Get to know your BRACES

If you ever sustain damage to your braces and you need to call Whitlock 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!

Straight Teeth and your Oral Hygiene

Some people wonder why Springdale orthodontist Dr. Boyd Whitlock and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Whitlock Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Whitlock can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Celebrities get braces, too!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? During this time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Dr. Whitlock.

In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces with braces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give Whitlock Orthodontists a call.

Carmel, Chocolate, and Candy Canes Oh My! Keep your BRACES Sparklin' Clean this Holiday Season.

Whitlock Orthodontics knows how difficult it can be, especially this time of year, to keep your Braces clean. But do keep in mind that keeping your teeth clean is MORE important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these tips:

One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

Hope this helps!

Dr. Whitlock and Team

Share your experience at Whitlock Orthodontics with the world!

At Whitlock Orthodontics, our No. 1 goal is to provide the highest quality orthodontic care in a family-based, high-technology environment.

Whether you have visited our convenient Springdale office for weeks, months or years, we’d love to hear your feedback about your experience at our office! With the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us on our Google Local page - it only takes a moment!

You may write your review here.

Thank you in advance, and enjoy the rest of the week!

Vote for Dr. Boyd Whitlock as the best Orthodontist in Northwest Arkansas!

Our staff at Whitlock Orthodontics would love for all of our patients and friends to vote for Dr. Boyd Whitlock as the best orthodontist in Northwest Arkansas. We are up against 15 other offices and would LOVE, LOVE your help!

One vote per e-mail address, please. Ballots will be accepted through September 30th. The results will be announced in the December Issue of CitiScapes Magazine.

Thanks in advance, and have a WONDERFUL Labor Day weekend!!

Ask Dr. Whitlock: Who benefits from iBraces™?

Dr. Boyd Whitlock and Whitlock Orthodontics, serving Springdale and northwest Arkansas, is pleased to offer our patients iBraces. Our team is always receiving questions about iBraces, which are placed behind your teeth so no one will know that you are wearing braces unless you tell them. These unique braces are created using state-of-the-art technology and are 100 percent customized to the shape of your teeth and to your dental situation

These unique type of braces is created using state-of-the-art technology and is entirely customized to the shape of your teeth. So, you can be improving your smile efficiently and effectively in a discreet new way. For more information on iBraces and treatment options at our office, please give us a call at (479) 751-1103 to schedule your consultation!

Whitlock orthodontics, helping kids in need of school supplies

Our staff at Whitlock Orthodontics wants to help give back to those who are less fortunate this upcoming school year, and are asking that you help us stuff our Hummer with school supplies. All of the donated school supplies will go to the United Way, who will distribute them in Springdale and around the area in Northwestern Arkansas to those kids in need. Every little bit helps.

This afternoon, we will be at the Walmart on 6th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, helping the United Way stuff the bus with school supplies. If you find yourself in the area please stop by and give a donation or just come and see us!

Also, we encourage you stop by our office with your donated school supplies all summer long! Happy Friday!

Dr. Whitlock and team want to know: What should we blog about this summer?

As summer rapidly approaches, our team at Whitlock Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to orthodontics and your treatment at our office - and are busy planning ahead our blogging schedule for the remainder of summer.

To help us continue doing that through the course of the long, hot summer, however, we'd love your input: What would you like us to focus on our blog in the coming months? What would you like to know about the always-changing and exciting field of orthodontics? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Boyd Whitlock for a while and haven't found the right moment? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook page!

We hope you have a great weekend!

Patriotic fun facts with Whitlock Orthodontics!

On Sunday, our staff at Whitlock Orthodontics will be celebrating our America's 234th birthday. And because we know our patients love fun facts, we thought we'd provide you with some fun facts about Independence Day! Have a great Fourth of July weekend everyone!!

- Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

- An estimated 2.5 million people lived in America in July 1776. Today, an estimated 309 million people reside in the United States.

- The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation, which meant that people didn't want to be taxed by a government that did not represent them.

- In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

- The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal.

- America's mascot, the bald eagle, can achieve speeds of up to 200 miles per hour when making a predatory dive. During a normal flight, bald eagles can travel up to 30 miles per hour.

- The American flag patch is backwards on U.S. Army uniforms. The reason? The blue field on the flag (the part with the stars) faces forward to symbolize carrying the American flag into battle.

- Someone who specializes in the history of flags is called a vexillologist.

- The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’

- According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans consume over 150 million hot dogs during their Independence Day festivities.

- Speaking of food, there's a 1-in-6 chance the beef on your backyard grill came from Texas. The Lone Star State is America's leader in the production of cattle and calves.

What are our patients saying about Whitlock Orthodontics?

Whitlock Orthodontics, serving Springdale and surrounding communities here in northwestern Arkansas, are always glad to hear from current and former patients of ours. Check out what some of our patients have said about our office and service!

"I was cared for with such dignity and care. Coming into the process at age 40+, I was less than enthusiastic. However, Dr. Whitlock and his capable staff continually cheered me on with enthusiasm. They are truly professionals that believe in the difference that is made with the art and science of smile creation. I’ll be continuing this relationship with Whitlock Orthodontics as I bring my children in." ~ Susan N.

"I absolutely had a wonderful experience here at Whitlock Orthodontics! I always felt comfortable and welcome in their office. Great doctor and great staff, I will recommend this office to anyone needing treatment! Thanks for everything you guys, my teeth look great!" ~ Kim B.

"Dr. Whitlock is the best! You can’t get any better than this! The employees rock and are so awesome to be around. I’m so satisfied with the outcome of my smile, that I’ll be showing it off to everyone I know, and even those I don’t!" ~ Kevin B.

"You are never too old for a Whitlock makeover. The process is smooth and the results are great." ~ Judith V.

Dr. Boyd Whitlock, encouraging you to read this summer!

Last week, Dr. Boyd Whitlock and team asked you, our fantastic patients, about your summer plans.

With summer only weeks away, some of us at northwestern Arkansas' Whitlock Orthodontics have been thinking increasingly about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easier to go play ball or kick back and watch television, but reading during the summer is a vital step in being prepared for classes in the fall and maintaining your skill level.

Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff (as well as Dr. Whitlock) would be happy to provide a few titles. You may also ask a local librarian here in Springdale for some ideas or check out various summer reading lists that we came across this week.

Happy reading everyone!

Whitlock Orthodontics, wishing you a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend

At Whitlock Orthodontics, we know Memorial Day weekend is a time Americans remember all those who bravely fought and gave their lives for our country. It’s also the unofficial start of summer 2010, and for many kids, getting out of town for three days with parents after being cooped up in school is sweet, sweet relief.

What about you?

What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? What will you be doing on your day off from school or work? Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or hitting the great American roads with family, we’d like to hear all about it! Enjoy the long weekend if we don't have you in for a visit this week!

SureSmile at work on CNN this week! From Dr. Whitlock

Our team at Whitlock Orthodontics have blogged about SureSmile treatment in the past, and today wanted to share with a clip of SureSmile being discussed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN this week!

In the video, Dr. Gupta profiles Jessica Thompson, a teen from Maryland who wasn't really all that tickled about getting regular, traditional braces - Jessica chose SureSmile as a method of straightening her teeth.

But guess what? Jessica's not alone - more and more people are choosing SureSmile as their treatment option, including patients at our office.

With SureSmile treatment at Whitlock Orthodontics in Springdale, getting braces sure isn’t what it used to be. Dr. Whitlock's patients see fantastic results and need fewer office visits with this remarkable technology. They also experience less discomfort and ultimately achieve greater results.

To learn more about SureSmile treatment at Whitlock Orthodontics, we invite you to give us a call at (479) 751-1103.

Share your experience at Whitlock Orthodontics with the world!

At Whitlock Orthodontics, our No. 1 goal is to provide the highest quality orthodontic care in a family-based, high-technology practice. Combining the right mix of personal care, high technology and continuing education, we maintain a commitment to our patients in every facet of our practice.

Whether you have visited Whitlock Orthodontics for a week or for years, we’d love to hear your feedback about your experience with Dr. Whitlock! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment!

You may write your review here.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your week!