National Facial Protection Month

April is National Facial Protection Month! National Facial Protection Month serves as a reminder over the importance of wearing mouth guards during sports, protecting your beautiful smile.

67% of parents surveyed by the American Association of Orthodontists said their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet 70% said their biggest fear is their child getting hurt when playing sports. The most effective way to protect your childs teeth and prevent injuries is to wear a mouthguard.

About 80% of traumatic dental injuries occur to the two front teeth. Injuries can happen at any age and any skill level. So when should you wear a mouth guard? Here are just a few.

• Basketball
• Baseball
• Football
• Soccer
• Skiing
• Rugby
• Softball
• Tennis  

Summer! Foods! Braces? - Wentz Orthodontics

Summer is around the corner! Here at Wentz Orthodontics, we are excited for BBQ’s, picnics, pool parties and vacation time! However, we are not so excited about the summer heat!  

Summer in Texas, are the defining moment for kids. Everyone is out of school and ready to relax. With relaxation and an abnormal routine, it is easy for kids with braces to forget two important food categories they’re supposed to avoid: hard foods and sticky foods!

Here are some great and not so great classic summer foods that are great for kids (or anyone really) who has braces.

Source: https://www.luvmysmile.com/blog/enjoy-classic-summer-foods-braces/

Do You Have a Loose Wire or Bracket?

We know even despite your best efforts, the wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact Wentz Orthodontics as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

In an emergency, you can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain until your appointment.

Don't hesitate to reach out to us immediately if you experience any issue with your braces. 

Braces For Kids

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends an orthodontic evaluation at the age of 7. This is the recommended age because typically the first of the adult teeth appear, and when some of the more important problems of dental development can require treatment. Treatment for young children is usually aimed at dealing with functional problems that immediately threaten the health of the teeth. The conditions that we treat in early childhood are problems of tooth eruption, crossbite, overcrowding, jaw growth problems, snoring, thumb sucking, tongue thrust and open bite.

Orthodontic issues can develop very early in childhood, which is why early treatment is important for a number of specific conditions to prevent damage to the adult teeth or to limit the effects of a developing growth problem. One of our guiding principles at Wentz Orthodontics is to keep the amount of treatment required to produce a great smile to an absolute minimum. For more information on orthodontic treatment for children, click here to visit our website or give us a call.

The Process Of Clear Smiles

Whether you’re considering Invisalign treatment for yourself or someone else, knowing more about the entire process can help you be more confident in your decision to choose Invisalign.

During your initial consultation, you and Dr. Wentz will discuss your concerns in detail to determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. We will take x-rays, pictures and impressions of your teeth, which will be used to create a digital 3-D image. From these images, Dr. Wentz will map out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth and tell you the approximate length of treatment. While every case is unique to each patient, treatment typically takes approximately 12 to 18 months.

Based on your individual treatment plan, a series of custom-made, clear aligners is then created specifically for you. These aligners are made of a smooth, comfortable, BPA-free plastic that won't
irritate your cheeks and gums like traditional metal braces often do. Simply wear your aligners throughout the day and remove them when you eat or brush and floss your teeth. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place.

Approximately every two weeks, you will begin wearing a new set of aligners, advancing you to the next stage of your treatment. To monitor your progress, you will also have occasional checkups with our office, usually only every six weeks or so. For best results and a timely outcome, you should wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, throughout your entire treatment.

Wentz Orthodontics is an Elite Top 1% Provider for Invisalign.  This means that Wentz Orthodontics is part of the top 1% of all North American Invisalign providers and are among the most experienced. We have worked hard to provide our patients with the best Invisalign care for adults and teens, allowing us to become the only office in the south plains region to have the Top 1% provider designation. If you have any questions regarding the Invisalign process please contact our office today.

Is There An Age Limit For Braces?

Braces do the job of straightening teeth, regardless of age. More common than ever these days, you see adults wearing braces, and when you do, one question instantly pops into your head - do braces work for adults? The answer is YES. In fact, adults aged 20 to 40 years represent at least 40 percent of the population of people wearing braces. The reason why so many current adults skipped wearing braces during their youth is that they often feared of being bullied and teased because back in the 80's and 90's, braces we not as aesthetically pleasing as they are now. Trust us, braces have evolved since then now more than ever adults are wearing braces or aligners to get a picture perfect smile.

Nowadays, wearing braces has become more socially acceptable, affordable, and routine for our adult patients. We even have patients with close to straight teeth that want to try out braces just too perfect minor flaws. Adults can skip the traditional metal braces and opt for Invisalign clear aligners, ceramic braces, or other less obvious orthodontic treatment when being seen at Wentz Orthodontics.

For more information about braces for adults, you can always contact Wentz Orthodontics located in Lubbock, TX.

Tips For Back To School With Braces

Caring for braces especially for students in school can be quiet hectic due to the restrictive devotions to maintain the braces and for this reason, Wentz Orthodontics has decided to put up an article which will make caring for orthodontic braces easy in school. As a student who just had an orthodontic treatment, you should be rest assured that it is the best that can happen to give you the perfect smile again but the care for your teeth and gums help make it very effective. Take a look at your new braces, you can notice a lot of nooks and crannies that can trap food and plaque and that means a great risk of tooth decay is imminent if not properly cared for, therefore you need to pay special attention to cleaning your teeth. This might look hectic but right here the team of Wentz Orthodontics has few great tips to keep your braces in top condition.

1. WATCH YOUR DIET
As an orthodontic patient with braces, it is very important for you to select your diet with caution. We know that there are several foods in school which tastes great but don't look great in your braces. Certain foods can either break a bracket or some foods are sugary and can have negative effects on the natural ability to brush behind the bracket. Be sure to make decisions on foods based on what is healthy, tasty, and won't harm your brackets.

Food to avoid: As an orthodontic patient we would advise that you desist from:

• Sticky or gooey foods 
• Hard foods 
• Sugary foods 
• Acidic drinks 

2. WEAR A MOUTHGUARD
With braces on your teeth, you might be wondering if you should desist from sports or retire from being the captain of your favorite sports team, but the truth is orthodontics does not affect your ability to play sports. You can keep on with your braces and sports if and only if you have your mouth guard on. Mouth guards are safety measures that can mean the difference between just a bruised, fat lips and thousands spent in orthodontics repair work. While you are in any kind of physical activity (including gym classes), it is advisable that you wear a mouth guard which can protect your teeth and braces from flying sports balls, swinging elbows or an accidental fall or hit.

3. BRUSH AND FLOSS REGULARLY
Braces can easily trap food, and this trapped food can lead to other inimical dental problems. Because of this, it is very important to brush your teeth after every meal and to floss at least once a day.

4. DON'T CHEW ON PENCILS
Pencils, pen, and rulers are all hard objects and most times when you get bored, anxious or plainly destructive you are tempted to chew on them in class. Obviously, this can be destructive in the moment and can be grossly inimical over time. It is important that you don't practice these habits while wearing braces.

We know that maintaining braces in school is can be tough. That is why we ensure to give you the best plans of action to help you out.

For more questions and inquiries that you may have, we are always at your service. You can always contact Wentz Orthodontics.

Does My Child Need Orthodontic Treatment?

It is usually difficult for you as the parent to determine if treatment is necessary because there are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight. Also, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own. Asking your general dentist is a good reference, but Wentz Orthodontics is your best resource since orthodontics is all we do.

Early intervention can make a dramatic impact on establishing the proper occlusal foundation. The American Association of Orthodontists, and Dr. Wentz, recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7, for early detection of any potential problems.

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.

An early exam allows us to determine how and when a child's particular jaw and/or dental problems should be corrected for the optimal results. Early treatment, or phase one therapy, may be needed to create a better environment to idealize the occlusion for the patient or possibly create an environment to elevate treatment forever. An early orthodontic examination does not always result in immediate treatment. After evaluating your child, we may simply want to monitor your child periodically while the permanent teeth erupt and the jaws and face continue to develop.

Our initial exam is comprehensive and informative, and we would be more than happy to see your child and make any recommendations necessary. Contact Wentz Orthodontics to schedule your child's first visit and let us help them get the smile they deserve. 

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Don't Do It Yourself

Do-It-Yourself videos and websites are popular among today’s culture, and while so many great ideas come from several of these outlets, there are some things that you just shouldn’t do yourself! Straightening your teeth or attempting to move your teeth as a “DIY” project is definitely one of the things you should not be doing.

Moving and straightening teeth is a medical procedure that needs to be supervised by an orthodontist. It’s important for you all to be wary of any videos or websites that advise you to use objects such as rubber bands, dental floss, or anything else in order to get straight teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, “Moving teeth without a thorough examination of the overall health of the teeth and gums could result in the permanent loss of teeth, which may result in expensive and lifelong dental problems.”

Wentz Orthodontics and the American Association of Orthodontists have a prompt announcement for consumers about “DIY” orthodontic treatment. It is with great urgency that we emphasize to you all to be cautious about the trending “DIY” orthodontic treatment because straightening your teeth on your own can lead to lifelong dental problems.

If you have any further questions regarding “DIY” orthodontics, or are curious about straightening your teeth, please contact us at (806) 79-BRACE.

Avoid Bad Breath With Braces

Bad breath is nothing any of us want to deal with, right? When you have braces, the chances of having bad breath are even worse because there are so many other places for bacteria to hide. If you are worried about how your breath smells, take these simple steps every day to ensure that you are not causing people to back up when you talk.

Eat Right
Sugar is not good for your diet in the first place, but it is horrible for your dental health. If you have braces, sugar can hide in some of the tightest areas of your mouth. This means that when you do brush and floss, you probably are not getting all of it. The longer the sugar is able to sit on your teeth, the more damage it does.

As it joins with the bacteria in your mouth, it begins to form an acid that eats away at your enamel and causes bad breath. So instead of worrying about garlic and onions ruining your breath, stay away from foods high in sugar content to keep your breath smelling pleasant.

Drink Water

Water is essential for overall health and to fight bad breath. When your mouth is short on saliva, the bacteria thrives. That means that you will likely suffer from bad breath.

Brush and Floss

With or without braces, you should be brushing twice a day and flossing at least once, but this becomes even more important when you have braces. In fact, you should be brushing after every time that you eat, but if you cannot, you should at least rinse your mouth out with water to remove as much debris as possible from your braces. It is imperative that you never forget to floss when you have braces, as this could be the number one reason that you have bad breath. Floss is the only way to get the food that is stuck in between your brackets out from between them. If you have trouble flossing with braces, ask our staff for help.

Bad breath and braces do not have go hand in hand as long as you take care of your mouth. If you have a problem with bad breath with your braces, please contact us today so that we can help you!

Are You Having An Orthodontic Emergency?

Broken or disturbed appliances are likely to occur from time to time during your orthodontic care. If there is any disturbance, such as loose bands, broken or poking wires, call our office as soon as possible so we can evaluate the urgency of the problem and schedule you to be seen accordingly.

The following are helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until you can be seen in our office.

• If a tie wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with orthodontic wax or tuck it under the archwire using a blunt object like a pencil eraser or a Q-Tip.
• A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. Call the office as soon as you notice a loose band or bracket so we can schedule you to be seen to reattach the loose appliance.
• A broken archwire, or one that is irritating the gum or cheek tissue, needs to be seen as soon as possible for replacement or adjustment.
• A bent headgear facebow, or removable appliance that is not fitting well, is not to be worn until it can be properly adjusted in our office. Call the office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to have the facebow or removable appliance adjusted.
• Several days of soreness and sensitivity are common following an office visit. If you are experiencing abnormal pain or discomfort please contact our Wentz Orthodontics.

DIY Summer Treat

Wentz Orthodontics wants to help you keep your snack choices healthy this summer with braces-friendly healthy summer snack recipes.  By avoiding sticky sweets and sugary beverages, we will provide you with snack choices that are fit for orthodontic patients and promote overall wellness and health! All summer long, check here for healthy new summer snack recipes! 

STRAWBERRY-KIWI FRUIT POPSICLES

Ingredients:

• Popsicle Molds
• 8 strawberries , cut into thin slices
• 2 kiwis , cut into thin slices
• Strawberry-Kiwi Juice

Instructions:

1. Arrange sliced strawberries and sliced kiwis inside the popsicle molds.
2. Pour just enough strawberry-kiwi juice into each mold to cover the fruit.
3. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze until frozen solid; about 1 to 2 hours.
4. Serve.

Tips For Creating Your #WentzJingleJam Entry

Here at Wentz Orthodontics, we love giving back to the community and patients as much as we can. This month, we're giving you the chance to win 1 of 3 amazing prizes all valued at $1500 each! Don't feel overwhelmed with the requirements of entering, you don't need fancy equipment or video editing skills! Use your smartphone or any camera that allows you to video record, pop on your best smile, and show us some fun moves to our new Wentz Orthodontics jingle!

Keep reading for a few tips on how to create your #WentzJingleJam video entry!

Make a Plan
Ready to make your video? Get creative, get loud, get silly! Dance around with your friends or family and show off that Wentz smile. Think quick, simple, and fun.

Set-up the Scene
Prepare your setting and have all people and props ready to go. If you want to keep it simple use your camera app and attach your camera phone to a tripod or camera stand. This way you can film and arrange the scene without also holding the camera. However, you’ll find out quickly that another set of hands will make life easier.

Shoot
Open the camera app and tap the camera button to go into photo shooting mode, then tap the video camera icon on your phone to enter the video mode. (Unless you have a video camera)

Edit
Watch your video and go back and delete or add shots. If this is a little out of your comfort zone, skip this part! This is meant to be fun and easy so don't overcomplicate it!

Share
Add a description of the video and post it on our Wentz Orthodontics Facebook wall! Be sure to include the tag #WentzJingleJam! Check out the flyer for other ways to enter!

Will Wisdom Teeth Affect Your Braces?

Some people require their wisdom teeth to be removed following orthodontic treatment with braces. Often the timing of the eruption of wisdom teeth coincides with the removal of braces. It is often difficult to determine if someone will have space in their mouth for their wisdom teeth to erupt or if the wisdom will become impacted.

Many people have their wisdom teeth emerge as healthy, effective back molars. In this case, the tooth has grown in straight and is not affecting the person’s bite and any dental work will be unaffected. There is nothing stopping a person with healthy wisdom teeth from getting braces either.

Wisdom teeth are a leftover trait from when humans had larger jaws and chewed hearty leaves. Wisdom teeth tend to overcrowd already corrected molars or emerge only half way. In fact, wisdom teeth statistically have the highest chance of growing in sideways, an issue known as an impacted wisdom tooth, which can affect the nearby teeth. However, wisdom teeth cannot cause front teeth to become crooked. From the back of the mouth, the pressure they exert on the other molars is not strong enough to reach the front.

This has led people to believe that wisdom teeth can ruin their current or previous dental work. There are a number of other factors that have led to this. Around 20 years old, the jaw performs its last growth spurt, which can leave teeth crooked. This is also the age when many former braces wearers begin to neglect their retainers at night.

Each set of braces is unique for the wearer, as is the decision on what to do about wisdom teeth. Talk with the doctors of Wentz Orthodontics as soon as you notice any discomfort or wisdom teeth appearing. While they may not affect your braces, wisdom teeth can change your overall oral health.

EASY CROCKPOT RECIPE| Raspberry Chocolate Chip French Toast Casserole

This Crockpot Raspberry Chocolate Chip French Toast Casserole is easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. Perfect for a spring time breakfast or brunch!
Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5-6 cups challah or brioche cubed
• 1/2 pint raspberries
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Whisk the milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla together in a medium bowl.
2. Place half of the challah cubes in a 4-5 quart slow cooker, pushing slightly down. Sprinkle with half the raspberries and chocolate chips. Repeat layers.
3. Pour milk mixture on top, cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or until puffed up and starting to turn golden on top.
4. Enjoy!

You Still Need To See Your Dentist

If you’re a patient at Wentz Orthodontics you are used to visiting us for your regular adjustment appointment every 6-8 weeks. While our hygienist is in your mouth making those adjustments, it’s important for you to remember our team is working on your braces and trips to your general dentist are still very much needed.

When we work on your braces, we are not looking specifically for any cavities and anything we do notice is a by-product of monitoring your oral health from an orthodontic perspective. Even if we did find something suspicious we don’t have the facilities to correct it.

For this reason, we tell you to maintain your regular dental checkup schedule of once every 6 months.

Another important thing to remember is that your oral hygiene needs to be flawless. The appliances that are in your mouth are, unfortunately, a magnet for plaque buildup. If you are a bit lax with brushing and rinsing out your mouth after eating, you may just find that you have a beautiful straight smile with stained teeth.

While having braces does not increase the risk of cavities, not caring for your teeth and having braces does.

If you have any questions regarding your oral hygiene click here to visit our website or contact Wentz Orthodontics online or give us a call at 806-79-BRACE!

Save The Date | Annual Golf Tournament Info

Get your golf clubs out, it's time for another annual golf tournament. Wentz Orthodontics and the Children's Home of Lubbock presents our Annual Golf Tournament on May 8th to benefit some sweet children that need our help. Join us for a fun time; click here to register. Contact us for registration/sponsor information.

This annual tournament gives local golfers the opportunity to rub shoulders with golf professional Bobby Wilson (Long Drive Hall of Fame and previous Long Drive Champion) and it offers many prize possibilities for teams and individuals. Although Bobby was unable to be with us in 2016, he is making plans to be back with us this year.

Bobby conducts a clinic and offers his drive for team play at a designated hole.

The money raised by The Children's Home of Lubbock's Annual Golf Tournament goes toward the purchase of new vans for transporting children to school, doctor appointments, after-school activities, shopping expeditions and church functions. With an average of eight children in each cottage, you can imagine what a beating our vehicles take each year! This past year, the golf tournament raised over $62,000 for this purpose.

Don't miss this opportunity to help our kids while spending a great day golfing with your friends!

Mouthguards Save Teeth & Faces

A mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age when it comes to protecting your mouth

Contact and collision sports such as boxing and martial arts are higher-risk sports for the mouth. Any athlete can experience a dental injury in non-contact activities too, such as gymnastics and skating.

Types of Mouthguards
Mouthguards can be custom made for your mouth by your dentist or orthodontist. However, if you can’t afford a custom-made mouthguard, you should still wear a stock mouthguard or a boil-and-bite mouthguard from the drugstore.

Protecting Your Braces
A properly fitted mouthguard may be especially important for people who wear braces. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouthguard also provides a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, which will help you avoid injuries to your gums and cheeks.

If you're an athlete and a patient at Wentz Orthodontics, talk to Dr. Wentz about selecting a mouthguard that will provide the right protection for you. Although some mouthguards only cover the upper teeth, Dr. Wentz may suggest that you use a mouthguard on the lower teeth if you have braces on these teeth.

Also, be sure to remember if you have a retainer or other removable appliance, do not wear it during any contact sports. For more information give us a call at 806-79-BRACE or visit our website.

5 Fun Spring Activities

Spring is in the air! As the flower buds are peeking out and birds are starting to chirp, it's time to leave those thoughts of winter behind. Spring can be a wonderful time to explore the outdoors or go for a walk around town. Get your family moving together and establish some healthy habits, away from the electronics indoors. We have 5 fun ideas to get you in the mood for the loveliest season of the year.

1. Dust off the sports gear. Find a kick a ball, throw a Frisbee, shoot hoops, whatever sports activity that you and your family enjoy doing. 
2. Get dirty in the yard. Mow the grass. Pull weeds. Till flower beds. Replant. Cut back. Find the fun in getting sweaty, and teach your kids how to manage the landscaping while you do it.
3. Explore the outdoors. Hike a trail and check out the plants budding out of the ground.
4. Go to a baseball game. The beginning baseball season is one of the annual markers that warm weather is just around the corner. If you don't have it in your budget for pricey pro tickets, look into local league games, college, or even high school games to watch.
5. Make Something. Whether you're experimenting with a new recipe or creating a new craft, making something new will give your kids a sense of satisfaction.

After being cooped up all winter, everyone's ready for some fresh Spring air. We hope you will step into the warm weather with suggestions of fun activities for the entire family.

#WentzSBsmiles Contest Info

It's time for another wonderful Wentz Orthodontics contest! Use #WentzSBsmiles to send us your pictures this Spring Break for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!