Avon IN

(and eight you shouldn’t eat)

Many orthodontics patients with braces are unsure of what foods are restricted in their diets. Many also believe the list of foods to avoid is longer than it actually is. Dr. Peter Chapman of Chapman Orthodontics shares some ideas about what foods are safely enjoyed and which foods are best to avoid eating while wearing braces or during orthodontic treatment near Danville, IN.

It is true that during your treatment with braces there are limitations on what you can eat in order to maintain good dental hygiene and the integrity of the hardware. But the time (and money) invested with braces is well worth coping with these limitations. The payoff is a perfectly straight, healthy, and attractive smile.

What foods can be enjoyed during your treatment?

There are many delicious food options that can be eaten while wearing braces near Danville, IN including:

• Bananas
• Yogurt
• Soup
• Cheese
• Pasta
• Mashed Potatoes

Dr. Peter Chapman wants to make sure that every patient with braces eats healthy food and gets enough daily nutrients. Here are some meal ideas that are safe for patients who are wearing braces. Perhaps there is a family favorite among some of these delicious meal options:

• Lasagna. Lasagna is a great dinner because it provides many food groups in one dish, is tasty, and is soft on your braces.
• Grilled Chicken and Vegetables. While meat from a bone can cause damage to your braces, deboned meats like chicken breast can be eaten. Chicken pairs nicely with vegetables like broccoli.
• Chicken Noodle Soup. Chicken noodle soup gives you many necessary nutrients because of the variety of ingredients that can be added. Soup is also a filling and tasty meal and will not damage your braces.

What foods should be avoided?

While wearing braces, the three types of food that should be avoided are hard, sticky, and chewy foods. These types of food should be avoided because they can get stuck in your braces easily and be difficult and sometimes painful to get out. Some food categories that should be avoided are:

• Gum
• Popcorn
• Ice
• Caramel
• Pretzels
• Raw vegetables
• Steak
• Hard candies

Some of these foods do not have to be completely avoided, however. Foods like vegetables, steak, and pretzels can be broken or cut up into smaller pieces and then eaten safely.

There are many foods which are nutritious, delicious, and are friendly to your braces. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Peter Chapman and Chapman Orthodontics near Danville, IN, or for more information, please call: (317) 852-5566

Orthodontic treatments can help a patient achieve a life-long healthy and straight smile. The length of treatment is always as different as each patient and their treatment goals.  Dr. Peter Chapman and the team at Chapman Orthodontics near Speedway, IN can help give you a better understanding of the processes of orthodontic treatment and which approach may provide their patients with the best outcomes possible.

Schedule a consultation

During the consultation visit, Dr. Peter Chapman will complete a new-patient exam and diagnose your orthodontic treatment needs. This assessment usually lasts about an hour and allows the doctor to evaluate your needs as a patient and answer all of your questions about your proposed course of treatment. X-rays and/or photographs of your teeth may be taken and will help Dr. Peter Chapman identify which treatment option is the best for you.

Once you’ve decided on a course of treatment, Dr. Chapman will provide you with an estimated cost of treatment, a timeline for how long the course of treatment will take, and any options for finishing your treatment. 

The time that you have to actually wear your braces will vary depending on your needs and the type of treatment indicated. The typical treatment time is 23 months. Some patients have their braces on for only six months, while other patients can have them for longer than three years. 

Getting your braces

Dr. Chapman and his team will walk you through the entire course of treatment from beginning to end, schedule a series of appointments to get you started, and can discuss with you options for funding your treatment. The team will review your dental records and show you samples of braces, Invisalign aligners, and other appliances that may be integrated into your treatment.

The appointment to affix your braces to your teeth takes about 2 hours and can be scheduled almost immediately after your consultation. A Chapman Orthodontics associate will first prepare your teeth for the brackets, and then your orthodontist will carefully position each bracket on each tooth. Because this is such a critical step in the process, Dr. Peter Chapman invests a lot of time sweating the details (including bracket type, positioning, and wire selection) to help each of his patients achieve the best treatment outcome possible. 

Throughout your treatment, the Chapman Orthodontics team will help you schedule routine checkups; brief appointments to adjust your brackets, answer questions, and check your progress. These meetings usually average 15 to 20 minutes and take place every 8 to 10 weeks. If you’re using Invisalign aligners, these checkups occur every 4 to 6 weeks.

Concluding Treatment

When your course of treatment with braces is coming to an end, your doctor will schedule you for a “debanding.” Removing your braces will take a little over an hour, and you will be pleased at how easy and comfortable the process is. It is then important that you arrange with your dentist to have a thorough cleaning, check-up, and fluoride treatment after the removal of your braces. 

To hold your teeth in their new position, Dr. Chapman will evaluate which retainer is appropriate for you and make you a set of retainers and recommend a practice for wearing them. Most patients are advised to wear their retainers indeterminately in some capacity. The general rule is, “Wear your retainers for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight.”

Go show the world your healthy, gorgeous, new smile!

Before you leave the office after your final treatment, you will be given a photo of how your teeth looked before you had braces so that you can compare how your beautiful smile looks now. 

If your dentist recommends braces for you, then Dr. Peter Chapman and the team at Chapman Orthodontics near Speedway, IN can help. Give them a call: 317 – 852 – 5566

If you’re seeking an orthodontist for you or your child, then don’t make a commitment too quickly; every orthodontist is different. Some may prefer to use a specific treatment plan over others, and some may charge their patients more for treatments more than other orthodontists do.

Orthodontic treatment (especially with traditional metal braces) means that you’re making a big commitment for multiple years, so we understand the importance of doing your research. Be sure to search for and select the orthodontist that meets your individual needs and criteria. Dr. Peter Chapman of Chapman Orthodontics is here today to help you choose the right orthodontist near Danville, IN. 

Ask your family, friends, and Dr. Peter Chapman.

The first step to finding the right orthodontist for you is to simply ask around. You can always ask friends or family if they know about a good orthodontic practice that they might’ve used for their treatment.Your family’s dentist also can help point you in the right direction. Dentists usually are knowledgeable about the other dentists and orthodontists in your area. Once you’ve considered your options and have narrowed it down to a few orthodontia providers near Danville, IN, you should call to ask them a few questions. Their answers will be helpful in determining if their practice is right for you.

There are several questions that you should ask your prospective providers.

• What are the possibilities of orthodontic treatment?
• What are common problems that you treat?
• How often will visits take place?
• How long will treatment last?
• What are your office hours? (Many orthodontists have limited hours, meaning that working parents may have to take time off or kids will have to be taken out of school.)
• How many orthodontists work in your office?
• How long have you been in Chapman Orthodontics?
• What is the cost of treatment, and how do you determine the cost?
• What insurance plans do you accept?
• Do you offer a free consultation?
• Can you provide references from current or past patients?
• Is the orthodontist using the most recent technology in their procedures?

Be aware of your surroundings.

Pay attention to the office around you and remember to take mental notes on what you see and experience. Are the office staff and hygienists friendly? Is the office staff professional? Are they flexible to work with? Are the orthodontist and office accessible for advice or emergencies? 

Think about what type of orthodontic treatments are available to you.

Most orthodontists offer four main common treatment options, including a few different types of braces:

• Metal braces are the traditional and most common option. They are most often used for children under 12 years of age.
• Ceramic braces are clear or tooth-colored and are usually self-ligating. They work the same as metal braces, but are much less visible making them more popular with adults. However, they cost more than traditional braces.
• Lingual braces are the most inconspicuous as they are fixed to the back of (behind) the teeth, enabling them to remain completely unseen. The downside to lingual braces is that they are usually much more expensive, and very few orthodontists offer them due to the associated costs and longer treatment time.
• Clear aligner systems like Invisalign are made of smooth plastic, are virtually invisible, and can be taken out to eat, brush, and floss. One big advantage to aligners is that they are now practically the same cost as traditional metal or ceramic braces. However, they are only used in treatment for teens and adults. 

If you’re an adult looking to restore your or your child’s sparkling, beautiful smile, then look no further than Dr. Peter Chapman at Chapman Orthodontics near Danville, NY. To schedule a consultation with the Chapman Orthodontics team, call them today at: (317) 852-5566

If you have recently been fitted for Invisalign near Avon, IN, the team at Chapman Orthodontics would like to congratulate you on getting one step closer to a confident and healthy smile! Dr. Peter Chapman knows that while Invisalign is in your mouth doing the important work of straightening teeth, it’s also crucial to keep your Invisalign tray clean. The Chapman Orthodontics team recommends that their patients follow these tips to keep their Invisalign clear aligners clean and working properly. 

• Saliva and plaque may collect on the Invisalign trays, and that creates the perfect home for harmful or odor-causing bacteria. It is important to clean your aligners every time you take them out. (You take your aligners out before you eat, right?) Brush your aligner the same way you brush your teeth; with a little bit of toothpaste and a toothbrush. You should also brush and floss your teeth while you’re at it. That will help to reduce bacteria also.
• Soak your aligner in a product like Invisalign Cleaning Crystals, Retainer Brite, or even denture cleaner once or twice a week. Avoid a colored denture cleaner; it may stain or color your aligners. 
• Avoid foods that may stain your aligners. Tea, coffee, wine, and sodas stain the aligners most often. Hot drinks may warp the plastic trays into a position that no longer fits on the teeth, thus extending treatment time.
• Wear Invisalign conscientiously. Invisalign clear aligners need to be worn to work. The trays are removable to eat, but they need to be worn to be effective. Do not keep the Invisalign tray out of your mouth for longer than is necessary to eat, brush, or floss.

Keeping your Invisalign aligners clean is easy, and it’s a very important part of the overall treatment. Just remember, whenever you brush your teeth, brush your aligners too. To make sure you remember, the team at Chapman Orthodontics recommends that you make a small Invisalign cleaning kit for when you’re on the go. Include a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss to keep your teeth and Invisalign sparkling clean!

If you have any more questions on keeping your Invisalign clean, or anything else Invisalign related, give Dr. Peter Chapman a call. You can reach Chapman Orthodontics near Avon, IN by visiting our website or calling: 317 – 852 – 5566