Our Blog

What do rubber bands do?

March 21st, 2012


Rubber bands, or elastics, can be an integral aspect of orthodontic care, so if Dr. Betsy Meade and Dr. Christopher Riolo have prescribed elastics as a part of your treatment, it’s important to follow the directions fully. Elastics help to align your bite or cause teeth to move in different directions and straighten more quickly. We will instruct you how to hook one end to an upper bracket and the other end to a lower bracket so the rubber band goes vertically or diagonally from one bracket to another. The tension of the rubber band produces pressure on the bracket, which causes the teeth to move and straighten. This tension is also sufficient to correct an overbite or an under bite in the jaw.

If rubber bands are a part of your treatment plan, there are a few things to keep in mind. With rubber bands, you won’t be able to open your mouth fully, so they will have to be removed when you eat and reapplied after meal time. Many times, rubber bands are only needed at night, so you won’t need to worry about eating with them. Also, if you try to open your mouth too wide, your rubber bands might snap – so be careful!

Failure to wear your elastics full time or as instructed can lengthen your treatment time and may make it more difficult to achieve an optimal result. But don’t worry; your time in elastics will be well worth it when you see your beautiful, new smile.

Win a Kindle Fire at Meade and Riolo Orthodontics!

March 12th, 2012


All of us at Meade & Riolo Orthodontics are excited to announce that we will be giving away a new Kindle Fire to one lucky patient in our latest raffle! The drawing will take place on April 26, 2012, so don't delay in earning those tokens!

You may be wondering: "How do I earn tokens?" It's easy! You can earn tokens by having good oral hygiene, no broken appliances, wearing your office t-shirt to your appointments, and wearing your rubber bands! The more tokens you have, the better chance you have of winning the Kindle Fire!

If you have any questions about this raffle or your orthodontic treatment, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Win a Kindle Fire at Meade and Riolo Orthodontics!

March 12th, 2012


All of us at Meade & Riolo Orthodontics are excited to announce that we will be giving away a new Kindle Fire to one lucky patient in our latest raffle! The drawing will take place on April 26, 2012, so don't delay in earning those tokens!

You may be wondering: "How do I earn tokens?" It's easy! You can earn tokens by having good oral hygiene, no broken appliances, wearing your office t-shirt to your appointments, and wearing your rubber bands! The more tokens you have, the better chance you have of winning the Kindle Fire!

If you have any questions about this raffle or your orthodontic treatment, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Which questions should I ask during my orthodontic consultation?

March 5th, 2012

When you visit Meade & Riolo Orthodontics for your orthodontic consultation, you’ll probably have a lot of questions. We want you to be prepared for your appointment and feel in charge of your orthodontic treatment decisions, so keep these questions in mind to ask when you come in for your appointment:

• How long will I have to wear braces?
• Will getting braces hurt?
• Will I have to wear additional appliances to correct jaw problems while I have braces?
• What can I eat when I have braces?
• Are there certain things, like playing sports or playing an instrument, which I won’t be able to do?
• How can I make sure my teeth stay clean and healthy while I have braces?
• How often will I need to come in for appointments?
• How much will my orthodontic treatment cost?

The team at Meade & Riolo Orthodontics is here to answer all your questions and concerns, and we’re happy to explain all aspects of your treatment plan and expected outcome. Your orthodontic experience should be comfortable, hassle-free, and most importantly, leave you smiling!

American Association of Orthodontists American Board of Orthodontics