braces westchester ny

Taking your child to Glaser Orthodontics for an evaluation means that you may be able to identify problems with the jaw and teeth early when they are still easy to treat. Early treatment often equals a more simplified treatment plan, which is beneficial to both children and their parents. Often, earlier treatment can cost less to correct a problem than delayed treatment.

If a problem is detected, Dr, Barry Glaser and his team will discuss corrective options and provide a recommended treatment schedule. Depending on your child’s orthodontic needs, he or she may benefit from:

•Palatial Spacers – Helpful for correcting a crossbite by expanding the width of the upper jaw.

•Fixed Functional Appliance – Helpful for correcting severe upper tooth protrusion.

•Headgear – Helpful for guiding healthy growth of new teeth and the jaw. Headgear is removable, but usually must be worn at least 10 hours per day.

Schedule your child’s evaluation at Glaser Orthodontics in Cortlandt Manor to get the best orthodontic care in Westchester county.

The day every brace wearer looks forward to is the day their braces are removed and they can see their beautiful, unhindered smile!  But, for some, white spots surround where their braces once were.  These white spots are known as demineralization and can happen to anyone, not just brace wearers.

Demineralization of the teeth occurs when food is left on the teeth.  The food interacts with bacteria on the teeth, otherwise known as plaque, causing acid to form.  This acid is what eats away at the calcium and phosphate of the teeth, causing white spots or demineralization. These spots can be sensitive and can lead to cavities.  Even people who don’t wear braces can experience demineralization, though braces are a common culprit due to the fact that braces are good at trapping food.

Here at Glaser Orthodontic we work to establish good oral hygiene with all our patients.  If good oral hygiene was not practiced while wearing braces, a square white mark around the bracket can occur.  Braces trap food more easily, so it is very important to practice good oral hygiene while wearing braces. Dr. Glaser and his team offer these tips to brace wearers to help minimize these white spots:

• Brush thoroughly after eating to remove any food debris from around the braces
• Floss once a day
• Use a fluoride rinse daily
• Limit sugary sodas and juices

If Glaser Orthodontics tells you that you should be brushing better, listen.  Dr. Bary Glaser is seeing plaque build-up which can cause these white marks.  Have the best smile you can have and make sure to brush thoroughly and often!  If you have any questions about your oral hygiene in the Yorktown Heights and Cortlandt Manor area , please call Dr. Glaser and the staff at Glaser Orthodontics at 914-739-6400 and he will be happy to answer them.

Halloween is around the corner and we all like to indulge a bit.  Here at Glaser Orthodontics we have a few recommendations to help care for your teeth when eating sugary sweets. The danger of sweets is that it can lead to tooth decay if not treated properly. Both Dr. Glaser and the American Dental Association encourages proper care of your teeth all year long.

The downside of sour candies is the large amount of acid.  It’s that acid that makes you pucker.  The acid in sour candies wears down the enamel on your teeth.  Without the enamel coating, your teeth can be brittle in addition to exposing some nerves. Glaser Orthodontics recommends that you brush or at a minimum, rinse your teeth after indulging.

If hard candies are your favorite keep this in mind. Hard candies take longer to dissolve so it’s like bathing your teeth in sugar and acid. The sugar stays in your mouth longer and the longer the sugar is in your mouth, the more vulnerable your teeth are to cavities. Again, Glaser Orthodontics encourages its patients to rise with a fluoride mouthwash or brush.

Love those sticky, chewy candies? Well your braces and your teeth are not a fan. Candies that include taffies, caramels, peanut butter or nut filled leave a sticky residue on your teeth and gums.  This acts like an adhesive for bacteria which leads to tooth decays. Dr. Glaser says brushing is best.

While trick or treating in Cortlandt Manor and Yorktown Heights, Glaser Orthodontics recommends limiting your sweet intake and brush afterward.  Stay safe and bring a flashlight!

Thirty years ago in Yorktown Heights, Somers and the surrounding Northern Westchester area, metal bands that encircled the whole tooth were common throughout the whole mouth.  This made it very unsightly, as a lot of metal was exposed during a smile.  Today, with the invention of new materials and procedures, brackets are securely glued onto the surface of the teeth, thus eliminating a lot of unsightliness.  Bands are still commonly used on the back molars, as bands provide increased stability on larger teeth that experience a lot of use.

The procedure to glue brackets on to the teeth involves several steps.  They are:

– Prep the teeth by polishing them with an unflavored paste
– The cheek is pulled back by a “cheek retractor” so that the teeth are visible and can stay dry
– The teeth are dried and a conditioner is placed on the tooth
– A primer is placed on the teeth
– A bonding cement is placed on the bracket and the bracket is placed on the tooth
– A blue light is used to “cure” the cement
– The cheek retractor is removed and the wires are placed in the brackets

The entire bonding procedure can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes to complete.  Placing the brackets is relatively pain free.  Most of the discomfort comes from the cheek retractor – when it’s removed your cheeks and lips may be dry and tired from being stretched, but the discomfort will quickly pass.

At Glaser Orthodontics in Cortlandt Manor, we are here to answer any questions you may have about the bonding procedure.  Please call Dr. Glaser at 914-739-6400 with any questions or for a free consultation!

Once you’ve taken the first step in talking with your orthodontist and selected Invisalign as your preferred straightening method, it’s time to learn how to care for your aligners.

At Glaser Orthodontics which serves Yorktown Heights, Garrsion and surrounding areas, we recommend wearing your Invisalign approximately 23 hours a day. The aligners are typically removed when you eat so this is the perfect time to clean them.

One method is the Invisalign cleaning system that we sell here at Glaser Orthodontics.  This system is designed by Invisalign and helps remove plaque within 15 minutes and keeps your aligners odor-free, hygienic and clear.

Another method of keeping your aligners clean is to purchase a denture cleaning product. While you eat, you can soak one  aligner per one tablet of denture cleaning.  At Glaser Orthodontics, we suggest leaving the aligner in the cleaning product for approximately one hour. This can be done up to twice a day.

A third method of keeping your Invisalign trays clean is to use a baking soda product. It is suggested that you dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1/2 Cup of water. Soak your trays in the baking soda water for about an hour. This method can be done twice a day.

Another cleaning method is to brush your aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste. This will help keep them clean of particles as well as smelling fresh.

At Glaser Orthodontics, we want to help you keep your aligners clean while straightening your teeth. If you have any quetions regarding your Invisalign care, the staff in Cortlandt Manor is here to assist you. Always remember to rinse before putting your aligners back on and keep on smiling!

A frequent question we’re asked by patients and parents of Northern Westchester is if they can get their teeth whitened while their braces are still on. I mean who doesn’t want a nice white smile, right? The answer is you can in fact have them whitened, but its not suggested. The reason being, when you get your braces off you would have yellow squares on your teeth where the brackets are. The best thing you can do is use a whitening toothpaste, mouthwash and floss! Don’t forget you should brush them after every meal or AT LEAST swish water in your mouth.

As soon as those braces are off we will clean them and whiten them for you! And if your son or daughter is still not content then you can buy over the counter whitening strips or even go to your local dentist and have them whiten them for you!!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please call Glaser Orthodontics in Cortlandt Manor at 914-739-6400!

When you get braces at Glaser Orthodontics there are a few things you’ll have to adjust to get optimal results in the shortest amount of time. If you have any questions about the “do’s and don’ts” of living with braces, feel free to ask Dr. Glaser or any member of our Cortlandt Manor team during your next adjustment!

When you have braces there are a few types of food that can damage your brackets and bend your wires leading to more appointments and longer treatment times. Any foods that have hard insides, like fruit pits, or meat on bones, cut into pieces and chew on your back teeth; with braces, that is the best way to “eat” them. By simply avoiding sticky, chewy, crunchy, and hard foods, your Orthodontic experience will be much easier with fewer “emergencies.”

You’ll never believe the amount of food that can get stuck between your braces when you eat! In addition to causing bad breath and tooth decay, it looks pretty gross. It’s so important to brush your teeth after every meal and floss every day. It may be a hassle, but it’ll all be worth it in the end when you show off your bright, healthy smile. It is a hassle to learn the new routine but worth it in the quality of your tooth enamel and gums when we are done.

Protecting your smile when you play sports is essential whether you have braces or not. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury. The team at Glaser Orthodontics can provide a mouth guard that will promote tooth movement while in treatment. After treatment we can create a custom mouth guard, fit just for you, that can last years if you plan on participating further in any sport!

Please don’t hesitate to contact our Cortlandt Manor NY office if you have any questions or concerns about your braces. If you are interested in a consultation with our team at Glaser Orthodontics please call us or stop by for a visit!

Although major orthodontic emergencies are relatively rare, when they do happen it is important to seek immediate attention. By comparison, a minor orthodontic issue is something you can usually take care of yourself, or wait until your next scheduled appointment for care. Here are some guidelines to help you understand the difference between an orthodontic emergency and a minor issue.

ORTHODONTIC EMERGENCIES

Whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, if you injure your mouth, jaw, or teeth, you should see a doctor or dentist immediately near White Plains NY. You may need an X-ray to determine the extent of your injury. If the injury affects the orthodontic appliances, they will need adjustment or possibly replacement, depending upon the extent of the injury.

It is possible for teeth to become infected following orthodontic treatment. This may or may not be related to your orthodontic appliances. If you experience pain or swelling around a tooth that gets progressively worse, seek professional care in Westchester NY  as soon as possible.

MINOR ORTHODONTIC ISSUES

While true orthodontic emergencies are rare, minor issues are much more common. Here are some examples of minor orthodontic issues that can be remedied on your own and/or fixed at your next office visit:

• -Poking wire
• -Loose bracket
• -Loose elastic band
• -Loose wire
• -Loose appliance
• -Headgear does not fit
• -Lost or broken elastic band
• -General soreness

Any of the above issues can happen as a result of normal usage, shifting, and wear of your braces. Eating unusually hard or sticky foods can cause or exacerbate these problems. Vigorous brushing of the teeth can also be a factor. None of these issues are emergencies unless they are accompanied by acute or prolonged pain or discomfort.

As for on-the-spot remedies, covering a loose bracket or wire with wax can be a quick fix to alleviate discomfort until your next orthodontist visit in Cortlandt Manor NY. Poking or protruding wires can be moved with a cotton swab or tweezers, or clipped down with nail clippers. Be sure to sterilize the tweezers or clippers in alcohol first. Cover any clipped wire ends with a small ball of wax.

Some soreness or small abrasions in the mouth are normal, especially with recent orthodontic work. Rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution comprised of eight ounces or warm water and one teaspoon of salt.

When in doubt, be sure to contact our Cortlandt Manor NY office with any questions, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Glaser at Glaser Orthodontics.

So, you just got your braces on, and you’re wondering why you should continue visiting your general dentist since you’re seeing Dr. Glaser every other month. Patients always ask us if they should continue to see their dentist while in orthodontic treatment. In short, the answer is yes.

Today, we thought we would share a few reasons why it’s crucial to keep up with your regular visits with your dentist in addition to coming in for your regular adjustments at Glaser Orthodontics.

One of the best reasons to visit your dentist while you undergo Cortlandt Manor NY orthodontic treatment is to remove plaque and tartar. Having braces provides additional nooks and crannies in which food particles and bacteria can hide. Eventually, plaque and tartar can form around your brackets, bands or other appliances which can lead to cavities. Having your teeth professionally cleaned can help ensure most, if not all, plaque and tartar is removed. Even if you are undergoing clear aligner treatment, dental checkups and cleanings are equally as important.

The next reason to visit a dentist is to help protect your teeth from decalcification, or the loss of calcium in your teeth. A potentially serious condition in which white spots on your tooth surfaces, decalcification is irreversible and if left untreated, can lead to cavities. Decalcification is preventable; Cold Spring NY patients who cut down on sugary sweets and acidic foods, practice good oral hygiene, and visit their dentist regularly can help prevent decalcification.

The final reason we recommend visiting your Westchester NY dentist while you have braces is this: cavities can prolong your treatment. If you are interested in completing your orthodontic treatment on time and without any delays, visiting your dentist every six months or as recommended can go a long way toward making that a realistic goal. Your dentist can provide fluoride treatments or other treatments that strengthen your teeth and protect them from cavities.

Making sure to visit your dentist will help ensure your teeth look their best once your braces come off. If you do not have a general dentist and would like a recommendation on finding one in the Westchester County NY area, please give us a call or let us know at your next adjustment appointment!

If you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment in Westchester County NY, brushing and flossing after every meal and snack is the only way to prevent plaque build-up, tooth decay and gum disease. Your teeth will need extra care, especially during treatment at our Cortlandt Manor NY office. Our goal is for you to have a beautiful healthy smile, and in order for us to achieve this good hygiene on your end is very important. Food and particles are known to get trapped by brackets, wires, bands and appliances, and this can make it difficult to keep your teeth clean. Using a Waterpik is another great way to clean teeth and gums. Here are a few tips to help with keeping your teeth clean and healthy during your Yorktown NY orthodontic treatment:

1.Brush after every meal or snack

2.Floss daily to remove trapped food and particles

3.Rinse after eating with mouthwash to kill any bacteria

4.Brush with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled tooth brush

5.Clean teeth with a proxabrush

6.Maintain regular check-ups with your general dentist throughout your treatment

We hope these tips help. For more information, we encourage you to give Glaser Orthodontics a call, ask us on Facebook or ask us during your next adjustment visit!