As a dental hygienist myself I know how important it is to empower hygienists to take on an expanded role in the dental office and pride themselves on the ability to identify and discuss treatment opportunities is crucial to the success of integrating orthodontics into your general dental practice.

Having crooked teeth can really affect your self-esteem. When you're at an event and someone pulls out their smartphone to take a picture, do you feel self-conscious? Do you try to hide your teeth, keeping your mouth closed when you smile? If so, you've probably considered cosmetic dentistry at some point in your life. Maybe you were afraid or you didn't want to commit to such a big change, or maybe the idea of ugly metal on your teeth made you cringe. Metal braces, though they improve your smile eventually, can make your smile look worse while they're on. They can give you yet another reason to keep your mouth closed and avoid showing off your pearly whites. 

You've gone through the process of getting braces, scheduling dental visits, and watching your teeth shift to create the beautiful smile that you have today. You can finally look in the mirror and love the smile you see reflected back at you. So, of course, you want to do everything you can to ensure that your smile stays this beautiful forever. Afterall, you don't want to go through the process of getting braces just to watch your teeth shift again. So, how do you maintain orthodontic treatment once your braces come off? 

(Interested in straight teeth in six months with clear braces? Click here to learn about Six Month Smiles!)

Braces can be a big change, especially as an adult. You've lived your entire life without them, creating daily habits that didn't include caring for something attached to your teeth. It can be a bit challenging getting used to them, as well as learning to care for your teeth while they're on. But it's also well worth it. One challenge adults with braces can face is going to work with them. Below you'll find five tips for going back to work with braces that will help you adjust to your new day-to-day schedule. (Luckily with Six Month Smiles, straight teeth takes less time!)

Use marketing materials.

A major barrier to selling patients on aesthetic treatments such as Six Month Smiles is that they have zero idea you offer them. Let’s be real, sometimes when you work in the back it’s easy to forget what patients experience in the waiting room.

Whether you're getting a shower before the big prom, or are shaving in the morning, your personal hygiene is always important. After all, first impressions are lasting ones, especially when you're hanging around groups of people. However, it's amazing how many people shave and shower on a daily basis, but don't take care of their dental hygiene as well.

Valentine's Day is just one week away and all the love in the air really got us thinking. When it comes to true love, there are few things in life that are as awesome of a pair as you and your smile. After all, your smile is the way you share adoration with the world around you, with your handsome husband, your beautiful wife, your whiz-kid kids, your there-through-whatever dog and maybe even your goldfish.

There is a simple yet powerful question that can instantly and dramatically improve your case acceptance rate... I call it "The Golden Question." I will tell you what The Golden Question is shortly but please allow me to set it up. The Golden Question is something that seems too basic upon first inspection. However, I promise you that when you start using it you will have one of those "a-ha!" moments that we all crave.

Dentistry can raise anyone’s anxiety levels, even those who claim they aren’t afraid. There may be an excess of amenities – warm towels, popular music, smiling hygienist, soft blankets – and laying back in that dental chair might still make for a somewhat unpleasant experience.  

Getting enough rest is a struggle many individuals face. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 50-70 million adults experience notable sleep disorders.  These sleep disorders have critical effects on lifestyle--mental, emotional, and physical.  Inadequate sleep quality leads to a wide range of associated medical issues. Harvard reports that sleep deprivation can lead to serious medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity. Cures for sleep conditions range anywhere from surgery to medication.  However, a potential solution to sleep maladies may lie within our own mouths. New research is showing a strong link between dental health and its connection to our quality of sleep.