Now Mom and Dad Can Have Perfect Too from Birth Stewart Orthodontics

Focusing on your kids' teeth so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, let Birth Stewart Orthodontics know! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Time and expense

Your teeth are unique, and the cost of Invisalign varies according to the complexity of your treatment plan. The time involved in treatment varies as well, and with new Invisalign Express, designed specifically for common problems like minor crowding and spacing, you could have your new perfect smile in less than six months!

Thinking ahead

If your health care plan covers orthodontics, it most likely covers Invisalign treatment to the same extent as conventional braces. Check your benefits, then give us a call at Birth Stewart Orthodontics to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Gummy Tummy -- Birth Stewart Orthodontics

We know the rumors going around – mostly among young people – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing from Birth Stewart Orthodontics!

Smoke Screen with Dr. Sheila Birth

Everybody knows that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you also know that smokers and tobacco are susceptible to a variety of oral health problems at a faster rate than non-smokers?

It’s true! Smoking is responsible for almost 75% of gum disease in adults; and, similar to smokers, adults who smoke pipes and cigars, as well as those using smokeless tobacco, are just as susceptible to gum disease and other tobacco related health problems.

As soon as you use tobacco products, you become more likely to experience any of these oral-health problems:

• Oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Loss of bone in the jaw
• Gum recession
• Delayed/impaired healing process after oral surgery or any other treatment
• Decreased success rate of dental implant (tooth replacement) procedures
• Mouth sores
• Loss of your sense of taste and smell
• Bad breath
• Tooth and tongue stains

If you are interested in protecting your oral health we strongly recommend you quit using tobacco products! The following steps are recommended by the Surgeon General to help you quit smoking and using tobacco:

• Get ready – set a quitting date and remove all materials from your home, car and office
• Get support
• Learn new skills and behaviors
• Get medication and use it correctly
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations

For support, start with Birth and Stewart Orthodontics! We can help by recommending different options to help you quit, and above all we will support you throughout the quitting process. We are dedicated to helping you protect your oral health – and quitting smoking is significant step in the right direction.

Invisalign Frequently Asked Questions

Is Invisalign right for you? Dr. Sheila Birth answers common questions about treatment with Invisalign:

What is the minimum age of a patient that a doctor can treat with Invisalign?

Invisalign can be used to treat a vast majority of patients with fully-erupted molars. This commonly occurs between the ages of twelve and fourteen.

I am currently wearing braces – can I make the switch to Invisalign?

Some patients can be treated with a combination of braces and Invisalign. Talk with us about your interest in Invisalign and we can determine the best treatment for you.

Does the procedure work on overbites (overjets)?

An experienced doctor can use Invisalign to treat the vast majority of adults and adolescents.

Are crowns a factor in Invisalign treatment?

No, crowns are usually not a factor in Invisalign treatment. However, sometimes small composites called "attachments" are bonded onto teeth to help achieve certain movements. In these cases, we must carefully evaluate the location of crowns. Contact us to find out if crowns will adversely impact your orthodontic treatment.

Will TMJ affect Invisalign treatment?

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular (jaw) joint. Individuals can have a number of problems with the jaw joint, some of which can be aggravated by appliances and treatments like Invisalign. Get in touch with us to find out if your TMJ problem will adversely impact dental treatment.

Can Invisalign close gaps?

Yes. Spaces between teeth are generally easy to close with Invisalign.

Are bridges a factor in Invisalign treatment?

Because bridges firmly link two or more teeth together, they can offer significant resistance to tooth movement. We will be able to determine whether bridges will be a factor in your treatment.

Give us a call today at Birth Stewart Orthodontics to come in for a consultation and see if Invisalign is right for you.

It's Never Too Late for the Perfect Smile! -- Birth and Stewart Orthodontics

They turn you away at the kiddy roller coasters once you've surpassed the three-foot height limit. You have to leave school and start punching the career clock at some point. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy other privileges we usually associate with youth: nobody's stopping you from drawing a chalk dinosaur on the sidewalk - and we at Birth and Stewart Orthodontics want you to know it's never too late to straighten your teeth!

Many people think that if they didn't have braces in junior high, they've missed the only chance to straighten their teeth. But more and more, we see a strong trend in orthodontics: adults who realize the time is still ripe.

Chicago resident Sally Borla, retired and in her 50s, didn't dream she'd ever wear braces. After treatment, she couldn't imagine why she hadn't started earlier. "I'd always related braces to young people, but I guess I'm living proof that it doesn't matter how old a person is," Borla said. "When I look in the mirror, I can hardly believe that the smile looking back at me is mine."

And because orthodontics closes up spaces between teeth or eliminates crowding, patients have found it's easier to keep them clean. Michael Smith of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, said he noticed fewer problems with tartar buildup since braces had realigned his teeth and jaws when he was in his late 20s. "I do believe my teeth will last a lot longer," said Smith, now in his 30s.

Maria Castro of Brandon, Florida, was 91 ("and a half," she'd add) when her braces came off. Castro said her smile was a source of pride until one of her teeth began to slip behind its neighbors when she was in her late 80s. When her family dentist told her that her teeth, gums and supporting bone were in good shape – and her son, an oral surgeon, concurred – she said, "Why not?"

Why not, indeed? One out of every five people in orthodontic treatment is over the age of eighteen. So if your teeth aren't as straight as you'd like, and you find yourself jealously eyeing your pre-teen's braces, give us a call at Drs. Sheila Birth and Charles Stewart's office. And remember there's no age limit on the perfect smile.