Common Problems Kelly Orthodontics Can Solve

Kelly Orthodontics is a family oriented practice that has been in St. Charles for 40 years! We are proud of the relationships we build with our patients and our focus on finding the orthodontic solutions that are right for your family.

We provide all types of orthodontic solutions and find it rewarding to see our patients experience their brand new smile. Here a few of the orthodontic problems we can solve at Kelly Orthodontics.

Phase I: Treatment is oftentimes necessary for younger patients to establish the proper "foundation" for future dental and facial development. By creating the necessary space and properly aligning the existing teeth, we can guide permanent teeth into their proper position. The second phase of treatment takes place after the permanent teeth have erupted. In many cases, Phase I treatment can reduce the length of time required for the second phase.

Class II: Problems represent an abnormal bite relationship in which the upper jaw and teeth are located in front of the lower jaw and teeth. Class II patients usually exhibit a convex facial profile with a recessed chin. In most cases, this relationship is due to inherent characteristics. A skeletal Class II problem occurs when the upper back molars are forward of the lower back molars…this gives the patient the appearance of a recessed lower jaw or an upper jaw that is protrusive (or both).

Excessive Gingival Display: Also known as a gummy smile, this orthodontic problem gives the appearance of excessive exposed gums on the upper arch. There are several treatment options for this problem. In severe cases surgery may be necessary to actually remove a section of the upper jaw shifting the jaw upward vertically reducing the amount of exposure of the upper gum tissue.

Open Bite: An open bite can occur with the front teeth, known as an anterior open-bite or with the back teeth, referred to as a posterior open-bite. 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. A posterior open-bite is a problem in which the back teeth do not meet vertically prohibiting the jaw to function properly.

New Year, New Smiles!

We have seen many fantastic smiles from braces to Invisalign, these are just a few of the great smiles we have seen starting off the new year!

Did you know over 6 million people across the U.S. have had orthodontic treatment using Invisalign? That includes many right here in our Saint Charles and surrounding community.  Did you also know 1 in 4 orthodontic patients are adults? Whether it is Invisalign or braces, no matter what age you are, orthodontic treatment can enhance your smile.

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Bright smiles today! Way to go Mia 😀 #KellyOrtho

A post shared by Kelly Orthodontics (@kelly_ortho) on Jan 13, 2020 at 6:30am PST

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#HappyFriday from Dr. Dan and Chloe! What an awesome smile. #KellyOrtho 🎉😃

A post shared by Kelly Orthodontics (@kelly_ortho) on Jan 10, 2020 at 6:00am PST

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What an awesome smile! Way to go Harry! #KellyOrtho

A post shared by Kelly Orthodontics (@kelly_ortho) on Jan 16, 2020 at 6:01am PST

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Congrats on these awesome smiles! 👍🦷🤩 #KellyOrtho

A post shared by Kelly Orthodontics (@kelly_ortho) on Jan 27, 2020 at 9:27am PST

3 Benefits of Straight Teeth

Whether it is for health reasons or a confident beautiful smile, there are many benefits to a straighter smile. We have been in the Saint Charles community for over 40 years and our goal at Kelly Orthodontics is that your smile is a confident, beautiful, healthy smile. Whether its through Invisalign, braces or simply wearing your retainers after orthodontic treatment, orthodontics goes beyond just a beautiful smile. It additionally helps your jaw and helps your bite. Here are three health benefits of having straight teeth.

1. Healthy Gums: 
Healthy gums are a foundation to a healthy smile internally. The health of your mouth and your body are all connected and your gums are an essential foundation to your overall health. When your teeth are spaced out or crowded, it is possible for them to become inflamed, which can be a sign of periodontal disease. Straight teeth aligns with your gums to fit well around your teeth.

2. Tooth Wear:
We use our teeth everyday and it is normal for our enamel to wear out as we grow older. However, crowded teeth can cause your teeth to pop out in abnormal places, which run against teeth. Over time this can lead to your chewing and bite become abnormal and cause unnessarry wear to your tooth enamel.

3. Make Teeth Easier to Clean:
A great benefit of straight teeth is the easiness of cleaning your teeth, which means a healthier smile. A crowded set of teeth are difficult to floss, which can lead to plaque, toothdecay and periodontal disease.

If you're interested in learning more about our services such as Invisalign and braces, give us a call at (630) 584-9666.

Thank You for a Great 2019

It has been another fantastic year at Kelly Orthodontics. We love our Saint Charles community and love all the smiles we have seen transformed in our office. Thank you to all our patients and their families for entrusting us with their smiles. Thank you for your kind words and reviews.

Kelly Orthodontics: Holiday Treats to Avoid if you have Braces

The holidays are here and whether you are cozying up with hot chocolate or baking cookies, you may be wondering if there are any types of treats you should steer clear from, especially if you have braces. The answer is yes! Here are a few holiday treats that are not braces friendly.

• Candy Canes
• Fudge
• Popcorn
• Peanut Brittle
• Anything with nuts or crunchy crusts
• Caramel - avoid this sticky treat that can easily get caught up in your braces

4 Thanksgiving Foods to Avoid

Thanksgiving is a great time for family, reflecting on what we are thankful for and of course, celebrating around food. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for those who come to us for their orthodontic health care. Whether it is braces, Invisalign or preventive care, you should always take care of your smile.

If you have braces, there are a few foods you may want to stay away from during Thanksgiving.

1. Uncooked Vegetables - uncooked vegetables, in their raw form are too hard to bite and chew and may damage braces. Instead, cook or steam your vegetables, which will be much softer for your teeth.

2. Corn on the Cob - on the cob, corn can do some damage to braces, but there is no problem if it is cut off. Just be sure to floss, so it does not get stuck to your teeth.

3. Nuts - nuts is an obvious food to avoid because it can damage brackets and cause wires to come loose. Watch out for nuts, often found in pies and other desserts.

4. Caramel - caramel is another obvious dessert to stay away from on Thanksgiving (and beyond during the holidays). It is sticky and can get easily stuck to your braces.

Kelly Orthodontics: What is the difference between an Orthodontist and a Dentist?

If you are beginning to research how to “get straight teeth” or “do I need braces,” a question you may be wondering is, "can my dentist give me braces?" The answer is a big NO! There are major differences between an orthodontist and a dentist. From what a dentist does to what an orthodontist can do.

As Orthodontists, we utilize the latest technological advances in the profession to achieve unsurpassed results for our patients. Dentists are mainly concerned with your overall dental health. Dentists treat decayed teeth and remove failed teeth. Dentists look for abnormalities in the mouth and teach patients how to prevent dental disease.

Orthodontists are specialists in training teeth and aligning jaws. Another difference between both dentist and orthodontist, is orthodontist become specialists by completing four years of general dental education in dental school and then continuing in an accredited program where they study their specific specialty full-time for two or more years.

Located in Saint Charles, our team is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best care possible. Schedule a consultation today.

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Shoutout to these fantastic smiles! Congratulate them with, an emoji below. 😃🤩👍

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