Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay to keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical applied directly on the teeth or as part of your diet in a supplement. The most commonly used is the topical form found in toothpaste or in a fluoride rinse. The team at Get-It-Straight Orhtodontics recommends fluoride to help maintain healthy teeth for children, teens, and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Fluoride used in an orthodontic or dental office is a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash you can buy over the counter at your local grocery or drug store. If your general dentist prescribes a fluoride product, it usually only takes just a few minutes to apply after your regular cleaning. Once applied, it is suggested patients not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.

Your general dentist will determine how often to repeat the fluoride process; every 6 months – once a year, especially for kids who poor brushing habits. Additional in house fluoride products such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses are often prescribed by orthodontists for additional protect ion of your teeth during treatment to prevent decalcification or white marks around the braces due to poor brushing habits. So obviously, when all is said an done… fluoride is your friend during orthodontic treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness when using a dental product.

At Get-It-Straight, we are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you or someone in your family is interested more information about how we can help achieve the smile you deserve, contact our office for a free new patient exam.

The brackets of the braces are the equivalent of the cars of a train, and the track that they follow is the archwire. Once the brackets are placed on the teeth and the archwire is properly adjusted to create a path to great teeth, all that remains for our train is fuel to move in the right direction.

This orthodontic energy is often provided by elastics, the locomotive often commonly referred to as rubber bands. Elastics can be different sizes and strengths according the specific needs of each patient’s orthodontic journey. They are also available in a variety of different colored packets or creatively named animals to make it fun and easy to remember what size you are wearing.

It is important to wear the elastics, as prescribed by your orthodontist, in order to arrive at your final destination. If the elastics are not worn, the braces won’t move and you will not have your braces removed on time or worse yet… achieve a good result. The force exerted by the elastics may cause a bit of soreness at first, but the soreness goes away within a few days, if worn on a regular basis. Fresh elastics provide the most pull, so it is recommended you replace elastics daily to keep everything moving at the same speed for best results.

Traveling the tracks to a healthy smile can be intimidating at first, but understanding how it all works and with the guidance of your orthodontist, you can sit back, enjoy the ride, and be rest assured that you’ll arrive safely in no time at all!

At Get-It Straight Orthodontics, we are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you or someone in your family is interested more information about how we can help achieve the smile you deserve, contact our office for a free new patient exam.

The iCAT gives us a 3-dimensional image of the patient’s teeth and jaws. This allows our doctors to precisely plan the exact movement of teeth without the guesswork of traditional or digital X-rays, which are only 2-dimensional.

In addition to moving teeth, braces affect the position and shape of the surrounding bone, gums, lips, cheeks and muscles of the face. With our 3-D CT scan, we now have the ability to create a complete treatment plan for all factors that the braces will affect. This gives our patients a more beautiful and healthy smile in an extremely precise manner.

And another big plus…our iCAT uses 95% less radiation than traditional hospital-based CT scan machines.

We would like to share with you a recent article on the benefits of 3-D imaging and orthodontics published in the New York Times.  It discusses how technology has completely revolutionized orthodontic treatment delivery today. 

For more information on how the orthodontists at Get It Straight Orthodontics can help you create the smile you deserve, contact our office at one of our three locations in the Rochester area for a complimentary new patient exam. 

Leave a question or comment below regarding 3D Imaging.  We would love to hear from you.

Fortunately, most problems with your braces don't qualify as true emergencies. Let's talk about a few things you can do while you are away to avoid the inconvenience and expense of trying to find an orthodontist in an unfamiliar area. Here are some helpful hints on what to do if you have a problem with your braces.

Take a mini emergency kit with you – Include orthodontic wax, nail clippers or small pair of wire cutters, tweezers, a pencil with an eraser, and our phone number if you need guidance.

Watch this general information video on how to handle the most common orthodontic emergencies before you leave so you aren’t scrambling for help and unprepared. 

1. Irritation of your lips or cheeks – apply wax to the area causing the irritation. Follow the instructions on the package. If you don’t have wax or run out, sugarless gum works well. If any sores develop, go to a local drug store and buy topical anesthetics like Orabase or Orajel to temporarily numb the area till you return and we can fix the problem.

2. Poking or protruding wire – Occasionally, the arch wire extends in the back or may come right out of the bracket when chewing gum, hard candy, and sticky foods. Use a pencil eraser or something soft to push the wire flat against your teeth. Add wax or sugarless gum to the end of the wire if needed to prevent irritation. If the main wire breaks, you can clip the wire with a pair of nail clippers, flush to the next anchored bracket – just remember to disinfect the clippers or wire cutters first with rubbing alcohol, if handy, or use the flame on a lighter to kill the germs. Once the wire is clipped, make sure to avoid swallowing the clipped piece of wire.

3. Loose band- If a band around one of your back teeth comes loose, don’t worry about it unless it is causing problems while your eat. Worst-case scenario, clip the main wire with nail clippers flush to the next bracket and remove the loose band. Apply wax or sugarless gum if needed to avoid irritation from the cut wire. We can repair when you return.

4. Loose bracket – Hard foods are the main cause of loose brackets. During the summer, we all tend to be more lax with our normal routines. However, out of town is not the time to take a chance breaking a bracket by not following the restricted diet. If a bracket does come loose from a tooth, remove the bracket with a pair of disinfected tweezers if you can and continue on your merry way. Don’t forget to contact us when you return so we can schedule an appt to replace the bracket. It is difficult to repair an emergency during your regular regular appointment when there isn't sufficient time scheduled to repair.

5. Loose ligature wire or elastic – If a small elastic ligature (the piece that attaches the archwire to the bracket) comes partially or all the way off your braces, use a pair of disinfected tweezers to put it back into place. If a ligature is lost, don’t worry about it. Call us when you return.

True emergencies
If you experience a true emergency where you are so uncomfortable you can’t wait till you get back, contact the local dental society for an orthodontist recommendation. You can also search on your cell phone for an orthodontist nearest you. Most orthodontists provide and emergency contact number when out of the office and will help an out of town patient with a problem they cannot easily attend to on their own. A local emergency room is always a last resort.

Also, don’t hesitate to give us a call to ask us for guidance if you don’t know what to do. Our goal is to provide you with a terrific smile, and – just as important – to be sure you are comfortable and safe throughout the course of your treatment, even when you are away.

Do you have any unusual out of town orthodontic emergencies you would like to share with us? Leave a comment below.

So you don't offend others with unsightly food caught on your braces, or to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, decalcification or discoloring of teeth and cavities, here are  are five tooth brushing tips for orthodontic patients to keep in mind while wearing braces:

1. There is more to brush than meets the eye. Most patients spend their time brushing the parts of their teeth and the braces they can see.  However, it’s just as important to clean the inside areas of your teeth as well as the chewing surface of each tooth. Brush all surfaces inside, outside, along the top of the teeth and the gum line for best results. Watch this video on how to brush your teeth correctly with braces.
2. Make sure you spend enough time doing a good job.  Did you know the ADA recommends you brush your teeth for approximately three minutes to do a good job… even if you aren’t wearing braces? You may at one point received a three minute egg timer to use while brushing from your dentist. It seems like the time will never end when watching the grains of salt flow to the bottom so you can stop brushing.  Most popular songs today are approximately three minutes long.  Listen to an ipod or radio while you are brushing instead of using a timer.  If you start brushing at the beginning of a song… and end when its over… you will know you have done a good job and can dance around during the process as the time flies by.
3. Use dental floss often. Food is often trapped between teeth and flossing with braces is easier with a floss threader, especially when trying to thread the floss under your main wire. Watch this video on how to do it correctly. Dental floss threaders save time and is very easy to use once you get the hang of it.  They are available in the toothbrush aisle in any grocery or drug store.
4. Be prepared. In order to brush after every meal you must be prepared with a toothbrush and tooth paste. Always keep a toothbrush it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case. The TOOB brush was designed with orthodontic patients in mind.  It’s easy to use, you can refill with your own toothpaste, and it travels anywhere.
5. Regular dental cleanings are still important. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. However, it is still recommended to visit your dentist regularly while wearing braces, to eliminate any plaque you may have missed while brushing or using dental floss.

According to the American Dental Association, most kids stop sucking their thumbs on their own by the ages of 2 – 4 with little if any damage as a result. The habit no longer serves its purpose, so they stop. However, children who vigorously suck their thumbs and continue to do so beyond age four risk causing damage that will require orthodontic treatment to correct. The thumb or fingers can exert unwanted pressures upon teeth, bone, and soft tissues in the mouth causing problems with positioning of teeth and growth of the jaws.

The most obvious consequences of a persistent thumb or finger habit are:

• Pushing the upper front teeth (incisors) out and the lower incisors in… resulting in the "Bucky Beaver" smile.
• Preventing the front teeth from erupting all the way together causing an openbite.
• Stopping the lower jaw from developing normally, resulting in a recessive or "weak" chin.
• Narrowing of the soft tissue in the palate of the mouth, resulting in a crossbite.

If a child doesn't eventually stop sucking their thumbs on their own, an orthodontist can install appliances that take away the pleasing sensation children get when sucking their thumbs. However, before I recommend placement of an orthodontic appliance, I always encourage a child to stop the habit on their own.

Here are five tips the orthodontists at Get It Straight Orthodontics offer parents to proactively encourage their child to stop a damaging finger habit after the age of 5. Remember, in many cases, it is just as difficult for a child to stop sucking their thumb or finger as it is for an adult to stop smoking cigarettes. Be supportive and understanding.

• 1. Explain to your child the damage their habit is causingto their mouth and teeth. Kids today are smarter than you think. They like being treated like an adult. Pictures of buck teeth and openbites go a long way helping drive home the point.
• 2. Develop a program with your child's input to stop the habit. Let them be proactive in determining the best way to correct their own problem. They are more likely to cooperate if they have a choice in the process. Suggest aids like, wearing a sock to bed at night when they fall asleep as a reminder or sitting on their hands while driving in a car or watching TV. With some children, there is a blanket or stuffed animal that goes hand in hand with the habit. It is difficult to stop one, without removing the other. I know it sounds like a double whammy… but it is often what is needed to be successful.
• 3. Set up a calendar to track progress with a reward system at the end of every week offering small rewards. There is nothing wrong with bribing your child to stop a habit that is adverse to their dental health. With older children, offer a large reward after the habit has stopped for at least 4-6 weeks. Make the reward well worth the hard work and emotional stress it takes to stop a persistent habit.
• 4. If you notice your child relapsing, work on alleviating what is causing the stress and anxiety which causes the reaction, rather than the habit itself.
• 5. Children always respond more favorably to positive praise vs negative criticism. Instead of reminding them to stop the habit, praise them when they are proactively decreasing or eliminating the habit.

Even though the habit stopped at an early age, orthodontic treatment still may be indicated due damage prior to stopping the habit.  As a parent, it is now your turn to be proactive when it comes to your child's long term dental health. Have your child checked by an orthodontist to determine if early orthodontic treatment is indicated to correct a skeletal growth problem caused by a thumb or finger habit by age seven.

With this new facility and the addition of Dr Suzanne Cassata to the Get it Straight Team, two of the longest established orthodontic practices in the Greater Rochester area will continue on with leading edge orthodontic care for many years to come at our three convenient locations.  This new location further enhances our ability to provide the highest level of affordable quality orthodontic care for the entire Rochester area.

In addition to outstanding orthodontic care, the new facility includes all the amenities and fun features of our main office in Pittsford and satellite office in Macedon. For moms we included their favorite feature, the gourmet coffee bar… and for kids, young patients and their friends… movies, games and fun contests.  Your entire orthodontic experience is very important to us.

We are still working out new office kinks and getting used to where everything is located, but the team is adapting quickly and really psyched about the new office.  It’s like getting used to a new car, the smell, mover ability, and whistles and bells you never dealt with before.

If you are in the area, stop by and take a tour.  We would love to see you and show you around! To schedule a free new patient consultation at the Latta Rd location, call .  Be sure to tell your friends and family in the Greece area we are now open to provide the best orthodontic care available in the Greece area.

If you have a dog, take extra special care to keep your retainers safe. Never leave your retainer or Invisalign aligners on tables, bathroom counters, night stands, or any where they can jump up and run off with them. With a few chews they can distort, ruin, or eat a retainer before you know what happened.  And if they swallow the sharp pieces, it can cause serious health issues for your beloved pet in their digestive tract!

You should watch toddlers also.  They are fascinated with the colors and shape and tend to pick them up out of curiosity, bend them, and drop them wherever they roam, making them impossible to find. 

At Get It Straight Orthodontics, we can’t stress enough the importance of taking care of your retainers.  Here are some tips on how to keep your appliances out of harms way.  We have heard all the horror stories and very little surprises us anymore.  The safest place for retainers is usually in the mouth.

• Always place the retainer in the retainer case when not in your mouth. If it is in your case, it is more protected.  If placed in a pocket it can fall out and disappear or end up in the wash and be destroyed.  If it is out of your case in your backpack, gym bag, or on a locker shelf, you are asking for trouble. If you leave it lying around in the open on furniture, it is an accident waiting to happen in more ways than one.
• Do not wrap the retainer in a napkin while eating at home, school, or a friend’s house. There is a good chance it will end up in the garbage by mistake.  It’s a nasty job sifting through garbage for a retainer, especially at school or in a restaurant! YUK…
• Do not clean the retainer with hot water or boil your retainer to sterilize.  It will distort the plastic so it won’t fit and then you must replace it!
• Take them out when swimming. More than one retainer has ended up lost in the ocean surf, bottom of a lake, or public pool.
• Take them out when vomiting.  Once you flush, they are gone!
• And the one rule that seems to be most popular…KEEP RETAINERS… AWAY FROM PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN!

If you go without wearing your retainer for any prolong length of time, especially right after the braces are removed, your teeth will begin to move.   One set of retainers is included with treatment.  If you break or lose them due to your own loss or neglect, there is normally a replacement fee, so please be careful. 

If you have lost or damaged your retainer or retainers, contact our office to schedule an appointment to replace them.  Maintaining your smile over a lifetime… depends on it!

For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontic treatment.

An orthodontist completes several years of extensive training beyond dental school to become an expert at correcting jaw problems and straightening teeth.  A dentist may see only a handful of cases a year amid all their drilling and filling.  An orthodontist only practices orthodontics and treats hundreds of cases a year.  An orthodontist doesn’t clean teeth, fill cavities, extract teeth or perform any of the routine procedures offered by your general dentist.  It is not our area of expertise. So be sure to see your dentist every six months for cleaning and checkups while wearing braces.

When it comes to the challenges and complexities of orthodontic treatment, most people prefer a specialist well trained and experienced.  You can depend on Get It Straight Orthodontics for the best of both worlds: a well functioning bite and the smile of your life! 

In order to become an orthodontist, just like your dentist, an orthodontist goes to dental school. After dental school however, the orthodontists at Get It Straight continued their dental education by attending an orthodontic graduate program, for a few more years, to become experts in orthodontic treatment using many different types of braces

Below is a video put out by the American Association of Orthodontics discussing the importance of choosing an orthodontist to improve your smile.

Unlike your general dentist who takes care of your overall dental health by cleaning your teeth, removing decay, and rebuilding broken down or discolored teeth with crowns and veneers, at Get It Straight… all we do is create beautiful smiles every day with braces.

We have chosen to limit our practice to what we do best, straightening teeth and correcting jaw problems due to heredity, bad habits such as thumb sucking, and abnormal growth of the jaw. This is why we send our patients back to their general dentist for routine cleanings and checkups every six months, instead of doing it ourselves.

Other dental specialties you may know about are:

• Endodontist: dentist who only treats the soft tissue inside your teeth that may no longer be healthy and causing tooth discomfort
• Periodontist: dentist who only takes care of the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth
• Pedodontist: dentist who works only with children
• Oral Surgeon: dentist who only removes teeth and other surgical procedures involving the teeth, mouth, and jaws

Be rest assured, at Get It Straight you and your family will receive the best possible orthodontic care available today in Pittsford NY and the greater Rochester NY area.