New Year New You 2018

We all know “adulting” is certainly not easy and the routine of daily life most definitely catches up with you. Before you know it, your life seems to have flown by and your left wondering where the time went. Hopes and dreams are intended to be achieved but everyone knows life doesn’t always work out the way we plan. However, this is the year to make a change. No longer will you let the day to day obstacles hold you back, it’s time to pause, look yourself in the mirror and turn your goals into a reality. At Legler Orthodontics, we’re here to support YOU and help make this New Year about the New You!

Overall, you’re proud of yourself for what you’ve achieved because we know life ain’t easy but, is there something that has always held you back? An insecurity, that if fixed, would let your confidence soar and take you to the next level? As human beings we are our own biggest critic and while we know that the way we look should not matter in the big game of life, it’s one of those issues that seem to be the cause of our own self-doubt. To most, a smile is a person’s most defining feature. Your smile can be simple, straightforward, and most important sincere. When someone has a big smile, it shows they’re willing to open up and expose part of themselves. So yes, your smile may be a part of the way you look but, it’s so much more than that. This New Year, don’t let your smile hold you back. This is the year to fix that insecurity and show the world who you truly are; a beautiful, hard-working, confident person that is proud of what they’ve accomplished. It’s time to finally smile from ear to ear because this New Year is about the New You!

At Legler Orthodontics, Dr. Legler has transformed smiles along the treasure coast for over 26 years. From children to adults he has helped changed these peoples lives in more ways than we could ever imagine. Using the latest technology, Dr. Legler corrects his patient’s teeth and bite with either braces or Invisalign, both of which work equally as well, depending on the difficulty of their case what a patient prefers. We understand braces or Invisalign can be quite a large investment, but we’re here to assist you on making this dream come true. Starting with a complimentary consultation, Dr. Legler examines your teeth and bite and determines how long your treatment will take and the amount it will cost. At Legler Orthodontics we offer flexible payment plans specific to our patient’s needs. If a payment plan is just not enough to help pay for your braces or Invisalign treatment we also suggest a Health Savings Account (HAS) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Simply put, an HSA or FSA account is a tax-deferred, private savings account designed to pay for current and future medical, dental, vision, alternative, and preventative expenses with tax free money. Braces or Invisalign can be costly but it certainly is attainable if you put your mind to it!

First, let’s talk about braces! These metal brackets have been around for years and are often seen on kids and pre-teens, but who’s to say an adult can’t wear braces? At Legler Orthodontics 30% of our patients are adults! Our adult patients often tell Dr. Legler, “I wish I did this years ago! Why did I put off treatment for so long?” While many adults choose to undergo Invisalign treatment, braces are still always a great option. If you are a patient that struggles with self-discipline braces are the way to go! These brackets are permanently glued on your teeth until you finish your treatment. Also, braces are more effective for complex dental issues so, if you are not a candidate for Invisalign it does not mean you won’t able to achieve a gorgeous, straight smile. Furthermore, at Legler Orthodontics we know many adults don’t want metal braces on their teeth, so we offer clear self-ligating braces that stay clear the entire time of treatment and perform every bit as efficiently as metal braces.

On the other hand, Invisalign is our most popular form of treatment among adults. Your Invisalign clear aligners are custom-made for you. The aligners are virtually invisible and fit snugly over your teeth. Each aligner shifts your teeth slightly, moving them horizontally and vertically and even rotating them when needed. Dr. Legler is a VIP (Valued Invisalign Provider) which, is the highest level an orthodontist can achieve. Dr. Legler uses the latest technology to ensure his ability to take on even the most difficult cases and transform smiles you never thought possible. One of the best things about Invisalign treatment is the minimal impact it has on your everyday life. There’s no need to worry about added stress, these aligners are meant to be invisible not only for your teeth but in your life as well. Invisalign allows you to remove the aligners so you can enjoy all the foods and activities you love and continue to brush and floss with ease. There is no pain from sharp brackets and wires and zero injuries to do broken wires or brackets. Since the aligners are so comfortable, you’re able wear them for the recommended 20 to 22 hours a day without much effort. Best yet, the aligners make it easy to see results at every stage throughout your treatment. Convenient, comfortable, and clear what better way to straighten your teeth?

We decided to ask a few of our adult patients who are either currently in orthodontic treatment or have finished their orthodontic treatment and their stories about how their lives have been changed by braces or Invisalign.

 At Legler Orthodontics, Dr. Legler and our entire staff want everyone who walks through our door to leave with a smile on their face. We achieve this by providing unparalleled customer service and the highest level of patient care, including a comprehensive treatment approach, ensuring quality work. This New Year make the step towards a New You. Successful, confident, loved and beaming with a GORGEOUS Legler Smile is the perfect way to take on the New Year. Call our office today for your complimentary consultation and we guarantee success with your new, straight, and beautiful smile! 

Legler Orthodontics Dental Health Month

 

Did you know that your teeth are supposed to last a lifetime? According to the American Academy of Periodontology (the study of teeth), 50% of people say that a smile is the first feature they notice about someone. So, why are 40% of adults over the age of 65 missing their teeth? It all begins with educating children on the importance of dental health and the proper way to take care of their teeth. The American Dental Association dedicated the month of February for a national dental health observance, bringing together thousands of devoted dental professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers, and many others. Of course, Dr. Legler can’t pass up this opportunity to make a difference in our community and years ago he decided to visit schools throughout Indian River and St. Lucie Counties bringing with him a fun, interactive, and informational presentation on how to take proper care of your teeth.

Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood diseases in the United Sates. About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5-11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth, 1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth, and the percentage of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years with untreated tooth decay is twice as high for low-income families (25%) compared with children from high-income households. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, learning, and playing. 

Therefore, at Legler Orthodontics it is our mission to educate the children in our community about dental health and oral care. There is good news! Dr. Legler’s Dental Health Month school presentations teach the children how tooth decay and other oral diseases are completely preventable if proper measures are taken.

Here are some of the steps in Dr. Legler’s Dental Health Month presentation that he goes over with the students:

Step 1: At Home Teeth Care

First, you and your child should brush your teeth at least twice a day. Start by setting a timer for 3 minutes, put the toothpaste on your toothbrush and begin brushing in circular motions. Also, try not to make sawing motions (back and forth). Brush up on your gums and don’t forget your tongue.

Second, it’s time to floss! Make sure you get in between all of your teeth because flossing helps remove plaque (leading cause to dental decay).  Here’s a great example; You wouldn’t wash only one side of a dirty dish and then put it back in the cabinet to use again tomorrow, would you? When you brush your teeth, you’re only washing half of the surfaces of your teeth, the front and back. This leaves the sides of your teeth and the area near the gum line dirty, like washing only one side of a dirty dish. Ew! Floss your teeth!

Finally, finish your dental care routine with a fluoride rinse. This helps fight against tooth decay and gingivitis (gum disease). This also freshens your breath and helps to reduce bad breath throughout the day. This final stage of your dental routine is one you should not skip!

 

Step 2: Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is imperative in your child’s life. If children start out eating healthy they are most likely going to keep a healthy diet throughout their life. Healthy foods like fruits and vegetables are not only good for oral health but obviously for a person’s overall health. By eating these foods, you can avoid cavities, make your teeth stronger, and develop good eating habits at an early age. Candy and soda, basically all sugar, is terrible for your teeth. Every time you eat or drink these types of foods and liquids, little by little, plaque begins to build up and slowly eat through the layers of your teeth causing tooth decay. These are what we call "sugar bugs" and they start at the outer layer of the tooth, the enamel, then they work their way into the dentin, the second layer of the tooth and finally they eat away at the inside third layer, the pulp. This final layer contains blood vessels and nerves, if the "sugar bug" reaches this layer, your tooth will begin to ache. Ouch!

 

Step 3: Visit the Dentist Twice a Year

Even if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums and eat healthy food you still need to visit the dentist regularly. This is what we call preventative dentistry. More than 50 years ago, examinations of people entering the military showed that Americans’ teeth were in pretty bad shape. There were no guidelines for how often you should see a dentist so, many dentists focused on fixing problems rather than preventing them. Dental and health organizations decided people should go to the dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings because cavities and gum disease are entirely preventable. Whatever the origins, this has proven to be a useful rule of thumb for many people. Many dental problems don’t become visible or cause any pain until they are in more advanced stages. When a patient visits the dentist twice a year, the dentist can find early signs of disease and these problems can be treated at a manageable stage.

Step 4: Visit an Orthodontist by Age 7

Even though most people think of preteens and teens when they think of orthodontics, there many benefits for a child to be evaluated by an orthodontist at age 7. An early exam allows an orthodontist to make a baseline evaluation before your child’s growth spurt. With this knowledge they can decide if the use of orthodontic appliances before their growth spurt are necessary to correct oral/facial deficiencies. While most children will not need orthodontic treatment at age 7, for some early treatment can prevent the need for oral surgery in their teenage or adult years. An early evaluation can also help a parent correct their child’s harmful oral habits, permit an orthodontist to guide their jaw growth, lower the risk of future trauma, and pre-position permanent teeth before they begin to grow. Whether you think your child is ready or not, it doesn’t hurt for your child to be evaluated by an orthodontist at age 7. On the plus side, at Legler Orthodontics, we offer a FREE orthodontic consultation! Here is an example of a Legler Orthodontics patient that needed treatment at age 7. This is the result after Phase 1 of orthodontic treatment: 

 

These four steps, while they may seem simple and obvious, could change the outcome in the future of a child’s dental health. Dr. Legler feels it is part of his duty to enlighten and educate the children of our community and ensure that they will remember his awesome, entertaining, and educational presentation on how to take proper care of your teeth. Concluding the presentation, we hope to make this goal a reality by giving each student an at-home toothbrushing kit. Packed with a sand timer, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and a few extra goodies, we hope to give the students a jump start on their path to maintaining excellent dental health! Legler Orthodontics and Dr. Legler can’t wait to visit our local schools this year!

Here is a short video of Dr. Legler and the of our community during his Dental Health Month Presentation:

What's up With Your Dog's Teeth?

There’s no better feeling than walking through the front door after a long day of work and you’re greeted by your most loyal, lovable, and adorable companion as if you’ve been away for a month! Those sweet, slobbery, yet STINKY kisses sure do put a smile on your face but, what is up with your dog’s breath? As humans, we are consistently encouraged by medical professionals to focus on taking care of our teeth. We are told to brush at least twice a day, floss once a day, use mouth wash, stray away from sugary foods, and visit the dentist twice a year. But, have you wondered what you should be doing to ensure your fur baby’s dental health?

Here at Legler Orthodontics we love our dogs, they are our pets and a part of our family and we want to do whatever we can to keep them healthy and happy. We work with teeth all day long and we’re a part of those medical professionals that constantly push for dental education and health amongst our patients and the people in our community. But, as much as our team loves each and every one of our doggies, we were curious what do we need to know about our dog’s teeth? What should we be doing to keep them healthy?

We decided to take the next step and learn all about dental health for dogs! We visited one of our local vet offices, the VCA Florida Veterinary League and had the pleasure of speaking with their Medical Director, Dr. Darrell Horn who has been practicing for 26 years and Dr. Jeremy Nix, a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee Veterinary School. They sat us down and told us everything we need to know about keeping our dog’s teeth sparkling and strong!

The reason our dogs have such stinky, gross breath is due to plaque build-up and tartar formation. Now, we’ve been told for years to brush our teeth twice a day but, do you brush your dog’s teeth? We bet not! It’s recommended by vets to brush their teeth daily to prevent food and bacteria from building up, which commonly leads to plaque, gum irritation, and infections. But we know, this task is proven to be quite difficult and most likely not realistic. So, Dr. Horn and Dr. Nix gave us some great ideas to make up for our slacking doggy parenting skills.

Step 1: Get GOOD Food

Quality food will nourish their body and keep their teeth strong. Stray away from wet mushy food that is not only fattening, but does nothing to help their teeth. You want to look for dry food that has big kibbles and a granular crumbly surface. These large kibbles allow the dogs to really bite into the food and the abrasive surface of the kibble rubs against the side of the tooth, allowing the plaque to loosen and fall off. Here is the type of food Dr. Horn and Dr. Nix recommend:

Step 2: Dental Treats and Powder

It’s important to give your dog healthy dental treats that are not only healthy, but improve their breath immensely. Suggested types would be dental chews, bones, and biscuits from Greenies and Del Monte Tartar Check Dog Biscuits. Also, you can use VetriScience Perio Support, which is a powder designed for use in between scheduled dental cleanings to help maintain clean teeth and fresh breath. It’s formulated to help control plaque formation and to support gum health. All you have to do is use a small amount and sprinkle it over their food.

Step 3: Schedule a Dental Cleaning

Depending on your dog’s dental situation, it is encouraged to get dental cleanings. Most big dogs may never need a dental cleaning but, small dogs are unfortunately not so lucky. It is so important to bring your dog in for a dental cleaning while they are young. In a dental cleaning the vet has to put your dog asleep and as they get older, they are at a higher risk of having problems while going under anesthesia. X-Rays will be taken, an overall check will be done, and a decision will be made for your dog to either have just a cleaning and polish or if some areas need further attention.

Step 4: Toys

You want to make sure the toys you buy for your dog are safe. Fractured pet teeth are one of the most common dental problems encountered by veterinary dentists. This happens when dogs are allowed to chew on objects that are just too hard for their teeth. Strictly avoid bones, cow hoofs, pig ears, hard and thick rawhides, plastic or nylon bones and large ice cubes. Rule of thumb, you want to be able to indent the surface of the toy with your finger nail. Try using a toy soft enough to chew but not break off into their mouth. Dr. Nix recommends the soft toys with the hole in the middle. Put a little peanut butter inside and your dog will be one happy camper!

Step 5: Try to Brush Their Teeth

Even though it may be a pain it is encouraged to try and brush your dog’s teeth once a week. Not only will it help prevent periodontal disease, it will help freshen their breath and get them used to having people mess with their mouth. A specific dog toothbrush and toothpaste is recommended:

Our experience at the VCA Florida Veterinary League was extremely informative and has helped us better understand the importance of keeping our doggie’s teeth healthy. We can’t thank Dr. Horn and Dr. Nix enough for the tips they gave us. We encourage you to practice these steps and keep a close eye on your dog’s mouth. Say goodbye to smelly dog breath and hello to a new and improved fresh, healthy, and strong doggie smile! Those slobbery kisses will now be irresistible! 

Check out our video below for our time spent at the VCA Florida Veterinary League:

For more information, check out these websites: 

7 Tips for Keeping Your Dog's Teeth Sparkling and Healthy

Animal Planet Dental Care for Dogs: Tips and Tricks

Pet WebMD How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Pet MD: Dental Diets for Better Oral Health

The Spruce: Veterinary Dental Cleaning

Legler Orthodontics- Indian River Lagoon Science Festival

Did you know that 17 of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the United States are in the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related fields? On our very own Indian River Lagoon, a group of motivated individuals have put together an amazing festival in honor of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics! The purpose of this festival is to help people realize that science is relevant, interesting, fun and an important part of our lives by promoting community knowledge and experience with science-based organizations in the local area. The Indian River Lagoon Science Festival features a variety of science and technology related activities, all with the goal of making science accessible, interactive, relevant, and fun for both children and adults. At Legler Orthodontics, Dr. Lee Legler feels it is so important for children to learn and love science early in their life.

At the 2017 Science Festival we met children of all ages who have the potential to work in the field of S.T.E.M. and even some future orthodontists! The festival took place down on the Indian River Lagoon in downtown Fort Pierce, Florida with nothing but sunny skies, smiling faces, awesome demonstrations, live performances and SCIENCE FUN! At our booth, we showed children and adults a day in the life of working at Legler Orthodontics. We had a braces station, impression station, and an archwire demonstration showing our future scientists how cool it is to be in a field of S.T.E.M. In addition to this wonderful festival, Dr. Legler visits schools in both Indian River County and St. Lucie County talking about dental health, our fun-filled office, and the importance of learning all about the specialty of Orthodontics.

We are so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to participate as a vendor in this awesome festival and we would like to encourage all the children and adults on the Treasure Coast to mark their calendars for the festival next year, October 27, 2018! See you there! 

Patient Profile: Kat Redner

At Legler Orthodontics, we love meeting and getting to know ALL of our wonderful patients and we are continuously surprised by the intelligence, determination, and talent that walks through our doors. Whether our patients are gaining fame in the Hollywood spotlight, winning medals, or saving lives we feel so incredibly lucky to have contributed on their path to success. A smile gives people confidence, leaves a lasting impression, and most importantly, is the boldest statement you can make without saying a word. After the 25^th Anniversary of Legler Orthodontics, 25 years of creating smiles that are making an impact on this world, we felt it was important to share and feature the stories of some of our most influential patients.  

For our first Patient Profile, we are featuring…

Patient: Kat Redner

Occupation: Jet Girl

Kat Redner 20, was born in Vero Beach, Florida and a Legler Orthodontics patient at age 12. She is currently studying Multiplatform Journalism at the Florida Institute of Technology but, Redner is not the typical college student. She is also learning how to drive a jet dragster at Larsen Motorsports. Yes, we repeat DRIVING A JET DRAGSTER! You know, those fire breathing turbine powered cars that race down a ¼ mile track reaching speeds over 280 mph. Yep, Kat may actually be a real-life Wonder Woman!

When she first started her college career at 18 years old, Kat met Elaine Larsen (current boss) and her entire world was changed. She was inspired by Elaine who is not only an IHRA Jet Dragster World Champion but, a powerful business woman, wonderful mother and wife, and someone that embraces being a female that never backs down from a challenge. Kat immediately applied at Larsen Motorsports and jumped head first into the racing world. At first, she started doing the marketing and social media for The Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragster Team but in November 2016 she was given the opportunity to start racing these crazy jet cars.

     Sitting in part of the shop at Larsen Motorsports where they build the bodies of the jet dragsters, we asked Kat about her “12-year-old self in braces” and the impact it made on her life. Kat giggles, scrunching her nose and says “Well, at 12 years old that is ALWAYS the awkward stage in your life, you’re in middle school and you’re like, I do NOT feel confident in myself. But after I got braces I gained so much confidence once my teeth got straighter and my smile looked better. Now it is my favorite thing about myself!” Kat definitely has a dynamite Legler Smile!

     The best part of our day spent with Kat was talking about her girl power team and the young fans that look up to her. We asked her what it’s like to be in a primarily male dominated sport and the advice she would give to any little girl hoping to achieve their dreams. Kat responded enthusiastically, “When men see me at the track they are like, oh she’s just a girl she doesn’t know what she is doing but once they see you wrenching on the cars and doing the same job as them, they totally start to respect you and appreciate what you do. It’s almost better because I’m underestimated and I get to prove everyone wrong. I would tell little girls with high ambitions and dreams that you can do absolutely anything you set your mind to. Work hard and always pursue your dreams and no one, male or female, can hold you back.”

   We had an incredible experience listening and watching our very own patient display what it’s like to be a Girl Boss! Kat ended our convo with her favorite quote, “You have three choices in life:  you can give up, give in, or give it all you got. And a Jet Girl gives it all she’s got!” It’s all about girl power and Kat is the perfect example of a Legler Smile and we are thrilled to have had the chance to visit her! 

Summer of 7 Series Part 2

     

     Welcome back to our Summer of 7 Series Part 2! Dr. Lee Legler from Legler Orthodontics has teamed up with Dr. Chelsea Garcia from Seaside Smiles in Vero Beach to cover additional topics on the importance of Age 7.

     To recap our Summer of 7 Series Part 1, Dr. Legler and Dr. Reza Ardalan from Ardalan Pediatric Dentistry in Port St. Lucie discussed what a parent should expect in their child’s mouth during the process of this transitional phase. They touched on permanent (grownup) teeth beginning to erupt and why it is necessary to evaluate your child’s dental growth and development. They discussed the common problems of large grownup teeth not fitting properly in a child’s tiny mouth and why visiting an orthodontist at Age 7 can save your child from dental problems occurring in the future. Dr. Reza talked about letting your newly independent child brush their own teeth while always keeping a close eye. He discussed proper brushing techniques, how to avoid cavities, and the importance of dental sealants. Dr. Legler went over why it is so important to see an orthodontist at Age 7 not just for the esthetics of your child’s smile but the confidence and joy it brings them at this young age.

     No parent loves to see their little baby grow up, lose their adorable baby fat, find their independence, and no longer see them as their shining light in the universe. However, a parent can only pretend for so long that their child will stay a little munchkin forever. It is imperative to address a child’s growth and development and take proper measures to ensure their health now and in the future. This is a team effort and Dr. Legler and Dr. Chelsea are here to work with you and your child and provide their knowledge and support during this scary and exciting milestone.

What Happens at Age 7?

Dr. Chelsea Garcia:

     The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and I recommend that patients develop a dental home with a Pediatric Dentist as early as age 1. A Dental Home enhances the dental professional’s ability to provide optimal oral health care for successful preventive care and treatment as part of an overall oral health care foundation for life. At the age of 7, it is crucial for patients to have a dental home to guide them not only for caries (decay) prevention and gingival health, but for evaluation of growth and development. At age 7, most patients are transitioning into the “mixed dentition” stage, with their baby teeth starting to loosen and their permanent teeth beginning to erupt. At that time especially, we want to perfect oral hygiene habits at home and schedule regular dental exams to evaluate dental problems.

     Every patient is unique and has individual treatment needs at different points in their development. At age 7, common treatment completed at Seaside Smiles includes preventative measures such as, cleanings, exams, X-Rays, oral hygiene instruction, sealants, and fluoride treatment. As well as restorative treatment including, fillings, crowns, nerve treatments, extractions, space maintainers, habit appliances, and frenectomies. We use space maintainers to uphold space for developing permanent teeth after early loss of primary teeth due to cavities or crowding as well as, to maximize space during permanent teeth eruption in patients with severe crowding. We also use habit appliances to break bad habits like thumb and blanket sucking, that alter the developing dentition. At Seaside Smiles we try to make dental visits enjoyable for kids. When introducing them to new things or doing treatment that can be scary or stressful, we use fun and friendly terms like “Mr. Thirsty”, “Mr. Whistle”, “sleepy jelly”, and “sleepy juice”. We “count teeth”, “make teeth dance for the tooth fairy”, “clean out sugar bugs”, and place “princess” and “superhero” filings to help ease children’s fears and anxieties while at our office. We also take pride in our "No Cavity Club" patients and honor them with a certificate at each “cavity free” visit!

      As far as home care, each patient is unique. During our recall consultations at Seaside Smile, we discuss important oral hygiene techniques and tips specific to each patient.  We also discuss with the parents if their child is able and ready to begin brushing and flossing on their own or, if they need continued help/supervision with their daily dental routine. At age 7, we always emphasize brushing 2 times per day for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste, flossing nightly, and then tailor other recommendations as needed for each patient. Prevention is key for good oral health and we try to stress that to each of our Seaside Smiler families.

     On top of providing these services at our office, we coordinate with orthodontists like Dr. Legler at Legler Orthodontics to determine orthodontic needs for patients. The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends a consult with an orthodontist for your child by Age 7. During biannual exams at Seaside Smiles, I screen patients for orthodontic treatment due to crossbites, crowding, severe overjet and overbite, impacted permanent teeth, etc. and coordinate treatment with Dr. Legler. At Legler Orthodontics, Dr. Legler creates patient specific treatment plans to help manage the developing dentition and strives to perfect smiles in the permanent dentition.

Dr. Legler

     Thank you, Dr. Chelsea, for sharing your thoughts and expertise on the importance of evaluating your child’s dental growth and development at age 7. I first want to stress how critical it is for a parent to bring their child to a dentist that not only has a comfortable and welcoming environment so they are not intimidated, but also reiterate that the dentist needs to be able to detect early warning signs at age 7 in the developing mouth. These can be problems with tooth size, jaw size or jaw length, all of which should be very evident.

     On a positive note, of all of the 7 year olds we see at Legler Orthodontics, only about 50% require treatment. However, it is still beneficial to schedule an orthodontic evaluation even if your pediatric dentist does not find any early warning signs of growth and development problems. For the 50% of patients that are not ready to start their orthodontic treatment, at Legler Orthodontics we give the parent an idea of future orthodontic needs and then see their child on a recall program until they are ready around the age of 11 or 12. Usually the reason for the other half  of the 7 year olds that require treatment, fall into about three different categories.

Dental Problems:

Where the size of the teeth do not match the size of the jaws. Some kids may require early extraction of the primary (baby) teeth and space maintainers or expanders.

Effects of Bad Oral Habits:

When a child sucks their thumb or thrusts their tongue, the front teeth are not able to erupt fully and they have what we call an open bite. In other cases, the child’s jaw can be too narrow. For these types of cases we not only use braces but, we also use appliances to help fully stop their thumb sucking habit and tongue thrust. We basically realign the jaws or the arches so that the child can grow and develop more normally.

Skeletal Problems:

This occurs when one jaw grows too much or too little. For instance, an overbite which is the protrusion of the upper teeth or an underbite where the lower jaw has grown too much and the upper jaw has not grown enough. These types of cases require a two-phase treatment, where some treatment at the ages of 7-9, the first phase, may require braces, appliances, or space maintainers. We can not only make more room for the teeth to erupt but, we can also modify the growth of the size of jaws so they fit together. As a result, when your child proceeds through their adolescent growth spurt, their growth is more normal. Our ultimate goal at Legler Orthodontics is to minimize the need for extraction of permanent teeth, gum tissue grafts, and in severe cases jaw surgery to move a jaw forward or back. Any improvement we can make on these issues we feel is very valuable.

     Thank you for joining us this summer for our Summer of 7 Series! We hope to have been of help in informing parents on the importance of evaluating their child’s dental growth and development at Age 7. If you have any additional questions please visit our website www.bracesatlegler.com and call our office to set your child up for a complimentary consultation. Legler Orthodontics Makes You Smile!

Summer of 7 Series Part 1

Welcome to the magic age of 7, where a child starts to gain independence, form opinions, asks questions, master basic skills, looks, talks, and acts older, and all the while still sees their parent as the shining light in the universe. The growth and development of a child during this transitional age is crucial for both their future physical and mental health. We know the many stresses of “proper parenting” can be extremely overwhelming as you raise your growing child but, we are here to take some of this stress away and inform you on what to expect in the mouth of your 7-year-old and the proper measures that need to be taken to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile for your child. Dr. Legler from Legler Orthodontics and Dr. Reza from Ardalan Pediatric Dentistry in Port St. Lucie have teamed up in part 1 of this series to touch on the importance of Age 7.

What Happens at Age 7?

Dr. Reza:

“Hey everyone! Dr. Reza here from Ardalan Pediatric Dentistry. I wanted to take talk about one of my FAVORITE group of kids in the office… the 7-year old’s! There is a ton of action going on at this age and I wanted to go over a few things that you should expect to see and experience in the mouth of your 7- year old child.”

“To start, at Age 7, parents should expect their child’s mouth to be in the process of a transitional phase. This is the age where they start to lose their front teeth and new, rather large grownup teeth are coming in to replace them. Now, I know what you are thinking… there is NO WAY in the world that these big teeth are going to fit in the tiny mouth of my child, and you know something; sometimes and in many cases, you are absolutely correct. Although these very large teeth are coming into your child’s mouth, the width of these teeth never change and stay the same as they grow into adulthood. So, really big grown up teeth coming into a kid’s little mouth is not always the best combination. Age 7 is the perfect time to start evaluating your child’s dental growth and development.”

“In addition to the incisors (front teeth) coming in, patients are also typically getting their first permanent molars. I encourage parents to help with brushing to make sure that their child is able to get the toothbrush all the way in the back to take care of the permanent molars. I know, your child is this newly independent kid that can do everything on their own but, while we encourage kids to take an active role in their oral hygiene, they still need help from mom and dad. Let your kids brush their own teeth, just remember to go behind them and give it a little check to make sure they are doing a good job. As soon these molars are fully erupted, I also recommend placing dental sealants on their teeth. Dental sealants are a plastic coating that protects the chewing surfaces of the back teeth which are the most common areas for kids to get dental decay. Sealants are a great way to reduce the risk of getting cavities and help to give your child a healthy smile.”

“With the permanent incisors and molars growing to replace smaller baby teeth, Age 7 is a crucial time to visit a dentist that specializes in dealing with the irregularities and correction of teeth. Therefore, I encourage parents to take their child in for an orthodontic evaluation. Some children will benefit from early orthodontic intervention in order to help guide their teeth and maximize their growth.” Below, Dr. Legler explains the importance of bringing your child to Legler Orthodontics for a complimentary evaluation.

Dr. Legler:

Thank you Dr. Reza for being a part of our Summer of 7 Series. To recap what Dr. Reza mentioned, Age 7 is an important age in dental development because permanent incisors and molars are erupting. When your child is evaluated at their first orthodontic evaluation, we can measure space requirements for unerupted teeth and how the bite fits together with the width and length of the jaws. These are all important determinants of whether your child is going to grow normally and have a good bite and nice looking smile, or there are going to be problems that need to be addressed at some point between the ages of 7 to 13.

On a positive note, if your child does require braces at Age 7, they are usually excited to get them. At Legler Orthodontics, we have colors for braces and have different designs for retainers. This makes it fun for our younger patients and they also tend to feel older and special. Another important benefit that you might not realize of Age 7 treatment is that it greatly improves your child’s self-esteem. Often times, kids are upset by the way their teeth look or the way their teeth protrude and are more susceptible to bullying and being picked on by their classmates. By correcting these imperfections and improving their smile, they gain self-esteem which can have a lasting effect on their personality.

Not all patients we see require treatment at Age 7. For these patients, we place them on our recall schedule and see them periodically to determine the best time to start their treatment. While they’re on recall, we enlist them in our Surf Bucks Surf Club program so they can feel free to participate in our monthly contests and play the awesome games that we have online.

 Another important thing that I have grown to learn is that when patients start dental visits at a young age in a fun, comfortable environment, they make excellent Orthodontic patients and have less dental phobias or anxieties.

In conclusion, great teamwork is so important in the dental care of your child.  Dr. Legler, Dr. Ardalan in Port St. Lucie, and Dr. Garcia in Vero Beach who you will meet in Part 2, are committed to providing the best dental care for your child.  We all agree that a comfortable and even “fun” office, staff that are gentle and trustworthy, and knowledgeable and experienced doctors, leave your child with a perfect smile inside and out!  

For more information check out our video below:

https://www.aaoinfo.org/system/files/media/documents/Right_Time_for_Ortho-MLMS-hl.pdf

https://www.aaoinfo.org/news/2014/01/aao-updates-%E2%80%9Cyour-child%E2%80%99s-first-orthodontic-check-up%E2%80%9D

http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=Chttp://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/life-stages/childrens-oral-care/article/your-childs-first-dental-visit&iid=296&aid=1186

A Quick Fix For An Orthodontic Emergency

     Patients and parents often worry about what to do when running into an orthodontic problem and can’t immediately visit Dr. Legler. If it’s the weekend, your vacay, or you just can’t fit the time in to see him, don’t stress! We have a solution! Contact sports, outdoor play, hard or sticky food are just a few examples that can cause an orthodontic emergency. These emergencies often include broken brackets and wires poking, all of which can be easily taken care of.

     First you will need these common household items, tweezers, toenail or fingernail clippers, and if you choose to be fancy, our deluxe item, mini pliers. If you don’t have these laying around the house, you can find them at either your local pharmacy or grocery store, all for under $6! You will also need dental wax which you received in your braces start kit but is also available for purchase at your local pharmacy.

1^st Scenario

A loose band/ring around the molar is flopping around your mouth.

This is mainly caused by chewing something hard or sticky.

1. Go to the wire where it attaches to the last bracket
2.  Take your toenail/fingernail clipper or mini pliers and snip it as close to the bracket as possible
3. Make sure you remove the band and snipped wire from the mouth
4. Place a small glob of wax over any areas that are sharp

2^nd Scenario

A dislodged bracket.

This can occur when you bite something hard or get hit in the mouth with a ball or elbow from playing sports. Let’s say you have 2 brackets that have become loose or dislodged and the wire is connected to the tooth in front, you can use either the toenail/fingernail clipper or the mini pliers to snip the wire.

1. Go to the point right where it’s attached to the next bracket
2.  Keep a steady hand and snip it
3.  Remove the piece that is loose
4.  Remember to gather any little pieces that may have fallen in the mouth
5.  Cover the area that you snipped with wax

3^rd Scenario

If you have either a few braces on the front or bottom teeth and a bracket comes loose with the wire poking out.

You can just slide the wire right through the tubes in the braces.

1. Take your tweezers
2.  Grab the wire where it is accessible and begin to pull the wire through the brackets
3.  Slowing keep pulling the wire until it slides all the way through
4. If any brackets come off, we will replace them once you are back in the office

Watch this video below for a step by step visual:

 Comment below for any additional questions or concerns!

Broken Braces or Wires- Colgate

4 Steps To Fix Broken Braces Or Wires- Colgate

https://www.aaoinfo.org/

iTero Element Digital Scanner Versus Impressions For Invisalign

     Invisalign is a huge hit with patients at Legler Orthodontics. Patients of all ages are requesting Invisalign at record numbers. Whether you’re an adult seeking a smile transformation, a teen concerned about wearing brackets and wires, or a parent researching treatment options for your child, Invisalign clear aligners use the most advanced technology to uniquely design a treatment plan for each patient to reveal their best smile. If you are considering Invisalign, and want to know more about the treatment process, you are in the right place! Just when you think Invisalign’s benefits couldn’t sound any more convenient and comfortable, the iTero Element Digital Scanner was introduced and has taken Invisalign treatment to the next level.

     Before a patient receives their clear aligners, Dr. Legler must make a replica of your mouth to create the digital model. Dr. Legler can then move your teeth to the correct smile and bite relationship. Here at Legler Orthodontics, we use the iTero Element Digital Scanner. However, other Invisalign provider offices remain stuck in the stone age and take goopy impressions. Wondering what the process for both is like? Dr. Legler has provided an example of each to show you the significant difference between the two.

     The impression technique is bulky, awkward, messy, time consuming (about 30 minutes), inaccurate and retakes are often necessary. After the impression is taken, it is mailed to Invisalign and takes about a week or two to receive the digital model. Here is an example of the process:

Look at the goop! Ew!

     With the iTero Scanner, an orthodontic assistant uses a wand that is moved around your mouth recording the teeth and bite. This feels like a video camera and does not use x-rays. No bad taste, offensive goops, glues, powder, or any other foreign materials invading your mouth. Just 6 short minutes and you are done!

     To analyze the two options, we made a video showing you a side by side comparison with an Invisalign patient’s thoughts on both.

     The iTero Element Digital Scanner enables Dr. Legler to take a 3D digital scan of your teeth and bite and transmit the file wirelessly for processing within 15 minutes, not 2 weeks. Invisalign cases that start with an iTero scan have 7 times fewer aligner fit issues and 10 times fewer rejections than those started with traditional impressions.

     The iTero Element Digital scanner is extremely accurate so your aligners fit more comfortably and move your teeth and bite to the precise location as determined by Dr. Legler. He feels that his ability to successfully treat so many patients with Invisalign who previously were told by other providers that they were not candidates, is due in part to this exciting technology. Thank you iTero!

For more information, check out these sites below:

https://www.invisalign.com/how-invisalign-works/treatment-process

http://www.itero.com/en-us