oral health

Catch Dr. Rooney on the radio!

August 4th, 2011

Dr. Rooney is going to be a guest on the “Hey, Coach Tony” show on ESPN 1510 radio this weekend at 9 a.m. You can also listen live via this link. Patients and parents are encouraged to call in with their questions to (855) HEY-COACH or (855)-439-2622.

The “Hey, Coach Tony” show is hosted by coach Tony Fiorino, and is a weekly call-in show for parents and coaches of youth athletes. Tony spent eight years as Director of the Center for Sports Parenting, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating parents, coaches and officials on the subtleties of the youth sports environment. He also wrote the book, “Kids in Sports: A Tactical Guide for Parents and Coaches. “

On this week’s program, Dr. Rooney will be interviewed about mouthguards, facial protection, and the importance of staying hydrated during athletic activities.

Did you know that dental injuries are the most common types of orofacial injuries in sports? How about the fact that orofacial injuries account for 34% of all sports injuries? It’s estimated that the use of a mouthguard prevents over 200,000 injuries per year in the US: and that’s just in football alone. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, more than FIVE MILLION teeth are knocked out in sporting events each year.

So what should one look for in a mouth guard? Tune in and find out!

Hydration during sports is also crucial. When you exercise, your muscles generate a lot of heat, as much as 20 times its normal temperature. Your body uses water and sweat to reduce its core temperature. As sweat evaporates, it cools the skin. Proper hydration is necessary to keep this process going. When an athlete becomes dehydrated, blood volume decreases, making the heart work harder and decreasing overall performance.

Do you have questions about mouth guards, sports, or hydration? Call in and ask!

July 30th, 2011

Dr. Rooney has officially signed up for The Ironman U.S. Championship Triathlon, which takes place in New York City and New Jersey on August 11, 2012. This grueling race covers 140.6 miles: a 2.4 mile swim in the Hudson, a 112 mile bike ride on the Palisades Parkway, and a 26.2 mile run across the George Washington Bridge and ending in Riverside Park in Manhattan.

The Ironman began in Hawaii as a way to settle the debate over who were the best athletes: swimmers, runners, or bicyclists. Of the 15 people who started the first Iron Man Triathlon on February 18, 1978, only twelve finished. The victor was Gordon Haller, a U.S. Navyman, with a time of 11 hours, 46 minutes, 59 seconds. The following year, over 50 people competed, and the race has steadily grown since then.

Today, the race is so large, one can only compete by placing in a qualifying event, such as the U.S. Championship which Dr. Rooney is competing in.

Dr. Rooney understands that a healthy lifestyle goes a long way towards a healthy life and a healthy smile.
Even if triathlons aren’t your thing, regular exercise is key to maintaining good health. A study in the Journal of Dentistry found people who exercise regularly have stronger teeth and a reduced risk for developing periodontitis. Even among former smokers, regular exercise reduced their periodontitis risk by 74%.

Regular exercise is also known to lower blood pressure, and decrease risk for cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and even diabetes.
One reason why triathlon training is so great, is that it works every area of the body. Athletes who train for just one sport are more prone to injuries by overworking specific muscle areas. Because triathletes cross-train, different muscle groups are strained and strengthened, increasing fitness overall.

Many triathletes say the challenge of a bike ride after a swim, followed by a long run makes them mentally strong. Doing something you thought you couldn’t makes you feel like you can do anything! Completing an Ironman is such an achievement that just finishing the race earns you the title of Ironman, and the majority of competitors’ only goal is to finish. Here's a clip from the 2009 race, which shows just how difficult the Ironman is.

Whatever your exercise method of choice, just keep moving and flashing that smile!

What, exactly, is malocclusion?

February 22nd, 2011


Malocclusion, or what Dr. Sean Rooney calls “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and even your appearance.

Most people experience some degree of malocclusion, but it generally is not severe enough to require corrective measures. If your malocclusion is serious enough, however, treatment may be necessary to correct the issue.

Dr. Rooney will tell you that untreated malocclusion can lead undesirable mouth problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, or chipped and cracked teeth. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of your malocclusion. The goal of your treatment is to move your teeth into the proper position and correct any misalignment in the jaw.

At Dr Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics, we use the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

February 9th, 2011


Each February for the past 61years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Sean Rooney is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

Questions with Dr. Sean M Rooney Orthodontics

January 31st, 2011

At Dr. Sean M Rooney Orthodontics, we get asked a lot of questions from our patients. The ones we hear most frequently are “When are my braces or appliances coming off?”, “When can I change my colors?”, “How painful is each procedure?”, “How often should I get cleanings with my dentist?”.

We enjoy answering each of these questions, but there are also some questions we don’t hear as often that we believe are important for maintaining your oral health and for effective orthodontic treatment with Dr. Rooney, such as:

• “When is my next appointment?”
• “How often do I have to wear my rubber bands?”
• “How often do I have to wear my retainer?”
• “How often should I brush and floss my teeth?”
• “How is my hygiene?”
• “What are the different types of braces?”
• “Are there special mouth guards for my braces or my appliances?”
• “Will my teeth stay straight forever?”

These questions or any other questions you can think of, we would be more than happy to answer. You can ask us during your next appointment or by giving our office a call. Happy Monday!

-Dr. Rooney and team

The importance of retainers, from Dr. Rooney

January 25th, 2011

If you recently completed treatment at Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Rooney will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Rooney is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Rooney, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

Ask Dr.Rooney: What’s so bad about Nail Biting?

January 13th, 2011

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? Recently, our team at Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics found an interesting article that discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, also known as Onychophagia, is a common habit among various age groups, including primarily children, teens and young adults. Nail biting is generally triggered by stress and most often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, as well as unhealthy for your teeth!

Here’s why:

It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.
No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.
Braces don’t love it either. Braces already put pressure on teeth, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure, further stressing your teeth and weakening their roots.
It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it?

Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation. Ask Dr. Rooney or visit the article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!

Your friends at Dr. Sean M. Rooney Orthodontics

American Association of Orthodontists World Federation of Orthodontists American Board of Orthodontists American Dental Association American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Academy of Sports Dentistry Invisalign Invisalign ClearCorrect Straight 2 You