Selfies 101

Kelly Orthodontics

Selfies have been popular for years now…but do you know how to take the perfect one? At first it may have seemed a little ridiculous, all these people taking photos of themselves and posting them online. But did you know that taking selfies is a fantastic way to show off your personality and confidence…not to mention your Kelly Orthodontics smile?

Taking a selfie is an art form. A great selfie is more than just a quick camera click, it actually takes a level of skill to capture and edit the perfect picture. After some practice (using our tried-and-true techniques below) we know you will be a selfie master in no time at all.

5 Tips for the Perfect Selfie

1. Have Expression. You can never go wrong with smiling…but don’t fake it. Think about something that really does make you smile. Pull out a wonderful memory, relive it, and we promise that you’re going to have a beautiful facial expression in your selfie. Play around with different smiles and expressions and have fun! No matter what, a smile is the best expression you can wear.  
2. Capture Your Best Angle. We all have a particular side or angle that we feel looks much better in selfies. If you haven’t yet found yours, try moving the phone around your face and snapping a ton of photos. Instead of taking pictures head-on, turn your head a little to the right or left, or hold your camera a little higher…try different angles to show off your best features. Then pick the photos that you like most and remember the way you placed the phone and the way you turned your face. 
3. Focus on Lighting. Lighting is everything. They say that taking selfies using natural light is great. But the truth is that sometimes the rays can be too harsh on the face, so avoid snapping a shot during midday. You can always find a light source inside, just make sure that it’s not located behind you and that there are no shadows on your face. 
4. Show Off Something New. If you decide to take a selfie to show off something new, like…oh we don’t know, maybe your braces, make sure that you frame the photo in a way that highlights the new accessory that has you so excited. 
5. Don't Use a Mirror. Just stretch your arm out, point the camera toward your face and click. You can use your front facing camera to make it easier!

Ok, now you’re ready! Upload those selfies to all of your feeds…Instagram, Facebook, anywhere and everywhere. Are you a patient of Kelly Orthodontics? Then tag us in your selfies, we would love to see your smiling faces!

 

 

Benefits of Early Treatment

Kelly Orthodontics

Together with the American Association of Orthodontists, Dr. Dan Kelly recommends that your child’s first check-up with Kelly Orthodontics be performed no later than age 7. By age 7, your child has enough permanent teeth for Dr. Kelly to evaluate the developing teeth and the jaws to spot potential problems.

There are generally three outcomes from this first check-up:

1. No treatment is expected to be necessary. 
2. Treatment may be needed in the future, so your child will be monitored by Dr. Kelly periodically while the face and jaws continue to grow. 
3. There is a problem that lends itself to early treatment.

While there are many orthodontic problems that Dr. Kelly agrees are best treated after all permanent teeth have come in, early treatment can be in your child’s best interests. The goal of early treatment is to intercept developing problems, eliminate the cause, guide the growth of facial and jaw bones, and provide adequate space for incoming permanent teeth.

Orthodontic Issues that Dr. Kelly May Recommend Treating Early Include:

• Crossbites – Usually the result of a narrow upper jaw or abnormally wide lower jaw. A narrow upper jaw will often force a child to move their lower jaw forward or to the side when closing into a stable bite. When closed into this accommodating position, the lower teeth are located outside the upper teeth.

• Crowding - Crowding of the teeth is one of the most common orthodontic problems. Crowded teeth typically stem from a discrepancy between space in the jaw and the size of the teeth. Crowding can be the cause of, or the result of other problems such as impacted teeth, retained primary teeth, or teeth that do not naturally fall out.

• Spacing - Spaces between teeth is another common problem associated with the need for orthodontic care. Like crowding, spacing may be related to a tooth-to-jaw size disharmony. Tooth size discrepancies, such as smaller teeth or abnormally shaped teeth, can also create abnormal spaces between the teeth.

• Openbite - An anterior open-bite is the lack of vertical overlap of the front teeth and can usually be traced to jaw disharmony or habits such as thumb sucking or the thrusting of the tongue against the front teeth.

Early orthodontic treatment can take many forms. But…regardless of how treatment goals are reached, the bottom line is that some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if they are found and treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is complete, may make correction of some problems more difficult.

To give your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile, visit Kelly Orthodontics. No referral needed! Dr. Kelly will provide an initial consultation at no cost and with no obligation. He will alert you to potential problems and recommend treatment when it is most appropriate for your child.

For additional information, visit our website. Then, give our St. Charles office a call to schedule your child’s initial consultation.