Talking retainers, with Drs. Sellke and Reily

If you recently completed treatment at SR Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Drs. Sellke and Reily will provide—or have provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers 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 Drs. Sellke and Reily 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 Drs. Sellke and Reily, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

Tell SR Orthodontics: What's on your mind?

Week after week, Drs. Sellke and Reily blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontics and your well-being. This week, we thought we’d step back and ask: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve been wanting to ask us for a while now? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

So… take it away and Drs. Sellke and Reily will try to answer any questions you may have!

Ask SR Orthodontics: When can I start my treatment?

Drs. Reily and Sellke will tell you any orthodontic problem can be treated at any age. But, our doctors want you to know that the need to extract teeth, the amount of treatment time, the cost of treatment, the complexity of treatment required and the quality and stability (permanence) of the final result are very much determined by the age of the patient. This is why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven.

Children who aren't ready for braces will benefit from an early evaluation by having their growth and development monitored by a licensed orthodontic specialist at no charge. In the end, a spectacular smile, improved dental health, improved facial esthetics and a boost to self esteem should be the goal of everyone seeking orthodontic treatment at SR Orthodontics. Age should not be a factor in seeking treatment and achieving these goals. These benefits are available to anyone – young or old. Yes, adults can have beautifully straight teeth too!

Fun facts with SR Orthodontics!

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our dedicated team at SR Orthodontics thought you might enjoy. Have a great weekend!

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.
• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.
• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.
• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.
• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.
• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.
• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.
• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.