Braces

We’re lucky to have great patients who know how to take care of their braces. They practice good hygiene, stay away from hard, sticky and gooey foods and come in regularly for adjustments.

However, even with the best of intentions sometimes things don’t go as planned. While there are very few true ‘emergencies’ in orthodontics, there are some times when a wire will bend or poke, a bracket will come loose, or an elastic tie can pop off. Your first course of action should always be to call our office. However, if you aren’t able to come in right away, there are easy ways to make your braces more comfortable while you wait for your appointment.

This video shows some common issues with braces, and how to fix them.

Broken brackets: Brackets sometimes beak, bend, or pop off completely. If the bracket comes off and is still attached to the wire, you can use wax to hold it in place and keep your mouth comfortable. Call our office and make an appointment to have it reattached.
Loose bands: Hard and sticky foods are the biggest culprits in bands coming loose. If that happens, call our office right away to schedule an appointment to re-cement the band. In the mean time, try not to play with it, and don’t attach headgear or rubber bands to loose bands.

Poking wires: As your teeth move in your mouth, sometimes the archwire will extend out the back of the bracket and irritate the cheek. If this happens, you can cover the end with wax until you come into the office. Another option is to use the eraser end of a pencil to gently bend the wire in towards the tooth, and away from the cheek.

Sore teeth: It’s not unusual for teeth to be sore after an adjustment or when new appliances are installed. Usually, this only lasts for 24-72 hours. We recommend cold fluids and soft foods. You can also treat it the same way you treat a headache, with the pain reliever of your choice.

Lost ties: Occasionally, the elastic ties that hold the archwire onto the bracket can come off. Call our office if that happens. Often, it can wait until your next appointment. Other times, we can schedule a quick visit to have it replaced.
When in doubt, don’t hesitate to call the office at 845-621-1222. We’re always happy to answer your questions!

Braces today are “cool” and—many would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as In-Ovation, Incognito, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with Dr. Sean Rooney, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited the orthodontic practice of Dr. Sean M. Rooney for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

With spring here, many children, teens and adults will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, Dr. Sean Rooney and our dedicated team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. If you play sports and are undergoing orthodontic treatment with Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics, it's important that you consult Dr. Rooney for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse and others. Be sure, however, to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with our office. And don’t forget to ask us—Dr. Rooney offers mouth guards to patients in and out of treatment.

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment.

There are a variety of foods Dr. Sean Rooney wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break your brackets. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include:

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Also, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics a call or ask our staff during your next visit.

If you ever sustain damage to your braces and need to call Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.

Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Braces at Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics, are more fun than ever! With the Brace Painter, parents and children are able to “paint their braces,” and visualize how teeth will look with different colors of bands.

The Brace Painter allows for you to select different colors, and then assign those colors of bands to certain teeth. Now, you can visualize your braces before you even come in for your appointment!

As always, please let Dr. Rooney know if you have any questions about the Brace Painter, or your orthodontic treatment at Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics. Have a great week!

At the office of Dr. Rooney, nobody is “too old” for braces! In fact, we read a fascinating statistic recently: adults getting braces has actually jumped 24 percent since 1996! Of course, braces help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. Rooney can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation at our office. Please give us a call at (845) 621-1222 to set one up and have a wonderful rest of the week!

Dr. Rooney and all of us at Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics extend our best wishes to all of you for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We appreciate the opportunity to work together with you in the creation of our patients' ideal smiles, and would like to know: what are you most thankful for this year? Leave us a comment, or if you have any photos or stories to share with us, we encourage you to post them on our Facebook page.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let’s face it: sports related injuries are common among kids, let alone teens with braces. In a 2009 survey, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO, discovered that 70 percent of parents said their biggest fear is that their child will get hurt while playing organized sports.

If you play any sports, it’s important that you consult Dr. Rooney for special precautions, including wearing a mouth guard, which is advised for playing sports such as football, basketball, hockey, wrestling, volleyball, or even touch-football in the backyard.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, please schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. And don’t forget to ask us – Dr. Rooney will provide a mouth guard for any patient in treatment!

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call or ask us on Facebook if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment!

Happy Monday, and enjoy the rest of the week!

November is here, and—believe it or not—we’re almost in full holiday mode! But before we forget about the spooky month that just wrapped up, we’d like to know how you celebrated Halloween! What did you wear? Did you have fun?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or feel free to post them on our Facebook page! We hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween!

Before you go: Have you been in for a dental checkup lately? It’s important that you see your dentist as well as visiting Dr. Rooney during your orthodontic treatment. If you have questions about your treatment or just want some general information, give us a call or stop by for a visit! Happy Monday!

This upcoming Thursday - October 28th, don't be surprised if you see Dr. Rooney walking around your school and peeking into your classroom!

On Thursday, Dr. Rooney, Jen and Denise are going to visit Austin Road Elementary School to talk about National Orthodontic Health Month. Dr. Rooney and staff will talk to the kids about having good oral hygiene, and about getting braces. He will also discuss oral health problems to watch out for at an early age.

Be sure to write down your questions for us, and Dr. Rooney will be happy to answer! See you on Thursday!!

We hope you're having a great Monday!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have included information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly Halloween recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while wearing braces.

Dr. Sean Rooney and our staff recommend you check out the AAO's website as well for helpful tips on keeping your braces in tip-top shape. If you have any follow-up questions, please feel free to give us a call at 845-621-1222, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Rooney during your visit at our convenient Mahopac office!

Have a great rest of the week!

Dr. Rooney just completed the Ironman Syracuse 70.3 - the race consisted of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. We had a raffle in the office for the patients to take a guess of how long it would take Dr. Rooney to complete it. One of our patients, Carissa was lucky enough to guess it right on the dot! She guessed 5 hours and 36 minutes and won a $50 visa gift card and a T-shirt! Great job, Carissa!