Orthodontic fun facts with Benson Orthodontics

Everyone loves fun facts. They're just so fun! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Benson Orthodontics thought you would enjoy!

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79). The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.
• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Have a great week everyone!
-Your friends at Benson Orthodontics

Share your Independence Day weekend plans with Benson Orthodontics!

Exactly one week from today, Dr. Bartley Benson and our staff at Benson Orthodontics will celebrate America's 234th birthday. For most people, Independence Day is a time to celebrate, as well as commemorate, the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. It's also a time for most Americans to pay homage to all our soldiers, past, present and future - who lost their lives in battle - and soldiers who continue to place themselves in danger every day so that Americans everywhere may celebrate our freedom.

Today, we thought we'd ask: what are your Fourth of July weekend plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? Hitting the great American open road with family?

If you're planning on using fireworks, we want you to be extra careful! Dr. Benson and team also want you to exercise caution if you'll be out swimming. Finally, you should remember to wear sunscreen: wearing SPF 15 helps, but you should reapply it every couple of hours, especially after swimming or sweating in the sun.

Whatever you end up doing over Independence Day weekend, our entire staff hope you have a great week and a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend! We encourage you to give us a call for more summer safety tips.

Patient testimonial: Invisalign Treatment at Benson Orthodontics [video]

Kathy, one of our amazing patients at Benson Orthodontics, recently gave us a short testimonial about how even as an adult, she was able to benefit from orthodontic treatment with Invisalign. In fact, during Kathy's 14-month treatment, only two people noticed she was wearing the clear aligners! Is Invisalign treatment right for you? You can learn more about Invisalign on our website, or by giving us a call at either of our convenient locations in Mt. Juliet or Lebanon!

Ask Dr. Benson: what's the deal with retainers?

Have you recently completed treatment at Benson Orthodontics? Our entire team would like to congratulate you again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Benson will provide—or has provided you by now—with retainers. After braces are removed, our staff will tell you that teeth may shift out of position if they're not stabilized.

Retainers, however, provide that stabilization, and are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until your bones and gums adapt to treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Benson is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

If you have additional questions about retainers or your treatment here at Benson Orthodontics, please give us a call and we'll try to answer any question you may have.

Tell Dr. Benson and team: What should we blog about this summer?

As the summer approaches, our staff at Benson Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to braces and your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Bartley Benson.

To help us continue blogging through the course of the long, hot summer, however, we'd love your opinion: What would you like us to focus on our blog over the summer months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Benson for a while and just haven't found the time or opportunity? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook page!

We hope you have a great rest of the weekend!

Benson Orthodontics, breaking down the myths about braces

We at Benson Orthodontics are well-aware that there are a lot of myths and half-truths flying around these days when it comes to orthodontic treatment. But, before you buy into those myths, Dr. Benson thinks you should get the facts first! Our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts about orthodontics, and we encourage you to check them out before settling for rumors about braces!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment at our office, feel free to give us a call at one of our two convenient locations in Mt. Juliet and Lebanon.

We hope you're enjoying your Memorial Day weekend!

Dr. Benson wants to know: What are your Memorial Day weekend plans?

Memorial Day weekend, only a few days away, is a time for Americans to once again celebrate freedom and honor the servicemen and women who have paid for the freedoms we continue to enjoy and cherish. It’s also the unofficial start of summer, and for many kids in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet and surrounding communities, getting out of town for three days with parents after being cooped up at school for the past nine months provides some sweet relief.

At Benson Orthodontics, we know Memorial Day weekend is also ripe for travel. Because it's so close to summer, a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories awaits. What about you? What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? What will you be doing on your day off from school or work?

Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or hitting the road with family, we’d love to hear all about it! Enjoy the long weekend if we won't see you until next week!

- Dr. Benson and team