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Forcier Orthodontics

June 2017 Newsletter

June 1st, 2017

Click here to read our latest newsletter!

Read Our Spring 2016 Newsletter!

April 26th, 2016

Have you read our latest newsletter??  Click here to find out what's happening in our practice in the Spring of 2016!

https://send-callbacks-prd-cluster-3.sesamecommunications.com/common/members/dforcier/common/news/mitkOBkdPkNySKmPo01McVYPQwl4OIF1/index.html

Check out the latest from Madison's Smile blog!

March 23rd, 2015

http://forcierortho.blogspot.com

February is National Children's Dental Health Month!

February 5th, 2015

February is National Children's Dental Health Month.  This is an annual event sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA) to raise awareness for the importance of oral health.  It began as a one day event in Cleveland, Ohio back in 1941.  It was declared a month long celebration in 1981.  Events now include contests, dental office tours, free dental screenings and classroom presentations, among others.

A large nationwide event is Give Kids a Smile Day (GKAS) which began in 2003.  The purpose of this program is to provide free dental services including educational, preventative and restorative services to children from low income families.  This year, Forcier Orthodontics has joined the Give Kids a Smile Day event at Just4Me Pediatric Dentistry in Getzville, on February 6th.  We really enjoy being part of a such a rewarding program in the community.

Also during the month of February, our team visits local elementary schools to provide presentations on the importance of regular dental visits, learning good brushing habits at an early age and healthy snacks.  The kids really enjoy these visits as much as we do!

At Forcier Orthodontics, we cannot overemphasize how important good oral hygiene is while you are going though orthodontic treatment.  We evaluate hygiene at each and every visit and have a protocol in place to help you should we notice you could be brushing a bit better.  Consequences of poor brushing include decalcification (white spots on the teeth), cavities, swollen red gums, and bad breath.

For more information on oral hygiene please visit our website, http://www.smilewny.com/orthodontic-faqs or ask our in-house registered dental hygienist, Kim, at your next visit!

For more information about Give Kids a Smile Day, go to http://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/give-kids-a-smile/about-give-kids-a-smile

We can help you "DEFEAT MONSTER MOUTH"

Have you heard of AcceleDent?

November 10th, 2014

This device is the AcceleDent Aura from OrthoAccel Technologies.  It is an FDA cleared medical device available around the world since 2009.  The AcceleDent is available by prescription only through your orthodontist.

The AcceleDent uses a SoftPulse Technology (gentle vibrations or micro pulses) which accelerates bone remodeling and allows teeth to move up to 50% faster during orthodontic treatment.  Meaning a 24-month treatment plan, could potentially become a 12-month treatment plan!  The device has also been shown to reduce discomfort after routine orthodontic adjustments. http://acceledent.com/what-it-is/

The AcceleDent consists of an Activator and a mouthpiece (similar to a mouthguard).  It includes a USB interface that is used for charging the device, but which can also be plugged directly into a computer to view usage through the FastTrac patient usage report.

AcceleDent can be used with both traditional braces and Invisalign.  All that is required is 20 minutes of uninterrupted daily usage.  The device is extremely lightweight and hands-free, which means you can go about your activities at home, or work, while using it!

http://acceledent.com/what-it-is/acceledent-videos/

To find out more about AcceleDent, please feel free to speak with Dr. Forcier or one of our team members!  This device may also be eligible to use Health Savings Account (HSA) funds, but it's a good idea to check with your HSA Plan Administrator.

Mouthguards 101

September 11th, 2014

Play sports?  Got a mouthguard?  Find out here how they can save your smile...

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/m/mouthguards

All about EXPANDERS!

July 24th, 2014

One of the most common orthodontic appliances used in young children is the palatal expander, also known as the RPE.  These appliances look intimidating to patients and the thought of having to “do the turns” every day scares a lot of parents. So what can you expect while your child has an expander in their mouth?

Arch expansion is one of the most common ways to eliminate crowding and crossbites in growing patients. Successful expansion requires that the growth plate in the roof of the mouth (the midpalatal suture) is not fused. This fusion usually occurs between the ages of 14-16.

An expander is attached to the upper arch by bands placed around the teeth. Although there are removable expanders, fixed ones have an important advantage in that they cannot be lost or forgotten.

While there may be some initial discomfort when an expander is placed just because there has never been anything like that attached to the teeth before, for the most part upper arch expansion is relatively painless. Patients report that they feel pressure on the teeth, in the roof of the mouth, behind the nose, and even between the eyes as their expander is activated. This pressure fades within minutes.

Besides pressure, you can also expect your child to speak differently for the first few days. Additionally, you may hear them slurping as their mouth creates extra saliva after expander cementation. We definitely noticed this when Madison had her expander put in!  And yes, it's a bit annoying, but it does pass! One of the most visible signs that the suture is opening (the desired effect) is the appearance of a space between the upper central incisors (the 2 front teeth). The space is created as the expander pushes the two halves of the palate in opposite directions. Once you have stopped activating the expander, it is normal for the space to close spontaneously. This occurs as the elastic fibers in the surrounding gum tissues return to their original positions. The underlying bone, however, remains expanded. It is also normal for the front teeth to feel a little loose and get sore as they move back together.

To make the first couple of days more bearable for your child as they adapt to their new expander, you may want to find some fun foods for them to eat that don’t require a lot of chewing. Examples include yogurt, pudding, mashed potatoes, ice cream, etc. A day or two after the application, the expander will feel natural in their mouth and normal eating will resume. But food does get stuck in it and excellent tooth brushing and hygiene is essential!  Food stuck in the appliance can cause bad breath as well as cavities.  Although expanders are more forgiving of hard and sticky foods than are braces, it is recommended that your child avoid any sticky, jelly-like candies that could get stuck in the expansion screw.

Because there is always some relapse (movement back towards the original position), your orthodontist may choose to over-expand your child’s palate. He will decide how much expansion is necessary as part of the initial diagnosis and treatment plan. After your orthodontist indicates that you’ve reached your target, he will instruct you on how long the retainer should stay in place to stabilize the results. This is usually 4-6 months, but is determined by each individual case.

An update from Madison...

June 26th, 2014

http://forcierortho.blogspot.com

Loose, broken or poking???

May 5th, 2014

Wondering what to do if you have something loose, broken or poking?  If you are having significant discomfort, please call our office as soon as possible, but also check out our website page for tips on how to deal with it until you can get into the office!

http://www.smilewny.com/emergency-care

We have added a new blog!

April 12th, 2014

We have started a new blog which will follow Dr. Forcier's daughter, Madison, through her orthodontic treatment! We hope it will be informative and show you another side of orthodontics. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes view from a patient perspective! You can read the first post through the link below.

We'd love your feedback!

http://forcierortho.blogspot.com

February is National Children's Dental Health Month!

February 13th, 2014

Children's Dental Health Month is celebrated each February to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at a young age along with regular dental visits will help children to have lifelong healthy teeth and gums.  This is important for every child from the first tooth to a full set of adult teeth.  The ADA recommends that parents take children to a dentist no later than their first birthday and then at intervals recommended by their dentist, but usually twice a year.

Oral hygiene is especially important during orthodontic treatment!  At your first appointment, our dental assistants go over hygiene instructions with you and your parents.  Be sure to review the instructions and feel free to ask questions or talk to us about your concerns at your next visit.  We know you get a lot of information at that first visit and it can be hard to concentrate on these instructions when you have a mouth full of new hardware!  We understand this and will go over instructions with you again at your next appointment if needed.

Saturday Appointments

October 15th, 2013

Do you find it hard to make it to your ortho appointments during the busy work and school week?? Then we invite you to take advantage of our Saturday morning appointments. Our office is open one Saturday a month during the school year, with appointments in the morning. These appointments are reserved for your regular quick adjustments only. As an added bonus, our staff usually has some sort of "theme" each Saturday we work! Just makes it a little more fun to be at the office on a Saturday... Ask Sandy about a Saturday appointment if you think this might make life a little bit easier for you!

Happening right now at our office...

September 21st, 2013

Welcome to Our Blog

August 6th, 2013

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for weekly updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about orthodontics and the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctor and staff - we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients, their families, and friends!