So, why you should get orthodontic treatment?

The goal of orthodontic treatment is a good bite—meaning straight teeth that mesh well with the teeth in the opposite jaw. A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak. This can enhance your dental health and your overall health, and may improve self-esteem.

Orthodontic treatment is often part of a comprehensive dental health care plan. With good care, including orthodontic treatment when necessary, teeth can last a lifetime.

Treatment in children or teenagers who are still growing may yield results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have completed their growth.

A healthy bite is as important at age 60 as it is at age 16. Even though adults are no longer growing, they can also enjoy improvements that come from orthodontic treatment. Your age is not a consideration for orthodontic treatment. Healthy teeth can be moved at any age.

Orthodontic treatment is a smart investment in your dental, physical and emotional health. If you have anymore questions, please call us at shepherdorthodontics, we would love to answer them for you. We can also set you up for a complimentary consultation, which is the first step in getting your orthodontic treatment started.

American Association of Orthodontics

Remember every month we have a new winner, just play Plinko next time you are in to see us and you could be entered to win. We love our patients at shepherdorthodontics…and we hope this makes your visits and your day a little more fun!!

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We have a winning guess on our Easter Egg Jar!! Our winner is Bunny Lyn Bibander with a guess that was within 10 of the amount in the jar. Way to go Bunny, enjoy your movie passes!!

We always have a new “Guessing Jar” going, so next time you are in to see us make sure you get your guess in. You could be going to the movies on us!! Good luck.

If you recognize any of these signs in your child or yourself, it might be time to schedule a consultation with an orthodontist.

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Sucking the thumb or fingers, or other oral habits
• Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or are recessed
• Speech difficulty
• Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
• Protruding teeth
• Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
• Facial imbalance or asymmetry
• Grinding or clenching of teeth
• Inability to comfortably close lips

If you have noticed any of these symptoms, we invite you to give us a call at shepherdorthodontics. We can schedule you a complimentary exam with Dr. Shepherd where he will answer many questions that you may have such as the type of orthodontic treatment needed, when it should start and the estimated treatment time.

Common reasons for adults to consider orthodontic treatment:

-Bite problems, or malocclusion, causing teeth to not fit together correctly

-Crowding or spacing of the teeth, possibly causing tooth decay or gum disease

-Abnormal pain, or pressure, in the jaw that is often caused by crooked teeth

-Gum or bone loss (periodontal disease)

-Worn or missing teeth

-Incomplete orthodontic treatment as a child or teen

-To have a healthier and more confident smile

Treatment options for adults:  At shepherdorthodontics we offer a variety of braces and appliances that are aesthetic, comfortable, and customized to meet your individual needs. Types of braces we offer:

-Ceramic, or clear, braces

-Self-ligating braces

-Traditional metal braces

-Invisalign

Why wait? With flexible financial options, short treatment times and aesthetic options, now is a great time to start orthodontic treatment. Give us a call at shepherdorthodontics, we would love to answer any questions you have about treatment and our office. We can also schedule you for a complimentary exam.

Our winner for our latest referral contest is Becky Cragun and her kids Bodhi and Berkley!! Congratulations…enjoy your new iPad and thanks again for referring your friends and family to us.

Remember every month we have a new winner, just play Plinko next time you are in to see us and you could be entered to win. We love our patients at Shepherd Orthodontics…and we hope this makes your visits and your day a little more fun!!

Next time you are in to see us, make sure to play Plinko to win your chance at the next shuffle. Good luck!

-Use a proxy brush, these look like little pipe cleaners and are used go between braces and teeth to clean food and plaque.

-Use floss threaders to help you thread floss under the wire so you can get down to the gum line and all the way between the teeth.

-Use an orthodontic toothbrush. Because of its v-shape, it will help to get around brackets and bands more easily, but any toothbrush can be used.

-After brushing, brackets, appliances and teeth should be checked to see if they appear clean and shiny with no food particles or plaque.

-Keep a toothbrush and proxy brush with you at work, school or in your car for a quick brush when not at home.

-Occasionally, prescription strength fluoride toothpaste is recommended to keep the teeth healthy.

Our goal at shepherdorthodontics is for you to have straight AND healthy teeth at the end of your treatment, so it is very important to have good oral hygiene. Patients who keep their teeth clean usually have a minimum of decay, if any. It is also very important to continue and see your dentist for check-ups every six months during your treatment.

If you have any other other questions about oral hygiene or treatment, please give us a call.

We have a new winner for our February “Guess How Many” game. Our winner was VanJovi Bibandor…with a guess only 30 off from the actual number. Congratulations and have a fun time at movies!!

Make sure to get your guess in this month for another chance to win a free night at the movies.