Happy Thanksgiving!

There is always something to be thankful for, and at Spannhake Orthodontics we are thankful for you! Thank you to our wonderful patients for letting us work on those gorgeous smiles!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eating Habits With Braces

Braces are fragile, so it is important to avoid certain foods and drinks to protect the integrity of your braces. Avoid eating hard foods like nuts, ice, hard tacos, whole apples and carrots, hard French bread crusts and rolls, ribs, corn on the cob and popcorn! Sticky foods like taffy, caramels, bubble gum or any type of sticky candy should also be avoided. These foods can easily break the brackets and wires. Foods aren't the only thing that can damage your braces. Bad habits like nail biting and pen or pencil chewing can cause damage as well. Use common sense when eating and keep in mind that excessive broken appliances will only prolong your treatment and result in additional charges for repair.

For more questions about braces at Spannhake Orthodontics, you may visit our website or give us a call.

Prom-tastic Photo Contest

Be sure to enter our Prom Photo Contest At Spannhake Orthodontics!

Upload your photo to our Facebook wall now & the photo with the most LIKES will win a $50 iTunes gift card! Last day to enter is June 15th!

www.facebook.com/spannhakeorthodontics

Wearing & Caring For Your Retainer

So you recently got your braces off and have begun the retention phase at Spannhake Orthodontics. Congratulations on having a straight Spannhake smile! Now that you're in rentention, it's important for you to know some basic tips for caring and wearing your retainer. 

Tips to remember during retention:

• Wear your retainer at all times, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
• Take your retainer out when eating, and always put it back in its case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
• Clean the retainer thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of brushing.
• When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should ALWAYS be in its case. Pets love to chew on them!
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to it faster.
• Retainers are breakable, so treat yours with care. If your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, or you believe it needs adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust it yourself.
• Always bring your retainer to your appointments.
• Retainer replacements are expensive, but with proper care they will last for years!
• Remove your retainer when you go swimming.
• Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.

If you have any questions about your retention phase, please call the office you are seen at office. 

April is National Facial Protection Month - Let's talk about concussions

April is National Facial Protection Month, so Dr. Spannhake wants to give you a heads up on concussions in youth sports. As your orthodontic provider, we understand that head concussions are a little out of our area of expertise. However, we feel it is our duty to provide you with as much information for your overall health as we can, when we see fit. That being said, let’s talk about concussions.

Did you know…

· Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.

· Athletes who have, at any point in their lives, had a concussion have an increased risk for another concussion.

· Young children and teens are more likely to get a concussion and take longer to recover than adults.

A concussion is a form of a traumatic brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. Typically, a concussion is caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. Even minor blows or bumps to the head can be serious. Be sure to seek medical attention if you think you or someone you know is suffering from a concussion.

Do you want to win a toad-ally rad electric toothbrush?

We are excited to announce we have a new contest going on this month for our patients. It’s easy to enter and we have 2 awesome Electric toothbrush prizes up for grabs! One will be for an adult & one will be for a child!

Can you guess how frogs are in this jar?

To enter:

1. Go to our Facebook Page
2. LIKE US
3. Post your guess with post your name.

You can also enter at our office if you prefer.

Sorry, this contest is for patients only!

Two winners will be announced. Each winner will get an Electric Toothbrush!

Contest ends April 15th!

Let Us Straighten Your Teeth Without Braces

If you want a straighter smile but don’t want to spend years of wearing traditional metal braces, Invisalign is the perfect option for you. At Spannhake Orthodontics we are a provider of Invisalign and have years of experience permanently correcting alignment issues in a shorter time than traditional braces.

Keep reading to discover a few of the benefits of Invisalign and why more people are opting for this alternative.

Invisalign is clear.

Not only is Invisalign effective, but the straighteners are nearly invisible and can be worn without detection. This eliminates the negative impacts of anxiety or low self confidence that usually comes with traditional metal braces.

You can remove them.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners can be removed instantly and easily. You can take them in and out without compromising your treatment.

You can eat anything.

Because you can remove the Invisalign aligners at your leisure, you don’t have to avoid any foods like patients with traditional braces do. Invisalign makes it easy to eat whatever you want, whenever you want and never worry about your meals ruining your orthodontic treatment.

Other wonderful reasons to opt for Invisalign:

• No difficulty eating
• No discomfort from wires
• Affordable
• Low Maintenance
• Less Appointments

Do you want to know if you're a good candidate for Invisalign treatment? Schedule an appointment now. Just visit our website for more information and new patient forms.