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Should You Get Treatment For Your Gummy Smile? [QUIZ]

Many patients want to make some finishing touches on their smile after orthodontic treatment.

Fortunately, you’ll find cosmetic options right alongside orthodontics in our Boca Raton, FL dental office!

At Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R, you can get treatment for a gummy smile to get the most of out of your newly-straightened teeth!

Take a moment to answer some questions on today’s quiz to see if you should get gummy smile treatment after braces!

Call Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R at 561-327-6775 or fill out our convenient online form to schedule a complimentary consultation.

3 Reasons To Choose An Orthodontist Over A Dentist [BLOG]

Now that the holidays are over, you might be like many people who are struggling to get their finances back on track. This time of year, we can all feel the strain of holiday shopping catching up with us!

That’s why our team at Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R in Boca Raton, FL is devoting today’s blog to the reasons you should consider trusting our orthodontists over a general dentist when it comes to choosing the right treatment to straighten your smile.

We know how valuable this investment is for our patients, which is why we want to save you the time, money, and stress that come with choosing professionals who aren’t as qualified to treat malocclusion issues that lurk behind problems with crooked teeth!

#1 – Specialized Training

When it comes to the altering the position of your teeth, it’s important to understand the scope of what it really takes to correct the issue. It requires much more than simply shifting your teeth so that they’re straight and visually appealing.

Many times, crooked, poorly positioned teeth will affect more than your smile’s appearance. Some issues negatively impact your oral health and quality of life, such as:

-Gaps between teeth

-Overcrowding

-Overbites

-Underbites

When your teeth are too widely spaced, or even overlap, it’s harder to properly clean your mouth of tiny food particles that feed harmful bacteria. Malocclusions, or problems with your bite, can also cause pain and discomfort in your jaw.

Basically, getting a straight smile often requires the expertise of an orthodontist, a specially trained professional who can approach your treatment with various problems in mind that go far beyond cosmetics.

#2 – More Experience

These days, it’s quite common to find orthodontic treatment options in a general dentistry practice. With all sorts of innovative, alternative straightening methods being made available in recent years, general practitioners are scrambling to earn fast certification so they can offer those methods.

While this certainly opens up options for patients seeking orthodontic treatment, it makes the decision about who to trust more confusing.

In other words, just because a general dentist has the right certification to offer orthodontics, doesn’t mean they have the experience to give you the best care. Only a true orthodontist can do that because of their concentrated treatment experience in straightening patients’ smiles, as well as a host of other issues that come with alignment problems.

#3 – Value Of Investment

You’ve probably experienced buyer’s remorse at some point in your life.

You saved and saved for that car, only to discover soon after you bought it that it didn’t perform as well as you’d hoped it would.

Or you spent years saving and scrimping to fight the perfect starter home for your family, only to buy a home that turned out to be a real money pit.

You’re just as susceptible to buyer’s remorse when it comes to orthodontic treatment.

Compared to a car or a house, it’s not as much of a financial commitment, but it’s still an incredibly significant one! Unlike other types of investments, you can’t return your smile if you don’t like the results of your treatment!

That’s why it’s important to trust the right kind of professional to correct your bite alignment and crooked teeth. It’s a better choice than going to a general dentist for braces because you know that your money is being well spent on a specialist who can better guide you or someone in your family toward a straight smile and the ultimate proper, comfortable function of your teeth.

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Your smile is incredibly important. It’s not only something you see when you look in the mirror everyday. It’s one of the first things people notice about you.

That’s why feeling confident about the way your teeth look requires highly-trained specialists.

For many cosmetic dentistry treatments, trusting a general dentist is a great choice.

But when it comes to correcting issues like poor bite alignment and crooked, overcrowded teeth, the best decision you can make for yourself is to trust an orthodontist.

Dr. Wohlgemuth and Dr. Rothstein are both extensively trained and experienced professionals who can offer better, more specialized care. Because of their additional education and years of practical experience, they’re able to design a more precise treatment plan to suit your needs.

Our orthodontists are also able to anticipate potential problems that may arise and how to avoid them so your time and money are well-invested.

When it comes to your straight, beautiful smile, trust our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists!

Call Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R at 561-327-6775 or fill out our convenient online form to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Straighten, Then Beautify: Your Life After Braces [BLOG]

We’re thrilled that you chose to straighten your smile at Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R! As you look forward to a new beginning with a straight, more attractive smile, we know that you’ve probably already given some thought to what happens after braces.

Are straight teeth all you needed to look and feel your best? Are there more options to help you have the smile you’ve always wanted?

Yes and yes!

Dr. Wohlgemuth and Dr. Rothstein are both highly-skilled, experienced orthodontists who specialize in guiding patients through a smile transformation. Because of their years of experience, they know that sometimes orthodontic treatment is just one part of that process.

We know that many patients want to continue to make cosmetic improvements even after they’re finished wearing braces.

Today, we’re talking about some of the ways we can help you reach that goal so your smile is everything you want it to be!

Having a straight smile after years of insecurity about your crooked teeth is amazing. Seeing how happy our patients are when they finally correct the issue is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do here in Boca Raton, FL!

But we’re also here to make sure that you love what you see in the mirror or when looking at pictures of yourself years from now. That means offering a few cosmetic options to complete your smile transformation after orthodontic treatment for a happier, more confident life.

Whiter Teeth To Complete Your New Look

Crossing that finish line after orthodontic treatment is a wonderful feeling! But despite the exhilaration, you may start to notice the stains on your teeth that were once hidden by braces.

We can fix that!

You might feel tempted to try a whitening kit from your local drugstore, but don’t be surprised if you don’t get the results promised on the package.

Not only do store brand whitening systems lack the kind of strength in their gels and strips you need to truly whiten your teeth, but they just can’t guarantee your safety.

In other words, buying a whitening kit from a store will only offer universal mouthguards, trays, or strips that won’t fit properly and securely. This could potentially harm your gums.

At Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R, you can trust that you’re getting high-quality results in the safest way possible with our powerful whitening treatment.

The greatest part about trusting our professionals to whiten your smile is that you can opt for fast, in-office treatment or complete it in the comfort of your own home using our take-home method!

Give Your New Smile A Beautiful Balance

Now that you have a straight smile, you can smile with confidence. But that can be tough is your newly positioned teeth look really small compared to your gums.

When your gums steal the show when you smile, you have what’s commonly known as a gummy smile. It could be because your teeth are actually small, or it could mean you have excess gum tissue.

Either way, our orthodontists can restore balance to your smile with our gummy smile treatment. Thanks to advanced laser technology in our Boca Raton, FL office, you’re getting the latest in gum treatment that’s safe, fast, and comfortable. Since there is no cutting or stitching with laser treatment, you’re able to optimize results with minimal healing time compared to other methods.

What you’re left with is a gorgeous new shape of your gumline and more proportionate teeth for a smile you can’t help but show off!

Talk To Us About Your Smile Goals!

A beautiful smile isn’t just about straight teeth. For many people, that’s only the first step toward the smile you’ve always wanted. You have options to take your smile to the next level after your orthodontic treatment is complete.

Whether you want to turn the whiteness level up a few notches or you’re looking to have a more balanced smile, our team is here to help you make your new smile all you’ve ever wanted it to be!

Call Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R at 561-327-6775 or fill out our convenient online form to request a consultation.

Will Invisalign Treatment Work for Me? [QUIZ]

Invisalign treatment is a great option for many people, but it isn’t the best choice for everyone. To find out if Invisalign treatment is right for you, schedule a complimentary consultation with our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists. They’ll examine you using high-tech tools like 3D imaging and discuss a number of factors with you, including your lifestyle, to determine if Invisalign is a good fit.

In the meantime, you can take this quiz to get a better idea of whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign treatment.  After you take the quiz, call Smiles by Dr. W and Dr. R at 561-327-6775 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Why Get a Custom Mouthguard to Protect Teeth? [VIDEO]

Why get a custom mouthguard to protect teeth? Won’t any mouthguard do?

While you can buy a “boil-and-bite” mouthguard at a retail store, it won’t work as well as a custom mouthguard to protect teeth during sports or other activities. Our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists will measure you for a mouthguard that will fit you perfectly, so it’s comfortable to wear and easy to speak. Even more important, they’ll make sure it adequately protects your braces or other orthodontia.

Watch this video from the American Dental Association for more information on using a custom mouthguard to protect teeth, then call Smiles by Dr. W and Dr. R at 561-327-6775 to schedule an appointment.

How To Handle Some Common Orthodontic Emergencies [BLOG]

Orthodontic emergencies are pretty rare. But given that you’ll wear your braces or other orthodontics for quite some time, you may experience a few problems along the way.

The good news is, many issues can just wait until your next scheduled appointment. You can call our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists any time you have a problem at 561-327-6775, especially if discomfort is involved. We’ll advise you as to whether you need to come in. And we make time for orthodontic emergencies at our two locations.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with common orthodontic terms so you can more easily discuss orthodontic emergencies and other issues with us.

Even better news: you can actually handle many orthodontic emergencies yourself with common household materials like tweezers, nail clippers, and wax. You’ll still need to come see us, but you can make yourself more comfortable in the meantime.

Here are some of our tips for handling common orthodontic emergencies.

How to Relieve General Soreness

Though not exactly an orthodontic emergency, general soreness is common when you first get your braces. We suggest:

• Rinsing your mouth a few times a day with warm saltwater (about a teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of water)
• Applying Orabase or a similar topical pain reliever, which you can buy at drugstores
• Taking ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain reliever
• Eating soft foods, and especially cold foods like ice cream

Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may feel irritated while you become used to wearing braces. These areas will toughen over time, so any tenderness should go away after the first few weeks. Applying wax to your braces, which we’ll provide, will help.

How to Use Wax for Your Braces

We can show you how, but here are some tips on using wax for your braces:

• Don’t use too much wax. Roll a tiny piece of wax into a ball. It shouldn’t be much larger than a kernel of popcorn. Rolling it will soften it to make it easier to use. If you use too much, the wax will fall off.
• Dry your braces first. This will help the wax adhere to your braces.
• Replace wax often. Remove wax when eating. And remove it before you brush your teeth so it doesn’t get caught in your toothbrush. We suggest replacing it at least twice a day. Don’t leave it on for more than two days.
• Don’t worry if you swallow it. Though you won’t want to swallow it if you can help it, there’s no harm if you do. Nothing in it can hurt you.

How to Fix a Loose Bracket or Loose Wire

Brackets hold the wires of your braces in place. If a bracket or band on your braces is loose but still attached to the wire, the best thing to do is leave it in place and apply wax to it. If the wire comes out completely, wrap your bracket in a tissue, put it into a secure container like an envelope or a baggie, and get to our Boca Raton, FL orthodontist office or our Coral Springs orthodontist office as soon as possible.

For a loose wire, use tweezers to try to put it back into place. You can also use wax to help secure it. If this doesn’t work and it is uncomfortable, you can use a small nail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. Wrap gauze or a tissue around the end being clipped to avoid accidentally swallowing it. Clip it as closely as possible, and secure it with wax. Again, call our orthodontists right away.

How to Address a Poking Wire

If your wire is poking out and causing irritation, use a pencil eraser to gently push it back down. If you can’t get the wire into a position that relieves your discomfort, you can also put wax on it to minimize any pain.

How to Avoid Orthodontic Emergencies

The best way to handle an orthodontic emergency is to keep it from occurring in the first place! Here are some tips for avoiding orthodontic emergencies:

• Don’t eat hard, sticky, or crunchy foods. Stick to softer foods as much as possible.
• If you participate in sports or other physical activities, let our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists fit you for a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth and braces.
• Don’t brush or floss too vigorously.

We’re happy to help you with orthodontic emergencies, or anything else! Call Smiles by Dr. W and Dr. R at 561-327-6775.

How to Choose the Right Toothpaste [VIDEO]

Tooth brushing is always an important habit – but never more so than when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. Wearing braces or other orthodontics can make it tougher than usual to practice good oral hygiene, so you’ll want to make sure you use the right toothpaste.

There are lots of choices on the market. So how do you choose the right toothpaste?

Our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists are happy to discuss how to choose the right toothpaste, or any other aspect of oral care, when you visit our office. Call us at 561-327-6775 to schedule.

This video from the American Dental Association also offers some tips. Watch it, and then give us a call if you have any questions.

Do You Need Treatment for a TMJ Disorder? [QUIZ]

You may never have heard of your temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which connect your lower jaw to your skull. But a TMJ disorder (TMD) may be the cause of your chronic sore jaw, earaches, headaches, and muscle pain.

Though the causes of a TMJ disorder can vary, studies show that misaligned bites, uneven tooth surfaces, and jaw problems can all play a role. Thanks to their expertise and training, our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists are well-equipped to provide treatment for a TMJ disorder. Our own Dr. Peter Wohlgemuth even published research titled “Orthodontic Treatment and How it Relates to TMJ” in the American Journal of Orthodontics.

Our treatment for a TMJ disorder typically includes a custom mouthguard and/or massage therapy to help end your pain.

How do you know if you have a TMJ disorder? The best way to find out is an in-depth screening with our orthodontists. In the meantime, you can take this quiz. If it indicates you may have TMD, call Smiles by Dr. W and Dr. R at 561-327-6775 to schedule an exam.

Which Teeth Straightening Option Is Best for Me? [BLOG]

As recently as 20 years ago, your only teeth straightening option was traditional metal braces. You know, the system of metal wires, brackets, and rubber bands.

Today, however, your possible choices at Smiles by Dr. W and Dr. R include:

• less conspicuous versions of braces, including clear ceramic braces and lingual braces
• Invisalign, which uses clear plastic aligners instead of metal and wires to move your teeth into place
• suresmile®, a system that uses robotics to straighten teeth in a shorter amount of time than conventional braces

We offer all of these solutions in our Boca Raton, FL orthodontist office. The best way to determine which teeth straightening option will best suit your needs is a complimentary consultation with Dr. Peter Wohlgemuth or Dr. Ira Rothstein.

Among the factors they’ll review with you during your consultation:

• Your age
• Whether your jaw is still growing
• Condition of your teeth and gums
• Alignment of your bite
• Your lifestyle
• Your budget

To schedule your complimentary orthodontics consultation, call Smiles by Dr. W and Dr. R at 561-327-6775. In the meantime, though, we’ve discussed some of the questions you’ll want to consider as you select a teeth straightening option.

What Orthodontic Issues Do I Need to Address?

Braces typically are more effective than Invisalign for certain types of orthodontic treatment. The more complex the required treatment, the more likely we are to suggest braces. We typically don’t suggest Invisalign if we need to move teeth vertically or rotate canine or premolar teeth.

How Old Am I?

We sometimes recommend braces for young children, even ones whose jaws may still be growing and who lack all of their primary (permanent) teeth. Your child should see us for their first orthodontic examination by age 7.

Certain orthodontic issues may require a two-phase treatment in which we focus first on developing the proper jaw size to accommodate their teeth and create a well-aligned bite, and then on straightening their teeth. With this type of treatment, we’re often addressing issues such as crossbite or severe crowding that will likely respond better to braces than to Invisalign.

How Important Is Appearance?

Many older teens and adults are more concerned about their appearance than younger children are. It’s no wonder, as they are more actively involved than kids in dating, work, and other situations where their smile is on full display, often to people who don’t know them well. A first impression seems especially crucial during a job interview or when creating an online dating profile.  

For this reason, we often suggest:

• Invisalign. Aligners are made of clear, BPA-free plastic, so they are far less conspicuous than braces. And the aligners are removable, so you can actually take them out for special occasions such as an interview or first date.
• Clear ceramic braces. These braces are less noticeable than traditional metal braces because their wires and brackets are made of clear and/or tooth-colored materials that blend in better with your smile.
• Lingual braces. These braces are completely invisible because we attach them to the back surfaces of your teeth rather than the visible front surfaces.

How Are My Oral Hygiene Habits?

It’s easier to practice good oral hygiene with Invisalign. That’s because you can remove your aligners when eating or drinking fluids other than water. You won’t have to worry about food becoming stuck in your braces with this teeth straightening option, and you can brush and floss your teeth before re-inserting your aligners.

It’s important to avoid problematic crunchy and sticky foods when wearing braces and to be even more diligent about oral hygiene. It’s even more important with ceramic braces, as they are more prone to damage than traditional metal braces.

An oral hygiene habit that is important with Invisalign is wearing your aligners for the recommended time of at least 22 hours a day. If you don’t, you risk lengthening your treatment time. So if you lack self-discipline, Invisalign may not be the best teeth straightening option for you.

Is Length of Treatment Important to Me?

Most people want to complete their orthodontic treatment as quickly as they can. We definitely understand that! Individual treatment time will vary, no matter which teeth straightening option you choose. But in general, Invisalign treatment is quicker. Average Invisalign treatment for an adult is 12 months, compared to 18 months or more for braces.

One way to speed treatment time with braces is by using suresmile® technology. Our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists use sophisticated software to create your treatment plan, then robotics technology is used to create your braces. A robot is more precise than a human, which means treatment is completed more efficiently.

Not only that, but your braces are made of nickel and titanium. Often called “smart wire,” it works with your body heat to exert gradual force on your teeth. The result of all these advances is fewer adjustments during your treatment and a treatment time that is 33 percent shorter, on average, than treatment with conventional braces.

Our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists are happy to help you choose a teeth straightening option. Call Smiles by Dr. W and Dr. R at 561-327-6775 or use our online form to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Teeth Whitening 101 [VIDEO]

Many patients of our Boca Raton, FL orthodontists like to further beautify their straight smiles when their braces come off. One way they can do that is with teeth whitening treatments.

We offer our patients a choice of two teeth whitening treatments: a one-hour teeth whitening treatment in our office from Zoom, or a treatment from Opalescence that you can use in the convenience of your own home. Either way, the result is a whiter and brighter smile that really shines!

For more information on how teeth whitening treatments work, watch this video from the American Dental Association. Then call Smiles by Dr. W and Dr. R at 561-327-6775 to find out about teeth whitening treatments when your braces come off.