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You can’t be a Heavy Metal musician if you don’t know anything about the electric guitar right? Well the same goes for the cool heavy metal in your mouth. Learn the different parts of braces and how they all come together to give you the perfect smile with Dr. Chapman and his team at Chapman Orthodontics in Brownsburg, IN.

Archwire – The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along with the use of pressure. The archwire is shaped specifically to fit around the arch of each tooth and into the bracket slots, and it’s changed periodically throughout treatment as teeth move to their new positions.

Band – A thin ring of metal, usually stainless steel, which is fitted tightly around the molar and sometimes premolars and sealed in position using dental cement that contains fluoride to prevent any decalcification during treatment. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth

Bracket – A small attachment that is secured to the tooth (most often, cemented directly onto the tooth’s surface, eliminating the need for a band) for the purpose of holding the archwire against each tooth. The archwire fits into a slot in the bracket. Brackets can be fabricated from metal, ceramic or plastic.

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

Elastic (Rubber Band) – Used to move the teeth in prescribed direction (commonly connected to the molar band and upper ball hook).

Elastic Tie – A tiny rubber ring that ties the archwire into the bracket. Found in numerous colors for better appearance.

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

Hook – Small welded or removable attachments on the brackets used to attach elastics (rubber bands).

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

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

Contact our practice at 317.852.5566 to schedule your initial orthodontic consultation. And keep rocking out with the biggest smile!

The everyday brace wearer in Plainfield, IN looks forward to the day their braces are removed and they can see their beautiful, unhindered smile! But for some, white spots surround the area where their braces once were. These white spots are known as demineralization and can happen to anyone, even people do don’t wear braces.

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 and this acid is what eat away at the calcium and phosphate of the teeth causing white spots or demineralization. These spots can be sensitive and can lead to cavities. And braces are a common culprit due to the fact that braces are good at trapping food.

Here at Chapman Orthodontics we work hard to establish good oral hygiene with all our patients, and if good oral hygiene was not practiced while wearing braces, a square white mark around the bracket can occur. Since braces trap food more easily, it is very important to practice good oral hygiene while wearing braces. Dr. Chapman and his staff at Chapman Orthodontics offer these tips to brace wearers in Plainfield, IN 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

Remember to make sure to brush thoroughly and often, and keep up with your visits to Chapman Orthodontics. Do that and you’ll have the best smile in town! If you have any questions about your oral hygiene please feel free to contact us.

Your teen’s oral health in Avon, IN is one of the most important parts of their overall health and happiness, but is often overlooked. While their bodies and minds are going through many changes during this time, so is their oral health. Dr. Chapman tells parents that it is important to focus on oral health in teenagers. Here are just a few things Chapman Orthodontics suggests you keep in mind.

Diet

As teens experience changes with their bodies, they will also experience changes with their diets. Diet can affect oral health due to differing levels of sugar or starches. Chapman Orthodontics suggests reminding teens that it is important to keep a balanced diet, and limit the intake of foods with high sugar contents. Chewing sugar free gum and drinking a lot of water are great alternatives that will increase oral health.

Hygiene

As their schedules start to fill up, concern for oral hygiene may begin to drop. Parents in Avon, IN should make sure that teens are finding the time to fit regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing into their routines. Taking care of braces from Chapman Orthodontics properly is also crucial to the success of your teen’s treatment. Ensure that they are regularly removing any left behind food, and that they have wax on them at all times in case of orthodontic emergencies. Dr. Chapman says even the busiest of schedules have a little room for a healthy mouth!

Habits

Throughout the teenage years, you may notice your child developing new habits. While this could be as harmless as a new interest in a sport (don’t forget your mouth guards!), it could also be as severe as cigarette smoking or eating disorders. Both of these things can lead to terrible oral health symptoms, including bad breath, stained teeth, or bone and tooth loss. If you notice that your teen in Avon, IN is showing these symptoms, remind them of the danger they are putting their health in, and discuss with them good habits that can benefit their oral health instead. Contact Dr. Chapman and the team at Chapman Orthodontics to help your teen get their health back on the right track.

As parents of teenagers in Avon, IN, now is a great time to set an example for your teens by influencing them to be diligent about oral health. Teenagers who actively care for their mouths will enjoy happier, healthier smiles in the future. Chapman Orthodontics is always available to patients in Avon, IN to help keep oral health in it’s best possible to shape, and to provide smile solutions that keep teen’s teeth looking straight and beautiful. Contact us today to learn more.

Invisalign is a unique way to get the straight smile you’ve always dreamed of. But once the aligners come off, it is time for a retainer. So, you may be wondering if it is possible to get a retainer that is just like Invisalign: clear, comfortable, and convenient. The answer, says Dr. Chapman, is yes.

Clear Retainers

Chapman Orthodontics of Carmel, IN can provide you with a clear plastic retainer that is virtually invisible, and far more comfortable than those with metal. Regardless of which type of braces you had (metal or Invisalign), these retainers are available to you at the office of Dr. Chapman.

Do I need a retainer?

At Chapman Orthodontics we almost always advise patients to get a retainer. Retainers help to keep patients in Carmel, IN from losing all the progress they made with braces. Braces work to move the teeth, but it may take some time for the teeth to resettle in their new positions and let the bone reform tightly around the teeth. Retainers keep the teeth from shifting during this time.

Keep in mind, that each case is different. For example, some patients may need to wear a retainer all the time, while some only need it at night. Only Dr. Chapman and the team at Chapman Orthodontics can assess which plan is right for you. However, be sure to follow whatever instruction you are given by the doctor. Following your unique directions will make sure that your smile is maintained in the best way possible.

What are the benefits of a clear retainer?

Chapman Orthodontics feels that clear retainers are a great option for our patients in Carmel, IN. Unlike metal ones, clear retainers are virtually invisible. Aside from this, they are smooth and comfortable, so they will not take any getting used to. Lastly, they are very hygienic because they are easy to clean and care for. Their only downside, Dr. Chapman cautions, is that they may be easy to misplace. Ensure that you are taking good care of your retainer and keeping a watchful eye on it when it is removed so as not to misplace it.

What to do next?

If you are interested in a clear retainer, do not hesitate to Contact Chapman Orthodontics. We will provide you with a personalized plan and all the information you need to get started with your retainer.

Summer is a time for having fun, and for many patients in Brownsburg, IN, that means participating in sports. Sports and other physical activities are a great way to spend a beautiful day, and at many camps are the focus of kids and teens. Even adults enjoy getting out and being physically active over the summer. Chapman Orthodontics encourages this activity, but wants to remind patients in Brownsburg, IN to take precautions when participating in sports while undergoing treatment with braces.

Braces will not stop Chapman Orthodontics patients from enjoying a fun summer game. However, if not cared for correctly, braces may get damaged during sports, or even worse, may damage your mouth or health overall. That is why Dr. Chapman recommends that patients wear a mouth guard. Mouth guards will protect the position of the teeth from being dislocated should a ball hit them, will prevent accidently biting your tongue or gums, and will stop brackets or wires from poking into the mouth. Chapman Orthodontics can provide you with all the information you need to know about purchasing the proper mouth guard for your case. For more information about the importance of mouth guards, contact Dr. Chapman.

Additionally, keep in mind that accidents do happen. With or without a mouth guard, you may encounter a case where your teeth or braces become damaged. Regardless of the issue, Contact our Brownsburg, IN office immediately. Dr. Chapman and the team at Chapman Orthodontics want to fix your emergency as soon as possible to ensure a recovery back to a beautiful smile. As soon, as your emergency occurs, we are the first ones you should call! Feel free to stop by the Chapman Orthodontics office in Brownsburg, IN or visit us online to learn more about sports safety while undergoing treatment with braces.

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces! Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment in Avon, IN, you’ll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips from Chapman Orthodontics:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, Dr. Chapman reminds you to take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.
2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.
3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, Chapman Ortho says that it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.
4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment in Avon, IN, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.
5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go in Avon, IN. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.
6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.
7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.
8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.
9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some Chapman Orthodontics patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients in Avon, IN like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.
10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit Chapman Orthodontics (and your dentist) regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need assistance or have any concerns about your braces, feel free to contact our office – we’d love to help!

Dr. Chapman of Chapman Orthodontics in Zionsville, IN recommends that his patients replace their toothbrush every 3 months, when there is noticeable wear, or when we have an illness, and what’s a cooler than recycling your old toothbrush and making a toothbrush bracelet?

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. An old toothbrush
2. A pair of pliers
3. Vise grips
4. Tongs
5. A pot big enough to accommodate your toothbrush
6. A parent!

Step 1: Take your old toothbrush and have your parent gently remove all of the bristles from the toothbrush with a pair of pliers. Support should be applied to the neck of the toothbrush to avoid breaking it.

Step 2: Once all of the bristles are removed from the toothbrush, have your parent boil it for an hour. Be patient, you get to wear it whenever you want. Let your parent do all the hard labor. And it has to boil for a whole hour so that when your parent starts the bending process the toothbrush doesn’t snap.

Step 3: Because the toothbrush is very hot, you parent needs to bend it using the tongs to hold the toothbrush in the middle, and vise grips to shape the toothbrush.

Step 4: To set the shape and cool the bracelet down, let it sit in a bowl of cold water.

Please contact our practice if you have any questions or concerns about your oral health. We at Chapman Orthodontics hope you have just as much fun with your new toothbrush. Keep Smiling!

Many in Decatur, IN think that the sole reason to get orthodontic care is to achieve a “prettier smile.” While this of course is a good reason to undergo treatment, Chapman Orthodontics reminds that it is not the only reason. Dr. Chapman warns what may happen if you put off orthodontic treatment.

Right now, your problem is easily treated. But if you wait much longer, your problem may get worse. Possible effects of waiting too long may include:

• More pain
• More complex and lengthier treatment
• Increased treatment costs due to more harm to mouth and teeth
• Higher risks of infection or complications
• Longer recovery time
• Having to take more time off from work for treatment and recovery

To put it simply, orthodontic treatment is an investment. Chapman Orthodontics says not to delay in your dental treatment because it may save you discomfort, money and time in the long run. Please know that if you have money concerns about your orthodontic treatment plan, our staff in Decatur, IN can work with you on a payment plan so you can begin the treatment you need.

Chapman Orthodontics wants to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. Please give us a call at the office in Decatur, IN if you have questions or want to schedule an appointment. Don’t delay your orthodontic treatment with Chapman Orthodontics. We hope to see you soon!

Are you interested in straightening your teeth without the unsightly look of traditional metal braces? Chapman Orthodontist located in Plainfield IN has the perfect solution for you; clear braces.Clear braces offer the same straightening technique and reliability as metal braces, but they are ceramic and made from a glass-like composite material that appears translucent. This composition allows clear braces to be nearly unnoticeable, and is extremely popular for adults, but can be applied to almost everyone.

Clear, or porcelain, braces were created with aesthetics in mind. The porcelain brackets are designed to resist stains and the ties are made up of either clear elastic ties or white metal ties. The metal ties provide a stronger bind but sometimes lose the white coating over time. Depending on the coloration of your natural teeth, clear or white ties will be used.

Clear braces provide the same durability, reliability, and wear as metal braces, but are more visually appealing. The clear or tooth colored braces can give the patient a confidence boost as their teeth are being straightened, but with a less obvious technique. Dr. Chapman located in Plainfield IN.

You may be asking yourself if it is time for your adolescent in Brownsburg, IN to begin orthodontic treatment. The most common time to begin orthodontic treatment is during adolescence. By this time, most of the permanent teeth are in and the facial bones are growing to their adult size. For many patients, adolescence is an excellent time to have orthodontic treatment. Most, if not all of the braces can be placed on right from the start, and with the patient’s cooperation, treatment can be quick, easy and efficient.

Adolescence is the time when children develop their sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Having a beautiful healthy smile helps young people feel good about themselves and improves their self-confidence.

At Chapman Orthodontics, we strive to make the orthodontic experience a positive one. We provide all our patients with individual attention and try to make them feel special. Schedule a consultation with us today!