Ask Dr. Cottingham: What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

We’ve discussed the power of Invisalign treatment in a previous post, and today thought we’d share the oral health benefits of wearing Invisalign’s clear aligners.

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us about the advantages of Invisalign treatment. Just like traditional braces, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign than you may know. Invisalign, a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, not only help straighten your teeth, but, just like traditional braces, they can also improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Regardless of treatment methods, straight teeth and a proper bite allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore, brushing and flossing are somewhat easier than conventional braces. This can improve your ability to maintain a healthy mouth during treatment. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

Dr. Cottingham is a certified Invisalign provider here in Indianapolis, Avon and surrounding communities. If you have any questions about Invisalign, please give us a call at (317) 202-1873 to schedule your initial complimentary consultation. We also invite you to post your question on our interactive Facebook page!

Happy Thursday!

Dr. Cottingham, helping you save face this summer

With summer 2010 in full swing, Dr. Karen Cottingham would like to remind all our athletes in treatment to be extra careful when out on the field. After all, most mouth and facial injuries occur during the summer months.

If you'll be playing sports this summer, it's important that you consult Dr. Cottingham for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. Mouth guards are advised for playing spring sports such as baseball, soccer, rugby, lacrosse and many more.

In case of any accident involving your face, we want you to check your mouth and appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, please schedule an appointment to see your general dentist or Dr. Cottingham immediately. And don’t forget to ask us at your next scheduled appointment—Dr. Cottingham will be more than happy to provide a proper mouth guard for any patient in treatment!

Our staff at Cottingham Orthodontics will tell you that only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries this summer. Please give us a call at our convenient offices in Indianapolis or Avon if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at our office.

We hope you’re having a great summer!

Welcome, Dr. Mitchell!

Indianapolis orthodontist Dr. Karen Cottingham routinely invites new orthodontists from around the region into her practice to allow them the opportunity to see an established practice in action. It helps the new orthodontist understand how a practice operates and how staff members interact with patients. It also gives them the chance to ask questions and seek advice from an experienced orthodontist. Dr. Cottingham is proud to have another orthodontist—Dr. Morgan Mitchell from Prospect, Kentucky—observe her practice in action next week.

Dr. Cottingham enjoys having others observe her practice, such as high school students looking to fulfill career day requirements. Many times, these students have an interest in dentistry or orthodontics and want to learn more about it. On many occasions, these students are patients of Dr. Cottingham. She has also had college students and dental students in her practice, as well as anyone interested in specializing in the ever-exciting world of orthodontics.

We look forward to seeing Dr. Mitchell! If you’re in for an appointment next week, be sure to say hi to her!

If you have thought about observing a caring, lighthearted and smart practice at work, we invite you to join us for day. Please give us a call for more information!

Ask Dr. Cottingham: When should my child come in for a consultation?

Indianapolis orthodontist Dr. Karen Cottingham and our staff know that sometimes, parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Cottingham Orthodontics for a complimentary consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started sooner. In fact, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists recommend that every child has an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

You’re probably thinking: “Ok, so what’s so great about age seven? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Cottingham to make a determination about whether there are any problems. At that age, the first molars have come in, providing an opportunity for Dr. Cottingham to check for malocclusion, or what we call “bad bite.”

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes for people: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future, as well as fewer expenses. For others, a healthy prognosis provides people a peace of mind.

We want to assure you that Dr. Cottingham gives very realistic evaluations at that age, and in fact, most cases can wait. At our office, parents will always get a fair evaluation and only the most necessary of cases will require treatment.

If your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, we encourage you to visit our office for a consultation. Please give us a call at our convenient offices in Indianapolis or Avon to schedule an appointment.

At Cottingham Orthodontics, 24/7 access to your account

Access to your account, any time you’d like. Sounds simple, nice and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at Cottingham Orthodontics enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. You can look up your appointment times and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages! Take a look at what some of our patients are saying about this service:

"I love the option for the text and email reminders for appts. Other doctors just call home phone number to remind you of appts."

"I am able to better keep track of my appointments and review (if needed) information pertaining to my visits."

"Making payments online is much easier. Especially when using my health savings account."

"I do not have this function available with my other healthcare providers."

"This is a big difference because in order to get information from other healthcare offices, you have to call and usually leave a message with the inevitable "phone-tag" that follows. Sesame offers information in one convenient place."

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call at either our Indianapolis or Avon location if you have any questions about getting started!

Tell Dr. Cottingham and team: what should we blog about this summer?

As summer quickly approaches, our staff at Cottingham Orthodontics strives to continue blogging about topics related to braces and your treatment with Indianapolis and Avon orthodontist Dr. Karen Cottingham.

To help us continue blogging through the course of the long, hot summer, however, we're interested in your opinion: What would you like us to focus on our blog this summer? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Cottingham for a while and just haven't found the right opportunity? Give us your ideas by posting here on our blog or on our interactive Facebook page!

We hope you have a great rest of the week!

Cottingham Orthodontics, supporting National Smile Month

We hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend! Now that we’re in June, Dr. Cottingham and team thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to Cottingham Orthodontics.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Here's a helpful video showing you how to brush with your braces on.
* Floss everyday to thoroughly clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment.
* Visit your dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call at (317) 202-1873 at our Indianapolis office or (317) 204-4109 at our Avon location!

We want everyone to get out there and share your beautiful smiles with the world!