Petrol Orthodontics hosted an evening of fun, pizza and learning about orthodontics for Temecula Girl Scouts on Wednesday.
Each participant recieved an orthodontic evaluation of their bite from Dr. Petrol, instruction on proper oral hygiene, as well as an overview of the processes involved in orthodontic treatment.
Every scout made an impression of their thumb cast in plaster to demonstrate how orthodontic models are fabricated. This is the same process used to create the virtual models that are the foundation of the Invisalign system as well as those udsed for treatment planning with traditional metal or ceramic braces.
Photos of the event are posted here on our Facebook page.
Please contact us if you are interested in organizing a similar experierence for your school or organization.
This past week has been a busy one for Dr. Petrol and the Petrol Orthodontics Team. Petrol Orthodontics was out and about in the community at various community events. Last Wednesday Dr. Petrol visited David A. Brown Middle School in Murrieta to talk to students about career opportunities in Orthodontics and other health related fields. On Thursday it was off to the Mega Mixer hosted by the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce. Saturday Petrol Orthodontics attended a Health Fair at the Lake Elsinore Outlet Center spreading the word about proper dental health and orthodontics as well as the Smile for a Liftime Foundation. We are always happy to participate in community events so please let us of any that you think we should attend.
The American Association of Orthodontists encourages kids to “Play It Safe” during organized and recreational sports and we at Petrol Orthodontics are doing our part by providing custom mouth guards to all young athletes whether they are patients of ours or not.
Athletic mouth guards provide protection, but vary in comfort and cost. In order to provide the most protection, it is important that the mouth guard fit properly, but it should not restrict your speech or breathing. However, when it comes to choosing a mouth guard, something is better than nothing. Stock mouth guards are available at most sporting goods stores and with these mouth guards, you simply pick a size and hope that it fits. A snug fit is nearly impossible to achieve with these types. These offer the least amount of protection but are still better than nothing at all. A step up from this is the “boil and bite” mouth guard which you bite into after softening in boiling water to create a semicustom fit. These are also available at most sporting goods stores.The best fitting mouth guard is one that is custom made by a dentist or Orthodontist. After taking an impression of the teeth, the custom rubberized material is formed around the model of the teeth much the same way as a custom retainer is made, except that the custom mouth guard is thicker and more pliable and fits perfectly. These mouth guards offer the most protection with the least amount of bulk. It is easier to breathe and to speak with a custom mouth guard. Because of the tight fit, they are less likely to fall out.
According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, every athlete involved in contact sports has about a 10 percent chance per season of an injury to the face and mouth, or a 33-56 percent chance during an athletic career.
Thanks to the Team at Petrol Orthodontics athletes on these local sports teams will be "playing it safe."
Parents, Please talk to your child's coach regarding the opportunity to have custom mouth guards for your team. We can even make them in your teams custom colors. Together we can make a difference and decrease the incidence of mouth injuries in youth sports.
The Petrol Orthodontics Team loves to teach kids about orthodontics and how to care for their teeth. We recently hosted two local Girl Scout troops at our new Menifee office. Participants recieved a complimentary orthodontic screening, a goody bag filled with cool prizes, detailed instruction on the proper techniques for brushing and flossing their teeth, as well as an introduction to our office mascot, a 9 year old, 165 pound Mastiff named Stormy.
Please contact us if you are interested in scheduling an Office tour for your Scout troop, School class, or would like to have Dr. Petrol and her Team speak at a school career day. We appreciate every opportunity to enrich the lives of young students and educate them about orthodontics and proper dental care. We make learning Fun!
Like braces, retainers are considered to be a rite of passage for many teenagers- worn for a short time as the final step in the orthodontic process. These days, orthodontists are encouraging their patients to hang onto their retainers and wear them a bit longer - for a lifetime, even. As the science of orthodontics continues to evolve, research on the aging process as it relates to teeth alignment has shown that teeth can shift- even after braces.
In the past, most orthodontists would recommend that patients wear their retainers for up to two years before weaning them off the appliance. Most orthodontists now recommend that retainers need to be worn nightly for the rest of their patient's lives.
As an orthodontist, I understand that this may not be something that patients want to hear. But to maintain the perfect alignment we have achieved once the braces are removed, wearing a retainer from now on will be a necessity for many patients. In addition to shifting teeth as part of the natural process of aging, teeth sometimes have a tendency to shift back into their former positions after the braces are removed, although they typically do not return to the exact position they were in prior to wearing braces.
It is important to note that a retainer typically does not shift teeth back into place. It simply maintains straight teeth. Routine retainer wear can keep shifting to a minimum.
The longer a patient leaves the retainer out, the more likely it is that their teeth will shift. The tightness some patients feel when putting in a retainer after they have not worn it for several days is evidence that the teeth have shifted slightly. Teeth may become sore once a retainer is worn after several days of nonuse, but wearing it on a regular basis will eliminate the discomfort. Patients should plan to wear their retainers every night once the braces are removed.
Once patients have their braces off, they usually are not eager to be seen with metal in their mouths, so we provide invisible clear retainers that are worn while you sleep. It gets the job done and preserves your Petrol Perfect smile.
Young athletes are very likely to experience a mouth injury during their sports careers, but most parents and players resist the call to wear mouth guards. The National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety recorded over 5 million teeth knocked out last year during youth sporting events, with 80 percent of those injuries on the front teeth. In other words, that’s a lot of missing – noticeable – teeth. The majority of these injuries could have been prevented by the proper use of mouth guards.
To help educate parents, coaches, and kids, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has teamed up with former Florida Gators and Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith as spokes person for the nationwide campaign called "Play it Safe." The "Play it Safe" campaign is designed to promote oral safety and the benefits of wearing mouth guards as a preventative measure. The concept of giving away the equipment is Petrol Orthodontics’s way of contributing to the cause.
When it comes to choosing a mouth guard, something is better than nothing. So called “stock” mouth guards are available at most sporting goods stores. With theses mouth guards, you simply pick a size and hope that it fits. A snug fit is nearly impossible to achieve with these types. A step up from this is the “boil and bite” mouth guard which you bite into after softening in boiling water to create a semicustom fit. These are also available at most sporting goods stores.
The best fitting mouth guard is one that is custom made by a dentist or Orthodontist. After taking an impression of the teeth, the custom rubberized material is formed around the model of the teeth much the same way as a custom retainer is made, except that the custom mouth guard is thicker and more pliable and fits perfectly. These mouth guards offer the most protection with the least amount of bulk. It is easier to breathe and to speak with a custom mouth guard. Because of the tight fit, they are less likely to fall out.
According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, every athlete involved in contact sports has about a 10 percent chance per season of an orofacial injury, or a 33-56 percent chance during an athletic career. In addition to preventing chipped or dislodged teeth, it's stated that a properly fitted mouth guard can reduce the risk of concussions when certain blows are received to the head. Thanks to the Team at Petrol Orthodontics, many local Pop Warner football players will be "playing it safe."
At the top of the food pyramid are those foods considered to be part of the sugar group. From this category you can enjoy a nice bowl of pudding, Jell-O, or a slice of cake. All of these foods require very little chewing if at all, and they also make great desserts. The Jell-O and pudding, when consumed cold, may even help to relieve some pain from having your braces tightened by your orthodontist.
On the next level of the food pyramid to the left is dairy. There are many dairy products that can be easily consumed, after having your braces tightened by your orthodontist, with little pain. When looking for dairy options that are easy to chew try cottage cheese, yogurt, or ice cream. All of these foods can be served cold to relieve some of the pain.
See the Difference
Find out what separates us from everyone else, discover the Petrol Orthodontics difference!
