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

Healthy Smoothies For A Healthy Smile

                

                 Thinking about getting Invisalign or braces? Are you worried about pain and discomfort? Going through orthodontic treatment is a process that provides a lifetime of benefits however, requires not only patience, but a little effort too. But, not to worry, discomfort is minimal and disappears before you would even know it, you just need to put in a little extra effort!

               At Legler Orthodontics we know that nothing feels better than an ice-cold smoothie to ease any type of mouth or throat tenderness. We have researched and tasted several different smoothies that not only feel refreshing and cool for your mouth and throat but also, promote healthy teeth, gums, and an overall well-being for your body. These smoothies will definitely put a smile on your face! 

                Before we share these recipes, we want to stress that not all smoothies are created equally. It is very easy to overload a smoothie with sugar and other unhealthy ingredients without even realizing. While it may taste delicious, smoothies like this can contribute to tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and an array of other problems. Therefore, you make a smoothie to relieve soreness to then create other issues that can easily be avoided. If you keep sugars and acids to a minimum and include other ingredients that are good for mouth health, you are in business! Some of these ingredients include:

Low Sugar Fruits- They add sweetness to smoothies without going overboard. Berries, apples, pears, and bananas are always great options. 

Yogurt with Little Sugar- teeth are essentially minerals so, the calcium and phosphates in yogurt help rebuild teeth and strengthen them. 

Tea- Polyphenols found in tea are good at controlling plaque and bacteria.

Coconut Oil- Potent antibacterial properties are found in coconut oil and as a result help to prevent cavities and other infections.

Ghee- This ingredient is a butter that is high in vitamins that helps strengthen and re-mineralize teeth.

                Overall, smoothies help soreness, promote teeth and mouth health, and fill an empty belly with nutrients and of course deliciousness. Here are some recipes that are yum yum yummy and extremely healthy:

Healthy Mouth Smoothie

½ cup green tea

½ cup plain yogurt

1 tsp ghee

1 TBL of coconut oil

Banana, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries

Ice

Frozen Smoothie for Soreness

 ½ cup vanilla yogurt

Frozen peaches and blueberries

½ tsp cinnamon

2 TBL Lime juice  

1 TBL honey

1 cup black tea

Ice

 

Citrus Smoothie

2 ½ cups low sugar pineapple juice

2 ½ cups orange and grapefruit slices

1 banana

3 TBL honey

½ tsp cinnamon

Apple Peanut Butter Smoothie

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

½ cup chocolate yogurt

2 whole medium sized cored apples, yellow and red

1 banana

Organic peanut butter

For more information check out these sites below:

https://www.healthysmoothiehq.com/save-your-teeth-smoothies

http://www.walnutcreekpediatricdentistry.com/blog/smoothies-that-are-great-for-your-teeth/

http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1101609/why-your-dentist-does-not-like-you-drinking-smoothies

Home Remedies for the Healthiest Legler Smile

Tis the Season for sweets, sweets, and more sweets. We all deserve to take a break and divulge in our favorite guilty pleasures. Your taste buds may be smiling as you bite into that scrumptious piece of gooey, sugary, pie but, your teeth are thinking otherwise. Don’t fret… Legler Orthodontics is here to rescue your precious pearly whites from a decaying disaster. Store bought toothpaste and mouthwash can get pretty pricey so, why not make your own at home? It saves money (which we all love), gives a feeling of accomplishment, and allows you to leave out the harmful ingredients commercial products permit. Here are two simple recipes for DIY toothpaste and mouthwash concluding with some helpful tips to keep your smile bright, white, healthy and smelling fresh.

Homemade Toothpaste

Each batch yields the equivalent of one 5.3oz tube of toothpaste. Use a mason jar with a lid or a plastic container and place somewhere near your toothbrush. When it’s time to brush, simply wet your toothbrush, scoop out a healthy amount of paste and begin brushing. Remember as Dr. Legler recommends, circular motions!

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup baking soda 
• 1 tsp of fine sea salt (optional- minerals from sea salt are great for teeth however can be left out if too salty.
• 2 tsp of peppermint extract or 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil (substitute with favorite flavor- spearmint, cinnamon, orange, lemon etc.)
• Filtered water 

Making Paste in 3 Simple Steps

1. Start with the ingredients 
2. Mix together baking soda, optional sea salt (recommended), and peppermint. 
3. Add water a little bit at a time, stirring consistently until paste is formed. 
4. For future days, add a small amount of water if the paste begins to dry out.

**Cost Savings**

$3-$4 per tube!

Homemade Mouthwash  

Artificial sweeteners and chemical additives in conventional mouthwash are a No-No in Legler Orthodontic’s book. “Natural” DIY mouthwash is cost effective and prevents dangerous chemicals from entering your body. Store mouthwash in a mason jar with a lid or glass bottle (we recommend a used apple cider vinegar bottle).

Ingredients

• 2 tsp of baking soda 
• 2 drops of tea tree essential oil 
• 1 tsp Xylitol 
• 2 drops of peppermint essential oil (or favorite flavor) 
• 1/2 cup filtered water 

Making Wash

1. Pour water into mason jar or glass bottle 
2. Add tea tree essential oil, peppermint essential oil and Xylitol 
3. Add baking soda and stir 
4. Shake before use (baking soda settles at the bottom) 

   

 Helpful Tips for a Brighter, Whiter, Healthy & Fresh Smile J

  Oil Pulling

      This oral therapy may be a growing trend however, it has been a practiced tradition for centuries, first originating in India. Oil pulling is the practice of swishing the oils from plants in your mouth to produce a wealth of health benefits.

     

      Coconut oil is incredible for oil pulling and is one of the best ways to whiten teeth, remove bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums! Other popular oils used in pulling include, sunflower and sesame oil. Many practioners have found these alternative oils to be equally beneficial.  

     

      This remedy is believed to cure tooth decay, kill bad breath, heal bleeding gums, soothe throat dryness, prevent cavities, soften cracked lips and strengthen the jaw.

How- To:

1.      Purchase coconut oil from the local grocery or health foods store.

2.      Store coconut oil in temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent solidification. Chunky oil is not easy to swish around your mouth!

3.      Make sure to pull first thing in the morning before brushing teeth or drinking.

4.      Gently swish 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil for 10-20 minutes. We recommend doing this in the shower and while you get ready. We know it’s a lengthy process!

5.      Spit the oil out in the trash (not the sink, so it doesn’t clog plumbing) and immediately rinse with warm salty water.

6.      Finally brush your teeth as usual, using your homemade toothpaste!

       Spice Up Your Life

      

      Snack on some cloves, fennel, or anise after each particularly odorous snack or finish a meal with parsley, we find these to be invigorating breath enhancers!

      Sugarless Gum

      

      It is always a good idea to carry some mints or sugarless gum for that quick spruce up. You never know who you might meet around the corner!

      Watch Your Drinking Habits

      The worst options are coffee, wine, whiskey and beer. These beverages, that we tend to sip, contain acid causing the pH levels in the mouth to decrease and bacteria to fester. This leads to cavities and gum infections. We know…it’s hard to resist!

      Brush Frequently & Don’t Forget the Tongue

Carry a toothbrush and a small container of homemade toothpaste or mouthwash along with you when leaving home. Brushing after each meal may not be convenient, but it is refreshing! One of the main causes of bad breath is food and plaque residue on the surface of your tongue so, give it a nice gentle brush-over too! Most importantly, keeping your teeth clean prevents cavities and dental problems from emerging down the road.

Our team at Legler Orthodontics strives to find new healthy and natural methods to keep dental health exciting. Check out these links below to learn more about at home dental treatments. 

http://www.livescience.com/50896-oil-pulling-facts.html

/http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-toothpaste/

/http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-mouthwash/

10,000 hour Rule? Try 20!

Did you ever hear that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to be really good at something? I first came across this concept when reading Malcom Gladwell’s book ”Outliers”. He quoted research and case studies showing that athletes become great; musicians become famous (like the four guys from Liverpool); and smart guys become Bill Gates- primarily because they spent 10,000 hours perfecting their skills. While listening to a Ted talk ( The first 20 hours—how to learn anything) one day, this guy named Josh Kaufman tells me that the 10,000 hours is only if you want to be exceptionally good- top of your field- great. If you only want to learn a new skill, hobby etc. it only takes 20 hours or 45min a day for about a month. Wait a minute, I just wasted 300 hours at calligraphy class?! As most of us have limited free time between work, carpooling kids and repairing the house, enjoyable things like new hobbies, sports and game skills or playing an instrument, get postponed or cancelled due to unrealistic expectations of time involvement. Josh Kaufman says there are 4 steps to this amazing 20 hour technique: 1) Deconstruct the skill – break it down to small pieces and practice the hardest parts the most 2) Learn enough to self-correct – use DVD’s, YouTube etc. 3) Remove practice barriers or just plan time to practice 4) Practice at least 20 hours. Josh demonstrated this theory by putting in 20 hours of time learning to play the ukulele . I assure you – after only 20 hours of ukulele practice, he is among my TOP 5 FAVORITE UKULELE PLAYERS EVER! So have at it you future accordion, bridge, pickle ball players, yoga, cross-fitters, chefs, wine connoisseurs, ballroom dancers, gardeners, fishermen, artists, writers, volunteers- you can do it with less time than you ever imagined! Good luck on your new endeavors and thanks, Josh!

Dr. Legler’s top 10 Tips for Choosing a Career

Career Advice from Legler Orthodontics:
I am often asked by kids during dental health month or high school/ college students shadowing me in my office for suggestions on choosing a career.  Here we go:

10.  Take off the earphones and put down the ipod, cellphone, videogame or other distraction.

  

  9.  Get out of the house and observe – watch other professionals in various jobs or careers.

  

  8.  Ask questions about their job and even see if you can spend a few hours observing.  In my    experience from age 10 to 16, I thought I wanted to be a Veterinarian…until I spent a day in the office!

  7.  Ditto tip 10

  6. Once you identify a career that might be of interest – time to do your homework!  Now you should engage the internet and investigate education requirements and grades you must have, appropriate colleges and expenses.  Most importantly, the job market or openings in that field and where they may be located.

  5.  Repeat tip #7

  4.  Follow your passion:  but only if you can make a living doing it.  At age 17 I loved drumming and wanted to be in a rock band.  I was passionate about pole vaulting.   For me personally, my life would have been much different and less fulfilling had I pursued either one of these as a career choice.  I can still drum and be in a rock band… and have a really great day job!

  3.  It’s ok to change your mind.  My freshman year of college I was a business major.  After taking intro biology and having a phenomenal teacher (War Eagle!),  I realized that a career involving science was more interesting to me than the business courses I would be required to take.

  2.  Repetir paso numero cinco!

and Dr. Legler's #1 Tip for Choosing a Career is...

1.  As long as you work hard, constantly strive to learn more and improve your knowledge, always seek to learn from others who know more than you and most importantly, get along well with others, you will succeed at whatever career you choose!