Enjoying Halloween with Braces

Before long it will be time to put on those costumes and head out trick or treating! Halloween is the one holiday that's notorious for eating candy and lots of it! There is a whole lot of ghoulish fun to be had on Halloween that kids of all ages enjoy. But if you are wearing braces, all that sticky gooey candy and other treats such as caramel and candy apples can damage your braces and make Halloween anything but fun.

The team at Spielberg Orthodontics want our patients wearing braces to enjoy the Halloween season just as much those youngsters not wearing braces. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your Halloween fun without missing out.

Foods and Treats to Skip Eating

The general rule to follow is to skip eating anything that's tough to chew. Candy bars and other treats which contain nuts should be avoided and anything that requires a lot of chewing should also be passed on. This includes caramelized popcorn, taffies, licorice and jelly beans.

Avoid all caramel, bubblegum, hard candies, taffy, popcorn, candy corn, chewy or rubbery candy, candied applies and candies with nuts.

Foods to Enjoy

There are plenty of foods you can eat without having to worry about damaging your braces. As far as sweets go, peanut butter cups are OK as long as there are no large chunks of peanuts inside. Instead of reaching for that candied apple, nibble on a few finely sliced pieces of apple with the skin removed. You could drink an orange smoothy or enjoy some orange jello to keep with the main color of Halloween.

Not all candy bars are off limits. You can enjoy Hershey bars and kisses, 3 Musketeers and any soft candy bars which don't have hard caramel, nuts or sticky marshmallow inside.

Parents, if you will be hosting a get-together this Halloween remember that some of your guests may be wearing braces. Instead of treating the ghosts and goblins to chewy candy, make some soft cupcakes with orange colored frosting or some pudding cups topped with whipped cream.

Wearing braces on your teeth does not mean that you can't enjoy Halloween. Skip those chewy treats and instead enjoy sweets that melt in your mouth like solid chocolate, peanut butter cups, etc. You also can enjoy a lollipop as long as you don't chew on it.

Dr. Spielberg and her team would like to wish all of our patients a safe and happy Halloween!

Smile for a Lifetime Providing Children with the Gift of a Smile

At Spielberg Orthodontics, we take great pride in the fact that we are a patient-oriented team of professionals who work hard to make sure that each of our patients feels right at home in our office. We are constantly striving to provide our patients with the best possible results and that is why we are dedicated to using the latest available technology in the orthodontic industry.

Our Apex and Cary, NC orthodontist, Dr. Alena Spielberg very much enjoys helping patients obtain the beautiful, healthy smiles they deserve. The confidence an improved smile provides can make a world of difference in a person's life and Dr. Spielberg obtains great pleasure from helping to make that happen. In addition to the time she dedicates to her practice, Dr. Spielberg also contributes to the local community by being actively involved in several organizations.

Dr. Spielberg is also very proud to be a part of the Smile for a Lifetime charitable foundation. This foundation sponsors orthodontic care for hundreds of patients each year through participating orthodontists like Dr. Spielberg. The Smile for a Lifetime Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization that seeks to provide orthodontic treatment for individuals who are unable to obtain assistance. It was established in 2008 and reaches out to those who because of financial difficulties or special situations cannot address their orthodontic needs.

In order to be considered for the Smile for a Lifetime program, those interested must go through an application process. The qualifications required for acceptance are that the patient must be between the ages of 11 and 18, enrolled in school, have a visible need for braces and a family income that is no greater than 185% of the national poverty level. The applications received are reviewed by the local chapters' board of directors who meet twice annually.

The Smile for a Lifetime program has helped many children fulfill their dreams of having beautiful, healthy smiles they can be proud of for the rest of their lives. You can learn more about this wonderful foundation and fill out the application for our chapter by visiting our website www.spielberg-ortho.com. Click on the "Smile for a Lifetime" link at the bottom left hand corner.

Trend Shows More Adults Receiving Orthodontic Treatment

It is common these days to see quite a few adults wearing orthodontic braces. This is indeed a growing trend - Our Apex and Cary orthodontics office is treating a growing number of adults who wish to take advantage of the many benefits gained from orthodontics.

Our team at Spielberg Orthodontics expects this trend to continue as more adults become aware of modern orthodontic treatment such as cosmetically aesthetic braces and gentler wires. Age is not a factor in determining who can wear braces and it is never too late to perfect your smile! Today, adults make up nearly half of orthodontic patients hoping to finally obtain the perfect smile they have always dreamed of.

Braces have evolved considerably over the past few years - today there are several cosmetically appealing options available. The brackets being used on modern metal braces are smaller and more comfortable and the bonded brackets used on clear braces are much less conspicuous.

Orthodontic treatment at a later stage in life can dramatically improve your appearance and self-esteem. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is just as important. Crooked teeth and a poor bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, headaches and jaw joint pain.

Braces for Adults Offered by Spielberg Orthodontics                                                                                                                                                    The new techniques and appliances we use reduce discomfort levels and cut down on the number of office visits which must be maintained. Today adults are enjoying shortened treatment times and are given several options from which to choose. These options may include metal braces, translucent braces or translucent aligners which can be worn at night to improve mild cases of misaligned teeth.

At Spielberg Orthodontics, we are proud to offer Damon Q braces. These braces consist of the all new, all metal, self-ligating system that goes above and beyond to increase comfort and reduce treatment time while straightening your teeth. The brackets used on Damon Q braces are made of high-grade stainless steel which are smooth with rounded corners to provide comfort and to appear less noticeable than normal Damon braces.

The virtually invisible Damon Clear braces we use consist of a passive self-ligating bracket whose beauty is more than skin deep. The self-ligating brackets used in Damon Clear are strong, comfortable and low profile in nature. The polycrystalline alumina material is resistant to staining from coffee, red wine and other agents.

When you schedule an initial examination with us, we will be able to determine which treatment option is best for you based on the results of the exam. During this first visit we can outline a treatment plan for you and tell you what the duration of the treatment will be as well as the approximate cost.

MI Paste

Here in the office we are excited to announce the arrival of MI Paste!  

Many patients find it difficult to maintain proper oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. While we encourage patients to brush two to three times a day and to floss every night before brushing, we know that it is still difficult to clean around the brackets. Unfortunately, if your teeth are not kept clean they can demineralize in very esthetic areas- typically on the front of the front teeth between the braces and the gums. When teeth demineralize, they first show up as a very white spot, then a brown spot, and then the spot can cavitate (hence the term 'cavity'). Before the spot cavitates, the demineralization can be treated minimally with MI paste. MI paste is also good for patients with high risk of cavities. The white spots, or areas of hypo-mineralization, need to be nourished with calcium and phosphate to strengthen the teeth. MI paste contains bio-available calcium and phosphate and increases fluoride absorption by the tooth. Using MI Paste nightly for several weeks can get rid of or minimize these spots by creating an environment where re-mineralization can occur. However, this treatment is not always successful and prevention is always the best solution.

If you would like any additional information or to purchase, please ask any of our staff members about MI Paste at your next appointment.

Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk

This past Saturday our team and family members were honored to participate in the Get Your Rear In Gear 5K Run/ Walk to support the Colon Cancer Coalition and colon cancer awareness.  

The dreary weather didn't slow us down one bit on Saturday morning!  The rain tapered off just in time to start the race and we had a wonderful time supporting an amazing cause.  

Colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The death rate from colon cancer has been slowly decreasing over the past 15 years. One reason is that there are fewer cases; thanks to colon cancer screening and awareness efforts from individuals and organizations like the Colon Cancer Coalition. Regular screening can prevent a large number of colon and rectal cancers from every happening, but sadly, too many still are delaying being checked.  The Get Your Rear in Gear 5K hopes to empower local communities to promote prevention and early detection of colon cancer and to provide support to those affected.

Throughout the year, Dr. Spielberg has the privilege of speaking at many of the local grade schools in Apex and Cary.  Topics covered include dental health, growth, tooth anatomy and eruption, orthodontics and tooth straightening.

It has been such an enjoyable experience as these kids are so amazing and interactive!
Dr. Spielberg and all the kids have a great time and Dexter the Dinosaur is always along for the ride.  His giant teeth help the kids improve their brushing technique.

February is extra special as it is National Dental Health Month!  Below is a picture of Dr. S and Dexter speaking to a group of wonderful students at Salem Elementary School.