Ask Dr. Benson: Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Dr. Benson will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how orthodontics will transform your smile, as well as your life!

A braces-friendly fall recipe, from Benson Orthodontics

Dr. Benson and our team know how tempting Halloween can be for your sweet tooth. With all of the hard, sticky, crunchy, and chewy candy that is often passed around to trick-or-treaters, we realize that it can sometimes be difficult to find orthodontic-friendly options.

However, there is good news! Today, we would like to share a great braces-friendly Halloween recipe with all of our patients, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO. This Spooktacular Pumpkin Cake is delicious, and provided that you remember to brush and floss after indulging, this treat will not cause damage to your beautiful smile.

Spooktacular Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg. yellow or white cake mix
½ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
¼ cup water (add 2 tbl. of water if eggs are small)

Directions:

Put cake mix in a large bowl. Make an indentation in the center and pour in the oil and one egg. Mix using mixer, then add the rest of the eggs one at a time, beating after each one.

Add pumpkin, sugar, spices, and then water.

Bake in greased and floured tube pan in 350 degree oven for 60-70 minutes (depending on oven calibration). Cool before removing from pan.

Benson Orthodontics supports National Orthodontic Health Month

Can you believe October is already upon us? October happens to be National Orthodontic Health Month, and this month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

If you happen to damage your braces, please give Dr. Benson and our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into our office.

Dr. Benson recognized at the Invisalign Ortho Summit

Every two years, orthodontists from all around the world, come to Las Vegas, Nevada for the International Invisalign Ortho Summit, which is hosted by Align Technology. The conference is a time for the doctors to catch up with colleagues and to discuss the latest improvments and techniques associated with Invisalign.

The highlight of the three day meeting is when the most skilled and experienced doctors present difficult cases that were successfully treated with Invisalign. This year, Dr. Benson's case was chosen as one of the 11 Invisalign cases to be presented at the conference. The team at Benson Orthodontics feels fortunate to work beside such a talented orthodontist. Congratulations to Dr. Benson!

For more information on Benson Orthodontics, or Invisalign treatment options in the Middle Tennessee area, don't hesitate to give us a call!