Posts by Admin

Invisible Braces and Adult Orthodontics at HGS Ortho

Posted on Feb 5, 2015

Now more than ever, adults are straightening their smiles with Invisalign, thanks to the latest advancements in hidden braces technology. At HGS Ortho, your Port Coquitlam orthodontist, adult braces have become one of our most requested dental procedures.

In a recent survey by Invisalign, 74% of women and men in North America believe that a beautiful smile will help to get a better job, while 84% of the survey participants felt an attractive smile would improve their love lives. Many adults who choose to straighten their teeth later in life choose Invisalign treatment as an option. It’s a great option for those who do not want others to notice their orthodontic treatment. Invisalign invisible braces are a great way for achieving an ideal smile for patients in Port Coquitlam and Richmond, BC.

However, while most cases are treatable by Invisalign, some orthodontic problems are only fixed with traditional braces. For smile-conscious patients, there are clear ceramic brackets or metal brackets to help make these braces less-noticeable.

Regardless of your orthodontic issues, the team at Richmond orthodontist HGS Ortho are always ready to help you achieve a beautiful smile with the adult orthodontics treatments that suit you.

For more information about adult braces or Invisalign, please contact our HGS Ortho team of orthodontic experts at HGS Ortho today.

Read More

How to Keep Teeth Clean While Wearing Braces

Posted on Nov 20, 2014

Many patients who get braces for the first time have many questions on how to maintain proper oral health. Questions such as: How do I keep my teeth clean? Do I just use a normal toothbrush? How can I floss if I have braces?

Watch the tutorial video below to understand exactly how you can keep your mouth in top shape during your orthodontic treatment. In order to keep teeth clean while wearing braces, you must maintain a regular cleaning schedule and make your teeth a top priority.

Many patients make the mistake of not spending enough time re-learning how to brush or floss, but with this tutorial video on how to clean teeth while wearing braces, your oral health can remain in the best condition for the day when your braces are removed to reveal a stunning, straight, and healthy smile!

Read More

Out Of Town Emergencies: How To Handle Your Braces

Posted on Sep 22, 2011

When you and your family are traveling, an emergency with your braces is the last thing you need when you are far away from your trusted orthodontist. Dr. Geoffrey Smith at HGS Ortho, BC have some tips for you in case you run into a problem with your Invisalign, traditional braces or other orthodontic treatment.

The good news is that most issues aren’t actual true orthodontic emergencies. There are ways you can avoid the hassle of finding a new orthodontist while you are away.

The following tips should help if you have any braces emergency while away from home:

A small emergency kit – Things you will want to take with you are orthodontic wax, nail clippers tweezers, and a pencil with an eraser.

Cheeks and Lips Can Become Irritated – Wax helps alleviate irritation, but if you are out of wax, sugarless gum works too. If you have sores, you can buy Orabase or Orajel from a local drug store.

A Poking Wire – Chewing sticky foods can pull out an arch wire. Something soft like a pencil eraser can maneuver the wire. You can also put wax or sugarless gum on your wire to prevent any further irritation. Clip the wire with nail clippers if the main wire breaks, ensuring that you sanitize your tool with rubbing alcohol. NEVER swallow the clipped wire once it has been removed, this can cause further damage to your body.

Band that gets loose – If a band gets loose, it won’t cause problems while you eat. However, if you cannot tolerate this, clip the main wire with nail clippers and you can remove the band. This is a temporary measure until you are able to visit the orthodontic team at HGS Ortho.

Brackets that become loosened – Loose brackets are normally caused by hard foods. A loose bracket can be removed with sanitized tweezers.

Ligature wire or elastic that gets loose – Like the loose bracket, If an elastic ligature comes off your braces, use sanitized tweezers to secure it back into position.

If an actual dental emergency does arise that needs immediate attention requiring you to see an orthodontist right away, you can contact the local dental society for a recommendation, or find an orthodontist near you via the internet or telephone directories. Most orthodontic practices in North America and around the world will be able to help with any issues you may have.

Also, if you need to contact the team at HGS Ortho we are here for you if you need any guidance, so give us a call at 604.464.2527.

Watch the video below for some helpful advice:

Read More

Dental Tips For Back to School

Posted on Sep 15, 2011

Summer vacation is over and your kids and teens are back to school for another year of sugary snacks and lunchbox meals. They’re got a haircut, a few new outfits and enough school supplies to get them through at least first semester; but are their teeth ready? Your experts at HGS Ortho have developed a list of dental tips that will make the back to school transition easier on your kid’s teeth and gums:

  • Pack lunches and snacks that are oral health friendly. Fruit, nuts, string cheese and bottled water are all good choices. Avoid sticky foods like raisins or fruit leather, as they can cause cavities.
  • Make it worth your kids while to brush and floss. Just as we reward our children for good grades, create a reward for a no cavities dental check-up! Encourage excellent oral health habits while they are young, and they’ll repeat these habits for their entire life.
  • Time for fresh new toothbrushes for the whole family! While getting binders, paper, pencils and pens don’t forget to buy new toothbrushes for the whole family. Old, worn-out toothbrushes lose their effectiveness to remove plaque and clean the teeth. September is a great time to update!
  • Make oral health habits easy at school. Put a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss in with their lunch and encourage them to clean their teeth after lunch. Studies show that excellent oral habits at school in addition to at home care, decrease risk of cavities and tooth decay found in children.

You’d be surprised, but as the most significant health problem for children, 51 million hours of in-class study is lost every year due to tooth decay! Keeping your kids hygiene habits in check can prevent future dental bills and ensure excellent overall health for a lifetime.

For children and teens, routine hygiene visits address more than just tooth decay. We take a close look at how your kid’s pearly whites are growing. In addition, the team at HGS Ortho will monitor the effectiveness of their oral health habits, as well as apply fluoride treatment and sealants, which help to protect problems before they occur. Using an ultrasonic cleaner we polish your child’s teeth by removing built up plaque and tartar to really make their smile sparkle.

So while you are shopping and caught in the back to school rush – contact the family orthodontic team in Port Coquitlam and Richmond, BC to book your next orthodontic check-up today and prevent future dental issues down the road.

Read More

What is a WaterPik & How Can It Help Keep Braces Clean?

Posted on Aug 25, 2011

Dental care in Vancouver is essential but can be costly if you do not have dental insurance. However, if you are able to take good care of your teeth with proper brushing and flossing techniques, you will likely only need to visit the team at HGS Ortho for regular checkups and cleanings.

Proper oral hygiene is crucial to maintain healthy teeth and gums. If you do not take proper care of your smile, it may result in a filling, root canal, or even dental implants to replace a lost tooth.

Taking care of teeth is especially important for patients with braces. Brushing and flossing can be a battle for children and adults who do not have the patience to properly maintain their smile.

Many patients have expressed interest in using a WaterPik, which is a popular alternative for flossing. The WaterPik helps to remove food bits from between teeth, but does it work better than traditional flossing methods?

The main advantages of a WaterPik focus on the ease and maneuverability of the tool. However, the WaterPik is not as effective as using floss. Water is not able to penetrate the spaces between teeth that are crowded together, preventing the proper removal of food and plaque.

So, is a WaterPik as effective at cleaning between teeth as dental flossing? The answer, unfortunately, is no. Nonetheless, a WaterPik is helpful for removing large pieces of food between teeth while wearing braces. Dental patients are advised to maintain a regular flossing schedule rather than replacing the traditional method with a WaterPik.

For more information on proper dental flossing techniques or to book an appointment, contact Dr. Geoffery Smith at HGS Ortho today.

Read More