The Many Benefits Of Straighter Teeth

Everyone wants a naturally aligned bite and beautiful smile, and it is no secret that orthodontic braces can help you achieve one.  However, Dr. Boschken wants you to know, there are greater benefits to wearing braces than just having straight teeth. You’ll gain many oral health benefits in addition to all of the cosmetic ones.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Crooked or crowded teeth may overlap each other and create very tight spaces. These tight areas can make it quite difficult to brush and floss effectively, and this allows bacteria and plaque to build up. Eventually this build-up leads to tooth decay and gum disease. With orthodontic treatment, your teeth will become properly aligned and the proper spacing will allow for more effective, easier brushing.

Speech Difficulties

Your teeth play an essential role in your speech. When teeth are out of proper alignment or lean too far forward or backward, this can affect your speaking patterns. This may cause embarrassment and/or frustration. Braces can readjust the positioning of the teeth to allow for clearer, more accentuated speech.

Bone Loss

Bone and gum tissues begin to erode when there are no teeth to support. This is also true for poorly aligned teeth. When teeth are misaligned, the crowding or spacing in teeth places too much pressure on the underlying bone structure due to the bad bite. With braces, the bones and tissues are less likely to erode and can continue to support your teeth in their new alignment. This means less bone loss and hopefully much less likelihood of tooth loss both now and in your future!

Digestion

Your teeth play an important role in digestion. Before food ever enters your stomach, it has been broken down in the beginning stages of digestion by your teeth. If teeth are severely out of line, they cannot do their job in breaking down food as effectively as they should. With braces, your teeth will be straightened into optimal alignment for eating and chewing (thus aiding digestion.)

We are here to help you achieve all of your orthodontic goals and provide you and the family with a healthy, beautiful smile! Give us a call for your complimentary evaluation today (408) 225-6660.

No business like FLOSS business

Flossing

Only flossing can remove plaque from between teeth and below the gumline, where some of the worst decay begins. Make sure to floss at least once a day, preferably before bed, to clean the places where a toothbrush can’t reach.
Flossing technique • Tear off about 18 inches of floss, and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the other hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes used. If you are wearing braces appliances with wires, use a floss threader to maneuver the floss under your wire at every interval between your teeth. As you 'thread' the floss under the wire be sure to:
• Hold the floss tightly (without any slack) between your two hands, with 1/2" to 1" of floss between them. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle sawing motion.
• Gently slide the floss into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel resistance. When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into a C-shape against the tooth. Do not force or snap the floss.
• Hold the floss against the tooth. Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum.
• Repeat this technique on all of your teeth, and don’t forget the last teeth in back.
• Rinse vigorously with water or mouthwash to remove loosened plaque and particles.
Flossing tips • Establish a regular pattern for flossing so that you don’t miss any teeth.
• As with brushing, flossing should be done gently. Improper flossing can injure your gums.
• If you have not been flossing regularly, your gums may bleed and be sore for the first five or six days. As plaque is broken up and bacteria removed, the bleeding will stop and your gums will heal.
• By age 8, children should be able to floss their own teeth. To make it easier, use a loop of floss. Simply tie the ends of a ten-inch piece of floss, forming a circle. Hold the floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers, and use the technique above.
• A floss holder can make flossing easier for those who do not have good finger dexterity. Special picks and sticks are also available to help those who find floss difficult to work with. Consult your dentist or hygienist about the best technique for you! Remeber if you are having trouble, we are here to help you @ Boschken Orthodontics! (408) 225-6660

Clean Teeth with Braces!

Having braces can present some new challenges when it comes to oral hygiene. Preventing tooth decay can be a big challenge simply because of the tendency for braces to trap food under the wires and between the teeth and the brackets. Here are a few tips to keep your teeth healthy while wearing your braces:

1. Eat Braces-Safe Foods
Keeping your teeth from decay starts with a proper diet. Foods that are high in sugar or starch can cause more plaque which is difficult to remove during your brushing. However there are certain foods that should be completely avoided while wearing your braces.
First, sticky foods like caramel or gum can get stuck in your braces and be difficult to remove during brushing. Next, hard foods such as nuts and candy could bend wires or even break a bracket. Foods that are firm or hard to bite into like apples, carrots, or corn on the cob should be avoided or cut into tiny mini bites. As much as we like to snack on them, those crunchy treats can harm your braces. Things like chips, ice, popcorn can also bend or break your braces. The good news however is that bananas, mangoes, milk, water, poultry, and pasta all tend to be low in enamel-busting acids.

2. Proper Brushing is essential

You'll want to place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the edges of your gums in order to clean the whole tooth, and brush gently in the area between the wire/brackets and your teeth. Use a soft toothbrush and alway use fluoride toothpaste for best results. Rinsing several times every day will help keep your mouth cleaner too! Rinsing is especially important when you have braces as you need to disinfect your entire mouth, including those spots under the braces where your brush can't always reach.

3. Ask Boschken Orthodontics about special cleaning tools

There are special brushes and flossers designed to help you get around and under the appliances in order to clean your braces. You can also find many of these items at your local pharmacy. Look for Proxa brushes, floss threaders, Platypus flossers and disclosing tablets at your store or ask us for samples hen you are at the office!

4. Regular Check-ups and Teeth Cleaning with your dentist

It's important to keep your routine check upappointments with your dentist and dental hygienist for a thorough cleaning twice a year or as directed. The exact frequency of these visits will be up to you and your dentist as some types of braces are more demanding of a regular cleaning than others.
As long as you practice good oral hygiene and follow these basic tips, you should have no problem keeping your teeth from decaying while you wear braces.

Some Helpful Hints to Help Reduce Your Braces Treatment Time

Did you know that there are things you can do to make sure your treatment is as short as possible?  Here are a few tips:

Wear your rubber bands. Yes, elastics can be a challenge, but if you resist  wearing them, you will set yourself back in treatment. By not wearing the rubber bands—or not wearing them enough, you can actually slow down your treatment time. If you are having trouble remembering to put the bands back in after eating or brushing your teeth, download the Rubberband Reminder app to help you remember.

Let your Dr. Boschken and his team know about problems right away. A missing wire, rubber band hook or broken bracket can all lengthen your treatment time, so call our office right away to report any issues rather than waiting until your next appointment. You can even send us a message via facebook, email or our website if preferred.

Keep your appointments. During your treatment, each adjustment is carefully orchestrated to move your teeth a certain way in a certain time frame. Missing an appointment can throw that treatment plan off. Do everything you can to keep your scheduled appointment, and if you have to miss, please call as far as you can in advance to reschedule. (408) 225-6660.

3D Scanner Eliminates Impressions

 Boschken Orthodontics uses our 3D Dental Scanner to eliminate the need for tooth impressions!!

The Future of Orthodontics, available today.
An accurate impression is key to effective treatment planning and orthodontic care. The iOC 3D Dental Scanner captures the contours of tooth and gingival structures, producing an accurate digital orthodontic scan in just minutes.
Benefits of Teeth Scanning:

• ELIMINATES IMPRESSIONS, the most invasive procedure in orthodontic care.
• SUPERIOR ACCURACY with no distortion from patient movement during set, removal of impression, or disinfection.
• ONSCREEN VISUALIZATION allows for immediate adjustment to create the ideal orthodonitc scan the first time.
• INCREASED PATIENT COMFORT as it eliminates the goop and gagging that comes with traditional impressions.

Give us a call @ (408) 225-6660 or peruse our website if you would like further information. We look forward to being of service!

April is National Facial Protection Month!

Nearly 60,000 people injure their faces annually while playing baseball and more than 100,000 people suffer facial injuries from bicycle accidents. This month enhances public awareness of facial protection and specialized treatment for facial injuries, at least half of which are in children. Pediatric dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and orthodontists—which are all ADA- recognized dental specialists—are sponsoring "April is National Facial Protection Month." Their message is clear: Avoid sports injuries by wearing protective equipment. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) encourage active people—children, parents, weekend warriors, professional athletes—to play it safe when getting outside this spring (or playing indoor sports). According to the National Institute of Health, childhood sports injuries may be inevitable but prevention does matter. For instance, football players can protect their faces with mouth guards and helmets. Likewise, basketball players should wear mouth guards and eye protection. A study published in the February 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association showed that players who used faceguards—devices made of plastic or metal that attached to baseball helmets—were 35 percent less likely to suffer facial injuries than non-users. Further, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that universal helmet use could save one life each day and prevent one head injury every four minutes. The Marshfield (Wisconsin) Clinic states that wearing protective eyewear can prevent 90 percent of eye injuries in the U.S. It seems the first step to facial protection is just putting on the gear. From skateboarding to rollerblading, baseball to volleyball, karate to gymnastics, downhill skiing to bicycling, all sports are contact sports. From mouth guards, to face shields, to eye shields, dental specialists advocate wearing protective gear to save face.
Top 10 Ways to Save Face

1. Wear a mouth guard for any contact sport (soccer, yes; chess, probably not). Mouth guards can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries and are less costly than recovering from the injury. You can purchase one at any sporting goods store or call Boschken Orthodontics  for an appointment to make a custom mouth guard.
2. Wear a helmet and it will protect your head by absorbing the energy of an impact. You don't have to lose your head because you take a spill when cycling, snowboarding, rollerblading or horseback riding.
3. Wear protective eyewear, you'll be able to keep your eye on the tennis ball, baseball, football, etc.
4. Wear a face shield to keep your skin free from scratches and bruises. Hockey pucks, basketballs, and racquetballs can do severe damage.
5. Be aware of family pets. Each year roughly 44,000 people incur facial injuries from dog bites. Children should be supervised when playing with family pets (cats and rabbits too).
6. Buckle up and use appropriate child safety seats. Passengers who don't buckle up are more likely to have a brain injury in a crash than the buckled driver.
7. Keep babies and toddlers safe. They crawl and climb, so pad sharp corners of tables, use safety locks on cabinets, install stairwell safety gates, and secure windows. They also chew on things as they  teethe, so hide the sharp or pointy objects.
8. Be alert. Alert spectators can avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks. Watch your step when climbing up bleachers.
9. Use common sense. If an activity carries risk of dental or facial injury, wear the right protective gear. Without it, even a pickup basketball game could result in a trip to the emergency room.
10. Ask the experts. To learn more, visit http://www.aaoms.org/, http://www.braces.org/ and http://www.aapd.org/.

"April is National Facial Protection Month" is listed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Choosing the right Orthodontist and Team for you!

While it is true than an attractive, healthy smile is an asset that can last a lifetime, not all orthodontic treatment is of the same quality. Choosing the right Orthodontist for your family is too important to simply accept the lowest bid. All smiles are not created equally and simply because a dentist has a license is unfortunately not a guarantee that you’ll be happy with the results. Here are four simple things you may want to consider as you choose your Orthodontist:

Consider the organization of the office and staff. Although you may not thoroughly understand all of the terminology or treatment recommendations initially, you can tell a well-run office when you see one. Is everything clean and in its place? Are the technology and equipment up-to-date? Is the staff friendly, well-trained, and helpful? If so, it is safe to assume that an equal amount of care will go into the treatment the office will provide. What kind of care will you receive from a doctor who cuts corners on his facility and staff just so his fee can be a little lower?

Another consideration should be the Doctor’s attitude towards his job. Will he be passionate about your care? Can he communicate his vision of your treatment plan so that it makes sense?  Does he remove braces early because time is up, or does he finish the job? Will he examine your child at every appointment to make sure that treatment stays on schedule? Not all Orthodontists are “hands-on” and it shows in the final results.

Also consider whether the Orthodontist really a good doctor. How did you find him, a recommendation or an advertisement? Have you actually seen results of his work? Do you have friends who are a part of the office? There is misconception that as long as a Doctor has a degree, he’ll be able to give you the same results as anyone else. If that was the case, finding the lowest fee would make sense. Unfortunately, not all treatment is the same. Some Orthodontists do not stay current on the proven state of the art approach Orthodontics can provide today. Some Doctors, such as Dr. Boschken are very particular about their final results and focus on ideal mechanical function as well as a truly beautiful aesthetic result. For something this important, you should carefully decide what approach is important to you.

Finally, how do you feel when you are in the office? Is it a good fit for you and your family? Is it a happy, fun place? Unlike your family physician that you only see when you are sick, you will be visiting your orthodontist and his staff for at least a couple of years, sometimes five or six years if the treatment is done in two phases. You should feel very comfortable and happy and that is primarily why here at Boschken Orthodontics, we want you to feel like you are right at home.

Simply stated, all Orthodontic treatment is NOT the same. The facilities and technology are a reflection of the Orthodontist who will create the smile that you or your child will have the rest of your life. Special attention should be taken to choose the Doctor that you will entrust with this important care. As with most things in life, you usually really do get what you pay for, and when it comes to your smile, you can’t afford to make a mistake.  Why not give us a call and visit with us for a spectacular Orthodontic experience? (408) 225-6660

Boschken Orthodontics: All those Orthodontic Terms!

It may feel like you’re learning to speak a different language when you’re talking to professional dental specialist, but it doesn't have to be that way!  Here is a quick guideline on some of the terms commonly used by orthodontists and dentists alike.

Anterior Teeth: Front teeth.


Crossbite: One or more upper teeth (either in the front of your mouth or, more commonly in the back) fit behind the lower teeth, instead of in front of those teeth.  It’s extremely important this condition be identified and corrected because it can alter your skeletal growth.




Overbite: One or more upper teeth come down too low over the bottom teeth.  Too much overbite is often called a “deep bite.”






Open Bite: The upper and lower teeth don’t touch.  An anterior (front teeth) open bite is when the front teeth don’t touch the lower teeth and is often the result of thumb-sucking or a pacifier habit as an infant.



Buccal: The side of the mouth closest to your cheek.

Palatal: The side of the mouth closest to the roof of your mouth.

Lingual: The side of the mouth closest to your tongue.

Occlusion: How the teeth bite together between the upper and lower jaws.  Ideally, the upper teeth fit slightly over the lower teeth, so the points of the upper molars fit thebumps and  grooves of the lower molars.  This gives you a good bite.

Malocclusion:  You have a malocclusion when the teeth are not fitting together properly.   Common types of malocclusions include crowding, gaps or excessive spacing between teeth, crossbite, overbite, underbite and open bite.

Class I Occlusion: Your back teeth are properly aligned and allow for ideal chewing.

Class II Occlusion: Your upper teeth are too far forward compared to your lower teeth, or your bottom teeth are too far back compared to your upper teeth and jaw. This condition makes it look like you have a very small lower jaw or a "weak chin."


Class II, Division 1: Your upper middle front teeth, called the central incisors, flare out over your lower teeth, resulting in an overjet (too much flaring.)  This condition is also known as bucked teeth.





Class II, Division 2: Your upper side front teeth, called the lateral incisors, are too far forward and the central incisors are too far back over your lower teeth, often resulting in crowding and an overbite.  This condition is also known as a deep bite.





Class III Bite: Your lower front teeth are further forward than your upper teeth.  This condition is called an underbite. This condition makes it look like you have a very prominent chin.



Phase I Treatment: This is known as early interceptive orthodontic treatment for children between the ages of 6 and 10. Phase I treatment takes place while the child has a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth. Phase I treatment helps properly form the jaw and allows the errupting permanent teeth to be guided into their proper positions. This repositions the teeth in a much more stable place than allowing the teeth to come in crooked, and can prevent bigger orthodontic problems from developing in the future.  While Phase I treatment can help with many orthodontic problems, it’s common to still need Phase II treatment once all the permanent teeth have grown in .

Phase II Treatment:  This type of treatment is recommended when all of the permanent teeth have come in. It often involves braces or other appliances to straighten the permanent teeth and properly align the bite.  Some Phase II cases can be treated with clear aligner therapy, such as Invisalign® instead of conventional braces.
For more information about orthodontic conditions and treatments, please visit http://www.drboschken.com/.  There you will find further helpful information at your fingertips! Give us a call if you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation (408) 225-6660.

Boschken Orthodontics discusses: How to Wear Adult Braces with Confidence

Some adults with braces, at times, can’t help feeling a little bit self-conscious. One in five orthodontic patients are over 18 years old, but sometimes it may still be common for an adult to be the only grown-up at a party or work conference wearing brackets and wires. We’ve found several ways of helping you get past the awkwardness and thereby learning to be really comfortable in braces:

• Carry Your Supplies. Make sure you’ve brought along whatever works best for keeping your teeth clean on the go—a travel toothbrush, dental floss, wax, proxabrush, etc. The first step is being prepared!

• Eat Wisely. When you hit the hors d’oeuvres tray, choose bite-sized items you can chew with your back teeth. Anything that fits on a toothpick is usually a good guideline choice. Cheese, small slices of deli meat, grapes, and olives work well but bread, rice and celery, not so much. Also, meats such as bacon have a way of getting lodged between brackets and gums and is really hard to remove. So eat that bacon sparingly if you must, but be prepared for a restroom brushing session later.

• Put Your Best Smile Forward. In addition to doing a good job with your daily brushing and flossing, be sure to get your teeth cleaned regularly at your general dental office! Since it’ll be harder to give those tooth surfaces a good scrubbing, they may start to look a little dingy. The hygienist will thouroughly clean your teeth and remove stains, leaving you with shiny, whiter teeth. Also, remember to consult with Dr. Boschken before using any at-home bleaching kits.

• Break The Ice. Sometimes people aren’t too sure of what to say when they see adults wearing braces. It’s almost like you can see the wheels turning in their heads: “Is she wearing braces? I can’t tell for sure. I wish she’d keep her mouth open longer so I can see. Wait, has she always had braces? Hm, should I say something or just pretend I can’t tell? Am I staring?”

Bringing up your braces right away gets the subject out in the open. There is almost always some opportunity to introduce it into the conversation. For example, “Thanks, I’d love some chewing gum but my orthodontist wouldn't approve.” Once you do this, the tension is lifted and the other person generally can’t wait to talk about them. Be prepared for a few questions, and please feel free to refer your friends to Boschken Orthodontics!  (With our Care To Share* program, you will benefit too!!)

*ask us today if you aren't familiar with our referral program benefits (408) 225-6660

How does Orthodontic treatment help me, Dr. Boschken?

A comprehensive explanation on how Orthodontics improves your health!