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Happy October from Chan & Chen Orthodontics! We love an opportunity to get festive and the start of the fall season is no exception.

There is a lot going on in the month of October. First of all, it’s National Orthodontic Health Month! We are embracing the power of healthy smiles and how orthodontic treatment can help you perfect your smile at any age. A beautiful smile is one of your best assets, boosting your self-esteem and giving you the confidence to present yourself in any environment. Orthodontic treatment helps to align both the teeth and the jaws, creating a healthy balance of esthetics and function. With many advances in technology, today we have more choices than ever to achieve a healthy smile.

October also means Halloween! Halloween may be rather different this year, but when it comes to indulging in sweet treats, Dr. Kathleen & Dr. Ivy recommend avoiding hard or chewy candy for those with braces or appliances. Usually chocolate is an acceptable treat since it can melt in your mouth. With Invisalign, there are no food restrictions so you can enjoy what you like. Whether you have braces or Invisalign, be sure to brush and floss your teeth after eating treats!

In our office, we diligently continue with our usual protocols as outlined on our website under the coronavirus tab. Our usual highest standards of infection control have been further enhanced with several medical-grade air purifiers and an upgraded HVAC system. We are totally obsessed with clean air and keeping everyone safe and healthy!
The 8th annual Andover Coalition for Education Scarecrow Festival is on from October 17-31st in downtown Andover. Come check out our scarecrow at the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets. This year we are paying tribute to the frontline heroes battling the pandemic. Our hearts and gratitude go out to our frontline workers.

We are currently holding a pumpkin decorating contest. You can decorate your pumpkin at home and send a photo to us at info@ccorthodontics.com. We will post the photos @chanchenortho on Facebook and Instagram, and have a vote for the prize-winning pumpkin. We look forward to seeing how creative everyone can be!

We hope everyone has a wonderful start to Fall and a safe Halloween.

How long? Well, a beautiful smile is both science and art—proper teeth and jaw alignment united with aesthetically pleasing results. Orthodontists achieve both these outcomes with a careful analysis of any dental and facial problems, a treatment plan designed specifically for each patient’s needs, and adjustments through each phase of treatment to carefully bring about that beautiful smile.

And that’s a long way of saying, there’s no one, standard answer as to how long a patient will wear braces because there is no one, standard patient. Often, treatment takes from 18 to 24 months, but it can be months shorter or months longer depending on a variety of different circumstances.

• Different Needs

Your orthodontic needs and goals will generally determine your treatment time. Some patients need only a bit of alignment, which can lead to a fairly short orthodontic experience. Some have malocclusions such as crossbites and open bites that require more complex and lengthy treatment.

And, while we used to think of orthodontics as a teenage rite of passage, that’s certainly no longer the case. Some children will need two-phase orthodontic treatment, where early procedures before the adult teeth even come in ease the way for any necessary second stage treatment when the permanent teeth arrive years later. And some adults will want orthodontic work later in life, where denser bone tissue might lead to (somewhat) longer treatment.

• Different Appliances

Today’s orthodontics offers you many choices in appliances. Lingual braces are an almost invisible option, with brackets and wires on the inside of the teeth. Aligners use clear, custom molded trays to move the teeth into a better position with each new tray. Even traditional braces are smaller and sleeker today, with metal or less visible ceramic brackets. Depending on the orthodontic goals you want to achieve, there might be a small difference in the amount of time each appliance will take to get you to those goals. Talk to us about all your options and what they mean for treatment time.

• Different Levels of Participation in the Process

This is one area you can make a real difference! If you follow our instructions for using your appliances most effectively, you’ll make progress as quickly as possible. If you have aligner trays, be sure to wear them for as long as directed each day. If you have rubber bands attached to brackets on your upper and lower teeth, wear them for as many hours as required, because these little bands are actually the tools that are moving your teeth into alignment. If you don’t wear your braces or aligners as directed, not much is going to happen, and certainly not on schedule.

Give our Andover office a call, and we can discuss your goals for creating your very best smile. Once we’ve decided on a treatment plan, Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen can give you a fairly good estimate as to how long your particular treatment will take. And, when you get to share that beautiful, healthy smile, the time you’ve spent achieving it will be well worth it!

The number one goal of orthodontic treatment is to give you or your child a beautiful, healthy smile that will last a lifetime. One of the first things people notice about others is their smiles so take the first step towards getting the smile you’ve always wanted and make your initial consultation at Chan & Chen Orthodontics

A good bite not only makes it easier to eat and speak, but will enhance your dental and overall health as well. Straight teeth aren’t just pretty, they’re healthy as well. Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to clean reducing the risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. 

Let your smile express yourself! Give us a call at our convenient Andover office to schedule your consultation today!

Are you an adult who is considering getting braces? Perhaps you’ve had them before, but over the years that dental work has been reversed. Or maybe you’ve never had any orthodontic work done, but are considering braces for the first time. In either case, Chan & Chen Orthodontics can help you enjoy straighter teeth, an improved bite, and a more beautiful smile. If you are considering getting braces, here is what you need to know about adult orthodontic work from Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen.

Can braces work for adults?

Absolutely! Braces work for just about anyone. However, there are several different types of braces, and not all of them may work for you. Different types of orthodontic treatments include:

• Ceramic braces
• Metal braces
• Self-ligating brackets
• Lingual brackets (braces behind the teeth)
• Invisible braces
• Rubber bands for bite correction
• Headgear and other appliances

By scheduling a consultation, we can determine which treatment or combination of treatments would be best for your specific needs.

How do I get started?

Getting braces can be a little bit daunting. At first glance, the process may appear expensive and time-consuming. However, if you take it step by step, getting braces can be a simple and relatively pain-free experience. Here are the first steps you need to take to get on the road to straight teeth:

First, you need information. If you are nervous about getting braces, or are having trouble getting started, learning more about the process can help ease your mind. Here are a few sample questions to ask:

• What kind of braces do you recommend for my teeth?
• How long will the treatment take?
• How often will I need to come in for adjustments?
• What is the total cost of the treatment? Do you accept insurance? Will you require the full amount up front, or do you have payment plans?

Asking these types of questions will help you understand what to expect during the entire process, which can aid your decision on the proper course of action.

The next step is to complete any prerequisite treatment. During your first meeting with Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen, we’ll need to take some X-rays and molds of your teeth, and then help you determine an appropriate treatment plan. Recommendations may include some preliminary dental work before you get your braces, which can be an important step in making sure your orthodontic treatments are effective.

Once you have completed these steps, you are ready to get started! After you’ve chosen a treatment plan and undergone any necessary prerequisite dental work, you’ll be able to get your braces. Just like that, you’re on your way to a better smile! If you’d like to get started right away, call our Andover location today!