Whether you’re going camping, hitting America’s great open roads, visiting our nation’s capitol, or just staying in town and hanging out, we want to know how you’re all going to spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page!

We look forward to reading all about your summer adventures!

“Dear Dr. DeCambre – I cannot tell you how deeply I appreciate your professional care as I entered orthodontic treatment at the age of 60-something! My newly aligned teeth are really cause for me to [be] grateful for a dream come true! – I thank you!”
— SC

“I am very impressed with you. You are very patient and kind and the best office I’ve ever dealt with.”
— Terry S.(A Missionary who lives in Haiti with his family and travels to Port St. Lucie for his son’s orthodontic treatment)

Your journey to a beautiful smile starts with a complimentary exam at our office. You’ll learn about all the ways we can help you achieve a lasting smile you’ll be proud to show off. Contact our Port St. Lucie office today to schedule an appointment and let us welcome you into the Braces for Us family.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a consultation with Dr. DeCambre. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood?

We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

Fluoride used in our office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your oral health or doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for us to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We hope this helps! Please give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

We hope you’re all off to a great week! We just finished our “Count the Coins” contest for St. Patrick’s day. Our patients were given the chance to guess how many magic golden coins were in our jar at the front desk to win the whole jar of chocolate coins. Our winner was Craig K., who guessed 86. There were 90 coins in the jar. above is a photo of our treatment coordinator LaTasha R. holding our chocolate coin jar from the contest.

We also recently held our Easter contest, where patients had a chance to guess how many chocolate eggs are in the giant egg or guess the closest amount to win the giant egg and all the chocolate eggs inside. The drawing was held on April 2, and we will announce the winner soon!

For both mother’s and father’s day, we will be having our younger patients fill out colorful post cards writing something special they would like to say about their mother and for father’s day, their father. We will then be decorating our office bulliten board with the cards for display.

We will also be handing out roses to our mothers for mother’s day!

Your dentist is specifically trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next adjustment appointment. Take care of your teeth!

After practicing Orthodontics for the past nine years I still enjoy the excitement of trying to determine why patients’ teeth are not straight. It’s like fitting pieces of a puzzle together!

Reasons for Crooked Teeth

• Genetics – what we inherit from our parents and grandparents
• Habits such as finger sucking, tongue sucking, tongue thrusting and mouth breathing
• Periodontal or Gum Disease, which undermine the support for teeth rendering them mobile and less than stable
• Accidents that affect either the teeth, jaws or both

Treatment Options

• Appliances such as expanders to gain space for our younger patients
• Appliances to help to curtail habits mentioned above
• Traditional braces to straighten teeth
• Invisalign™ (clear removable aligners) to straighten teeth in teens and adults
• Periodontal treatment and regular cleanings to ensure the stability and health of the bones in which the teeth reside

Maintenance of Straight teeth

Once orthodontic treatment is complete (traditional braces or Invisalign™), it is extremely important that retainers be worn daily for as long as you would like to keep your teeth nice and straight.

Remember that Orthodontic treatment is an investment of both time and money. The only way to secure that investment and ensure straight and beautiful teeth for a lifetime is to wear your retainers!

Here’s to you and your beautiful smile!

Dr. D.

Bruxism is the grinding of teeth together; oftentimes without you even being aware that you are doing so. Most people grind their teeth at night; however some do so during the day. This usually occurs as a direct response to tense or stressful situations. Bruxism has also been related to the following causes

o Wrong alignment of teeth
o A complication of brain injury
o A side effect of some drugs such as antidepressants

Signs/Symptoms

o A grinding sound at night while sleeping
o Facial pain
o Dull headache; especially in the morning
o Tight jaw muscles; especially in the morning
o Worn, loose or fractured teeth

Treatment

o To prevent excessive wearing of the teeth, a mouth guard fabricated by your Orthodontist is a great asset
o If Stress related your dental professional may recommend counseling, biofeedback therapy or other methods to help you relax. Muscle relaxants may also be prescribed.
o If related to the alignment of teeth, orthodontic treatment may help to alleviate the problem
o If related to the side-effects of medications, your health professional may switch medications.

Conclusion

Bruxism/Teeth grinding is a condition that should be brought to the attention of your dental professional as soon as you become aware that you are doing it. The long term consequences can be quite harmful to your teeth. Most children will out grow this habit by age 13 and most teens and adults will stop if the cause is effectively treated.

Fact
There was indeed a time when Orthodontic Treatment was very unaffordable. However, with free consultations, and the many and varied Insurance plans and payment plans available today, more and more families are able to afford Orthodontic Treatment.

Orthodontic treatment is indeed a worthwhile investment in your smile and sometimes waiting too long to have a treatment may result in a more involved treatment plan and therefore more expense treatment. When viewed as such, the ability to finance that investment over time makes it worthwhile. The following is a list of the various ways in which Orthodontic Treatment may be financed…

• In-house interest-free financing (everyone get financed)
• Chase third party financing
• Care Credit third party financing
• If you opt to pay in full you may do so with a discount
• All primary insurances are filed in house and you only pay on the balance

The benefits of Orthodontic treatment are worth the time taken to schedule your free Orthodontic examination and at that time you may discus with your orthodontist your many and varied payment options. Many patients are now very surprised at how affordable braces have become.