What is Multi-Phase Orthodontics

Are you aware of Multi-Phased Orthodontics? If not, don’t worry you’re not alone. Multi-Phase orthodontic treatment is a specialized process that involves facial and jaw changes along with straightening teeth. This process allows Poser Orthodontics to create a healthy functional smile with results that remain stable after treatment. One benefit of Multi-Phase orthodontics in certain cases, it can prevent adult tooth extractions or major jaw surgery.

How does it work?

Multi-Phase orthodontics starts with interceptive orthodontic care. This is a process where Poser Orthodontics intercepts an oral problem before it continues to get unmanageable. Typically, treatment starts with younger children in order to manipulate teeth and growth before it’s too late. The best age for this is between 7 and 10-year-old. With interceptive orthodontics, treatment is about 4 to 12 months with monitoring of the child after that to discuss is possible second phase treatment.

Once a majority of the adult teeth have erupted, another phase of treatment can begin. The average treatment time of Multi-Phase is about 12 months of braces on the teeth. Retainers are worn after treatment to hold the correct position of the teeth.

If you are interested in learning more about Multi-Phase Orthodontics, contact Poser Orthodontics to discuss it more. We love answering questions and providing a solid foundation of information to those who are interested in treatment for their children or themselves. Call us at our Germantown office 262-255-6255 or our Wauwatosa office 414-476-2244.

Peanut Butter S'mores Recipe

If you want to celebrate National S'mores Day today, we encourage you to do so! Take our s'mores challenge and try something different by adding some flare to your s'mores! Try out this new s'more recipe and let us know what you think!

Do you have a s'more recipe you'd like to share with us? Post it on our Facebook wall!

Peanut Butter S'mores Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 large chocolate chip cookies
• 4 teaspoons hot fudge ice cream topping
• 4 large marshmallows
• 4 peanut butter cups

Directions

• Spread the bottoms of four cookies with fudge topping.
• Using a long-handled fork, grill marshmallows 6 in. from medium-hot heat until golden brown, turning occasionally. Carefully place a marshmallow and a peanut butter cup on each fudge-topped cookie; top with remaining cookies. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings.

Poser Ortho Smiles of the Week

At Poser Orthodontics, we pride ourselves in providing the best care to the best patients in the Wauwatosa and Germantown areas. As we celebrate with our patients who just got braces put on, or just finished their braces and enter into retention, we love capturing every moment throughout the process and all the moments in between if we can!

Check out a few patients who flashed their #PoserOrtho this week at the office.

Do you want to be showcased on our blog? Take a picture at your next appointment at Poser Orthodontics and we will share it on our Facebook page or post it on our blog!

Cool Down With This Recipe

Enjoy the rest of the summer with this tasty homemade snack that's sure to be a hit at any age. You probably have all the ingredients you need already! Skip store-bought popsicles and opt for a DIY version with this delicious BRACES FRIENDLY Greek Yogurt Berry Smoothie Pops!

Ingredients
½ cup Greek yogurt (I use Chobani Vanilla)
½ cup milk
1 cup frozen berries

Instructions
Blend ingredients until smooth.
Pour into 3 oz paper cups.
Let pops set up until almost firm and insert popscicle stick.
Continue freezing until solid.
Gently tear off paper cup and enjoy immediately.
Makes 5 pops.

You Have Braces...So Why Do You Still Need To See Your Dentist?

So you have a mouth full braces, you see your orthodontist for an examination and adjustment every 6-8 weeks and your hygienist has a poke around too….so why do you need to visit the dentist?

When we work on your braces, we are not looking specifically for any cavities and anything we do notice is a by-product of monitoring your oral health from an orthodontic perspective. Even if we did find something suspicious we don’t have the facilities to deal with it.

For this reason, we advise you to maintain your regular dental checkup schedule. Ideally, a visit to your general dentist once every 6 months is good.

The other important thing to remember is that your oral hygiene needs to be flawless. The appliances that are in your mouth are a magnet for plaque buildup, unfortunately. If you are a bit lax with brushing and rinsing out your mouth after eating, you may just find that you have a beautiful straight smile with stained teeth.

While having braces does not increase the risk of cavities, not caring for your teeth and having braces does.

Remember to brush or rinse after eating.  Just swishing water around your mouth if you can’t brush during the day is better than leaving food debris in your braces or appliances. Then, brush thoroughly morning and night the way you were shown at your appointment.

If you can’t remember, ask for a brushing refresher next time you visit and one of our handy mirror clings. Or, you can always visit our website for more information. Click here to view it now.

Summer Tip #1: How to Pack With Braces

If you are wearing braces and are planning a vacation, our team at Poser Orthodontics would suggest that you be prepared. We put together a list of items that will be handy to have with you at all times while you are out of town.

They include:

• Toothpick, flosspick, or other interdental cleaners
• Travel toothbrush
• A water bottle or a mini bottle of mouth rinse
• Orthodontic wax to help with discomfort from protruding wires
• A small mirror for examining any possible issues in your mouth

Putting these items together in a “braces/oral hygiene kit” may be wise. You may even buy pre-made braces kits. Please ask us for more information.

Why Choose Damon Braces?

You may have heard that Damon braces can straighten your teeth faster, with fewer appointments, and without extractions or expanders. What is the Damon System and is it better than regular braces?

Damon brackets are a type of bracket known as self-ligating. To “ligate” means to bind or tie. With conventional braces, the wires are held in place by ligatures or o-rings that secure them to the brackets (which are the metal pieces attached to the teeth). With self-ligating braces, part of the bracket itself holds the wire in place without the need for o-rings or steel ties. Some brackets have doors or “slides.” Others have clips. The Damon bracket was not the first self-ligating bracket, but we believe it is the best.

Some of the claims about Damon brackets are that they won’t cause pain as they move your teeth, you won’t need to have an expander or have permanent teeth removed, you won’t need headgear or rubber bands to fix your overbite, and that your treatment will be much shorter than with regular braces.

If you’d like to know more about Damon braces and if they’re right for you, come see Dr. Poser or give us a call at 262-255-6255. We know you'll be impressed!