Boo!

Halloween is just around the corner, and that means lots of tricks and treats! Dr. Moles and team will be wearing costumes for Halloween tomorrow in our Milwaukee office, which is decorated with giant spider webs, and pumpkins! We have a few special safety tips to share with all of the young trick-or-treaters and their parents.

Always inspect your candy thoroughly, in these times we live in you can never be too careful. Throw out any candy that has been unwrapped, opened or tampered with. Parents should be inspecting the candy before their children have a chance to even eat it.

There are many different kinds of candies out there, but it is important to pay attention to the type of candy your children are eating, especially if they have braces! Soft candies, such as Reese's peanut butter cups, Milky Ways, and anything that is really soft is okay, but anything sticky, tacky or too chewy should be avoided. Patients should avoid- thick caramel, licorice, gum, chewy candy, candy apples, popcorn and popcorn balls, nuts and taffy's.

If you have any questions about candies and braces, give us a call at 414-377-4106.

Have a spooky and safe Halloween!

The Racine Community

In the beginning of 2009 Racine’s population was 78,805. It’s a decent sized city to live in, not too large and not too small- it seems just right! Racine’s downtown is located on Lake Michigan and the area has been improving greatly over the past 10 years. New housing has gone up, new shops and great new restaurants. Racine has a lot of schools to choose from- about 28 grade schools and high schools not including the private schools. Driving distance to some major universities is really close, UW-Parkside, UW-Milwaukee are both within athirty minute drive. Racine is located between 2 major cities, Milwaukee and Chicago. This makes day-trips to Chicago for shopping and dining out great!

Dr. Moles favorite lunch during the work week- is from our neighbor restaurant Los Mariachis. He orders the chicken tacos w/ rice and beans. The office favorite is the local Q-Doba Mexican Grill, or Jimmy Johns. A new Gorgie Porgie just opened as well. The Restaurants in the area are all amazing. Racine’s Best Mexican is Joses Blue Sombrero, Italian: Salutes, American: The Corner House is by far the best in Racine and has been Voted that for American cuisine. The steak is their main attraction.

Dr. Moles has developed a way to give back with some other area professionals- its called Smile for a lifetime. Basically the idea of smile for a lifetime is that they are helping under-privileged kids in the area who cant afford to have a not only great looking smile but a smile that will be healthy and last a lifetime! You can find more info on it at- www.s4L.com

More About Orthodontics From Dr. Moles

There are so many questions about orthodontics that we never ask, so Dr. Moles took some time to explain the most common concerns.

At what age should orthodontic treatment occur?

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age seven or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician.

What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander, Herbst, Facemask, headgear, or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment, because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.

Would an adult patient benefit from orthodontics?

Absolutely!! Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. Everyone wants a beautiful and healthy smile. Between 30-40% of our patients are adults.

How does orthodontic treatment work?

Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that are placed on your teeth and the arch wire that connects them are the main components. When the arch wire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As it does so, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more ideal positions.

How long does orthodontic treatment take?

Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time is from one to two years. Actual treatment time can be affected by rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent upon patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping your treatment time on schedule.

Do braces hurt?

The placement of bands and brackets on your teeth does not hurt. Once your braces are placed and connected with the arch wires, you may feel some soreness of your teeth for one to four days. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.

Will braces interfere with playing sports?

No. It is recommended, however, that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouth guard when participating in any sporting activity. Mouth guards are inexpensive, comfortable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns.

Will braces interfere with playing musical instruments?

No. However, there may be an initial period of adjustment. In addition, brace covers or wax can be provided to prevent discomfort.

Should I see my general dentist while I have braces?

Yes, you should continue to see your general dentist every six months for cleaning and dental checkups, or more frequently as recommended.

Got more questions? Give us a call at Moles Orthodontics. We'd love to hear from you.

The Myths and Facts of Orthodontics

There are quite a few myths about orthodontists circulating around. Before you buy into those myths, you should get the facts! We came across a great site that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontists, check them out today!

Hope this helps,

--Moles Orthodontics

Softly Brushing Your Way to Clean Teeth, From Moles Orthodontics

Just as there are so many different types of toothbrushes to choose from, each brush also has a different type of bristle! There are generally three different types of bristles; hard, medium, and soft. We always recommend that our patients, especially children and seniors, use a soft bristled toothbrush.

Using a hard and medium bristled brush can actually harm your teeth and gums by stripping the enamel from the teeth and irritating the gums so that they become red and sore, and can even cause gum recession. If you do use a hard or medium bristled brush as a personal preference, we recommend using an electric toothbrush.

Soft bristles are much gentler on your teeth and gums, and while patients of all ages are recommended to use soft bristled brushes, they are particularly great for children, seniors, patients recovering from a dental procedure, and patients wearing braces.

Soft bristles, and even extra-soft bristles are every bit as effective when it comes to cleaning your teeth; in fact, if you currently use a hard or medium bristled brush, try a soft bristled brush next time you buy a toothbrush and we bet you won’t even notice a difference!

--Moles Orthodontics

Everybody's Brushing with Moles Orthodontics

We at Moles Orthodontics found a fun video on brushing your teeth! Watch it and tell us what you think :)

Braces 101, from Moles Orthodontics

Should you need to call Moles Orthodontics in case you sustain any damage to your braces, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.



Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

--Dr. Moles

Katherine Heigl Struggles with Crooked Teeth - Racine, WI

Everyone struggles with little imperfections. Making crooked teeth straight, stained teeth sparkling white and chipped teeth smooth is part of what I do as an orthodontist. The sense of renewed self confidence that comes to my patients after having some sort of reconstructive work is what makes my job worthwhile.

Consider Katherine Heigl, award winning actress, and considered by many the Grace Kelly of our day. She describes struggling with crooked teeth her whole life until finally there came a point when she said "enough is enough!" She decided to do something to straighten her teeth.

I think you will enjoy this clip. Please feel free to leave comments, tell me what you think! Have you ever struggled with this same problem? Have you felt the relief of smiling to reveal a straight, bright smile after hiding crooked ones for so long? Contact us so we can hear your story, or help you create a new beautiful smile and a story of your own!