Blog Archive

Teeth Whitening for Sensitive Teeth: What You Should Know Jun 2nd, 2023

If your teeth are sensitive, you likely have a hard time with extremely hot foods,  icy beverages, sour or sweet foods, and even brushing that’s too vigorous. In the past, many people with sensitive teeth had to disqualify themselves from getting their teeth whitened because the cosmetic dental procedure was...

Why Teens Love Invisalign May 1st, 2023

Teens are typically fickle — most interested in the latest Tik Tok challenge, emerging band, or another trend. One thing they seem to agree on, however, is Invisalign®, an orthodontic treatment platform that has transformed the field since its debut.  Adolescence is also a tender time when kids want to...

Hacks to Keep Your Teeth Clean When You Have Braces Apr 1st, 2023

We are lucky today to have many choices when it comes to getting a beautiful smile through transformative orthodontic treatment. Depending on your goals and preferences, Dr. Wayne Hickory can guide you to the right choice, and his caring team at Embassy Row Orthodontics is with you every step of...

When Is Accelerated Orthodontics an Option? Mar 9th, 2023

Even though orthodontic care has progressed significantly over the last few decades — patients have more treatment options, early intervention orthodontic treatment can help families get a jump on their children’s care, and more — some patients want their orthodontic plans to be completed in less time.  And let’s face...

What to Expect Your First Days With Braces Feb 10th, 2023

It used to be that orthodontics was exclusively the realm of teens, and there was just one type of braces: metal ones. The world of braces has blown wide open, with many options for patients.  Even though more than 4 million Americans get braces each year, if you or your child is...

I’m Ready to Start My Year With a Brighter Smile Jan 2nd, 2023

We hope you’ve ushered in 2023 with cheer and plans for a happy and healthy year ahead. Does one of your resolutions involve amplifying the impact of your smile? If you want a more dazzling smile, there are a multitude of ways to achieve it. You play a role in...

How Can I Continue to Straighten My Teeth with Virtual Orthodontics? Dec 12th, 2022

With the advent of Zoom virtual business calls, FaceTime, and other 21st-century modes of meeting, we now conduct a lot of business and even family and friend get-togethers virtually. The COVID-19 pandemic also fueled an increase in doctor, dentist, and, yes, even orthodontist visits, as technology offered new ways for...

What Happens If My Child Doesn’t Wear Their Retainer? Nov 4th, 2022

There’s usually a celebratory mood when you get your braces or Invisalign® trays off, whether you’re a teen or an adult. Your smile is finally fabulous, just as you and your orthodontist planned and pictured. But did you know that a pivotal step after your braces come off is pivotal...

When Should My Child See an Orthodontist About Their Crooked Teeth? Oct 7th, 2022

When many people think of braces, they conjure up an image of a teen with un-subtle metal braces, but orthodontics today is so much more than that! Adults are getting treated at an ever-growing rate, and so are younger children. You might wonder if an orthodontist should evaluate your child...

Help! My Teeth are Yellow! Sep 1st, 2022

If you notice your teeth aren’t as white as you’d like— they may even look yellow — don’t get too discouraged, there’s still hope! And it also may surprise you that this issue can be corrected at your orthodontist’s office. That’s right, we don’t just correct alignment problems, straighten smiles,...

Does My Child Need an Expander? Aug 1st, 2022

Did you know that some orthodontic treatment involves preventive care when the patient still has baby teeth? This is called early phase treatment.  One useful orthodontic appliance for children is called an expander, which addresses specific problems we’ll get into later in the post.  Dr. Wayne Hickory offers these advanced devices as...

4 Reasons Your Teen May Prefer Invisalign Jul 1st, 2022

We’re lucky to have many options for orthodontic treatment now, but each person needs to carefully weigh the pros and cons of different treatment platforms, whether traditional metal braces or a newer treatment. You want to take your lifestyle, schedule, and preferences into consideration. If you’re the parent of a teen, you...

Are You Cleaning Your Retainers Properly? Jun 1st, 2022

Committing to orthodontic treatment is something that most people consider carefully. They want bite issues, tooth crowding, or other smile problems corrected, and treatment can allow them to realize those goals and end up with an enviable smile as treatment concludes. It’s important to remember though, that orthodontic treatment doesn’t...

What to Expect After Invisalign® May 3rd, 2022

Your smile says a lot about you, and if you feel it’s not up to snuff, you have more orthodontic treatment options open to you now than ever before. You can choose traditional metal braces, lingual braces, which are attached to the backs of your teeth as opposed to the...

5 Benefits of Virtual Orthodontics Apr 1st, 2022

Virtual orthodontic, dental, and medical care are cutting-edge care delivery models that can offer patients multiple benefits, when performed smartly and at the right time. Years ago, this type of care was nearly unheard of, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused even the most Zoom-illiterate to familiarize themselves with meeting virtually. ...

Encouraging Facts About Braces Mar 1st, 2022

Braces have been around for a long time. Believe it or not, archeologists have discovered mummies who had metal and gold wire wrapped through and around their teeth! Later, in 17th and 18th century Europe, more orthodontic advances were made, and teeth straightening and jaw realignment were even further refined...

5 Reasons to Consider Accelerated Orthodontics Feb 1st, 2022

You may have considered orthodontic treatment for yourself, but the sound of wearing braces for anywhere from 1-3 years was simply impractical. Or, you may have thought about InvisalignⓇ clear aligner treatment, which generally takes less than two years. Still two years is a significant amount of time. Dr. Wayne...

What Types of Retainers Are Available? Jan 1st, 2022

When we consider the scope of orthodontic care, whatever type of braces you choose to straighten and beautify your smile — traditional metal braces, InvisalignⓇ clear aligners, lingual braces that attach on the backs of your teeth, or another type — constitute the “main event” of your treatment.  Retainers are...

Resolve These 10 Problems With Orthodontics Dec 1st, 2021

It’s not an understatement to declare that orthodontics is a miraculous, multitasking modality when it comes to solving a plethora of problems with your smile! Dr. Wayne Hickory and the Embassy Row Orthodontics team serve patients every day who seek solutions for diverse orthodontic issues. With an extraordinary combination of...

How Does Invisalign® Work? Nov 1st, 2021

Choosing to get orthodontic treatment can be thrilling once you commit to transforming your smile, but it can also be a bit daunting. You might have quite a few questions, like how much discomfort is involved, how long you’ll need to wear your braces, what foods you must say goodbye...

Consider These Reasons to Whiten Your Teeth Oct 4th, 2021

Even individuals with straight teeth and beautiful smiles can be plagued with problems they may feel like they have little control over: stained and discolored teeth. The main culprits responsible for discolored teeth include agents that intermingle with your tooth enamel, from red wine to coffee and tobacco. Fortunately, teeth...

Starting Your Child Early With Orthodontics Sep 1st, 2021

When we think of who typically sports braces, we mostly imagine a gangly teen with a “metal mouth,” but that’s old-think. Not only are there many orthodontic correction methods that exist now as compared with years ago — from clear aligners to braces that are placed on the back of...

Maximizing Your Time With Virtual Orthodontics Aug 5th, 2021

If there’s anything that the last year and a half has taught us as we’ve grappled with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the power of technology. Many people’s homes became their offices, and everyone had to brush up on their Zoom skills.  The healthcare industry was massively affected...

Understanding the Different Types of Retainers Jul 7th, 2021

You’ve completed your active orthodontic treatment phase — meaning the time during which your braces were in place — and you couldn’t be happier with your smile. But there’s a key tool required after your orthodontist removes your braces that will ensure your smile stays on track. You receive a...

How Accelerated Orthodontics Works Jun 24th, 2021

Sometimes you just want instant gratification, whether that means taking the cookies out of the oven a bit early to enjoy one, or hitting that snooze button one more time.  If you’ve considered orthodontic treatment in the past, but were put off thinking about how much time it would take,...

Which Braces are Right for Me? May 27th, 2021

It’s common knowledge that braces can fix a plethora of oral problems, from misaligned teeth to crowding problems, which impact your oral health. Years ago, patients had one orthodontic treatment choice: metal braces. Fortunately, there are multiple treatment options that are available now, and you can base your decision on...

Tips for Taking Care of Your Invisalign Trays Apr 19th, 2021

There’s lots to love about Invisalign®, the innovative orthodontic treatment that has a markedly less disruptive and uncomfortable effect on your life as compared with traditional metal braces. Still, in order for treatment to be completely successful, you need to learn the ropes about properly caring for your aligners, otherwise...

The Importance of Wearing Your Retainer Mar 17th, 2021

When you think about orthodontic treatment, most of the attention goes to the wealth of orthodontic treatment choices patients now have. You can go the traditional route with standard metal braces, clear braces, Invisalign®, and more. Advances have also hastened reaching your treatment goals considerably.  A critical element of orthodontic...

The Advantages of Choosing Invisalign® Feb 3rd, 2021

When it comes to a winning smile, straight teeth are one of the key ingredients. Despite what you may see when you scroll through your social media feed, very few people are born with perfectly straight teeth.  If you’re one of the many with a less-than-perfect smile, you may be...