Orthodontic Blog from Saracino Orthodontics in St. Louis

Invisalign Teen is a series of removable clear aligners designed for adolescents. Teens wear them 20 to 22 hours a day, and small blue compliance indicators fade with wear so parents can see progress. It works best for mild to moderate crowding, spacing, and bite issues, and only if your teen will wear them consistently. Your fifteen-year-old comes home and announces, "I want Invisalign." A friend has them. The pictures online look great. And you're wondering whether this is

A palate expander is an orthodontic appliance that gently widens the upper jaw in a growing child. It's used in early (Phase 1) treatment to correct crossbites and crowding, make room for adult teeth, and guide healthy jaw development, usually while a child is between about 7 and 10. Your seven-year-old sat through their first orthodontic visit, and the word came up: expander. Now you're picturing something huge and uncomfortable, and you're wondering whether this is necessar

A pediatric dentist cares for your child's overall oral health, like cleanings, cavities, and prevention. An orthodontist is a specialist in how teeth and jaws line up. Most kids need both, and the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check-up by age 7, even if the teeth look fine. Your child's dentist mentions "keeping an eye on the bite." A friend says her daughter had an orthodontic evaluation at seven. Now you're wondering whether your own

A Hawley retainer is a durable, adjustable acrylic retainer with a metal wire across the front teeth. An Essix retainer is a thin, clear plastic tray. A permanent retainer is a thin wire bonded behind your teeth. The right one depends on your bite, your habits, and how reliably you'll wear it. Your braces come off. You're thrilled. Then someone hands you a retainer and explains how often to wear it, and suddenly there's a choice you didn't know you had. Hawley, Essix, permane

Saracino Orthodontics recommends contacting your orthodontist as soon as possible after realizing your retainer is missing. Waiting even a few days can let teeth begin shifting, especially soon after treatment, so a temporary plan and a prompt call matter more than waiting until you're back home. A lost retainer while traveling is more common than most patients expect. Between hotel rooms, restaurant napkins, and gym bags, a retainer case is easy to misplace and easy to forge

Saracino Orthodontics recommends calling your orthodontist within 24 hours if a fixed retainer wire feels loose or sharp. A loose bonded wire is not something to wait out, since the retainer can shift, irritate soft tissue, or stop holding your teeth in place the way it should. A permanent retainer is meant to sit quietly behind your teeth for years without you noticing it. Saracino Orthodontics hears from patients in exactly this situation, and knowing what's normal versus w