What You Should Know About Clear Aligners

Kelly Orthodontics

Advancements in orthodontics have given our patients more options for achieving the smile they have always wanted! At Kelly Orthodontics, we offer the latest in orthodontic treatment, including clear aligners, like Invisalign! Clear aligners allow Dr. Kelly to achieve the same results as traditional braces but without any brackets or wires. If you are thinking about improving your smile but can’t picture yourself in braces…clear aligners might be the perfect option for you.

What are Clear Aligners? Clear aligners use cutting-edge software and technology to shift misaligned teeth with a series of customized trays. Clear aligners are a removable orthodontic appliance. Clear aligners are made of a thermoplastic material and custom-designed to fit over your teeth. Although they look very different from braces, clear aligners use the same gentle pressure to gradually move your teeth into the perfect position.

Clear aligners offer more flexibility than traditional braces. Unlike braces, no part of the aligner is attached to the actual surface of the tooth. Because the aligners can be removed, they make it easier to keep your teeth and gums clean throughout the treatment process. Clear aligners are taken out before you begin your normal dental hygiene routine, allowing you to brush and floss the same way you always have. Did we mention that since the aligners are removable…there are no restrictions on what you can eat!

Are Clear Aligners Expensive? As clear aligners have become more popular over the years, they have also become more affordable. Clear aligners tend to cost about as much as traditional braces; however, the cost of your orthodontic treatment will vary depending on your individual needs and treatment plan.

At Kelly Orthodontics, our goal is to provide affordable, high-quality treatment that fits your budget. Our staff will discuss the cost of your treatment and your payment plan options so you can make the best choice for you, and your smile. We offer several payment programs including interest-free financing, prepayment discounts, and extended third party financing. We also have a multiple family member discount policy. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express and can easily arrange for automatic payment from your credit or debit card.

How Long does Clear Aligner Treatment Take? Each patient’s orthodontic problem is unique, and each patient responds to treatment differently, so there is no universal answer for how long your clear aligner treatment will take. In general, the total treatment time for clear aligners can be anywhere from 12-18 months.

There’s a lot to love about clear aligners, but they aren’t always a good fit for every patient. If you’d like to learn more about how clear aligners can transform your smile, give Kelly Orthodontics a call today and schedule a complimentary consultation. Dr. Kelly will assess your smile to determine if clear aligners are a good fit for you.

 

10 Tips to a Healthy Smile

Kelly Orthodontics

Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you and for many people, an ideal smile is a mouth full of pearly white, perfectly aligned teeth. It’s not a bad goal to have, but in addition to straight white teeth, you need to make sure that your smile is a healthy one.

1. Brush your Teeth Twice a Day

Brushing removes leftover food particles that can bond with saliva to form plaque. These particles feed the bacteria that naturally live in our mouths and these bacteria can eat through our tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. When brushing your teeth, be sure to use a quality electric toothbrush or a soft bristled manual brush. While medium and hard bristled toothbrushes are readily available, stiffer bristles and aggressive brushing causes gums to recede and can wear down your tooth’s enamel.

2. Use Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel, making it an important additive to toothpaste. Using toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride can reverse tooth decay at early stages, reducing the need for fillings.

3. Keep your Tongue Clean

When you brush your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue. Running your toothbrush over the white or yellow area at the back of your tongue helps to remove the foul-smelling bacterial waste that causes bad breath.

4. Take Good Care of your Toothbrush

Your toothbrush doesn’t need any special cleaning, but make sure it dries completely after each use and there is no leftover toothpaste. Store your toothbrush in an upright position that is exposed to air. Don’t forget to change out your old toothbrush for a fresh new toothbrush every 3 to 4 months…or earlier if you see a lot of wear and tear on the bristles.

5. Floss Daily

Flossing is important because it removes plaque between teeth and out from under the gumlines, where a toothbrush can’t reach. If left alone, plaque and tartar build up under the surface of the gumlines can cause periodontal disease, which leads to bone destruction and tooth loss. Daily flossing helps prevent tooth decay and gingivitis.

6. Limit Sugary Drinks

The bacteria in our mouths thrive on sugar which makes sugary drinks a major contributor to tooth decay. Reducing the amount of sugar in your diet combined with regular brushing and flossing can help keep the bacteria under control.

7. Maintain a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is not only important for your overall health, but it is important for your teeth as well. In addition to good nutrition provided by healthy foods that help your bones and teeth grow and stay healthy, a lot of fruits and vegetables are crunchy and chewy, which promotes the production of saliva. Foods that require a lot of chewing are good for the teeth because more saliva means the mouth is naturally washed out more often.

8. Drink Plenty of Water

Water is the healthiest drink for your smile and your body. Drinking water helps rinse teeth clean and discourages tooth decay. Not only that…but keeping your body hydrated helps your mouth produce enough saliva to keep your mouth and teeth clean. Saliva naturally washes out the mouth, removing oral bacteria and the food particles that they feed upon.

9. Don’t Chew on Hard Items

Don’t chew on hard candies or ice and keep non-food items like pens, pencils, and water bottle caps out of your mouth. These items aren’t designed to be chewed and can damage your teeth.

10. See your regular Dentist Twice a Year

Regular dental visits are necessary to preserving your oral health. Having routine cleanings every six months helps to promote good oral health and a beautiful smile. Your dentist is trained to recognize early signs of tooth decay and gum disease before they cause severe damage to your teeth and mouth. Regular checkups are the key to maintaining a healthy smile. Visiting your dentist twice a year can help you avoid complicated and expensive dental procedures later in life.

It can take some time before you start to notice changes from improved oral hygiene. While these changes won’t come overnight, they are certainly worth the time and effort, both for the sake of your smile and your overall health. If you have any questions regarding the health of your teeth and mouth, don’t hesitate to call our office.

 

Put your Smile in the Hands of a Professional

Kelly Orthodontics

If you have been considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or a member of your family, there has never been a better time to explore everything Kelly Orthodontics has to offer!

Although many people believe dentists and orthodontists are interchangeable, there are many significant differences that set them apart. It’s important to understand these differences in order to make an informed decision about your orthodontic care.

Dentists and orthodontists are on a similar path until they complete dental school. Following graduation, orthodontists will enter a residency program. These programs last 2-3 years and include specialized education and training focused on diagnosing and correcting a wide range of orthodontic issues. While all dentists do receive some basic orthodontic training at school, general dentists don’t possess this same level of training and experience when it comes to straightening smiles.

As the patient, it’s up to you to choose a care provider that you feel most comfortable with.  But when it comes to the way your teeth look, we think it makes sense to consider an orthodontist who has the education, training, and experience to give you the confident smile you deserve. 

At Kelly Orthodontics, we focus is providing high-quality orthodontic care and superior results. Our office uses the latest in orthodontic techniques and technology, so that we can provide our patients with the best results in the least amount of time possible.

Our practice is proud to provide families throughout St. Charles and the surrounding areas with exceptional orthodontic care. As a highly trained and skilled orthodontist, Dr. Kelly has spent years creating beautiful smiles for patients of all ages. Once you see what we have to offer, we think you’ll agree that you should trust your family’s smiles to an expert orthodontist!

If you would like to learn more about how Kelly Orthodontics can transform your smile, visit our website to schedule your initial consultation. Dr. Kelly will perform an extensive exam and will outline a personalized treatment plan thatis specific to your individual needs and goals.

Your family deserves a lifetime of healthy smiles, so get in touch with Kelly Orthodontics today!

Your First Orthodontic Visit

Kelly Orthodontics

At Kelly Orthodontics, we are proud to offer affordable orthodontic treatment options with exceptional results to patients of all ages.

Your initial consultation is one of the most important appointments you’ll have at our office. Your first visit to our office is a time for us to get to know you and determine your main concerns. We will ease your fears by giving you as much information as needed to help you feel comfortable. Each member of our team is friendly and accessible, and we encourage our patients and parents to ask questions. We believe that patients will feel more comfortable if they know what to expect and are well informed of a procedure before it occurs. 

When you arrive at our St. Charles office, you’ll be welcomed and introduced to our treatment coordinator.  After we give you a quick tour of the office, we’ll look at your medical and dental histories and take a few digital photographs of your teeth. These photographs are used to identify and discuss any orthodontic problems that are present.

After the photographs are taken, Dr. Kelly will perform a careful examination. He will evaluate many things relating to your face, your smile, and the fit of your teeth. This thorough exam helps Dr. Kelly determine what type of treatment would benefit you most. He will provide a complete clinical diagnosis, a written summary of the findings and a detailed plan that outlines your treatment, goals, and estimated fees.

Following your exam, Dr. Kelly may recommend treatment. If treatment is needed, it could start right away, or Dr. Kelly may suggest that you return to our office for periodic checkups. The timing of orthodontic treatment will depend on the developmental stage of the teeth and jaws along with the severity of the problem.

Whether you’ll be beginning treatment now or later, this first orthodontic visit is the best time to ask any questions you have about the orthodontic process. Our treatment coordinator will review the treatment options available and help you understand what to expect during the different stages of your orthodontic care.

You only get one smile! Trust it to a qualified orthodontic expert like Dr. Dan Kelly. If you haven’t already scheduled an initial consultation with Kelly Orthodontics, call our office today and take the first step towards the smile you’ve always wanted!

 

Acheive Whiter Teeth After Braces

Kelly Orthodontics

The feeling you have after getting your braces removed is the absolute best! It’s such a relief knowing that your orthodontic treatment is over, your teeth have moved into their proper alignment, and you finally have the smile you’ve always wanted.

Unfortunately, some people who get their braces off are disappointed by the color of their teeth. It’s very common for patients to want a whiter smile after the completion of their orthodontic treatment. From toothpaste to whitening trays…there are many options that can give you the bright and beautiful smile you’ve always wanted to show off.

Whitening Toothpaste – Regular toothpaste is designed to help remove some surface stains as they clean teeth and improve the health of your mouth. Whitening toothpaste takes it a step further by adding more abrasive ingredients to scrub the surface of the teeth and help remove even more surface stains. Whitening toothpastes are the least expensive and most easily accessible option for brightening your smile. However, it can take several weeks to begin to see results. Using a whitening toothpaste can help with minor stains, but because they don’t change the actual color of your teeth, any results can be undone by continuing habits that contribute to stains on your teeth.

At-Home Whitening Kits – At-home whitening kits, like Crest Whitestrips, are relatively effective and can help whiten your teeth after braces. At-home whitening kits are able remove stains from under the tooth surface with whitening gels, or bleaching agents, that contain an oxidizing agent in the form of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. The whitening gel reacts with the internal aspect of your tooth, mixing with the discolored areas and breaking them apart, giving your teeth a noticeably whiter appearance.

Professional Teeth Whitening – If you have serious stains or white spots on your teeth after your braces have been removed, a professional whitening treatment from your general dentist is the best choice. With professional whitening, you’ll be able to quickly reverse years of staining in a single appointment.

If you or a member of your family has just completed orthodontic treatment and are looking for teeth whitening options in St. Charles or the surrounding areas, the team at Kelly Orthodontics can help answer any questions you have about achieving a brighter, whiter smile after braces. Give our office a calltoday! 

  

The Perfect Age For Braces

Kelly Orthodontics

When we think of braces, most of us think of teenagers. But nowadays, people of all ages are getting braces. So…what is the perfect age to start braces treatment?

Dr. Kelly can successfully correct most orthodontic problems regardless of the patient’s age. But that doesn’t mean that the orthodontic treatment starting age does not matter. In fact, the starting age may play a significant role in the total time and expenses required for the completion of the orthodontic treatment.

Traditionally, orthodontic treatment begins when a child has lost most of his or her baby teeth, and a majority of the permanent teeth have grown in. That said, it is a good idea to get an orthodontic evaluation by the time a child is 7 years old. You may think that 7 years old is too early to put your child in braces, however, this interceptive approach can help Dr. Kelly spot potential orthodontic problems related to jaw growth and eruption of adult teeth before they get out of hand.

Most orthodontic problems are ideally treated during a child’s teenage years. Usually, all or most permanent teeth are present and patients are at one of their most active phases of growth. This is a great time to correct most problems, as the jaws are actively growing and their growth can be most easily modified during this time.

Although childhood is a good time to make changes to the mouth and jaw, more and more adults are seeking orthodontic treatment for missing or crooked teeth, TMJ, and more. As an adult, you might think that your options for having your teeth fixed are limited, but today's orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of braces and appliances that are comfortable, aesthetic, and customized to meet your needs.

There really is no perfect age at which you should first visit the orthodontist. The best choice for you will largely depend on the severity of your orthodontic problem. A visit to Kelly Orthodontics should happen when you feel it is needed. Often, your family dentist will be the one to recommend the visit.

If you are considering braces for yourself or your child, give Kelly Orthodontics a call and schedule your initial consultation. Our friendly and knowledgeable team will take the time to address your concerns, answer your questions, and guide you through the treatment process.

Is Invisalign Right For You?

Kelly Orthodontics

When you think of orthodontics, you probably think of traditional metal braces. But metal braces are only one of the options when it comes to correcting your smile.

The Invisalign System is virtually undetectable and straightens your teeth without wires and brackets. Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using custom-made aligners created for you and only you. These aligners are smooth, comfortable, and virtually invisible. Not only are the aligners invisible, but they are also removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment.

Invisalign aligners gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements Dr. Kelly plans out for you. With the Invisalign System, you will achieve a great smile with little disruption in your daily life. You will wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little. You will visit Dr. Kelly about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30.

Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners can be removed instantly and easily. Invisalign makes it easy to eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and you never need to worry about your meals interfering with your orthodontic treatment.

If you want straighter teeth but don’t want the look of traditional metal braces, Invisalign may be the perfect option for you. Contact Kelly Orthodontics in St. Charles, IL to talk to us about Invisalign!

Did you know…

Only an orthodontist, like Dr. Kelly, who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Invisalign is designed to correct a variety of orthodontic problems in children, teens, and adults. However, Invisalign is not appropriate for everyone. After an initial examination, Dr. Kelly will determine if the Invisalign System is an effective treatment option for you.