Why they’re losing sleep and what you can do about it. Being a child today is much different than childhood just a generation or two ago. In fact, it’s safe to say their bodies were …
Invisalign or Braces? Which is Better for My Child?
Great question! Adults overwhelmingly prefer Invisalign because we don’t exactly want to show off our orthodontics. Kids don’t mind wearing braces since lots of their friends and classmates wear them. But the choice is less …
The “Sleep Sanctuary” Every Kid Needs
If you’ve followed my blogs, you know what a passion I have for kids and good sleep. This blog is for all parents, whether or not their kids have any trouble with sleep. Prevention is …
Is Orthognathic Surgery Dangerous?
Orthognathic surgery refers to surgical procedures used to change the shape of the jaw for better bite alignment. For some patients, orthodontic treatment alone is insufficient to correct misaligned teeth and bite. When the upper …
How Much Does Orthognathic Surgery Cost in Missouri?
Orthognathic surgery refers to surgical procedures used in conjunction with orthodontic treatment to improve bite alignment. In some cases orthodontic treatment alone is not effective at correcting problems with the teeth and jaw, and surgical …
Foods to Avoid With Braces
Braces are the most common type of orthodontic treatment. The majority of children will need braces before they reach adulthood. Some adults even need braces. If you’re getting braces soon, or if you’re currently experiencing …
Raise a Good Nose Breather
All babies and children breathe through their mouth instead of their nose from time to time. It happens naturally when they have a cold or allergies, or if they just cried, and are a bit …
Do You Need Braces For Orthognathic Surgery?
Orthognathic surgery refers to surgery that repositions or reshapes the jaw. In some situations, orthodontic treatment alone is not effective for aligning the bite. When the upper row of teeth don’t meet together properly with …
Can You Eat With Invisalign?
Invisalign is an increasingly popular orthodontic treatment. It consists of clear plastic aligners similar to retainers that fit over the teeth and shift them into the proper position. Unlike braces, Invisalign aligners are removable, which …
How Do You Treat Sleep Apnea Without a CPAP?
Odds are you know someone who uses a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. Although it is more common in older adults, especially men, people of all ages can suffer from sleep apnea, even children. A …
Orthognathic Surgery Recovery: How Long Should You Take Off Work?
Orthognathic surgery is the technical term for jaw surgery. When the shape of the jaw is particularly problematic, it can only be modified through surgical means. Jaw surgery is considered to be minimally invasive, meaning …
How to Feed Your Baby for Better Oral Facial Development
As an orthodontist, I see children every day who have preventable issues with their teeth, jaw alignment, and airways. I say preventable because parents can help with the development of their baby’s mouth and airways, …
Will Clear Brackets Close Spaces?
Clear braces are an alternative to traditional metal braces. Patients who request clear braces are looking for a more discreet option for orthodontic treatment. One of the most common conditions that can be corrected with …
How to Help Your Baby Have Healthy Sleep and Better Oral Health
The healthy habits you’re embracing during pregnancy can have a significant positive impact on your baby’s overall development. As an orthodontist, I want to focus on a specific area that is often overlooked. If you’ve …
How Do You Cure Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleeping disorders, a condition that manifests on average in 1 out of every 15 people. While a poor lifestyle can lead to a heightened risk of sleep …
How Do Braces Work?
Have you ever wondered why so many people wear braces? How do they work, and what do you need to know before getting them? Orthodontic braces are one of the most common treatments used to …
Can You Cure Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. It is characterized by loud snoring and breathing interruptions when sleeping. Sleep apnea results in a lack of quality sleep, which can have negative effects …
How Much Do Braces Cost For Kids in Missouri?
Braces can be a life-changing investment for your child. Braces correct many severe orthodontic issues like crooked teeth, bite problems, and jaw development issues, leaving your child with healthy, straight teeth for life. The cost …
What Treatment Options Are There for Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition affecting up to 1 in 15 American adults. Most people with sleep apnea have obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. This condition occurs when the airway becomes blocked during the …
The Red Flags of Your Child’s Sleep
@SleepWreckedKids As a parent, you may be unaware of just how well your child sleeps. You may be so used to certain behaviors at night or during the day that it seems normal. How your …
The Fibonacci Ratio and Orthodontics
The structure and beauty of life, art, the universe, and our smiles What is it about certain pieces of art – like the Mona Lisa – that make it so captivating and admired for centuries? …
Good Sleep / Bad Sleep and How Parents Can Tell the Difference
When a child is a new patient, I look at much more than their teeth. Their eyes tell me a lot, and so does their demeanor. I ask the parent how the child is sleeping. …
Why I Ask Parents How Their Child is Sleeping
Sometimes I can just see it in a child’s face – sleeping is a struggle. In our busy lives, even the best, most devoted parents often assume that restlessness or problem sleeping is just one …
What Can You Eat With Braces?
Braces are still the most common orthodontic treatment. Braces can straighten your teeth, align your bite, and correct a myriad of orthodontic issues. Starting braces treatment comes with a few changes, one of which is …
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a teeth straightening system that uses a series of clear plastic aligners to move teeth. It is referred to as the clear alternative to braces because it achieves similar results in a less …
Does Invisalign Hurt?
Invisalign is a teeth straightening system that can achieve the same result as braces but through a different, more discreet method. Anyone who has had braces can attest to the fact that there is some …
Why Special Needs Kids Should Be Checked for Obstructive Sleep Disorders
@SleepWreckedKids All children need a good night’s sleep to be healthy and happy and ready to learn and grow. Even a little sleep deprivation can cause daytime tiredness, lack of focus, poor decision-making, grumpiness, even …
How Does an Orthodontist Treat Sleep Apnea Issues?
Sleep apnea is defined as a person who stops breathing or experiences shallow breathing for a period of time while sleeping. Snoring is often a sign of sleep apnea, but the disorder cannot be recognized …
How Do I Tell If I Have Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep, can lead to more than just restless nights and tired days—it can also cause cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, …
How Do You Clean Your Invisalign Trays & Retainers?
Congratulations on choosing Invisalign. You have made a choice that will give you straight teeth, and an aligned bite – with more freedoms than you will find with traditional metal braces. However, if you want …
Helping Your Child Stop the Thumb Sucking
If you’re starting to worry about your child’s thumb sucking, they’re likely getting too old for it. It’s completely natural and even beneficial for them to suck their fingers and thumbs when they’re infants. They’re …
How Do Clear Brackets Work?
If you’ve thought about orthodontic treatment but don’t want the look of traditional braces, you may be interested in clear braces. Unlike traditional braces, these have clear brackets that allow your smile to shine. What …
The 5 Sides of Your Teeth
Your teeth may be different sizes, colors, and even shapes. But even though they appear unique in their own way, each tooth has 5 sides. And to keep a high level of oral health, you …
Can Invisalign Fix an Overbite?
An overbite is one of the most common orthodontic problems in patients. It means that the top row of teeth extends too far over the bottom row of teeth when you are biting down. An …
What Is Orthognathic Surgery?
Orthognathic surgery involves repositioning the jaws through surgical means. Jaw surgery, as it is more commonly known, can be performed on the upper jaw (maxilla) or the lower jaw (mandible) and sometimes both. During orthognathic …
How Much Do Braces Cost in Missouri?
The cost of braces currently in Missouri typically range between $5800-$7535. The final cost of braces will depend upon the type of braces you get, the complexity and length of your treatment, as well as …
What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder. It has reached levels of an epidemic in the US. Sadly many health care professionals ignore the signs or simply fail to screen patients for symptoms. …
How Long Does Invisalign Take to Straighten Teeth?
There are many people who have been told they need braces, but have cringed at the idea of wearing metal brackets and wires in their mouth. It is understandable. Regardless of how well they work, …
What Happens if You Don’t Wear Your Retainer?
The day you hear the orthodontist tell you that your braces treatment is complete is one of the happiest moments – especially for those who have been wearing braces for a long time. Though the …
How Long Do You Have to Wear Braces?
“How long do I have to wear braces?” It’s one of the most common questions people ask during consultations. In an ideal world, your health care professional would be able to give everyone a firm …
What is the Best Treatment for Sleep Apnea?
People often think if they are diagnosed with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) they will be strapped up to a CPAP the rest of their lives. They avoid speaking to healthcare professionals because they know they …
How Much Does Invisalign Cost in Missouri?
Investing in Invisalign or other Clear Aligner Therapies is an investment in your smile & a lifetime of optimal health like any other orthodontic treatment. Unlike traditional braces, these clear plastic aligners work to straighten …
How Does Invisalign Work?
Are you considering Invisalign for yourself or your child? Invisalign is an alternative to braces for orthodontic treatment. Many patients choose this option for a variety of reasons, namely because it is clear and less …
How Much Does a Retainer Cost in Missouri?
Nearly all orthodontic treatments require a retainer of some sort to be worn for a designated period of time afterwards. The purpose of a retainer is to keep the teeth in their correct position. Retainers …
What is Considered an Orthodontic Emergency?
Orthodontic issues rarely constitute a true emergency, but occasionally something can happen that requires prompt attention. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room. But if your …
How Long Do You Have to Wear a Retainer?
You made it! You finally got your braces off. So now you’re done, right? Well, not completely. Now that your teeth are in the right position, the next step is retention. You want your teeth …