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.

Although it was an exciting game, the friends, family members and patients at Get It Straight Orthodontics had a better time enjoying the fun and festivities Drs Giangreco, Preston, and Cassata had entertaining them at the game.  Food, prizes, and fun were a high priority for everyone. 

This is the 6^th year in a row that the Get It Straight Team has thanked patients and their families for their cooperation and support throughout the year with a night out at the ball park.  It never rains on our night and the tickets are gone in the first few weeks after it is announced we are taking reservations.

No matter what the age, young or young at heart, the Get It Straight Frontier Night is always a “Hit”.

This year we went “green” with online reservations.  Lets us know what you think of our new ticket process, your recommendations for next year's game, and what you like most about our Frontier Night out.   We would love to hear from you.

Make Sure You Make Your Reservations NOW for the 6^th Annual Family Night Outing at Frontier Field

Join Us for Another Evening of Baseball and Fun! Every year the tickets are reserved quickly by Get It Straight Families… so do'e delay!

When: Thursday July 15^th – Gates open at 6PM and Games Starts at 7PM

Click here to order your tickets. 

To allow everyone the opportunity to attend the game that requests tickets, please notify us of any cancellations by July 1st.

If the Game is Rained Out – Rain check tickets for another game of your choice will be exchanged at the Red Wing Ticket Office.

Dr Terry Giangreco, Dr Janis Preston, Dr Susan Cassata, Dr Ronald Cortese and the Get It Straight Team look forward to seeing you there.

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.

The 2009/2010 college scholarships will be awarded soon to local area high schools students in the Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne County area who were eligible to participate. Any patient in our practice who has completed orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign in either of our three locations in Pittsford, Macedon and new location is Rochester on Latta Rd is eligible to apply.

The participating schools are Pittsford-Mendon, Pittsford-Southerland, Fairport, Penfield, Brighton, Victor, Pal-Mac, Gananda, Mercy, and McQuaid.

It's not to late to apply if you are not a student attending one of the schools listed above. To allow every patient in our practice the opportunity to apply for a scholarship, any student not attending a participating high school on the list in 2009/2010 may apply directly through or website by downloading our scholarship application and returning the application by email to GISscholarship@gmail.com or mailing it back to our Pittsford office before the deadline of June 9, 2010. The team at Get It Straight Orthodontics selects one winner from these applicants.

Students attending any of the participating schools must applying directly through your guidance department, not through our office. Check with your school guidance department for details in the Fall of 2010 for 2010/2011 scholarship applications.

Click Here to Download a Get It Straight Scholarship Application.

We are very proud of our patients and this is one way we can help them with their future endeavors. Winners will be notified separately by the participating schools and our office. All winners will be announced on our website Summer of 2010.

Check out the 2009 Get It Straight Scholarship winners.

For more information about our scholarship program offered every year, feel free to email us at info@get-it-straight.com

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.