Author: admin

Do you floss your teeth every day? If you said no, you’re like most Americans. A whopping 75% of men and women do not floss daily, and 20% do not floss at all. Braces-wearers may floss even less, as the metal brackets and wires often become a hassle when it comes to oral hygiene.

If you’ve been skipping the dental floss, you may be doing more harm to your health than you think! Read on to learn a few tips for flossing from the best orthodontist in Philadelphia.

• Choose waxed floss. Floss that is not waxed often shreds in the mouth, which can get stuck to metal braces. Look for floss that advertises a waxy coating. This type of floss will be able to slip and slide through braces without getting caught and causing annoying strings to be left behind.

• Use a flossing tool. One reason why braces wearers report flossing less often is that it is much more difficult to floss between brackets. Getting the floss into the space between the wire and the tooth can feel like threading a needle over and over again! Orthodontic threaders are an inexpensive and convenient way to make flossing simple. Many orthodontic offices even give them away for free in-office.

• Help younger children. If you have a small child with orthodontic wear, you will likely have to help him or her floss, as kids do not yet have the dexterity to handle the task on their own. Have your child sit or kneel, and put on their favorite television show to help them sit still while you floss for them.

If you opt for Invisalign in Philadelphia, you can simply remove your trays while flossing and brushing your teeth, making it a simpler option when it comes to keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

Remembering to floss every day, brushing twice a day, and heading to Center City Emergency Dentist for regular checkups will help you have a happier, healthier smile when it comes time to remove your braces!

Though orthodontic treatments can benefit nearly everyone with an imperfect smile, Center City Emergency Dentist has found that there are a few myths floating around that stops adults from seeking the help that they need. Read on to learn the truth behind three common orthodontic myths!

• Myth: Orthodontics are just for teens. There’s a pervasive myth in our culture that dictates that adults simply don’t need orthodontic treatment. After all, when you imagine someone with braces, your mind probably automatically produces a picture of an awkward teenager! However, the truth is that many adults benefit from orthodontic services in Philadelphia along with teenagers and children. According to data from the American Association of Orthodontics, over 1.4 million adults are currently benefiting from orthodontic care, and that number is rising every day. Orthodontics certainly aren’t just for teens!

• Myth: Orthodontics are way too expensive to afford. If you’ve been hesitating to visit your local orthodontist because you are afraid that you won’t be able to pay your bill, you should know that the best orthodontists in Philadelphia offer financing and payment plans to help you get the service you need at an affordable price. For example, we at Center City Emergency Dentist offer flexible payment plans for orthodontic services, so you won’t have to sacrifice your oral health to pay your rent.

• Myth: Orthodontics are just for cosmetic fixes. When most people think about orthodontics, they usually imagine the use of braces to fix issues like overcrowding or shifted smiles. While orthodontics are certainly used for cosmetic purposes, there is much more to orthodontics than what you can see on the surface level. Straighter teeth can result in better oral hygiene by providing an easier canvas to brush and floss on, as well as make it easier to bite and chew without pain or discomfort.

Have you had a preconceived notion about orthodontic treatment busted today? Don’t go another day without getting the help and treatment that you need. Call our team at Center City Emergency Dentist today at 215-315-7691 for more information today!

The cliché image of an awkward teenager in massive metal brackets is dead. Now, anyone looking to straighten their smile has a new option that doesn’t require cement or wires: Invisalign.

Invisalign, available at Center City Emergency Dentists in Philadelphia, uses computer-generated trays that can be removed to correct orthodontic issues over time. Many wearers appreciate the fact that they can still eat their favorite foods by removing their trays, something that is not possible with metal braces.

As the popularity of Invisalign treatments grows, one question has come to the forefront of the minds of both consumers and orthodontists alike: is this new treatment as effective at correcting alignment and bite issues as its metal counterpart?
The common perception by consumers is that metal braces are harsher than clear retainers like Invisalign. This can lead to the perception by both dental professionals and consumers that metal braces are better at correcting orthodontic issues than Invisalign.

However, this is not actually true. According to a consumer report published by the FDA, invisible correction treatments were just as effective at correcting issues of misalignment and spacing as metal braces except in the most severe cases.

The discrepancy in effectiveness when comparing metal braces and Invisalign is due to how they are worn. Statistics indicate that metal braces wearers typically see their issues corrected in less time on average, but this is usually due to Invisalign wearers removing their trays for too many hours a day.
The bottom line? While metal braces may be better for the most severe and complicated of orthodontic cases, Invisalign treatments are just as effective at correcting most cases of dental misalignment as traditional options.

If you’re concerned about the look of metal braces or you want to avoid injuries associated with wires and brackets, Invisalign treatments in Philadelphia can straighten your smile just as well as braces in most cases. Just make sure you’re wearing them every day, ideally 22 hours a day.

If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign, our team here at Center City Emergency Dentists is here to help. Give us a call at 215-315-7691 to learn more!

For a long time, the only option that people looking to straighten their smiles had was traditional metal braces. Many avoided getting the orthodontic services that they needed to be the best version possible of themselves or correct dental issues because they did not like the way that traditional braces look.

Finally, there’s a solution that can help you make 2018 the year that you finally get the smile you’ve been dreaming of without metal braces: Invisalign from Center City Emergency Dentist! Three benefits of getting Invisalign include:

• “Invisible” look. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign uses clear aligners custom-fitted to your teeth. Using Invisalign, you can avoid the bulky appearance of metal braces and get the straighter teeth you want in 2018!

• Improved comfort. Though traditional metal bracket braces have made massive improvements in the last few years, everyone who has had them will tell you that the endless tightening and rubber bands can be a recipe for serious discomfort. Invisalign braces don’t use brackets, and you can take them out when you want to eat something sticky.

• Higher confidence. When you are confident in your radiant smile, you frown less and speak up more. Invisalign can give anyone an injection of confidence by allowing them to slowly work towards the straighter smile they’ve been dreaming of. If you want to make 2018 your most confident year yet, Invisalign can get you started on the right path.

At Center City Emergency Dentist, a leading Philadelphia implant dentistry, we handle a lot more than just emergencies; we also provide you with the orthodontic services that you need to make 2018 (and your smile!) a whole lot brighter.

Call us today at 215-315-7691 to make an appointment at our cosmetic dentistry in Center City Philadelphia today!

If you have braces or other another orthodontic mouthpiece, make sure you don’t undo any of your progress you’ve already made by eating the wrong foods! Orthodontic wear, especially traditional bracket braces, can be very sensitive and misaligned by foods that are sticky, gummy or extra chewy.

Here are three foods that you should avoid eating when you’re visiting family members and friends this holiday season!

• Taffy. This winter, take a pass on the taffy! Taffy is strong and sticky and tends to pull on the brackets of braces and misalign wiring. This means that you’ll have to head back to your orthodontist’s office to have brackets cemented back on. Chewy candies should also be avoided because, even if they do not damage the braces, they’re more likely to cause decay because they leave behind sugar when they get stuck in your teeth.

• Hard cookies. Everyone loves Christmas cookies, but harder treats like gingerbread and Oreos can causes braces brackets or bars behind the teeth to crack or misalign. Try to opt for softer treats like grapes and cake, but if you’re dying for a cookie, try softening it by dipping in milk first.

• Popcorn. If you’re getting popcorn for a holiday movie this season, make sure to read the package and opt for the hulless versions. Popcorn that has kernels can get caught in the brackets of your teeth, which can be a pain to remove.

If you do slip up and find yourself in need of orthodontic care, don’t be afraid to give our team at Center City Emergency Dentist a call at 215-315-7691. We help adults and children both learn about orthodontics in Philadelphia.

We provide more than just emergency services! If you don’t currently have braces or Invisalign but are interested in learning more about orthodontics in Center City, browse our website to view our current services.

If you’ve recently had your braces taken off, you’re probably relieved to get the metal out of your mouth. You’re ready to show off your brand new, shiny and healthy smile! Your orthodontist has likely also prescribed you a set of retainers to wear. Some people may have to wear them during the day and night, and others will only have to wear them at night.

After months or years of braces, you might be frustrated at the prospect of wearing retainers. After all, your teeth look much straighter already! Though you might feel tempted to ditch the retainers, this is possibly one of the worst things that you can do to your brand new smile, and your beautiful straight teeth may not last for long if you choose not to follow your orthodontist’s recommendation and wear your retainers.

From braces to dentist veneers in Center City, your orthodontist is an expert in making teeth straight, healthy, and white but this is not an overnight process. When you have braces or Invisalign veneers on your teeth, they shift thanks to a constant pressure being applied to them.

Even fully-formed adult teeth are surprisingly malleable. With relatively little pressure, the teeth cave and shift into place directed by the taut metal of the braces. When your braces are removed, the pressure that held the teeth in their straight shape is gone, and to solidify their new position, retainers are introduced to “retain” the shape of the teeth that your braces created. Without the retainers, teeth can easily apply force onto one another and recreate the misalignment that was initially corrected with braces.

If your teeth have shifted due to not wearing your retainers, don’t panic; make an appointment with your orthodontist and discuss options for adjusting your teeth back into place. If you are in need of a new orthodontist or you are considering visiting our Center City Philadelphia office for dental implants, feel free to call our friendly team at Center City Emergency Dentist a call today at 215-315-7691.