Our Blog

Give Your Teeth and Braces a Sporting Chance: Protect Your Mouth During Sports Activities

May 16th, 2013

DID YOU KNOW. . .

ARCH Orthodontics will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment who’s involved in team sports.

Now that Spring is almost here, if you play baseball, soccer, lacrosse or other sports, it’s important that you consult with us regarding special precautions – we definitely recommend wearing a mouth guard.

Because your teeth are moving, do not use mouth guards that custom form to your teeth! These will resist progress and the tooth movement we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances and get in touch with us immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please get in touch with us immediately to schedule an appointment ASAP with ARCH.

Whether you wear braces or not, a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can help you avoid serious injuries. As always, if you have questions, please give us a call.

Making Braces Fit into Your Life

May 10th, 2013

When you get braces at ARCH Orthodontics there are a few things you’ll have to adjust to get optimal results in the shortest amount of time. If you have any questions about the “do’s and don’ts” of living with braces, feel free to ask your ARCH doctor or any member of our ARCH team during your next adjustment!

Eating

When you have braces there are a few types of food that can damage your brackets and bend your wires leading to more appointments and longer treatment times. Any foods that have hard insides, like fruit pits, or meat on bones, cut into pieces and chew on your back teeth; with braces, that is the best way to “eat” them. By simply avoiding sticky, chewy, crunchy, and hard foods, your Orthodontic experience will be much easier with fewer “emergencies.”

Cleaning

You’ll never believe the amount of food that can get stuck between your braces when you eat! In addition to causing bad breath and tooth decay, it looks pretty gross. We have developed the ARCH Orthodontics rule of 5’s to help – ask for your special bookmark- art work created by one of our patients – it” sums” up the rule of 5’s beautifully. It’s so important to brush your teeth after every meal and floss every day. It may be a hassle, but it’ll all be worth it in the end when you show off your bright, healthy smile. It is a hassle to learn the new routine but worth it in the

quality of your tooth enamel and gums when we are done. Remember the ARCH Orthodontics rule of 5’s

Sports

Protecting your smile when you play sports is essential whether you have braces or not. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury. The team at ARCH Orthodontics can provide a mouth guard that will promote tooth movement while in treatment. After treatment we can create a custom mouth guard, fit just for you, that can last years if you plan on participating further in any sport! We are glad to do it, love those ARCH smiles “for generations to come.”

What’s a palatal expander and why would I need one?

April 26th, 2013

A palatal expander “expands” (or widens) your upper jaw from side to side. By holding (placing bands on the molar teeth) we can teach you (Mom, Dad) how to put pressure on palatal bones daily or as your ARCH Doctor directs. It is used most often to correct a narrow foundation (jaw bone) to make the bottom and upper teeth fit together better. Sometimes we use a removable expander to make more room for bottom teeth to fit under the correct sized top jaw. By doing this, we can help to promote a broader, more aesthetic smile.

Palatal expansion is usually not painful, but you may feel some minor discomfort, nothing a Tylenol can’’t help. . It may take a little time for you to get used to your appliance, eating can be a challenge for a meal or two. You may experience difficulty speaking. It takes time for the tongue, ear and brain to learn the new environment to speak correctly – usually about three hours of speech. Swallowing for the first meals are also learning challenges, but never for long
Adjusting your appliance daily or as directed by your ARCH Doctor will ensure you keep on schedule with the rest of your Orthodontic treatment plan. It takes a few weeks to achieve the desired amount of expansion, after which you’ll keep wearing your expander for about three to six months, giving time for the new bone to form and stabilize. Your ARCH team will give you detailed instructions, make sure you can turn the key to activate your expander, and answer questions you may have about your palatal expander.

Care, Concern and Compassion are within our Core Values here at ARCH Orthodontics we love to take care of all kids and especially those who present as a challenge.

FOR A SECOND TIME, GRIFFIN LINCOLN’S CAUSING LOTS OF ‘BUZZ’

April 10th, 2013

Canton 11 Year-Old Hopes to Raise $6,000 to Fight Cancer in Kids

CANTON, MASS. (Issued Spring 2013) — Griffin Lincoln created a lot of ‘buzz’ last year. And he’s at it again.

Griffin, of Canton, now 11, is again participating in the One Mission’s Kids Cancer Buzz Off, part of the 2013 Boston Children’s Hospital campaign to raise money to fight children’s cancer. One Mission is the childhood cancer foundation that is organizing the June 9^th event.

Last year he raised over $5,400. This year’s goal is $6,000 and Griffin already has over $2,400 in pledges. In 2012, Griffin joined 449 others of all ages who had their heads shaved, winning personal praise from New England Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski (see photo). That event raised over $550,000 and Griffin was named one of the top fundraisers in the kids’ category.

Griffin, a patient of ARCH Orthodontics of Canton, was chosen last spring as ARCH’s ‘Patient of the Quarter’ for his involvement in fundraising and heightening awareness about cancer in kids. ARCH featured him in the practice’s news releases, website and social media. “We’re so proud of Griffin and all our patients who work to make a difference in our community,” said Dr. Robert Chavez.

This year Griffin’s fundraising motto is Buzzers + Donations = HOPE and he writes that on every thank-you note. He says, “I want the world one way, cancer free. If I can help by choosing to give up my hair, a choice kids with cancer don’t have, then it’s a no brainer!”

Griffin became involved after accompanying his grandfather to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for cancer treatments. He said, “I couldn’t believe all the kids that go there for cancer, too. I knew how hard treatment was for my grandfather. I wanted to help find a cure.”

Once again, Canton Selectman Gerald “Sal” Salvatori (in photo) has challenged Griffin: If he raises at least $5,000, he will let Griffin shave his head in front of his 5th grade class at the Kennedy School.

Griffin’s mom, Susan Molinari said Griffin is repeating many of last year’s proven fundraising techniques: an Easter Egg Hunt, a bake sale, a whiffle ball tournament and solicitation letters to local businesses, friends and family.

ARCH Orthodontics’ Dr. Andrew Chase and Dr. Chavez said, “We’re always looking for patients who go above and beyond in community service to be our ‘Patient of the Quarter.’ Griffin certainly meets our criteria and we’re so proud of his achievements at such a young age.”

Griffin’s fundraising page can be found at: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1728012