Our Blog

In honor of the July 4th holiday, we’re going to celebrate freedom, and shine a spotlight on those who now have freedom from braces!

If you’ve ever been to our office, you’re familiar with our bulletin board and the TVs in our waiting room, where some of our favorite before and after photos are displayed. So many great smiles have come from our office! Of course, just because your braces are off doesn’t mean orthodontic care is complete. We recommend long term retainer wear because teeth have a tendency to shift throughout life.

Of course, as a patient, it is up to you to keep your smile in place. In addition to proper dental hygiene, wearing a retainer is essential to maintaining the location of your teeth. Just as it takes a long time to move your teeth into the correct position, it takes a long time for the periodontal ligaments and bone to “remember” where your teeth belong and keep them there.

While teeth will naturally shift throughout your life, they tend to shift the most in the first two years following treatment. That’s why we recommend wearing your retainer full time for at least the first twelve months after treatment, but the longer the better. Full time means day and night, removing it only to eat and brush your teeth. We then recommend the retainer only at night for the next year, and then at least a few nights per week long term. It’s not as bad as it sounds- it doesn’t take long for nighttime wear to become a habit!

Keeping your retainer clean is very important. We recommend brushing the retainer and your teeth before putting the retainer in. You can use your regular toothpaste and toothbrush.

Keeping your retainer safe is also very important. Whenever you take your retainer out of your mouth, you should immediately put it into its case. Many patients need to order new retainers because they wrap the retainer in a napkin and accidentally throw it away. Dogs also love to chew on retainers, another great reason to keep your retainer in its case when it’s not being worn. If you do lose or damage your retainer, call our office right away. We’ll take an impression and order a new retainer for you, which typically arrives in a few weeks.

A healthy smile is about more than looking great. Great dental health is key to overall health. Poor dental hygiene can lead not only to cavities, but has also has been linked to strokes, heart disease, complications in diabetics, and much more.

Did you know three out of five children ages 12-19 have tooth decay? And that American school children lost more than 51 million school hours each year to dental-related illnesses, and adults lose more than 164 million hours of work each year?

Help maintain your beautiful smile by :

*Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

* Replace your toothbrush at least four times per year.

* Visit your dentist regularly! Every six months or whenever the dentist recommends is best.

*Floss regularly. Ask one of our Orthodontic Assistants if you need a demonstration on flossing while in braces.

* Use mouthwash! Follow brushing and flossing by gargling with mouthwash. Mouthwash helps to wash away food and plaque which brushing and flossing removed from your teeth.

* Choose healthy and nutritious foods for healthy teeth and gums!

*Reduce your consumption of sugary drinks and candy, especially when wearing braces and expanders!

Do you know the history behind Memorial Day? Memorial Day began after the end of the Civil War as a way to remember the many people killed on both sides, and to start healing the deep rift between the North and the South. In the years following the war, people in various communities around the country were known to place flowers, wreaths and flags on the graves of the war dead. That’s why the holiday was originally known as Decoration Day.

Although Decoration Day has been practiced since 1868, it wasn’t officially recognized as a federal holiday until 1967, when Congress renamed it Memorial Day and declared the last Monday in May a federal holiday. The original date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a major battle.

Now, as a way to honor all military personnel killed in service to their country, on Memorial Day, all flags are raised completely and then slowly lowered to half staff until noon. At noon, the flag is raised to full staff, to symbolize a nation raising up the memory of their war heroes. Many Veterans wear red poppy flowers as a symbol of Memorial Day, and many Veterans’ Organizations sell the flowers as fundraisers.

Each Thursday before Memorial Day, soldiers place flags in front of each of the more than 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery, and then patrol around the clock to make sure each flag remains standing throughout the weekend.

Dr. Rooney, his family and staff wish to thank all our Veterans and their families for their service to our country!

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics thought 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 the 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.
• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Have a great week!

-Dr. Sean Rooney and staff