"Harry the Retainer Wearing Dog"

Dr. Straffon,

You've heard of the book "Harry the Dirty Dog". Well, this is a story
of "Harry, the retainer wearing dog". I was sitting on the sofa
having a snack after school. I placed my retainer on the coffee table and when I turned around....Harry was wearing it!!!
The good thing for me was...I didn't have to wear it. After many weeks...Harry wore the retainer right down...but received many
compliments on his new white, sparkly smile!! Please see the photos
below for "before" and "after" shots of Harry. The moral of the
story is...if you want to keep your straight, gleeming Straffon smile...keep your retainer away from your dog!!!


Harry the dirty dog.

Seth Goldstein's Bar Mitzvah

It is my true honor to announce a congratulations to one of our patients Seth Goldstein, who achieved his Bar Mitzvah this year. I had the pleasure to attend his ceremony with his family and friends. I recognize the dedication and hard work which was exemplified throughout the event. I believe that moments you remember in life are those you share with family and friends. It was an inspiring moment for myself watching Seth become a Bar Mitzvah.

Dr. Straffon

What are Separators?

What are separators?

Seperators are usually small, doughnut shaped rubber bands that go between the posterior teeth about 7-10 days before getting bands. They can also be referred to as spacers. They create space between the teeth so the bands may be placed around the tooth, otherwise the band would not fit. You should not try to floss between the teeth with the seperators in. Also, avoid chewing anything super sticky or gooey. If you were to feel any discomfort a tylenol or advil will help take the edge off. If a seperator were to come out make sure you contact the office so it can be placed back in to save the space they are creating

Fluoride

What is fluoride?
· Topical fluoride helps to protect the tooth enamel from decalcification, which can leave permanent white scares
that are etched into the tooth enamel
Is decalcification preventable?
· Absolutely! With the proper home care and hygiene this common problem can be avoided all together
· Be sure to continue seeing your general dentist every three to six months for your general dental needs and
cleanings
How often should I use fluoride?
· Every day!
· Do not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes after using the fluoride to allow the fluoride time to protect your teeth
· Be sure to brush prior to applying the fluoride

When is the best time to use fluoride?

· Just before bedtime after the teeth are brushed ensures time for the fluoride to set.
Questions?
· Give our office a call and we will be happy to help, and answer any questions or concerns

TMJ/TMD

Sleep on your back:
· In order to sleep on your back, the natural curvature of the spine must be preserved.
· Place a pillow underneath your knees and either a small pillow or a rolled towel underneath your neck for support.


Apply moist heat:
· Apply to the areas that ache using a heating pad that supplies moist heat or a dry heating pad in combination with a moist
towel.
· Do this for periods of 20 minutes twice each day.
· Hot showers, saunas, or steam baths may be helpful.


Limit the intake of sugar, caffeine and nicotine:
· Sugar and caffeine are stimulants to the nervous system, which results in increased muscle activity. In most cases, we are
trying to rest muscles in order to heal painful spasms.
· Nicotine causes blood sugar to rise, which again increases muscle activity.


Avoid clenching your teeth:
· Try to remember, “Lips together, teeth apart.”

Avoid foods that require a lot of chewing:
· This includes excessively hard or sticky foods.
· NO gum chewing.

Beware of opening your mouth excessively wide:
· This tends to stretch the muscles and ligaments within the jaw beyond their capacity to heal.
· No vocal strain such as voice lessons, choir singing, or cheerleading.
· No unnecessary clicking maneuvers

Analgesics:
· Non-prescription medications taken around the clock may be very effective in breaking the cycle of pain and inflammation.· The most likely are either coated aspirin products or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil or Nuprin).

RUBBER BANDS

Common Questions:

What are Rubber Bands?
· They ensure proper movement of your teeth and correction of your bite
· They are very important to the final outcome of your treatment

How much do I wear them?
· You need to wear them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (even when sleeping) unless otherwise instructed
· You may remove them only when eating, tooth brushing, playing sports or musical instruments
· Consistency is the key to the success and final outcome of your treatment

Will I be sore?
· You may be sore for the first few days until you get used to them
· If you are inconsistent with wearing your rubber bands, the soreness will remain until you wear them consistently

Do I need to change them often?
· Change elastics daily even if not broken, as they will lose their ability to improve your bite
· Keep extras on hand in case they do break

What if I run out?
· Stop by the office and pick some up or call and we will be happy to mail them to you

Retainers

Here are some common questions about retainers....

What is the purpose of a retainer?
· Retainers are designed to maintain your teeth in a corrected position following orthodontic treatment
· Without proper wear, teeth may have a tendency to move or shift
How often should I wear my retainers?
· Retainers should be worn full-time (24hours / day) for 1 year. Then, night-time wear indefinitely
Will my retainer affect my speech?
· Your speech will be affected for the first few days as your tongue gets used to your retainers
· Reading out loud or continued speaking will help
· The more you wear your retainers the quicker you will get used to them
How do I take care of my retainers?
· Please use the retainer cases given to you. They protect your retainers from breaking when they are not in your mouth
· Clean your retainers with a toothbrush, toothpaste and cold water
· Be gentle especially around the wires, and do not squeeze the retainers, which may cause the retainers to crack
· Denture cleaning tablets can be used monthly, or as often as needed to remove plaque and buildup
Retainer Rules:
· Keep your retainers away from pets, as they love to chew them
· Keep retainers out of the sun, as they may distort.
· Never flip or play with the retainer with your tongue or chew on them. This may cause the wires to bend and the plastic to break
.Do not wear retainers during contact sports or swimming. Always have a case with you for these activities.
Questions?
· Give our office a call and we will be happy to help, and answer any questions or concerned

Remember wear your retainers; Shift happens!

When Is The Right Time For An Orthodontic Check-Up?

No later than age 7 according to the American Association of Orthodontist:

1. Orthodontist can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.

2. While your child's teeth may appear to be straight, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect.

3. The check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine. Or, the orthodontist may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring the child's growth and development, and then, if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for the child. In other cases, the orthodontist might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.

4. Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.

5. In some cases, the orthodontist will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.

6. Early treatment may give your orthodontist the chance to:

• guide jaw growth
• lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
• correct harmful oral habits
• improve appearance
• guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
• improve the way lips meet

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