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At Orthodontic Associates, LTD., we know that for most teens, the thought of having metal brackets and wires attached to their teeth for a period of time may be more than enough to delay orthodontic treatment. But thanks to innovations in technology and the recent wave of celebrities undergoing treatment, the days of “metal mouth” are all but gone. Teens today have more options than ever before, including high-tech, removable option called Invisalign Teen.

Invisalign Teen is a method of straightening your teenager's teeth using a series of clear, almost invisible, removable aligners. Invisalign combines the treatment plan recommended by Drs. Maoloni and Pope with proprietary 3-D, computer-generated software to move your teenager's teeth in very precise increments. Invisalign Teen is designed with “compliance indicators” that fade from dark to light during a period of time and let your child know when to change trays. And because we know kids tend to be forgetful sometimes, each aligner comes with replacement aligners in case the original aligner ends up lost or broken.

If you would like to schedule an initial consultation to talk with Drs. Maoloni and Pope to find out if Invisalign Teen is right for your child, we invite you to give us a call at our convenient Flossmoor and New Lenox, IL office.

Memorial Day is not only a federal holiday in the United States, but it is a day of observance and remembrance of those who died in service. Originally known as Decoration Day, this solemn day has been marked on calendars since the end of the American Civil War as a day to commemorate both the Confederate and Union soldiers who fought and died in the war.

Marking the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, or other tokens has been practiced throughout history, but it wasn't until the mark of the end of the Civil War that a special day was decided upon as the one to spend in remembrance. By 1890, every state in the country was observing Decoration Day, but it wasn't until 1967 when the name formally changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, in order to encompass all fallen American soldiers in all wars and conflicts, and in June of 1968, Congress moved the official date of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May in order to create a three day weekend.

Today, while there is certainly an air of remembrance on Memorial Day, it has become more a day of spending time with family, friends, and other loved ones. This day is also heralded as the start of summer, with many schools finishing for the year around this time. Our team at Orthodontic Associates, LTD. remembers it as a day to take solace and remembered those lost.

Traditional observances of Memorial Day are still held, and they often involve raising the American Flag then lowering it to a half-staff position until noon, and then raising it once again to its full height afterwards. The flag is lowered to remember those who've lost their lives while in service to their country, and then it is raised to signify our willingness to not let their sacrifice be in vain.

From community parades in the Flossmoor and New Lenox, IL area, backyard cook-outs, and fireworks to formal ceremonies, Memorial Day is commemorated in many different ways. No matter how you choose to spend this day, take a moment to remember those who've lost their lives in an effort to preserve our freedom.

Most of our patients at Orthodontic Associates, LTD. will need to wear rubber bands at some point during their orthodontic treatment. The main reason our patients are instructed to wear rubber bands is to correct their bite. If your teeth do not fit together properly, Drs. Maoloni and Pope will recommend that rubber bands be used. Drs. Maoloni and Pope may also recommend using rubber bands to close or open spaces.

Rubber bands are a critical part of your treatment, and wearing them as Drs. Maoloni and Pope and our team recommend will help move your teeth into the desired position. Drs. Maoloni and Pope may ask you to wear your rubber bands full time, meaning that they should only be taken out when you brush and floss your teeth three times a day. Other times, you may be asked to only wear them part-time, like only during the day or only during sleep.

If you still have any questions about orthodontic rubber bands, we invite you to give us a call or ask us during your next adjustment appointment. Remember, wearing rubber bands as prescribed by Drs. Maoloni and Pope is an important step during your treatment, and can reduce the time you have your braces. If you lose your rubber bands or run out, stop by our Flossmoor and New Lenox, IL office and pick up more!

When a child is born, he or she will have 20 primary teeth and 32 permanent teeth. But sometimes kids are born with additional teeth, and our team at Orthodontic Associates, LTD. call this oral condition "hyperdontia." Primary teeth are the first set of teeth that erupt in your child's mouth, typically by the time they are 36 months old, and are shed by the time your child reaches the age of 12. Permanent teeth then take the place of the primary teeth and are usually fully-erupted by the time your son or daughter reaches 21 years of age. Anyone who develops more than 20 primary teeth or more than 32 permanent teeth has hyperdontia, and the additional teeth are referred to as supernumerary teeth.

While the cause of hyperdontia is not entirely clear, it is believed that there may be a genetic factor. Oral professionals have found that patients with extra teeth often have syndromes like cleidocranial dysplasia, Ehler-Danlos syndrome, Gardner syndrome, or cleft lip and palate. The prevalence of hyperdontia affects between one and four percent of the population in the United States, and the majority of cases are limited to a single tooth.

So, what is the best way to deal with hyperdontia? It really depends on the case. The treatment plan your doctor suggests varies according to the potential problem posed by the supernumerary teeth, as well as their type. Orthodontic treatment may certainly may help, but extraction can also be a good option. We recommend that children receive an oral evaluation or checkup no later than the age of seven. In addition to hygiene evaluation, this helps ensure your child does not experience hyperdontia problems.

If you suspect you or your child may be suffering from hyperdontia, please give us a call to schedule an appointment at our convenient Flossmoor and New Lenox, IL office to be evaluated.