Grayslake Orthodontics Blog

Perhaps you didn’t get the chance to have braces when you were a teen, or maybe your teeth have relapsed to where they were years ago before treatment. In any case, you want to straighten your smile now for good. When you meet with your general dentist, they may refer you to an orthodontist for treatment. At first, you may be a little confused; why can’t your general dentist take care of this transformation? Is working with an orthodontic specialist really advisable? The short answer is, yes! In this post, you’ll learn why working with this specialist is important and the qualifications of an orthodontic expert that enable them to give you the perfect smile.

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Sports provide great exercise, and they are a lot of fun. One downside is that there is a risk of injury. When a person is wearing braces there is an elevated risk of injury to the lips, cheeks, tongue and even the appliances themselves. How can you keep both your braces and your oral tissues safe while you are on the court, playing field or mat? Use this guidance on how to protect your braces while playing sports:

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Does your child still have their baby teeth? Does it appear that they may already be dealing with issues that warrant orthodontic treatment? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, it may be time to ask, “Is my child a candidate for Phase 1 Orthodontics?” The only way to find out is to schedule a consultation with their orthodontist. But before you arrive for your visit, we encourage you to read the following article so that you better understand what criteria are necessary for your child to need Phase 1 orthodontic treatment.

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The decision to get braces to straighten your teeth is an involved one. You want to understand as much of the process as possible prior to committing. You are likely wondering how long braces will be required for your case. As your orthodontist in Grayslake explains, some factors affecting required orthodontic time are under your control, but not all of them. Keep reading to learn more.

Preparing for braces can be a fun and exciting experience. It can also leave you feeling a bit uncertain about what to expect. Your teeth need to move, and you understand how it’s going to happen, but what about living life with these new appliances? What is necessary to know to ensure they don’t break? How can you manage any discomfort they might cause? A local orthodontist is here to share a few tips to make getting through your first week with braces much easier.

One of the biggest perks of Invisalign is that you can remove the aligners. That means you can take them out whenever you’d like, right? Not exactly. To stay on track with your treatment timeline, it’s of the utmost importance that you wear your trays as much as possible – about 22 hours a day. If this feels near impossible for you, then keep reading for a quick guide on how to meet your Invisalign wear time.

You’ve just started your journey to a straight smile with braces, and you’re excited to achieve your goals. Perhaps you think that your only concern now is realigning your teeth. Everything else doesn’t really matter as much as the alignment of your smile. However, if you don’t keep up with normal maintenance, you may not have teeth to straighten!

Keep reading to learn why and how you should adjust your habits to keep your braces and teeth healthy and beautiful.

You have probably seen plenty of Facebook, Hulu and TV ads trying to sell you mail-order clear aligners. These ads try to appeal to you by being a more convenient and perhaps cheaper option.  But before you commit to anything, you should consider the full story. After you learn about the risks of mail-order aligners, you may decide that Invisalign, Suresmile or another orthodontist-provided treatment is the best way to go.

Since Grayslake Orthodontics opened nearly 20 years ago, patient referrals have been an incredible source of pride for us. In 2022, the honor of a referral is even more powerful. We know that behind each referral is a relationship built on trust established through thoughtful, meticulous treatment planning and unparalleled care.  

Check here to see all the latest we have going on at Grayslake Orthodontics!

AAO Winter Conference 2023!

Dr. Ben was recently at the American Association of Orthodontists Winter Conference in Las Vegas, NV. He learned some great tools and techniques to take back to the office and was a moderator for one of the afternoon sessions. ​​​​​​​​​

Did you know that Dr. Ben wrestled through college and was a two-time NCAA D3 All-American? He also volunteers as a coach with the Libertyville Kids Wrestling Club. An action shot from a recent scrimmage! ​​​​​​​​​