This week, Kelley, Chairside Assistant and Lab Coordinator at Wilson Orthodontics, describes her experience with braces when she was a teen, take a look!

When I was a teenager I was uncomfortable with my smile so I told my family I wanted to get braces. I was worried of how the braces would look as a teenager in high school but I knew that in the end my smile would be corrected and I would feel much better about it. I was scheduled for an orthodontic examination and at the appointment the doctor and all the assistants were very comforting, they answered all my questions and they made the process very easy.

Having straight teeth gives you more confidence and self-esteem. Not only are we straightening teeth for people to look good visually on the outside, but we are changing our patients on the inside too. If you have always been self-conscious about your smile...you have come to the right place. Whether you are 10 years old or 50 years old, it is never too late to have that smile you have always dreamed of. Call us today for your complimentary orthodontic examination and come experience what everyone else is talking about here at Wilson Orthodontics!
~Kelley Moore, Chairside Assistant/Lab Coordinator

Shannon Hicks, Chairside Assistant at Wilson Orthodontics wanted to share her personal experience with braces as a child, check them out below!

I remember when I was told I needed braces, I was 11 years old. I was so excited because many of my friends had them. I only had to wear them for 1 year. I did not mind them at all . I did not have any trouble with them and was not too sore either. The orthodontic assistants were very informative and explained everything to me before they started. This made me very comfortable and eager to go to my appointments.

My advice to anyone who is contemplating starting their treatment in braces is simply GO FOR IT . YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YOU DID ! There is no need to feel uneasy and nervous. It's really not bad. To go through treatment and see the changes are absolutely amazing! It happens so fast and believe me, the end result is awesome!!! You will be smiling forever! I promise!

Tell us about your experience with braces, and how they have changed your life...leave a comment on our blog or our Facebook page!

Lots of people talk about dental fears, so we asked Kelly from Wilson Orthodontics to talk about her own experiences.

As a child I was very afraid of going to the dentist like most children and some adults. I never had a bad experience as a child or an adult I guess the fear was just the unknown or not knowing what to expect. I have learned, especially since working in the dental field, that if you take the time and go out of your way to make someone as comfortable as possible and explain in detail what you will be doing along with getting the patients to interact with you in every way possible most dental fears are eased. That's what we do at Wilson Orthodontics.

Kelly
Chairside Assistant

Summer is just around the corner, Yes that is true...We are getting our office ready for the hot weather with some really "COOL" contest and fun games to play at your visit. Last year we had indoor "Goofy Golf "and ring toss, and plan on that and even more this summer. We are going to have some contest and prizes such as free ice cream and gift cards.

At Wilson Orthodontics, we offer early and late appointments year round to accommodate work and school schedules. But in the summer we have several days to only place braces and get kids started on their "NEW SMILES," so when school starts in the fall they will be well adjusted. We look forward to summer and all the "HOT" fun we will have.....Come by for a visit and join us for some summer fun at Wilson Orthodontics.

--Cheryl Poole, Front Desk Receptionist

As April is National Facial Protection Month, we at Wilson Orthodontics want to share some helpful tips on choosing a mouth guard.

When selecting a mouth guard the most important thing is fit. It should stay securely in place during your activities and you should be able to breath and talk comfortably.

There are three basic categories of mouth guards.

1. Off the Shelf Guards; these are relatively inexpensive and are preformed and come ready to wear.

2. Boil and Bite Guards; these are a step up from the off the shelf guards because you'll get a better fit by boiling to soften the material and then biting into it to form it around your teeth.

3. Custom Mouth Guards; these are the best and most expensive type and usually come from your Dentist. They require impressions of your teeth and are custom made just for your bite.

People with Braces can only wear one kind of mouth guard it's specially made so that it protects the teeth and mouth from injury that could be caused by the braces if hit, while not forming to the teeth since the teeth are constantly changing while in braces.

Here at Dr. Wilson's office we offer our patients mouth guards free of charge!

Without proper protection you greatly increase your chances of injury, so come visit us at Wilson Orthodontics for your very own mouth guard!

--Pam, Orthodontic Assistant

Yes it's true "April Showers Bring May Flowers;" however, did you know that it also brings "National Facial Protection Month"? The American Association of Orthodontics recommends the "Top 10 ways to Save Face". Notice that the first one is to wear a mouth guard!

Dental injuries are the most common type of injury sustained during sports activities. It is estimated by the American Dental Association that mouth guards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in High School and College football alone!

Should you experience a facial injury and a permanent tooth is knocked out you can pick the tooth up by the crown of the tooth--not the root--and rinse it clean with water or milk; but do not store it in water store it only in milk!

Recent studies have shown that the best chances of saving the tooth is to have it safely and properly placed back into the socket within a window of time between 5 minutes to 1 hour. So you should see your Dentist as soon as you can!

However, if you should knock out a baby tooth, you can leave it out; oh, but don’t forget to put it under your pillow for the Tooth Fairy!

You get one set of permanent teeth, so take care of them!

Have fun, stay active, but be safe and guard your teeth and protect your Smile; especially the one we at Wilson Orthodontics help you create! And if you need a mouth guard, remember we give them to our Wilson Orthodontics patients for free!

--Pam, Orthodontic Assistant

Wilson Orthodontics provides innovative orthodontics in a fun and relaxing environment. Just see what our patients are saying!I love my teeth--I was always embarrassed to smile before and to have people see my teeth. Wilson Orthodontics changed all that. They have a very friendly staff who remembered who I was every time I came in -- very personable!
-Margaret M.

Dr. Wilson is young and innovative. The kids like all the cool stuff he has in the office such as an Xbox 360.
-Richard G.

We are so pleased with Dr. Wilson and his staff. His office hours have worked out well for our schedule and anytime we have an emergency, they were able to get us in. He also frequently updates us to progress of my teeth and my orthodontic plan of care.
-Cole H.

Dr. Wilson takes the time to explain everything that is going to be done. The people that work there are friendly and I really like the new changes that have been made.
-Jordan A.

All information is given up front at Wilson Orthodontics. There is no waiting time - records and braces on the same day. The office staff is always helpful and courteous!
-Robin R.

Dr. Wilson is very nice and the office is cool and fun.
-Meagan H.

Dr. Wilson is concerned with doing a detailed job. He provides The Damon system, which is superior to others that pull numerous teeth. - The office staff are courteous and accommodating of schedules
-Paul N.

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – 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, or a mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in.

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while your child still has “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, such as a retainer. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when your child's permanent teeth have come in. Phase two often does involve braces and sometimes headgear.

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 an orthodontist even sooner. For more information about two-phase orthodontics, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wilson please call 678-971-2461 in Gainesville or 678-866-3295 in Hoschton and visit our web site.