Do I Need to Wear a Mouthguard?

Springtime is time to remind our patients at Legler Orthodontics to protect their teeth while out on the field playing sports. Whether you are playing football, hockey, boxing, lacrosse, or any other contact sport it’s very important to have a proper fitting mouthguard.  Mouthguards will help cushion your teeth from impact that might otherwise cause broken teeth. In addition to preventing broken teeth, mouthguards can prevent jaw fractures, cheek and lip injuries, mouth lacerations and reduce the severity of concussions. Additionally, orthodontic patients need to take extra precautions and wear a mouthguard that is specifically for braces.

According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high school athletes and adults have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events annually.

If you are planning on participating in spring sports, it’s imperative to have a proper fitting mouthguard. We have even seen cheerleaders and gymnasts with injuries to their teeth from lack of mouthguards!  So everyone go outside, enjoy your sports, and WEAR A MOUTHGUARD!!

Dr. L 

National Children’s Dental Health Month

     It’s that time of year again! February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! At Legler Orthodontics we truly enjoy raising awareness about the importance of good oral health, especially at a young age. For the past 21 years Dr. Legler has been visiting elementary schools all along the treasure coast and teaching children the importance of developing healthy habits at an early age.

     Your smile is one of your most valuable assets; therefore an early start to developing good oral health habits and scheduling regular dental visits will give children a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. We also want our patients to understand the importance of oral health while wearing braces. Poor oral hygiene can increase the length of time in braces and also significantly compromise the final results. Some of the risks involved when not keeping teeth and gums clean while in braces include, gum disease, cavities, tooth decay, and permanent white spots known as decalcification. Even though brushing and flossing requires extra time and effort while in braces, your beautiful “Legler Smile” at the end of treatment will be well worth it!

     The team at Legler Orthodontics is more than happy to help explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical aspects of your Orthodontic Treatment. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call! For a guide to brushing and flossing with braces, please visit our website at www.bracesatlegler.com. 
Dr. L 

Am I an INVISALIGN® Candidate?

The first day of Spring is just around the corner, a time of fresh beginnings and bright energy!  We all have one face and once smile that shows our energy and happiness.  So why hide your smile?

Invisalign® is a great option form straightening your teeth without metal braces.  Invisalign® is the clear alternative to braces with amazing benefits.  You may be wondering "Am I a good candidate for Invisalign®? 

Every patient is unique and therefore has an individual treatment plan for correcting their bite and giving them a beautiful smile.  Dr. Lee Legler, Board Certified Orthodontist, will provide a complimentary consultation to let you know which is the most effective treatment plan for you.  And since Dr. Legler is an Elite Invisalign® Provider, he is one of the top 1% doctors in the country to help you with your treatment.

Invisalign® takes a modern approach to giving you the smile you always wanted.  Learn more about Dr. Lee Legler and Invisalign® treatment by visiting www.bracesatlegler.com

Keep Smiling,

Dr. L



  



What's new in orthodontics?

Aloha!  In my quest to stay atop the latest and greatest in orthodontic techniques, I ended up in Hawaii at the American Assoc. of Orthodontists meeting.  I listened to lectures, walked the aisles of the exhibition hall, and talked with other orthodontists from around the country.  I left with this overwhelming feeling that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  The difference now I think is that pretty much everything you want to do in an orthodontic office, you can do using some form of computer technology.  The glitch however is that it comes with a price and although it may be exciting to use and look flashy, it is not necessarily "better".   Despite the best efforts of silicon valley's brightest technogeeks, orthodontics still and I think always will involve the careful interaction between human brain, eyes and hands to achieve the proper diagnosis and treatment plan and desired tooth movement to achieve optimal results.  The materials involved whether porcelain, stainless steel, nickel titanium, may change over time, but the end result will always involve a living, breathing, thinking and caring orthodontist.  Mahalo...
 Dr L

Invest in your career!

A survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry reveals that 92% respondents say an attractive smile is an important social asset, while 74% believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chances for career success ( Bryan Williams - anchor of NBC nightly news a notable exception).  So in this active political season, make sure you check out your candidate's lower incisors!
 Dr L

Are all orthodontists board certified?

No.  In fact, only about 25% of all practicing orthodontists are certified by the American Board of Orthodontists as Diplomates.  What does this mean exactly?  Prior to taking the board exam, the candidate must obtain a dental degree and a certificate in orthodontics from an accredited orthodontic specialty program.  This takes 6 years after a 4 year college degree.  The orthodontist must then pass a grueling written exam covering  a variety of topics with a reading list to study of several thousand pages.  The hard part then begins.  The orthodontist must then submit treated cases that fulfill certain criteria.  These cases must have full starting and final records and the orthodontist must discuss the chosen treatment plan and results.  The examiners are some of the most highly revered orthodontists in the world and the exam is extremely thorough.  Therefore,  passing this pressure cooker is quite an accomplishment indeed.  I think what board certification shows is a commitment to a higher standard of patient care and treatment results. The willingness to use free time or family time to study, seek continuing education and submit treated cases for scrutiny shows a dedication above and beyond the norm.  Hopefully my patients see the difference!
  Dr L

What will happen if I don't do orthodontics?

I am writing this post because as hard as it is to believe, some potential patients want to know what will happen to their teeth if they don't proceed with orthodontic treatment.  Truth be told, the only evil influences in the fairytale life of your average molar are bacteria and forces.  Bacteria in the form of plaque causing periodontal breakdown or tooth decay and abnormal forces causing teeth to wear, tip, become loose etc. The bacteria part is easy...just brush, floss, see your dentist every 6mos.  Forces are much more complicated.   Teeth and the supporting structures are designed to handle vertically directed  forces and these are important in maintaining good quality bone.  Lateral forces or forces hitting the teeth at angles can be detrimental and lead to breakdown of the attachment and enamel fracture or wear.  This has a domino effect causing shifts in the bite and possibly jaw joint pain, popping and limited range of motion.  Will this happen to every patient?  Probably not,  but difficult to predict.  It is my job and that of your dentist, to help avoid these problems decades into the future.  So brush up McFly and no clenching or grinding!!!
Dr L

Internet Consults

I gotta say, I just love the internet.  It is so easy to use and you can learn so much!  At consultations with new patients, I often hear:  "I was reading on the internet and it said to do this..., or not to do that...".  The medical and dental advice you get is great background info written in terms pretty easy to understand.  However, I would caution you that it is sometimes very misleading and usually not case specific.  In other words,  the internet uses generalities that may not apply to you or your child's specific orthodontic needs or treatment.  I have no problem discussing internet findings with my patients as I find it very interesting, but don't be surprised if I add more appropriate info that may be more relevant to the treatment of you or your child's case.  It's like googling  "board game" versus reading the directions for how to play "monopoly".  Having said that - google to your little heart's content... just beware...big brother's watching you! 
Dr L

TREATMENT TIMING FOR YOUR CHILD

I am frequently asked:  "when should my child see the orthodontist for the first time?"  The American Assoc. of Orthodontists suggests age 7 and I agree.  I would also add - whenever a parent suspects a problem.  The reason age 7 is often cited is that the permanent molars are erupting so I can check their fit and evaluate whether or not any jaw growth abnormalities exist.  The permanent four front teeth are usually in or erupting and problems present as overlapping or spaced teeth, front teeth that protrude beyond the lower lip or teeth that are not able to erupt due to lack of spacing.  Jaw or skeletal growth may also be a problem as one jaw may be too far forward or too narrow relative to the other( usually blamed on the father).  You do not have to be referred by a dentist. If I determine that everything looks normal,  your child will be placed on recall and we will see them in a year or two and re-evaluate.  Simple!
 Major Myth :  You should wait until all the pemanent teeth erupt.  This is unfortunately a common problem and the reality is that eruption of teeth does not always coincide with skeletal growth or even age for that matter.  Jaw growth is so important in correcting overbites or crowding, so for some problems, treatment should be timed with the child's growth spurt instead of whether or not all the permanent teeth have erupted.  This will result in a much more esthetic facial and functional result that we can all be proud of !!!   Dr L

Good news for band students!

An article published in the American Journal of Orthodontics Feb. 2012 evaluating the effects of playing a wind instrument on the occlusion (bite)  revealed the following results:  1)  playing a wind instrument ie.  clarinet, saxaphone etc. does not significantly affect the position of the front teeth...  yea!   2)  playing a brass instrument with a large cup-shaped mouthpiece (trombone, tuba) might pose a small (microscopic) risk of developing a bite problem.   These subjects were all in professional orchestras, so I'm guessing the number of years and hours a day that the aforementioned reed or mouthpiece was in position greatly exceeded that of your average treasure coast middle schooler!  So play on... as long as you don't also suck your thumb, you should be in good shape!  Dr L

Rest in peace Clarence Clemons

Whatever gets you here

A recent exchange with one of my 68 year old male patients discussing his crowded lower incisors resulted in the following confession:  "you know I wouldn't be here if my wife wasn't making me!"  Thank you Marys everywhere - we love you at Legler Orthodontics!  Dr L

How long do I have to wear my retainers?

I'm glad you asked!  When orthodontic treatment with braces or invisalign is completed and there is no more active tooth movement, the goal then focuses on holding the teeth in that new, corrected position without them moving back from whence they came.  The reason they move is because the collagen fibers that connect teeth to gum tissue and bone needs time to turnover or refresh. The bone also requires at least 12mos to mature.  Therefore we emphasize fulltime 24-7 retainer wear (removed for meals) for the first 3 mos when those collagen fibers are really stretched to the max.  After 3 mos they can be worn at night only.  For how long you ask?   I hate the phrase:  "for the rest of my life".  That's a little daunting, so I just say indefinitely or at least as long as you want to insure straight teeth.  The problem is this:  we don't know when or what will cause your teeth to shift in the future.  It could be a variety of things attributed to the aging process with the end result being a change of forces on your teeth causing them to shift, drift or tip.  Sometimes it's a slow process, other times it seems to happen overnight.  My practice consists of 30% adult patients who all noticed their teeth looking or feeling worse than they did in years past.  So whether it's a colorful acrylic retainer, bonded wire or clear "invisible" retainer, wear it regularly and you will sleep better knowing you're treating your teeth with the attention and respect they deserve.  Your smile will show it! 
Dr L