Happy Thanksgiving!

Drs. Cliff and Moody Alexander and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy a day filled of friends, family, and great Thanksgiving food! What are you most thankful for this year? Leave us a comment, or if you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we encourage you to share them on our Facebook page!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nail biting and your oral health, from Drs. Alexander & Alexander

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? Recently, our team at Alexander & Alexander Orthodontics found an interesting article that discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, also known as Onychophagia, is a common habit among various age groups, including primarily children, teens and young adults. Nail biting is generally triggered by stress and most often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, as well as unhealthy for your teeth!

Here’s why:
• It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.
• No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.
• Braces don’t love it either. Braces already put pressure on teeth, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure, further stressing your teeth and weakening their roots.
• It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it?
Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation. Ask Drs. Moody and Cliff Alexander or visit the article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!

Your friends at Alexander & Alexander Orthodontics

What are you reading this fall?

As it is National Young Reader's Week, some of us at Alexander & Alexander Orthodontics wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading is a vital step in brain development. Plus, it’s fun!

Today, we thought we’d ask: What’s on YOUR reading list this fall? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great fall and winter reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your fall picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

Ask Dr. Cliff & Dr. Moody: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

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

Next we use 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. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Cliff and Dr. Moody are certified Invisalign providers in Coppell and Dallas, TX. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call at our Coppell or Dallas office.

What to expect during your child's first consultation, from Alexander & Alexander Orthodontics

When you first come in for your initial consultation, Dr. Cliff and Dr. Moody will conduct a comprehensive examination to assess your oral health. This will better enable us to determine the best treatment method for you.

Your orthodontic evaluation will consist of an oral and facial examination to assess your oral health. Dr. Cliff and Dr. Moody will have you take intraoral and facial photographs as well as panoramic and cephalometric X-rays to help determine the proper orthodontic treatment method. Then, an impression of your teeth and bite will be taken to construct a model of your mouth. This will help our doctors when examining your diagnostic records.

At your second appointment, Dr. Cliff and Dr. Moody will discuss your options with you. Our team feels it’s important to take the time to carefully examine your diagnostic records after your consultation so that our doctors can more thoroughly prepare for your treatment at Alexander & Alexander Orthodontics. This additional preparation will ensure that you receive the best orthodontic care possible. At this time, we encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about your treatment.

If you are seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, our staff asks that both you and your child attend the initial consultation. We feel it is important that both you and your child completely understand the recommendations of our doctors before we proceed with treatment.

Give us a call today at our Coppell or Dallas office and schedule a consultation! We look forward to hearing from you!