Chicago Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Blog

With Halloween behind us and the winter holidays right around the corner, now is the time to take advantage of your remaining dental insurance benefits for 2024. If your child is on your plan, you may have unused treatments to take advantage of before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. Here are a few important ways to take advantage of your benefits, and why it’s so important to use them before the start of 2025!

Halloween is all about enjoying tricks and treats, but things are a little different this year. You have clear aligners to think about now, and you’re not sure what that will mean for the treat part. You need some spooky season advice.

Look no further, because that’s what this post is all about! Just keep reading, and don’t worry. You won’t have to give up chocolate and candy completely.

Clear aligners are a popular choice for straightening teeth discreetly. However, as with any orthodontic treatment, some discomfort is to be expected, especially during the early stages. Understanding how to manage this discomfort is key to staying on track with your treatment. Below, here are some effective strategies to ease the pain and make your clear aligner experience more comfortable.

Clear aligners are great for patients looking for a discreet and convenient way to straighten their teeth. However, one common issue that many aligner users face is yellowing. If you’ve noticed your clear aligners turning yellow, you might be wondering what’s causing it and how to fix it. Then wonder no more! Read on to learn common reasons for clear aligner yellowing, and what you can do to keep yours crystal clear.

Do you want to straighten your child’s teeth to improve their smile discreetly? Consider clear aligner orthodontic treatment. This method uses transparent trays to gradually move your little one’s teeth into the desired position. Unlike traditional braces, clear aligners are easy to use and can be removed when necessary. However, proper care of your child’s trays is crucial for effective treatment. If you need guidance to help them on their orthodontic journey, keep reading for tips on the dos and don’ts of clear aligner care.

Getting braces is something many people dread and avoid. Even though they want to achieve a straighter smile, they don’t want to commit to a year or more of wearing visible brackets and wires. Fortunately, metal braces aren’t your only option. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners to slowly shift the teeth into their new locations. The best part is – it is nearly invisible! Here’s what the typical Invisalign treatment looks like – start to finish.

While traditional metal braces are a tried-and-true way to achieve a straighter smile, many prospective patients are hesitant to commit to a treatment that involves conspicuous and irremovable metal oral appliances and irksome dietary restrictions. Luckily, today’s orthodontists can often realign a smile using removable clear aligners. While it’s great to be able to take them out, you’ll need to wear your clear aligners for at least 22 hours a day to keep your treatment on track. Here are a few tips to help you make sure you’re wearing your aligners enough.

If you’re dreaming of having a straighter smile but don’t want to have bulky brackets permanently bonded to your teeth, then you could probably benefit from Invisalign. This alternative to traditional braces relies on clear aligners that fit snuggly over your pearly whites to shift them into their ideal places. It has gained popularity over the years because it’s more discrete than the tried-and-true method and patients feel less self-conscious as a result.

When it comes to dental treatments, however, it’s important to know what’s involved so you can make an informed decision. Keep reading to learn about 3 things you should know before getting Invisalign!

Though fluoridation of the water supply is considered one of the greatest advances for public health of the last century, many people view this naturally occurring mineral with suspicion. While fluoridated water is proven to save communities vast amounts of money by preventing cavities, some have concerns about the effects of exposing younger children to too much fluoride. Here’s why fluoridated water is perfectly safe for children of any age.

Many children deal with teeth sensitivity that can get in the way of eating or proper oral hygiene. To make matters worse, the discomfort it can cause during brushing or when consuming hot or cold foods or drinks can lead children to exhibit irritability, mood swings, or dietary restrictions. Here’s some information about what causes dental sensitivity in children as well as a few tips for preventing the problem and treating it when it happens.