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Let’s face it. With school, sports and hanging out with friends, getting metal braces is not at the top of your list of favorite things to do. Guess what? With Invisalign Teen^®, you can straighten your teeth without having to deal with metal wires and brackets. That means you can still do all the things that make these the best times of your life.

NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW

Invisalign Teen aligners are made of a smooth, clear plastic that is virtually invisible!
Your friends probably won’t even know you’re wearing them. In fact, they’re so
comfortable, you may not even notice you’re wearing them either. Whether you’re
taking pictures or just hanging out with friends, you’ll enjoy a better smile every day.
See more reasons Why Invisalign Teen may be right for you.

EAT WITH FREEDOM

You probably have friends with braces who aren’t allowed to eat certain things
like popcorn and chewing gum. With Invisalign Teen, you’re free to eat all of your
favorite foods whenever you want because the aligners are completely removable. This
also means you can easily keep brushing and flossing as you normally would. Try that
with braces. More benefits of Living with Invisalign.

KEEP DOING WHAT YOU LOVE

Whether you play sports or a musical instrument, a mouthful of metal can often
prevent you from enjoying the things you want to. Invisalign Teen helps you focus on
doing what you do best—being a teenager. Comf

So, you just got your braces on or started invisalign, and you're wondering why you should continue visiting your general dentist since you’re seeing Dr. Bottala every other month. Patients always ask us if they should continue to see their dentist while in orthodontic treatment. In short, the answer is YES.

Today, we thought we would share a few reasons why it’s crucial to keep up with your regular visits with your dentist in addition to coming in for your regular adjustments at Bottala Orthodontics.

One of the best reasons to visit your dentist while you undergo orthodontic treatment is to remove plaque and tartar. Having braces provides additional nooks and crannies in which food particles and bacteria can hide. Eventually, plaque and tartar can form around your brackets, bands or other appliances which can lead to cavities. Having your teeth professionally cleaned can help ensure most, if not all, plaque and tartar is removed. Even if you are undergoing clear aligner treatment, dental checkups and cleanings are equally as important.

The next reason to visit a dentist is to help protect your teeth from decalcification, or the loss of calcium in your teeth. A potentially serious condition in which white spots on your tooth surfaces, decalcification is irreversible and if left untreated, can lead to cavities. Decalcification is preventable; patients who cut down on sugary sweets and acidic foods, practice good oral hygiene, and visit their dentist regularly can help prevent decalcification.

The final reason we recommend visiting your dentist while you have braces is this: cavities can prolong your treatment. If you are want to complete your orthodontic treatment on time and without any delays, visiting your dentist every 3-6 months or as recommended can go a long way toward making that a realistic goal. Your  general dentist can provide fluoride treatments or other treatments that strengthen your teeth and protect them from cavities.

Making sure to visit your dentist will help ensure your teeth look their best once your braces come off. If you do not have a general dentist and would like a recommendation on finding one in the Chino Hills, Chino or surrounding are, please give us a call, email or let us know at your next adjustment appointment!

A lot of store bought Halloween candy can damage braces and retainers….. but kids don’t have to miss out on all the fun treats just because they are in Orthodontic treatment.

Following these simple steps can ensure that your child will still get a few sweet treats this Halloween:

•    Use your good judgment. Any candy bars or sweets which contain nuts or are tough to chew must be avoided.

•    Any sweets containing caramel, popcorn, toffee, licorice and jelly beans should all be avoided.

•    Read ingredients very carefully. When it doubt, skip it. That cheap bag of store bought candy can quickly turn into an expensive visit to the orthodontist.

•    Try and select treats with a soft consistency. Peanut butter cups are acceptable as long as the nuts in the peanut butter are crushed very small. Candy bars aren't completely off-limits as long as the treat doesn't contain nuts or caramel e.g. Aero, Jersey Milk, Kit Kat etc.

•    Candy apples must be avoided.  Instead, remove the skin from an apple and slice it very fine. Select a sweet fruit dip or chocolate sauce and use that for dipping instead of sticky caramel.

•    If you are throwing a Halloween Party, bake cupcakes or cakes with sweet orange frosting.

•    Make sure your kids brush and floss well after eating their treats!

"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?"

We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Botalla started out in dental school and earned a DDS (dental degree), just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Botalla decided to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics, which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites. Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth). Isn't it nice to know there's a complete dental expert here at Bottala Orthodontics to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?