Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone has tried to do as much as possible from the comfort and safety of home. In most cases, working, grocery shopping, and other tasks can be done remotely or online, but some things require seeing an expert in person. Likewise, as much fun as it can be to try DIY home projects or cooking from home, some things are best handled with the close attention of a professional.

At this point in your binge watching, you’ve probably seen the ads for clear aligners that come directly to you in the mail without having to visit a dental office. Marketed as a cheaper alternative to Invisalign, these mail-in aligners may seem attractive at first glance, but they can have serious negative consequences for your smile. Here are five solid reasons why working with an orthodontist to realign your teeth with Invisalign is still the smartest approach to take.

As you get ready in the morning, you look in the mirror at your misaligned smile for one last time. Today’s the day you’re finally going to get braces and fix the problem. You can’t wait to see what your teeth will look like when you’re finished!

You’ve looked forward to starting orthodontic treatment for a long time, but now that it’s here you may find yourself feeling nervous about the unknown. What will braces be like? How will it feel to have the brackets and wires on your teeth? What can you expect? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more!

Your sweet, perfect little baby is struggling to gain weight and breastfeed properly—naturally, as a caring parent, you’re concerned. Are you doing something wrong? As it turns out, your baby has a lip and tongue tie preventing them from feeding efficiently. To fix it, they’ll need to undergo a procedure called a frenectomy, where the excess tissue is severed. That may sound scary, but the good news is that your pediatric dentist can perform the frenectomy with a soft tissue laser!

Because of this amazing technology, this procedure is much faster, gentler, and easier to recover from than it used to be. However, your baby will still require your special attention for a while afterward. Here are some tips for infant oral care following a frenectomy that will help them get back on track.   

Did you know that a shark has thousands of teeth throughout its lifetime? In fact, sharks usually have five rows and up to 3,000 teeth at one time! In contrast, humans typically only have one row of teeth. So it’s natural to feel very concerned if your child seems to be growing a second. Normally, children lose their primary or baby teeth, and then the permanent teeth erupt in the gap. However, sometimes “shark teeth” pop up before the baby teeth have come out. Does this mean something is wrong with your child’s smile? What should you do about it? When should your pediatric dentist get involved? Read on to find out!

During the COVID-19 crisis, you’ve been doing your part to keep your family safe by staying home. Although this has protected you from infection, it has also given you all cabin fever, and your kids are getting rowdier by the hour. While they wrestle in the other room, you hear one of them shout in pain and come running to you holding a tooth and bleeding. What should you do? Where should you turn? Do you need to take your child to a pediatric dentist right away? Get the answers to these and other important questions here!

If you are interested in braces or Invisalign, or if you’re considering orthodontic treatment for your children, Chicago Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics can help. At our office in the South Loop of Downtown Chicago, we provide orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages. Many patients considering orthodontic treatment ask us if any of these procedures will change the shape of their face. Here’s a few things to keep in mind about orthodontic options and their outcome:

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Making time to see the dentist in South Loop, Printer’s Row, and other areas of Downtown Chicago is not easy. However, seeing the dentist regularly is critical for the oral health of your children. If you’re looking for a convenient, easy time to visit Chicago Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we suggest bringing your child into our office during their school break! Here are a few great reasons:‍

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More than 18 million adults in the United States suffer from sleep apnea, but many are completely unaware that they even have this disorder. Mild cases of apnea can lead to poor quality sleep and irritability, but more severe cases can result in an increased risk of heart disease or stroke. What is sleep apnea and how can an orthodontist help?

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Dr. Welke attended dental school and completed his pediatric residency training at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Originally a biomedical engineering major at Northwestern, Dr. Welke decided to change his trajectory and pursue dentistry when he realized that he loved the science behind a beautiful smile. Dr. Benjamin attended dental school at the University of Florida, and completed his orthodontic residency training at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is skilled and knowledgeable, and he takes a genuine interest in his patients’ smiles. If you’re looking for an orthodontist in Chicago, Dr. Benjamin and the team at Chicago Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics can’t wait to meet you!

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