7 Steps to Live By During Retention

1. Wear your retainers as prescribed by Dr. Wadhwa.

2. The safest place for your retainer is in your mouth. When retainers are not in your mouth, ALWAYS keep them in your retainer case

3. Do not wrap retainers in a paper towel or napkin, this is the easiest way to lose them

4. Do not place loose retainers in your pocket, this is the easiest way to break them

5. Keep retainers away from pets — dogs LOVE them

6. Clean your retainers by brushing them with toothpaste and water or with antibacterial soap. NEVER soak your retainers, this causes them to rust and/or break

7. Do not place retainers in the dishwasher, microwave or in boiling water — they will melt or warp.

We're High-Tech at Morristown Orthodontics

Morristown Orthodontics understands that crafting a great smile takes time, but with today’s technology we can deliver results faster to our patients by using cutting edge tools such as our 3D oral scanners and 3D printers. Not only do these new technology tools help us get your results faster, but they also make treatment easier on you as a patient.

It’s time to say goodbye to those messy molds associated with beginning orthodontic treatment, and say hello to our 3D printers and oral scanners. Our 3D printing and scanning technology allow us to provide a more comfortable procedure while treating patients for orthodontics.  We can capture an extremely accurate digital impression of teeth within minutes with the scanners, and print orthodontic appliance parts as we need them. 

Another awesome fact about the 3D technology is we can use them with all Invisalign related services.

We offer a complimentary exam to determine what treatment plan is best for your clinical needs and lifestyle. Contact our Morris County or Essex County orthodontic office to schedule your consultation today.

Green Velvet Cupcakes For St. Patty's Day

Are you looking for a new St. Patrick's Day recipe to try today that is extra green and tastes like it's worth a pot of gold? Then you've come to the right blog.  Morristown Orthodontics doesn't just worry about your treatment, we care about our patients on a more personal level. With that being said, we decided to share this wonderful recipe that you can make today to celebrate St. Patty's Day.

Check out these Green Velvet Cupcakes!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 Tablespoon cocoa
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 Tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 oz green food coloring

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 package of softened cream cheese
• 1/4 cup softened butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 bag powdered sugar (2 lb bag)
• Milk as needed

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Grease your cake pans, muffin tins, whoopie pie pans, whatever method you decide to go with and bake for 20-25 minutes.

If you find time to make these yummy cupcakes, take some pictures and share them with us on Facebook! We hope you all have a fun and tasty St. Patrick's Day!

What is In-Ovation?

In-Ovation system braces are different! With a special free-sliding technology, little to no pressure is placed on teeth as they are gently guided into place.

With In-Ovation system braces, achieving a beautiful, healthy smile is fast and comfortable. The patient-friendly design means that you spend less time in the chair, experience less discomfort and need fewer office appointments than with older style braces.

Why’s In-Ovation different?

Free-sliding technology means you have less discomfort and a faster treatment than with traditional style braces.

Traditional braces use elastics and ties. This puts pressure and friction on your teeth, which slows down your treatment and causes discomfort in many patients.

With In-Ovation You Can Have...

• Faster results
• Shorter appointments
• Fewer office visits
• Greater comfort
• Improved facial proportion and appearance

Are you interested in learning more about orthodontic treatment from Morristown Orthodontics? Contact us now and schedule an appointment with Dr. Wadha.

A new smile can begin at any age

Braces aren't just for kids anymore, they're for adults too. Tooth alignment can be changed at any age if your gums and bone structures are healthy. At Morristown Orthodontics we offer a variety of treatments that are designed for different age groups; including adults.

Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is equally important. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, even headaches and sometimes jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.

Are you suffering from any of these symptoms? Well don't worry, we've got some good news; we can help correct these issues. The new techniques and appliances used at Morristown Orthodontics can greatly reduce discomfort levels, decrease the frequency of visits, shorten treatment time and may allow you to choose from several options. Your options include Invisalign®, clear braces and metal braces. One of these options is sure to fit into your lifestyle.

Though we do specialize in working with children, we do have patients that are adults, and they agree that it's never too late to improve their greatest asset -their smile. Contact us now to get started with your first appointment.

SmartClip Braces

Smart Clip braces are different than traditional braces in several ways. For one, they don't use ligatures to hold the archwire because they're self-ligating. Instead of elastic bands, Smart Clip braces use small metal clips to hold the archwire into the bracket. Concerned with not getting the colorful braces look you want? Don't worry you can still have colored elastic bands, if that's what you're looking for.

What is Smart Clip?

With these appliances, ligatures are no longer needed. Ligatures are the rubber bands and wire ties that we attach the wires to the brackets. When using rubber bands and wire ties, it is much harder for patients to keep their appliances clean. With Smart Clip, patients have the ability to keep their teeth and gums healthier. Also, tooth movement is more efficient and the patient requires fewer visits to the orthodontist's office.

How does this benefit me or my child?

With this technology, appointments are only needed every eight weeks, while treatment may last about 18 months. Traditional appliances require the use of rubber bands which are called ligatures to attach the archwire in place. When these ligatures are used, they stretch, discolor and trap food, requiring the orthodontist to change them more frequently. Smart Clip brackets have two metal clips to secure the archwire in place, thus eliminating the need for elastics, and reducing your need for appointments to roughly every eight weeks.

Are you ready to get started with your Smart Clip treatment? Contact us at Morristown Orthodontics to set your first appointment.

If You Have Overcrowded Teeth, You're a Candidate For Orthodontic Treatment

One of the most common problems several of our patients get treated for at Morristown Orthodontics is crowded teeth. We actually see this problem on a daily basis, and this term is defined just like it sounds, either the teeth are too big for the patients jaw size, or the mouth has too many teeth and is overcrowded. The problem with too many teeth in the mouth is the lack of space, as the teeth are shifted out of place resulting in a crooked position. Unfortunately, this can occur in both adult orthodontic patients as well as children.

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It is pretty easy for us to determine this problem for our patients as an examination of the patients’ mouth can lead to a diagnoses. The teeth typically appear crooked and jammed in an unnatural way, causing teeth that can lead to future dental problems because they’re harder to clean. Another result of crowded teeth is the obvious fact of a smile that may not be considered cosmetically appealing and can lead to self-consciousness.

Depending on the severity of the overcrowded teeth, Dr. Wadhwa can determine which method of treatment will work best. Sometimes having excess teeth extracted helps with expansion of teeth. Other times, palate expanders are used in the mouth to help widen the jaw; this method is only used on children, not adults; their jaws have already stopped growing. Also, several types of braces give amazing results for adults and children with overcrowded teeth. It all really comes down to the individual being treated when we determine how to correct the crowding.

If you suffer from this condition and live in the South Orange or Morristown area, please call us to schedule a consultation to learn about your orthodontic treatment options.

National Buttercrunch Day

Today is another yummy national holiday...National Buttercrunch Day!

If your mouth is watering from the name, but you're not too familiar with what buttercruch is, you're not alone! While we had an idea of what it was, we weren't sure of any recipes to share, but low and behold after doing some digging we found some. If you're anything like the average person, you will be happy to see chocolate usually plays a part and that it can be incorporated into pies, cookies, cakes or it can just be a snack on its own.

Buttercrunch is defined as a crunchy confection that you cook to at least 290 degrees F. This candy is similar to toffee, but it contains slightly less butter.  Check out this recipe we found and let us know how it turns out!

Old-Time Butter Crunch Candy Recipe

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. + cooling Cook: 25 min.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup butter
• 1-1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cups finely chopped toasted almonds
• 8 milk chocolate candy bars (1.55 ounces each)

Directions

1. Line a 13-in. x 9-in. pan with foil; set aside. Using part of the butter, grease the sides of a large heavy saucepan. Add remaining butter to saucepan; melt over low heat. Add sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage).
2. Remove from the heat and stir in almonds. Quickly pour into the prepared pan, spreading to cover bottom of pan. Cool completely. Carefully invert pan to remove candy in one piece; remove foil.
3. Melt half of the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl; spread over top of candy. Let cool. Turn candy over and repeat with remaining chocolate; cool. Break into 2-in. pieces. Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 2 pounds.

Clear Braces

Ceramic braces are the perfect combination of strength and beauty, so you can keep smiling during, and after your treatment

Clear braces are a popular choice for teens and adults who want to make a less noticeable statement with their commitment to a healthier smile. The natural look of these smooth, sculpted and completely clear ceramic braces are strong and will not stain or discolor.

These ceramic brackets offer our patients the look they want, with all of the functionality of traditional metal brackets. Their comfortable, sculptured design and attractive translucent appearance help provide the self-confidence that comes from wearing braces that look as good as they perform. They are the perfect combination of strength and beauty, so you can keep smiling during, and after your treatment at Morristown Orthodontics.

Two-phase Treatment

Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a very specialized process that encompasses jaw and facial changes and tooth straightening. The major advantage of two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, aesthetic and comfortable result that will remain stable. In some cases interceptive treatment prevents adult tooth extractions or major jaw surgery.

Interceptive orthodontic care is one of the most rewarding treatment options that we offer to our patients. Interceptive care is exactly that, intercepting a problem before it gets out of hand. Treatment occurs at a younger age than conventional orthodontic care and is not typically as long. The idea is to shift teeth, manipulate growth, create space for unerupted teeth, break habits and prevent trauma before it is too late. Children between the ages of 7 and 10 are best suited for this sort of treatment. They are flexible, compliant and their growth potential is still at a maximum. Treatment usually lasts 4 to 12 months after which the child is monitored and the decision as to the need for a second phase is made. Most children will require a second, more comprehensive, phase of treatment in order to create a completely stable, functional and aesthetic occlusion.

Second phase treatment begins once most of the adult teeth have erupted. This phase usually requires 12 months with braces on all of the teeth. After the second phase of treatment retainers will be worn in order to hold the teeth in the correct position.

To learn more please contact Morristown Orthodontics.

Happy New Year from Morristown Orthodontics

Morristown Orthodontics would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season as we approach the New Year! We hope that you are able to spend time with your friends and loved ones while enjoying full meals, big hugs, and lots of love and laughs.

If you are currently being treated and wear an orthodontic appliance, please be sure to make the proper choices when enjoying holiday treats that are sticky or chewy. Should you have any questions, please visit our website for common questions and answers regarding appliances.

Remember New Year's celebrations tend to have treats we don't usually indulge it, so be sure to brush and floss after your special countdown!

Happy New Year!

What are your holiday plans? Share your holiday activities with us by commenting below or by sharing on our Facebook page.

Holiday Hours

Morristown Orthodontics is closed for the holidays!

We will reopen on Tuesday, January 5, 2016!

Happy Holidays!

Congrats Dr. Rupali Wadhwa - 2015 NJ Family Magazine's Favorite Kids' Doc.

All parents want the best for their kids in all aspects of life.  So when deciding on a doctor for their children recommendations are a huge factor.  For some, searching for a doctor that can provide wonderful care for your child can be a strenuous task.  Well not anymore!  At Morristown Orthodontics, Dr. Rupali Wadhwa has been named one of the best in New Jersey.  We are thrilled to announce Dr. Wadhwa is on the 2015 list for NJ Family Magazine’s Favorite Kids’ Docs. Every year the magazine gathers nominations from parents in New Jersey to get a full list of recommendations of the best kids’ docs in the state.

The annual list of parent approved doctors’ ranges from orthodontics, to mental health, orthopedics, specialists, to pediatrics & more. You can search for a doctor by name or specialty. This is a great directory for new parents, or those who are looking for a doctor who is known to be excellent working with children. 

NJ Family Magazine

If you are looking for an orthodontist for your child and you live in Morris County or Essex County, please contact us for a complimentary exam with Dr. Wadhwa. All ages welcome!