Ask Benson Orthodontics: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Sometimes, parents falsely assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Benson and Benson Orthodontics, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started sooner. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Benson to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what Dr. Benson calls “bad bite.” Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at Benson Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

At Benson Orthodontics, access to your account any day, any time

At Benson Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern offices conveniently located in Mt. Juliet and Lebanon.

Did you know that Dr. Benson's patients have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Just see what some of our patients are saying about this service!

"My daughter makes her own appointments because she's 18 now. She forgets to tell me when her next appointment is. Not only can I go in and look for myself, I get a reminder email letting me know she has an appointment coming up. That's great!" ~ Angela C.

"Looking at the x-rays and being able to zoom in and out." ~ Angela W.

"I like that I can view upcoming appointments and receive e-mails reminding me." ~ Valarie T.

"I was able to view my daughter's photos online and compare her 1st and last visits." ~ Bree W.

"It's nice that you can view your appointments as well as the balance on your account." ~ Martha F.

You may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call our professional team at Benson Orthodontics if you have any questions!

Helpful Invisalign® tips from Benson Orthodontics

Last week, the professional staff at Benson Orthodontics shared with you, our fantastic patients, the ways in which you may benefit from Invisalign treatment with Dr. Benson. Today, we thought we'd share a few helpful Invisalign tips. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Benson wants you to ask yourself the following three questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Benson Orthodontics, please go ahead and give us a call!

Ask Dr. Benson: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, one of the first things Dr. Benson and our team do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, Dr. Benson looks at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next Dr. Benson uses special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Benson is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment at Benson Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call.

Ask Dr. Benson: Why is it so important to have straight teeth?

Some people wonder why Dr. Benson works so hard to give his 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 also 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 to set up a consultation. Dr. Benson can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment at Benson Orthodontics.

What are patients saying about Benson Orthodontics?

Last week, our team at Benson Orthodontics asked you, our great patients, to tell us what you like most about our office. Well, we received some pretty great responses, and thought we'd share a few with you today! If you have any reviews you'd like to share, please feel free to post them here, or by giving us a call!

"I respect Dr. Benson for his conservative approach to patient care. He has kept us informed of my daughter's progress toward braces over the past 3 years and did not insist on orthodontics until she was ready. I always leave with a clear plan in mind and I don't feel taken advantage of. His open communication and great staff make it a pleasure to come and I feel I can trust their skills with my child!" ~ Susan W.

"Friendly staff, nice office and environment and got my son's braces on the same appointment as the initial consultation - - unbelievable and exceptional patient care!" ~ Cynthia K.

"We love that the parents are made to feel as comfortable as the child. We also love the video games and the fun atmosphere and personality of the staff." ~ Lynn R.

"He explains things where I am able to understand what is going on with my teeth. He is able to answer questions that I have pertaining to my braces. He is very nice and concerned with my treatments." ~ Beverly S.

"Dr. Benson made my daughter very comfortable with the process and that was very important to me as a mother. She wasn't scared at all!" ~ Kelly G.

"The friendly staff. They are very helpful whenever we have a need. Dr. Benson is GREAT. He is very informative in explaining things." ~ Ricky F.

What do you love about Benson Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to Benson Orthodontics, Dr. Benson and his team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Benson? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Do you love your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback on our networks. Or, you can tell us by giving us a call!

Happy Wednesday!