’t an easy task you have to know how to do it and do it right. It may seem trivial, but how a gift is wrapped shows the receiver that you care and put thought into your gift. If you never put thought into how you wrap your gifts now is the time to.

Here are 5 DIY (Do It Yourself) gift wrapping ideas.

Photo Gift Tags

Chalk Board Packaging 

Using Fabric

Newspaper Wrapping

Arts & Craft Gift Wrap

Put as much effort into wrapping your gifts as you did picking out the gift, your friends and family will appreciate it. Show us how creative you can get this holiday season on Facebook and Instagram (@BaileyOrthoAZ), tag us in photos showing off your DIY gift wrapping skills.

Play For Keeps

Being a patient a Bailey Orthodontics comes with many perks, a beautiful smile being one, but there is an extra benefit. Being a patient at Bailey Orthodontics makes you eligible for tons of cool rewards and prizes.

Patients Rewards Hub is a program that was made specifically for patients. You can access Rewards Hub easily through our website. Before you can get cool prizes you have a patient rewards card.Once
you have your card activated you can instantly began to earn points. You can earn points in fun way, like through contest and simple ways like staying on top of oral hygiene.

Here's the fun part, once you start to earn points you can cash in your points and redeem prizes such as gift cards from your favorite retail stores.

We want to provide our patients with the best possible experience. So log on and being to earn points today! If you don't have a Bailey Rewards Card let us know during your next visit.

Want to earn easy points right now? Follow us on Instagram @BaileyorthoAZ and earn points today!

If Pain is Your Worry, "Let it Go"

Is Orthodontic Treatment Painful?

When thinking about orthodontics treatment the first question people have is, "Will it hurt?". Whether it's the dentist or the orthodontist most have a common fear of what pain treatment might bring. Well Dr. Bailey has some good news for you, orthodontic treatment is not as bad as you think it is.

Orthodontic treatment has improved dramatically. As a rule, braces make your teeth tender and sore for a few days, but it is not painful. You feel soreness after the wire is place onto the brackets. This is because your teeth are beginning to move and your teeth are not use to the pressure the arch wire and elastic are causing. As time goes by your teeth will get use to the brace and your soreness will decrease.

Today’s braces are more comfortable and use technology that reduces the discomfort. We use the latest in biocompatible braces, the advanced technique with light force and the highest quality of orthodontic materials, in order to reduce discomfort and treatment time.

Here are a few tips to help:

• Take over the counter medicine like Advil
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
• Eat soft foods like yogurt and mash potatoes
• Place heating pad or warm was rag on jaw
• Avoid acidic drinks; those drinks with acid can irritate a sore mouth
• Use over the counter oral anesthetic like Orajel
• Apply wax to any bracket or wire bothering your cheek, tongue or lips

If you have any questions feel free to contact us by calling the office or leaving a question on our Facebook page!

How to Keep Your Selfies Healthy

People all over the world use the term “selfie” as they take their cameras and capture a personal self-portrait.

Selfies are taken and posted all over social media sites daily, but what’s the key to a great selfie? It’s a picture perfect smile. Yes, your smile is the key to selfie success. Everyone’s smile is unique and best smiles are healthy ones. Whether you’re currently under orthodontic treatment or considering treatment, we want you to know your appliance doesn't hinder your smile you should see it as an accessory.  Here are 4 things to make sure your smile stays in tip-top shape.

1.  Oral Hygiene: To keep your teeth clean you must brush, floss and rinse. To avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque you should brush your teeth four times daily to in the morning after breakfast, after lunch or right after school, after dinner and at bedtime. For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque.

2. Eat right: Eat healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables, to protect your teeth. Minimize the sugary foods in your diet; they cause tooth decay and related problems.

3. Visit the Dentist: You must visit the Dentist twice a year to check up on the status of your oral health.You need to make sure you don’t have any cavities and your gums are in good shape, among other things.The dentist could find a problem early and fix it with a small filling before a major problem occurred.

4. Keep up with your Orthodontic appointments: Make all of your Orthodontic appointments is crucial when you are under orthodontic treatment. You must to follow through on scheduled
appointments in order to keep up with treatment timetable. All orthodontic treatments require scheduled appointments in order to ensure effective treatment and reduce treatment time for the patient.

Whether you are a child or an adult making sure your smile is healthy is important. Orthodontic treatment on unhealthy teeth is no good. At Bailey Orthodontics we pride ourselves on continuously providing some of the top patient care in Arizona. To schedule an appointment with us online today just simply click here.

The Invisible Choice

Making the decision to undergo orthodontic treatment is the first choice, choosing which appliance to use is the second. One of the most popular choices today is the clear choice, Invisalign.

Deciding to undergo orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth not only affects your appearance, but your lifestyle as well. For adults undergoing treatment this is an important decision. People tend to associate traditional braces with children and young adults. This stigma deters many adults from seeking orthodontic treatment. Invisalign provides the most flexible option for adults. 

Invisalign are clear aligners that provide a high level of discretion. Invisalign alignment trays are created from molds of your teeth giving you custom aligners. Unlike other braces, Invisalign aligners are removable. You can take out the aligners when necessary, which makes Invisalign a flexible option.

Benefits of Invisalign:

• Easy removal
• Allows for easy brushing a flossing like normal
• No food restrictions (you can remove your aligners to eat)
• Can remove aligners for physical activity
• No brackets and wires to worry about
• Invisalign are practically invisible to the naked eye

There are many question patients have about Invisalign, here at the top 4 frequently asked question and we have the answers.

• How often must I wear my aligners?

You must wear your aligners for up to 22 hours daily. You may remove them for eating, drinking and regular oral hygiene.

• How long does Invisalign treatment take?

Treatment time varies depending on the severity of the misaligned teeth. Treatment time can be shorter than traditional braces, between six and 18 months.

• Is there any discomfort with Invisalign treatment?

There will be some pressure and minor discomfort for a day or two after each initial insertion. This is a sign that your teeth are moving sequentially into their final position.

• Does Invisalign work for kids?

Yes, if their teeth, including second molars, have grown in completely.

To ensure the best possible results, only an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Dr. Bailey is trained and can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. For more information or to find out if Invisalign is the treatment option for you schedule an appointment today!

Kids Guide to Preparing for Halloween

Halloween is only 2 days away. You've been waiting for this day all month now it’s finally your chance to dress up and have some fun here’s how to prepare for Halloween. This is the official kids guide to preparing for Halloween, so parents make sure the kiddies read this.

4 Tips For Preparing For Halloween

Costume Check: Make sure you have your costume together. You've tried it on a ton of times so you know it fits perfectly. Make sure you have all the accessories you need to complete your costume, but also make sure you have a flash light with working batteries to use while trick or treating.

Grab Bag: Whether it’s a bucket or nap sack have a big and strong enough bag to hold all of your sweet treats.

Photo Provided by ilovebrightonford.com

Plan Out The Night: If you plan on going trick or treating creating a map of the locations you plan to visit. This will come in handy Halloween night, this will help you save time and grab the most treats you can get.

Movie Night: Watch your favorite Halloween movie to get you in the ghoulish mood of Halloween. There are plenty of family friendly classics for you to check out, such as “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” or “Casper”.

Now get your rest because you are going to be very busy Halloween day. Be sure to take tons of pictures for memories. You have to remember to put your safety first, only eat candy after an adult has inspected your grab bag. Also remember if you are currently under orthodontic treatment there are foods you have to avoid and oral hygiene guidelines to follow.