Download your Free Orthodontic App

iBracesHelp

By The Dental Specialists

iBracesHelp is a FREE but informative smartphone App for people wearing braces or those who are interested in getting orthodontic braces in the near future. The application is full of useful information, pictures and videos on caring for your braces and what to do if you have problems with your braces.



This cool Orthodontic App is Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 3.2 or later.

There is also a orthodontic support website where you can find:

• helpful information about caring for braces

• how to take care of minor emergencies

• what to do for discomfort

• as well as links to other helpful websites

Be the first of your friends to Download the BracesHelp iPhone App from the iTunes store or visit the 24/7 virtual support site here for emergency orthodontic information. You can also get emergency information from our website here! For more information on caring for your braces, click here.

The iBracesHelp App gets a 4.5 out of 5 stars from reviewers in iTunes.

If you like this free App share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter and let us know what you though of it in the comments field below.

Enjoy,

Sanborn Orthodontics Team

October Orthodontic Health Tips from Sanborn Orthodontics

Happy October! For those who don't know, October is National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Dr. Robert Sanborn and our smile team realize this is a great opportunity for us and to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Dr. Sanborn and other dental professionals in the Crystal Coast area.

We always stress a good brushing and flossing routine all year round, but it is especially important during the fall season because of the availability of Halloween candy. We want you to enjoy your candy while keeping your smiles clean and healthy! During your orthodontic treatment we caution you to stay away from very sticky, chewy, hard, and crunchy candy and food because they can loosen or break your orthodontic appliances, which can add to your treatment time.  The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel

• Nuts

• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)

• Taffy

• Jelly beans

• Hard pretzels

• Licorice

• Bubblegum

• Chips

• Ice


If you have any questions, please feel free to give our Morehead City office a call, ask us on Facebook, or ask our smile team during your visit this month!

A Committment to Continuing Education

"Our staff at Sanborn Orthodontics is committed to continuing education. We like to keep up with the latest and most effective orthodontic procedures. Not only does it aid us, but it also helps us educate our patients about their treatment.

This year our staff is traveling to Charlotte, NC for continuing education. We will be covering topics that include: treatment coordinating, improving records, scheduling, and much more!

I think continuing education is very beneficial. It helps our office keep up with all of the new procedures and technology that has become available. It also helps us educate our patients on their orthodontic treatment and reassure them at they are receiving the most up-to-date care."

Dr. Sanborn

Fall is in the Air at Sanborn Orthodontics

Summer has flown by and now we are looking forward to the cooler weather and brilliant colors of fall here at Sanborn Orthodontics, serving the Morehead City and surrounding Crystal Coast areas.

“As usual, summer was a very busy time at Sanborn Orthodontics. We all worked hard to accommodate our patients' needs during their “off” time, and to fit everyone into the schedule before school started. The fall season is a great time to get things done that have been put off during the fun summer months, so we will be busy catching up here at the office!  The holidays will be right around the corner and our office will be as busy as ever as we try to fit in treatment before the end of the year! Good luck with the beginning of the school year and we will see you at your next appointment soon!!!”

Dr. Sanborn

Is it time for you to call Sanborn Orthodontics?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should give Sanborn Orthodontics a call. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth

2. Difficulty of chewing or biting

3. Mouth breathing

4. Finger sucking or other oral habits

5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth

6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude

7. Speech difficulty

8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth

9. Protruding teeth

10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all


Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call!

Hope this helps,

-Dr. Sanborn and Ortho Team

The advantage of summer appointments at Sanborn Orthodontics

Summer is the perfect time to get braces! School is out and schedules can be more flexible. Summer vacation allows for you to get used to new braces, so that you can feel confident when returning to school.

Sanborn Orthodontics is the only place to go for your orthodontic treatment. Our doctor and team are extensively trained in the latest technology. We always host games and contests that are awesome and fun for everyone. Where else can you go to the orthodontist AND enter a contest to win an iPod Touch or Nintendo Wii? All of this and we offer affordable payment plans to fit any budget. Check us out today!!!

Stay Cool With a Braces-Friendly Summer Treat!

Summer is here! Kids and adults alike will now be spending more time outside being active and enjoying the hotter temperatures. What’s better on a hot summer day than a delicious treat that will cool you down after doing something active in the summer sun? Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have just the thing, Watermelon Sorbet! You can find the complete recipe below:

 Watermelon Sorbet

Ingredients

• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 to 3 cups watermelon, diced, no seeds or rind


 Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the water, sugar, and lime juice on medium high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Chill this “syrup” at least 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the watermelon chunks in a food processor or blender and liquefy them. Add the chilled syrup to the watermelon puree and blend. Freeze sorbet in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve immediately.

Happy Summer!

Sanborn Orthodontics Helping Tackle Summer Sports Injuries

With summer here, there are many questions that patients have about preventing facial injuries.  Summer is a very active time for many of us, whether that means sports or just fun in the sun.  Here at Sanborn Orthodontics, we offer mouthguards to all of our patients that play sports.  We have severeal colors to choose from, which makes it fun during school because patients like to choose their school colors.  These mouthguards are very easy to insert, designed to fit over your braces and are very comfortable.  We recommend these over the mouthguards you find in a retail store, as those tend to be the more rigid, less flexible kind that can damage or break your brackets.

We recommend mouthguards even for patients who are using the Invisalign aligners.  This is because the trays do not offer as effective of protection as a mouthguard does.   If you have a removable retainer that you were full time, we recommend that you remove it when playing sports as well.  This way, if you are hit in the mouth, your retainer will not be damaged.

If you should get into an accident and a tooth is knocked out, you should call your general dentist right away.  The tooth should be rised off immediately with water, but never scrubbed.  It should be held by the crown (top of the tooth) and not the root to avoid damge to the ligaments.  If you are comfortable with placing the tooth back in the socket, do so.  If not, you can place the tooth between your check and gumline.  This provides protection against bacteria.  If you need to transport the tooth, place it in a glass of milk.  This also protects the tooth by keeping it moist until you can receive medical attention.  You should place a gauze or tissue in the socket to stop any bleeding. 

If you should chip or break a tooth, you should call your general dentist or go to the hospitalo for medical attention.  Your dentist can use bonding material that is tooth colored to repair the broken tooth.  You can also call us here at Sanborn Orthodontics, even at night or on th weekend, and someone will call you back as soon as possible to assist in helping you.

Play it safe this summer and have some fun!!!

Braces 101 with Sanborn Orthodontics

If you ever have damage to your braces and need to call Sanborn Orthodontics, we can help more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble!  Here's a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.

Elastic Chain:  Tiny rubber bands that are fit under the bracket to close spaces.

Archwire:  The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth into position.  It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Archwire Loop:  Occasionally used for closing space left by an extraction.  Most archwires don't have loops.

Band:  A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in placed.  The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Bracket:  The main, small attachment that holds the archwire in placed.  Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube (Rarely used in our office):  Round, hollow attachment on the back of bands.  The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring:  Fits between brackets and over archwires to open spaces between teeth.

Ligature Ties:  Fine wire that is twisted under the archwire or around brackets.

Hook:  Welded or removable arms used to attach elastics (rubber bands).

Elastics (Rubber Bands):  Small rubber bands that hook between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to help move teeth.

Hope this helps.  Give us a call if you have any questions!!!

Working With Patients With Special Needs

At Sanborn Orthodontics, we work with patients of all ages and needs. These include patients with special needs, conditions and disabilities. Our team is experienced and willing to work with these patients, and strive to help create a comfortable, relaxing environment.

Just last week, we saw a child with autism. Prior to the appointment, we discussed with her parents the environment in which their daughter feels most comfortable. They mentioned she prefers quiet voices, minimal amount of excitement around her. She also loves dogs!!! We informed our team of these requests and one of our team members also made a DVD of her new puppy for the patient to watch, how awesome is that!!! We believe this patient's visit was a success.

At Sanborn Orthodontics, we do our part to accomodate ALL of our patient's needs.

Going Green at Sanborn Orthodontics

We are living in an age with a renewed commitment to conservation and are frequently reminded to recycle, reduce and reuse. Earth day was April 22nd and we thought this would be a great time to discuss everything that Sanborn Orthodontics does to conserve our natural resources and the environment.

Did you know that our office is paperless? We offer convenient and secure online services with our patient login system. You can view all of your account information, and even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages Since this information is submitted electronically, we eliminate the need for extraneous paper communications. We are also providing digital x-rays that do not require chemicals to produce and lower dose radiation, which is safer.

We're also always looking for new ways to go green - currently we are testing new, non-toxic cleaning supplies for use in the office. We also use recycled paper towels and other paper products. Our coffee bar also has a recycling bin for all your water bottles and cans. So our team here at Sanborn Orthodontics would love to hear how you minimize your impact on the environment. Leave us a comment below or you can also visit our Facebook page and post something on our wall. Thanks!!!

Orthodontic Fun Facts, from Sanborn Orthodontics

Everyone loves fun facts, so the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Sanborn Orthodontics though you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States.



• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D. 23-79).



• The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.



• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.



• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.



• The cement that attaches the braces to teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.



• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.



• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

Hope you enjoy these fun facts! Let us know of any other great facts you may know or find and give Sanborn Orthodontics a call if you have any questions about treatment!!!

Kids Getting Braces at a Younger Age

In the past, braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as 7 are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because pre-adolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggest it could be a good idea to start early. Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young. Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages 9 and 14, and the folks at the AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from 1 to 3 years, with 2 years being the average. It's important, however, that children be screened around age 7 for Dr. Sanborn to assess what the best age for their treatment is. I hope this helps! Give us Sanborn Orthodontics a call if you have any questions about your child's treatment!!!

Sanborn Orthodontics Offers 24/7 Access to Your Account

At Sanborn Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech website and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Morehead City.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week - all through our website? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! And, because we know that folks sometimes forget, you can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

If you have questions, give us Sanborn Orthodontics a call. Thanks and have a great week!!!