Mikolich Orthodontics Blog

The holiday season is filled with festive gatherings, delicious meals, and plenty of tempting treats. But if you’re wearing braces, navigating holiday foods can feel a little tricky. The good news? You can still enjoy your favorite dishes without damaging your orthodontic appliances; you just need to make thoughtful choices. Here are 5 dentist-approved tips to help you enjoy holiday meals safely while keeping your braces in great shape.

If you’ve already had braces once before but notice your teeth shifting out of place again, you may wonder: can I wear braces twice? The short answer is yes — many people undergo orthodontic treatment a second time, and in many cases, it’s simpler than the first round. Whether your teeth have shifted because you didn’t wear your retainer, experienced natural changes over time, or had new dental issues arise, getting braces again can restore your smile and improve your oral health.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed your teeth seem to have moved since your last dental visit, or even since your teenage years? You’re not imagining things. Teeth naturally shift over time due to a variety of factors. Even if you’ve had braces in the past, your smile isn’t guaranteed to stay perfectly straight forever. Let’s explore the most common reasons teeth shift and what you can do to help keep your smile in alignment.

Panic can set in quickly when dealing with broken braces. Although these metal brackets and wires are meant to stay in place throughout treatment, excessive pressure or facial trauma can cause them to pop off, poke, or become loose. Before allowing your mind to venture to a worst-case scenario, learn what you can do to minimize further harm and keep your straighter smile on track.

Dental misalignments can lead to a range of issues such as tooth damage, headaches, backaches, jaw pain, hygiene difficulties, oral infections, and tooth loss. While people can treat their alignment issues with several orthodontic options, traditional braces are often the best method for patients with severe alignment issues. Here’s a brief guide to why metal braces may be the optimal way to rearrange your teeth into a healthier and more visually pleasing alignment.

Traditional braces continue to be one of the most popular ways to straighten teeth and improve oral health. Their reliable bracket-and-wire system easily addresses crookedness, misalignment, gaps, and overcrowding, creating smiles that look beautiful and work seamlessly. During treatment, though, these metal appliances can cause problems. Whether you’re currently wearing braces or preparing for your first appointment, here are four common issues to watch out for while undergoing orthodontic treatment.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to invest in Invisalign, this is it! You can use your dental insurance to lower the amount you will pay for clear aligners. However, your dental benefits don’t last forever. They will expire at the end of the year. Don’t miss your chance to achieve a straight, healthy smile. Here’s how you can use your dental insurance to keep your Invisalign treatment affordable.

If you’re an adult considering braces, you may be hesitant to commit to this beneficial treatment for a variety of reasons. Whether you fear you’re “too old” for them or they won’t be as effective in adulthood, orthodontic treatment is perfect for anyone at any stage in life. Here are some major benefits to getting braces as a grown up!

When you make an investment in your smile with Invisalign, you want to get the very best results. Sometimes treatment will go completely according to plan, and a beautiful new look arrives right on schedule. But while typical Invisalign programs last approximately 12 to 18 months, sometimes teeth have other ideas. Occasionally, they will move slower than predicted, or the modifications made by aligners could cause unwanted movement that requires intervention. Fortunately, the orthodontist can get your smile back on track.

Invisalign is a great solution to fix your bite and alignment with no brackets or wires. Clear aligners are worn over your teeth to move them slowly, offering a discreet and comfortable treatment. Your aligners will act as a barrier over your teeth, but that doesn’t mean you can stop brushing and flossing. Your aligners can’t get cavities, but your risk of tooth decay can increase if you’re not careful. Here’s how to keep your smile cavity-free while benefiting from Invisalign.

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