Ask Drs. Graber: Am I too old for braces?

Of course not! At Graber Orthodontics, nobody is "too old" for braces! In fact, our team recently read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996!

While it's true that braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, there is but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Lee or Katie Graber can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Drs. Lee or Katie Graber would love to have you in for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Patients with special needs at Graber Orthodontics

At Graber Orthodontics we cater to our patients’ individual needs. There are times patients are afraid of a new medical/dental provider and need to establish a relationship with trust. We plan for a series of “socialization” visits so that fearful patients can get to know us and our team prior to beginning orthodontic care. Generally these types of visits help the patient feel better about care with us after becoming comfortable in the environment.

We have handicapped accessible facilities with patient chairs that adapt to those in a wheelchair. Alternatively, there is a private room for care should that be requested. We plan to treat each patient individually with respect to their appliances as well. Sometimes, traditional fixed braces are best and sometimes removable braces that allow more effective cleaning are better. At the initial evaluation or a subsequent socialization, these options are discussed.

What advice would you give to parents to prepare for their child’s first appointment or treatment?

The first appointment at the orthodontist is easy and fun. I would recommend making the initial appointment in the morning, especially for those with special needs. Research has shown that patients, when well rested, are much more capable of managing new experiences. At the end of a school day, patients are tired which compromises their coping mechanisms and makes new experiences more difficult. I would advise that parents not discuss prior bad experiences that they themselves had as a child in braces. Orthodontic treatment is not the same as it was before; braces are smaller and more comfortable. Additionally, they are easier to maintain and keep clean than for prior generations.

What questions should parents ask before or during their child’s treatment?

Here at Graber Orthodontics we aim to exceed the expectations of our patients and parents in terms of result and experience with care here. Along that vein, we feel that it is important that parents are involved in their child’s care and ask questions so that they can stay involved and abreast of the treatment.

Patients with special needs, after initial socialization, come into the treatment area independent of their parents. This allows them to continue to establish their relationship with the orthodontic team and shows the patient that the parent trusts the doctor. After the appointment, there is an opportunity for the doctor or orthodontic team member to update the parent on the treatment that was completed at the appointment and what is planned for the future.

Hey Dr. Graber! How does Invisalign work?

Did you ever wonder exactly how Invisalign technology works on your teeth? This helpful video, courtesy of our friends at Invisalign, shows the process of these clear aligners that move your teeth just as well as traditional braces.

For more information on Invisalign, or if you have questions about your Invisalign treatment with Drs. Lee or Katie Graber, please give us a call. We hope you have a great weekend!!

Graber Orthodontics in the news!

Recently, Drs. Lee and Katie Graber were interviewed by the Vernon Hills Review for an article about SureSmile. Our doctors were among the first orthodontists in the Chicago area to use SureSmile technology, and since 2008, our practice has treated approximately 100 patients using SureSmile, with many others currently undergoing treatment.

The great thing about SureSmile technology is that those patients in treatment typically spend one-third less time in braces than those using conventional orthodontics, have 60 percent fewer office visits and experience better overall treatment outcomes.

Our staff encourages you to read the rest of the article. To learn more about SureSmile treatment, or to find out if you are a candidate for SureSmile at Graber Orthodontics, please give us a call at (847) 367-4920.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Graber Orthodontics, reminding you to play it safe this spring

Drs. Lee and Katie Graber have blogged about the advantage of wearing a mouth guard when playing sports, and we thought a reminder wouldn’t hurt. You see, April happens to be National Facial Protection Month, and it’s a good time to remind our young athletes about staying safe on the field this spring. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

For Drs. Graber and our staff, that's simply not acceptable.

The above video contains five ways to ensure the safety of your mouth this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists. If you have any further questions about any of the tips offered in the video, please give us a call at (847) 367-4920. Have a great rest of the week!