The importance of retainers, from Dr. Whitlock

If you recently completed treatment at Whitlock Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Whitlock will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers 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. Whitlock is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

Why Is It So Important to Have Straight Teeth? - Whitlock Orthodontics

Some people wonder why we work so hard 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 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, give us a call at (479) 751-1103 to set up a consultation. Dr. Whitlock can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

New Equipment Means More Treatment Options - Springdale Orthodontist Dr. Boyd Whitlock

At Whitlock Orthodontics we pride ourselves in our ability to provide the most advanced orthodontic care in a high-tech, modern environment. Recently we introduced a new program into our office, and would like to showcase our newest advanced piece of equipment: the i-Cat!

The i-Cat is a three dimensional imaging device, and is the leading dental imaging device with Cone Beam 3-D technology. With the i-Cat we are able to more accurately view the position of our patient’s teeth. This tool will also help assist us in improving the diagnosis and treatment planning of our patients, with multiple projections.

For our patients this means we can provide better accuracy, much less invasive surgery if needed, and use better, more accurate blueprints to reposition the teeth. If you have any questions about any of the services we provide, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (479) 751-1103.