Experience

Tips for navigating through your time in treatment to help ensure a positive experience while on the road to a beautiful smile.

Invisalign

We recommend wearing your Invisalign aligners 22 hours per day for best results. Invisalign aligners can be removed and inserted with ease. Remove the aligners to eat and remove the aligners to drink anything other than water.

Braces

Soreness
When you first get your braces and after adjustments, you may notice that your teeth feel tender. This is a normal occurrence and we promise your teeth will not feel this way forever. It is also common for your lips, cheeks and tongue to be irritated as they become accustom to the braces.

Loose Teeth
If your teeth feel a little loose, don’t worry, this is normal. Your teeth become loose as they move into the correct location. Once your teeth have settled into their proper position, they will stabilize.

Appliance Care
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you follow our recommendations.

School Activities, sports and music
Orthodontic treatment should not stop you from participating in your favorite school activities. If you play a contact sport, we recommend you wear a mouth guard to protect your braces and teeth. We will help find the mouth guard that is appropriate for your favorite activity.

You will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances:

— Chewy/Sticky Foods: bagels, licorice, caramel, etc
— Hard/Crunchy Foods: popcorn, chips, ice, nuts, etc
— Challenging Foods: corn on the cob, whole apples, uncooked carrots, etc

Brushing and Flossing:

— It is important to keep your regular scheduled checkups and cleanings with your family dentist.
— Our team will show you how to properly brush and floss once your braces are placed.
— Pay close attention to the areas around your braces and other appliances.

Emergency Care: Life Happens

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they do occur, we are here to help.

As a general rule, you should call our office if you experience a broken appliance or trauma involving your braces. We will guide you through the issue and, if necessary, recommend you be scheduled to have the issue addressed. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.

Troubleshooting Common Orthodontic Emergencies

Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax so it is no longer poking.

Loose Wires, Bands or Brackets
The wires, bands or brackets may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so we can check and repair your appliance. If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it and place wax on the area, if needed for comfort. If any piece of the appliance comes off, please bring it to your appointment.

Improperly Fitting Appliance
If your appliance is not fitting, place wax on the offending area and contact our office to have this addressed.

Separator has fallen out
Separators aid in the placement of orthodontic bands. If a separator falls out, place it back in as instructed during your last visit. If you are unable to get the separator back in place, please contact us.

Life After Treatment

Now that we have an excellent result, it is up to you to maintain your beautiful smile, here are a few tips.

— Wear your retainer for the appropriate amount of time each day as we have instructed. When not wearing your retainer, keep it in the case for safe keeping. Avoid placing it in your pocket, or a napkin. Otherwise, retainers can be lost or become your pet’s new chew toy, so keep them safe!
— Clean and rinse your retainer once a day with a toothbrush and liquid soap.
— Remove your retainers when swimming. Trust us.
— Keep retainers away from hot water and hot car dashboards as the material can change shape, resulting in an improper fit.
— If you have a bonded wire retainer, keep it clean using the techniques reviewed when it was placed. If the wire is no longer attached to a particular tooth, please contact us.
— If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, or if it is lost or broken, please contact us right away because your teeth may begin to shift.

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As one Journey ends,

a new smile begins.

Kyla

“We love Dr. Newton and Team! They make the process so comfortable and easy. We are very happy with the results!”

— “We love Dr. Newton and Team! They make the process so comfortable and easy. We are very happy with the results!”

Gabe

“We have been extremely happy with Dr. Ostertag and Dr. Newton at Cedar Orthodontic Specialists. The office has such a welcoming environment that coming in for appointments is not only comfortable but also fun!”

— “We have been extremely happy with Dr. Ostertag and Dr. Newton at Cedar Orthodontic Specialists. The office has such a welcoming environment that coming in for appointments is not only comfortable but also fun!”

Lily

“Dr. Newton was very respectful and always gave us the choice of what to do with our daughters teeth. They look beautiful!”

— “Dr. Newton was very respectful and always gave us the choice of what to do with our daughters teeth. They look beautiful!”

Jordyn

“My family and I have had such a great experience with Dr. Newton and Dr. Ostertag. My biggest concern was making sure my children felt comfortable throughout their orthodontic experience. Not only have both doctors made sure the kids are at ease, they have gone above and beyond this expectation by including them in decision-making about their treatments. They do such a great job of explaining everything in terms I understand. When I need to make appointments, the office team works so well at fitting the appointments around our busy schedules. It is such a great experience every time we walk through their doors.”

— “My family and I have had such a great experience with Dr. Newton and Dr. Ostertag. My biggest concern was making sure my children felt comfortable throughout their orthodontic experience. Not only have both doctors made sure the kids are at ease, they have gone above and beyond this expectation by including them in decision-making […]

Ross

“I was concerned about getting braces during my senior year of high school into my first year of college considering it is one of the most pivotal points in many peoples lives, including mine. But, Cedar Orthodontic Specialists made the process more enjoyable than I could have imagined. Everyone in the office is so friendly and I look forward to going to my appointments. Over the course of my treatment I feel like I made genuine connections with everyone there which is really special to me.”

— “I was concerned about getting braces during my senior year of high school into my first year of college considering it is one of the most pivotal points in many peoples lives, including mine. But, Cedar Orthodontic Specialists made the process more enjoyable than I could have imagined. Everyone in the office is so friendly […]

Savannah

“We have been very happy with the progress of treatment and what we really appreciate about this practice is the way the team and doctors have taken an active interest in Savannah as a person.”

— “We have been very happy with the progress of treatment and what we really appreciate about this practice is the way the team and doctors have taken an active interest in Savannah as a person.”

Emma

“Emma’s smile says it all… it says she’s a confident young woman with a future full of possibilities! The knowledgeable and experienced team along with the family-like environment at Cedar Orthodontic Specialists really made our experience the best I could imagine for my daughter. Whether she is showing her animals in the county fair or riding horses in competitions, Emma’s smile is the brightest!”

— “Emma’s smile says it all… it says she’s a confident young woman with a future full of possibilities! The knowledgeable and experienced team along with the family-like environment at Cedar Orthodontic Specialists really made our experience the best I could imagine for my daughter. Whether she is showing her animals in the county fair or […]

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