Take Moles Orthodontics' Fun Soda Pop Quiz

Moles Orthodontics wants to know, where does all that soda pop go?

On average, the typical person consumes over 50 gallons of soda pop per year! The amount of acid and sugar found in a can of soda can cause serious tooth decay and lead to cavities, gum disease, and even tooth loss!

We at Moles Orthodontics know that you don’t want to lose your teeth, so take the soda pop quiz, presented by the Minnesota Dental Association, and learn more about how to keep your smile healthy.

It’s a fun interactive quiz, so enjoy! From Moles Orthodontics.

Nifty "Eggs"periment from Moles Orthodontics

Summer is drawing near. If the little ones aren’t at camp, you may run out of ideas to keep them occupied. Why not use a fun and simple science experiment to focus their attention for a while? At Moles Orthodontics, we found one that includes a lesson about why it’s important to brush teeth to make plaque go away.

Gather the items you will need for this experiment:

* 1 hard-boiled egg with the shell on
* 12 ounces of Coke, Pepsi or other dark-colored cola
* 1 container large enough to hold the cola and egg
* 1 plastic bowl
* 1 toothbrush
* 1 drop of fluoride toothpaste
* Clean-up supplies

Explain to your child that plaque is a sticky layer of germs that collects on her teeth. If she doesn’t brush, plaque can cause serious problems for her teeth, for example holes in the teeth (cavities) or swollen gums (gingivitis). Tell her that you are going to do an experiment to see how plaque coats her teeth, and why brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth and gums.

Conduct the experiment:

1. Make the comparison between the white color of the egg and the white color of your child's teeth.

2. Place the egg into the container and pour the cola over it, so that it completely covers the egg.

3. Let the egg sit in the cola for 24 hours.

4. Remove the egg from the cola. The egg will be stained and yellowish.
5. Explain to your child that the colored layer that has appeared on top of the eggshell is just like the layer of plaque that occurs on her teeth.

6. Place the egg in the plastic bowl and give your child the toothbrush with the drop of toothpaste on it.

7. Let her brush the "plaque" off of the egg. The yellowish film will disappear, exposing the white eggshell. Explain that the same thing happens when she brushes her teeth.

Age 7 is the Magic Number for an Orthodontic Check-Up -- Moles Orthodontics

Many parents assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Consequently, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

What’s so great about age seven? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for an orthodontist to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites, and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So give us a call today at Moles Orthodontics and come in for a consultation!

Moles Orthodontics Patient Reviews

Moles Orthodontics provides outstanding dental service to the Milwaukee and Racine communities. Just see what their patients have to say!What I like the best about Moles Orthodontics is the unmatched quality of service. Compared to every place I have gone, I was offered the BEST customer service at Moles Orthodontist. I am so satisfied with the services received that I will not go to another Milwaukee orthodontists as long as Moles Orthodontics exists.
-Mladenko D.

Dr. Moles was the only orthodontist I know of that offered class III treatment without surgery. My daughter has JRA and cannot have any joint immobilized. I'm so grateful to Dr. Moles for working with my daughter. She looks fantastic and in a few months will be finished with her treatment.
-John M.

I like that the office and doctor stay on top of the latest technology. The staff is pleasant and helpful. I also like the fact that Dr. Moles treats adults with TMJ.
-Denise M.

The cappuccino machine and the staff are great!
-Marc Gear

I want the entire staff to know that I am so impressed with the Barnes and Noble gift card they sent to me as a result of several appointment reschedules. I can't tell you how impressed I am by this. I will highly recommend you to my friends and tell my regular dentist that you are all terrific. Thank you.
-Diane H.

When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary?

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. We call this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat.

Examples include:

· An upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly

· A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in

· A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their baby teeth. Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly. We’ll follow up with - phase two - usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit our office even sooner.

Before and After

Here are just a few of our patient's before and after treatment photos.

To see more before and after photos visit our website.