Introducing Opal Seal

Perelmuter and Goldberg Orthodontics is always looking for new ways to help protect our patients smiles. We are proud to announce the use of 

a revolutionary new orthodontic primer Opal Seal enhances bond strength and improves your overall enamel health.​

​People with braces have more bacteria on their teeth than people without braces. Even with regular brushing and flossing, braces make it difficult to keep your teeth clean.

​That's where Opal Seal comes in.

​A revolutionary new orthodontic primer, it does the double duty of keeping your brackets securely in place and improving your enamel health.

How does it work?

​​Before putting a bracket on, your orthodontist will apply a thin layer of Opal Seal to the entire surface of your tooth. It will keep the bracket in place and contribute to your enamel health in two important ways . . .  

• Just as its name implies, Opal Seal acts as a "seal," or barrier between your enamel and plaque by completely covering the tooth surface.         
• Opal Seal provides fluoride to your teeth. Fluoride is an essential mineral for preserving healthy enamel, which is why it's in many water sources and almost all toothpastes.

An example of healthy enamel after orthodontic treatment with Opal Seal.

An example of decalcification resulting from improper oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment.

What is Decalcification?

When acid from plaque and bacteria sits on the teeth long enough, it begins leeching calcium from the enamel. The result is decalcification, or ugly white spots on your teeth.

Just another way that Perelmuter & Goldberg Orthodontics pave the way in patient care.

Two Phase Treatment

What is the advantage of two-phase orthodontic treatment?

Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a specialized process combining tooth straightening and physical, facial changes. The purpose of two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, esthetic result that will remain stable throughout your life.

What if I put off treatment?

Putting off treatment can result in a need for more invasive treatment later in life that may not completely fix your smile. Early treatment is most effective for achieving lasting results.

Phase — One

Your foundation for a lifetime of beautiful smiles
The goal of phase one treatment is to help the jaw develop in a way that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and to improve the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. An upper that is growing too much or is too narrow can be recognized at an early age. If children, over the age of six, are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are candidates for early orthodontic treatment. Also, if children around the age of 8 have crowded front teeth, early treatment can avoid the need to extract permanent teeth later.

• Planning now can save your smile later Children benefit tremendously from early phase treatment. Receiving early treatment may prevent the removal of permanent teeth later in life, or the need for surgical procedures to realign the jaws.
• Making records to determine your unique treatment Orthodontic records will be necessary to determine the type of appliances to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. Records consist of models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs. During your child's initial consultation, your doctor will take records to determine if early treatment is necessary.

Resting Period

In this phase, the remaining permanent teeth are left alone as they erupt. Retaining devices may not be recommended if they would interfere with eruption. It is best to allow the existing permanent teeth some freedom of movement. A successful first phase will have created room for permanent teeth to find an eruption path; otherwise, they may become impacted or severely displaced.

• Monitoring your teeth's progress At the end of the first phase of treatment, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be determined and accomplished in the second phase of treatment. Selective removal of certain primary (baby) teeth may be in the best interest of enhancing eruption during this resting phase. Therefore, periodic recall appointments for observation are necessary, usually on a six-month basis.

Phase — Two

Stay healthy and look attractive
The goal of the second phase is to make sure each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth. When this equilibrium is established, the teeth will function together properly. Phase two usually involves full upper and lower braces.
At the beginning of the first phase, orthodontic records were made and a diagnosis and treatment plan established. Certain types of appliances were used in the first phase, to correct and realign the teeth and jaw. The second phase begins when all permanent teeth have erupted, and usually requires braces on all the teeth for an average of 24 months. Retainers are worn after this phase to ensure you retain your beautiful smile.

Orthodontics for Children

While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age seven.
By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.

Early treatment allows your orthodontist to:

• Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
• Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
• Create more space for crowded teeth
• Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
• Correct thumb-sucking and help improve minor speech problems

For parents, it's not always easy to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment.

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist:

• Early/late loss of baby teeth
• If your child has a hard time chewing or biting food
• Mouth breathing
• Finger or thumb sucking
• Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
• Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
• Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
• Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
• Crowded front teeth around age 7 or 8

Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment now will give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.

Retainer Instructions

• Wear your retainers every night @ bedtime unless the Doctor instructs you differently.
• 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 toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of brushing.
• When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to them faster.
• Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
• Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
• Retainer replacement is expensive; with proper care they will last for years!
• Remove retainers when swimming.
• Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.
• If you lose or damage your retainer please call our office for an appointment immediately.

Eating for orthodontic success with Perelmuter & Goldberg Orthodontics

There are a variety of foods that Dr's Perelmuter and Goldberg want you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.
Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include:
• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Also, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.
If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give our office a call or ask our staff during your next visit.

Strawberries & Cream Slush Drink, a braces-friendly summer smoothie!

You have braces, and you’re probably wondering what to eat. You can’t have gum, popcorn or other delicious but braces-unfriendly foods. But fear not! Perelmuter & Goldberg Orthodontics has a delicious summer smoothie recipe that is perfect for those warm, sunny afternoons. Enjoy!
Ingredients
• 2 ½ cups (about 1 pound) strawberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 ½ cups crushed ice
• 1 ½ cups club soda
• 3 Tablespoons vanilla syrup (sold as a coffee flavoring)
• ½ cup sugar or more, to taste
• 1 can whipped cream
Directions
Wash and drain strawberries. Remove stems and slice. Put lime juice in blender, and then add batches of strawberries, about a half-cup at a time, blending until liquefied. Strain

Thanks to Invisalign, Mom and Dad can have a great smile, too!

Thanks to Invisalign, Mom and Dad can have a great smile, too!

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff at Perelmuter & Goldberg Orthodontics can help! 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!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.