Charlie's Coat Drive

We would like to send a great big THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by our office and donated coats to Charlies Coat Drive, but do you know the story behind this very special coat drive?

Charlie Pitner on KLBK "This Morning"

Charlies Coat Drive was started 3 years ago by an extrodinarty young boy who want to help others. Charlie Pitner, 9, started this coat drive when he was only in kindergarten. Where did such a young boy get such a great idea? The radio. "I was listening to the radio one night and they were doing a coat drive where you had to pledge $40 a month," Charlie said. He wanted to give to the coat drive, but his mother said they would not be able to make the pledge. After seeing how eager her son was to help she suggested to her church that they should help Charlie start his own coat drive. Now a third-grader at Northridge Elementary School, Charlie has helped get many donate new and gently worn coats to those in need.

We are glad Wentz Orthodontics has the opportunity to be a drop-off location for such a great cause! We couldn't have made such a great contribution to the coat drive without our lovely friends and patients, we appreciate you all.

To watch Charlie's KLBK news interview please visit EverythingLubbock.com

7 is the Magic Number.. For Early Intervention

Many people may think it is best to wait until adolescents to seek orthodontic care however, the earlier you seek treatment the better. Actually 7 is the perfect age for an evaluation.

Photo provided by poorrichardsnews.com

7 years old may sound too early to be thinking about orthodontic treatment, but it proven that early treatment is important for ensuring positive treatment results. 7 isn’t just a number Dr. Wentz came up with. The AAO (American Association of Orthodontist) recommends that all children receive a check-up by age 7. By the age 7, some of the permanent teeth have erupted, so that most children have a mix of adult and baby teeth. At this stage of mixed dentition, we can spot potential orthodontic problems related to jaw growth and eruption of adult teeth. Some growth-related orthodontic problems are easier to correct when they are identified early while the facial bones are still growing.

Will my 7 year old need to get braces right away?

No, an early examination does not mean immediate treatment is necessary. After your initial examination we may just need to monitor your child periodically to see how teeth and jaw continue to develop. If your child is not ready for treatment he/she will entered into the Wentz Thumbs Up Club.

The Wentz Thumbs Up Club provides a way for our office to communicate with each patient’s family about upcoming events and contests or new technologies within our office via our website’s link to The Wentz Thumbs Up Club or the quarterly newsletter. 

If your child has reached the right age for an orthodontic examination schedule an appointment today. Here at Wentz Orthodontics we want to focus on the oral dental health of each patient and your child would no exception, contact us today!

Foods Your Braces Should Avoid

Orthodontic treatment brings out the best smile in our patients here at Wentz Orthodontics, but with treatment come a lot of changes. From your smile to oral hygiene habits there is change. Be that as it may, one of the most drastic changes patients experience is what you can and can not eat.

Certain foods can do damage to your orthodontic appliances (ie; braces). It is important for you to avoid sticky, chewy, hard and crunchy foods. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets, and sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires.

Here are examples of food we want all of our patients to avoid:

• Gum (sugar-free or regular)
• Licorice
• Sugar Daddies
• Toffee
• Caramels
• Starburst
• Ice
• Nuts
• Hard taco shells
• French bread crust/rolls
• Corn on the cob
• Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
• Bagels
• Chips
• Jolly Rancher
• Pizza crust
• Uncooked carrots (unless cut)

In the meantime here are some examples of food you CAN enjoy:

• Dairy - pudding, soft cheeses
• Breads – sliced lunch bread, soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins w/o nuts, biscuits
• Grains – noodles, pasta, soft-cooked rice
• Meats/poultry - soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
• Seafood - fish w/o bones, tuna, salmon, crab and crab cakes
• Vegetables - mashed potatoes, peas, yams, steamed spinach, beans
• Fruits - applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
• Treats - ice cream w/o nuts, milkshakes, smoothies, Jell-O, cake
• Other – eggs, hot dogs, hamburgers, chili, beans and much more

Be mindful of what you war or you might have to make a visit to our office sooner than expected.

4 Things You Must Do While Under Orthodontic Treatment with Braces

Once you decide to undergo orthodontic treatment you are making a commitment to achieving your best smile possible. Our goal here at Wentz Orthodontics is to help you every step of the way, from your first day to your last day of treatment. Along with our help you must also work just as hard to ensure you experience with braces is a pleasant process.

Here is what you'll need to do:

1. Avoid Certain Foods: Please do not eat hard foods, including nuts, ice, crisp taco shells, whole apples and carrots (cut them into pieces first), hard French bread crust and rolls, spare ribs, corn on the cob (cut the corn off the cob before eating) and popcorn! These foods can cause breakage of the brackets and wires.


2. Brush after Meals: Use a soft toothbrush and brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth in small circles above and below the brackets. Your toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances, so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray. If plaque remains on the teeth for any length of time, it can leave a permanent white scar on the surface. A waterpik or an electric toothbrush can be a useful addition, however, please continue to see your dentist at least every 6 months for regular dental cleanings.

3. Don't Forget to Floss: Flossing with braces takes a few minutes to master, but the effort is well worth it. The first step to flossing is getting the floss under the wire that connects the braces together. A floss threader will help you get the dental floss underneath your archwires.

4. Wearing Your Elastics: Elastics are essentially rubber bands that are attached to brackets, usually between the upper and lower or front and back teeth, applying tension and causing teeth to move. Elastics can be used in many ways depending upon the treatment goals.Leave them in during snacking. Be sure to replace the elastics with new ones immediately after meals and brushing. Part-time wear does NOT move teeth, but it does cause prolonged discomfort.

By following these simple instruction you are sure to have a positive experience with your braces. If you have any questions regarding braces treat please contact us today! 

Pick the Style for Your Smile

When deciding to undergo orthodontic treatment you are committing to obtaining a healthy smile. Your smile is an important part of you and we want to help you look your best. Braces not only change the alignment of your teeth, but braces can also affect your lifestyle  What you can eat and how you brush your teeth are just two of the changes that come along with braces. This is why at Wentz Orthodontics we want you to choose the best option for you. Yes, there is more than one option. The days of just traditional braces are long gone.

Here are your options:

Traditional Silver Braces: Traditional braces are the most common out of all orthodontic appliances. Traditional braces consist of brackets cemented to the front surfaces the teeth, along with a metal wire to help guise the teeth in the proper position. There are many good reasons why traditional metal braces remain popular, because they offer a reliable, effective and economical treatment option.

Ceramic Braces: Ceramic braces, like traditional braces, are attached to the front of your teeth. However, they are far less noticeable than traditional braces. The brackets are made out of a translucent ceramic material that blends in with the natural color of your teeth. This method is often chosen by adults and celebrities looking for a discreet look.

Lingual Braces: Unique in form and unlike metal and ceramic braces, Lingual braces are attached behind the teeth. This allows the braces to be hidden when you smile. Lingual braces are not done by all orthodontist special training is required to install them. If you choose this type of braces treatment you must meet the condition requirements.

Invisalign: Invisalign braces are basically invisible. Invisalign alignment trays are created from molds of your teeth to giving you custom aligners. Unlike the other braces, Invisalign braces are removable. You can take out the aligners to do things like eat or brush your teeth, making this the most flexible option. This treatment plan requires you to get new aligners ever two weeks to move teeth into proper corrective position.

Dental advancements have allowed for these options to be available. Whether you choose traditional braces or Invisalign, our goal is always to make sure your experience throughout treatment is a great one. If you want to learn more about your options for braces treatment just give us a call and schedule an appointment today!

Welcome to Our Blog!

We would like to welcome our patients, their families and their friends to our new blog! We are excited to have an outlet to keep everyone informed on all of the new and exciting things happening at Wentz Orthodontics!

 

Within this blog, you will be able to find office news, contests and events, education information and all of the fun things that happen along the way. So be sure to check back often.

If you haven’t noticed yet we have a brand new Website! We hope you find it user friendly as well as informative. So if you haven’t been to our new website yet make sure you check it out soon, Wentzortho.com

If you haven’t already be sure to like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and Follow us on Instagram.This Blog, along with all of our social media accounts, can all be accessed through our website.

We look forward to being able to provide you with fun and information post. Please feel free to leave comments here or on our Facebook Page,we would love to hear from you all!

Stay tuned.