Regular checkups are important, says Dr. Gates

Is your child brushing his/her teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for your child to visit the dentist every six months in addition to brushing their teeth a couple times a day (and of course coming in to see Dr. Gates and our team). If your child will be visiting the dentist for the first time, it’s important to bring them in after their first tooth comes through, and no later than their first birthday. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show your child how to properly brush and floss their teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

If you have any questions about your treatment here at Round Rock Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call!

Dr. Gates has a few Invisalign® tips!

A couple of weeks ago we blogged about the advantage of Invisalign treatment at Round Rock Orthodontics. Today, we thought we'd share a few helpful Invisalign tips with you.

When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Gates wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Round Rock Orthodontics, don't hesitate to give us a call!

Round Rock Orthodontics want to know: What are you up to in January?

The New Year is here, and, believe it or not, we’re only a couple of months away from spring! Dr. Gates and our team at Round Rock Orthodontics want to know: What are you doing in January? Any big winter break plans? Anything exciting going on in your life?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call our office and ask how! We also hope you all had a happy and safe holiday season!

Have a great rest of the week, from the team at Round Rock Orthodontics!

Ask Dr. Gates: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, says Dr. Gates, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next Dr. Gates and our team use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Gates is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment at Round Rock Orthodontics, please give us a call. Happy Tuesday!