Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Why are straight teeth so important?


Some people wonder why Manhattan orthodontist Dr. Frank Andolino and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Andolino Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Andolino can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

When should you contact Andolino Orthodontics?


Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Frank Andolino. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call as soon as possible!

Hope this helps,

The team at Andolino Orthodontics

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Go-To Mom Discusses Invisalign

Our team at Andolino Orthodontics found a great video that discusses the advantages of Invisalign. In the video, Kimberley Clayton Blaine, "The Go-To Mom," discusses the Invisalign and Invisalign Teen treatments and her personal experience with Invisalign.

To determine if Invisalign is right for you, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Frank Andolino. Have a great week!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Emergency Care at Andolino Orthodontics


At Andolino Orthodontics, we know orthodontic emergencies are never convenient nor timely. If you are a patient of record, Dr. Frank Andolino and our team are committed to your dental health and are more than willing to see you after hours or over the weekend. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. If you have a orthodontic emergency after regular office hours, please give us a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts to learn how you may be able to solve the problem yourself, or, if you cannot, how to contact Dr. Andolino and team.

Common issues include:

*Broken Brace
*Broken Wires
*Tie has come off of a Brace
*Loose Expander
*Poking Wire Tie
*Sharpness Felt on the Tongue Side of a Brace
*Loss of a Separator
*Initial Soreness
*Wire Poking

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you visit our office.