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This coming Monday, July 4th, is Independence Day and the United States of America will be turning 235 years old! It’s a day to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and also a time for every American to pay homage to our soldiers, past and present, who have placed themselves in harm’s way so that we may continue to enjoy our freedom.

Our team will be celebrating this Monday and we would like to know, what are your plans for the 4th of July? Will you be out in the sun? Have you stocked up on fireworks? Are you going to grill up your favorite summer foods? Are you staying in town or heading somewhere else? If you have a 4th of July tradition, we would love to hear about it.

Whatever you plan to do, we hope you have a fun and safe holiday! Feel free to upload your 4th of July photos to our Facebook page and let us know how your Independence Day turned out this year.

If you recently completed treatment at Orthodontic Associates, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Pope and Dr. Maoloni will provide—or have provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Pope and Dr. Maoloni is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

According to the American Dental Association, a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature, which is why it's important for our team at Orthodontic Associates, Ltd to support National Smile Month this June.

So that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come, Drs. Maoloni and Pope suggest that patients plan ahead to maintain a normal oral hygiene routine even while on-the-go. We recommend that you use your electric toothbrush three times per day for the full two minutes. You should also minimize your consumption of sugary beverages, including sports drinks, unless it is really hot out and you are sweating a lot. After drinking sports beverages, please rinse out with water or brush your teeth. If you're going on vacation or to camp, don't forget your toothbrush!

Have a great summer, and don't forget to show off your pearly whites!

Summer is just around the corner, which for many people means vacations, baseball season, days spent at the beach, and fun in the sun! Now that you have braces, it’s important to take special precautions to prevent facial injuries and preserve your healthy smile for a lifetime. That’s why Dr. Pope, Dr. Maoloni and our team wanted to answer a few of the common questions that we often receive from patients and their parents during the summer months.

If I’m hit in the mouth, and a tooth gets knocked out, what can/should I do? What should I do if I am injured on a weekend when the office is closed?

Put the tooth in milk or distilled water (not tap water) and call your dentist immediately. The sooner the tooth is reimplanted the better. If our office is closed, you can page Dr. Pope or Dr. Maoloni to see what you need to do.

Can my teeth be fixed if they are chipped, broken or knocked out?

Certainly. Orthodontic Associates will work with your general dentist to achieve the best result, whether that includes composite bonding, crowns, or dental implants to replace missing teeth.

Are sports drinks bad for my teeth? What can I drink to stay hydrated and keep my teeth healthy?

In moderation thay are okay, but it is best to rinse out or brush to remove any residual sugar on the teeth. Unless your are working out for a long time in very hot weather, you probably don’t need a sports drink. Water is the best way to hydrate yourself.

If I wear Invisalign aligners, will they help protect my teeth, or do I still need to wear a mouth guard?

It is still recommended to wear a mouth guard with Invisalign. Just ask us for a mouth guard.

Can I still play sports while wearing my retainer, or is it best to take it out?

It is best to remove your retainer for sports.

Can I still wear a mouth guard with braces?

Definitely! Just ask us for one of our specially designed mouth guards that is made specifically for patients in braces.