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It’s only natural when you’re waiting for something good—you count down the weeks until your birthday, or until the summer holidays, or until your braces come off. But while your birthday and your vacation won’t come any faster no matter what you do, you can help determine just how fast that happy day arrives when you’re done with your orthodontic treatment.

When you first got your appliance, Drs. Jay Corley and Rebecca Lauck gave you an estimate of how long your treatment would take. Of course, that estimate is based on everything going according to plan. What are some detours that can delay your progress?

• Missing Appointments

With every adjustment at our Keller, TX office, you are moving closer to the ideal positioning for your teeth. If you miss or postpone appointments, it can take just that much longer to complete your orthodontic work.

• Eating the Wrong Foods

You have a list of foods that are on the do-not-eat list. Hard, chewy, sticky bites are famous braces-breakers, but don’t forget that size also matters! Biting into a juicy apple or a buttery ear of corn can damage your brackets and wires just as much as chewy candy can. Be sure everything you eat is size-appropriate and braces-friendly. Obviously, damaged braces can’t straighten teeth as effectively as intact appliances!

• Sticking with Bad Habits

Pressure from nail biting, chewing pencils, or crunching on ice can cause chips and cracks in your teeth, so just think what they can do to your appliance. Ask us for tips for quitting if you’ve picked up any of these habits. We know habits can be hard to break, but they are harder on your teeth and braces. If you bend or break a wire or loosen a bracket, you might be delaying your orthodontic progress. Which leads us to . . .

• Ignoring Appliance Accidents

Accidents happen. Brackets or metal bands can become loose; wires can bend or break; spacers can fall out. If you notice a problem, call our office right away. Sometimes a minor problem can wait, but if your appliance is damaged, your teeth aren’t moving into position on schedule.

• Blowing Off Bands

If you have bands to help correct your bite, be sure that you wear them as directed. If you skip hours or days of band-wear, you are adding to the time it will take to correct the bite problems they are meant to fix. And don’t double band to speed things up—that might put too much pressure on your teeth. Just follow our recommendations, and you will be done with those bands—and those braces—as soon as possible.

But, wait! We promised you one sure way to keep your orthodontic progress on track:

• Follow Your Treatment Plan

If you keep your appointments, take care of your braces, call us promptly if they are damaged, and wear your appliance as directed, you will be doing your part to keep your treatment on track. And that happy day when your braces come off? It will arrive right on schedule!

Are you looking to improve the appearance of your front teeth? Dental veneers are widely used to improve the appearance of front teeth and are a much more conservative option than a full dental crown. Veneers can be used to improve the appearance of staining, large gaps, large fillings, chipped teeth, or overall shape. Veneers are a thin covering over the front and biting end of the tooth used to restore the beauty of a smile. Over the years we have helped many patients who opted for veneers and now have the confidence to smile again.

Dental veneers are made in a lab from long-lasting porcelain materials. The shade can be chosen to a desirable color to whiten the appearance of your smile. Dental veneers are usually placed on the anterior, or front teeth, where the chewing forces are not as hard as the back teeth. The process of placing veneers is relatively easy requiring only two dental appointments. In some cases, only one appointment is needed. It depends on the fabrication process.

The first appointment is to “prep” the teeth and take an impression to be sent to a lab to fabricate the veneers. Veneers are fairly conservative in the preparation as it requires a small amount of space to be created on the face (front), bottom, and sides of each tooth to allow space for the veneer to be placed and look natural. You will leave the office with temporary veneers for the next week or two while the permanent veneers are being made.

The second appointment is to place the veneers and make minor adjustments if needed. What a difference it makes in the appearance of the teeth! If you’re interested in learning more, give Drs. Jay Corley and Rebecca Lauck a call today!

The community health awareness group Oral Health America has reported that 82 percent of adults are unaware of the role that infectious bacteria can play in tooth decay or cavities, and almost three out of five children aged 12 to 19 have tooth decay. Since June is National Smile Month, Drs. Jay Corley and Rebecca Lauck and our team at Blue Stone Dental thought we’d remind our patients about the importance of good oral hygiene visits between office visits.

To keep your family’s smiles healthy and beautiful for years to come, be sure to:

• Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss every day to clean between your teeth
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
• Visit Drs. Jay Corley and Rebecca Lauck for scheduled appointments

If you want to know more about healthy home care habits, feel free to ask our team at your next appointment, or ask us on Facebook!

Happy May from Blue Stone Dental! We hope all our patients are staying safe, healthy, and are able to enjoy the spring sun while social distancing. We opened our doors on May 1st so our team is ready to see you.

Please be aware that we are following CDC guidelines for the health of both our team and our patients. Your next appointment with us might look a little different but please know it’s for everyone’s safety. Before your next appointment please fill out the health history survey on our website and any other paperwork necessary before arriving at the office. When you arrive we ask you to call the office to let us know you are outside. We will meet you at your car to take your temperature and walk you either to the hygienist or doctor's treatment room. All patients should wear a facemask when you are not being treated. We are reserving special times for older patients when the office is less busy.

In addition to the use of facemasks, protective eyewear, and gloves we have also implemented the use of gowns and face shields. We have installed HEPA filtration throughout the office and also implemented direct HEPA filtration at the patient's mouth to remove all aerosols created during treatment.

Since life has been full of challenges and uncertainty lately, we recommend taking extra time to relax and destress yourself every day. Dr. Lauck loves listening to the quiet sounds of nature, like the birds and bugs in the morning sun. These slower times give us an opportunity to appreciate nature, the world around is full of incredible things!

Another great way to stay positive is to acknowledge what you are grateful for in your life. For Dr. Lauck, it’s her two sons. They are both in the Navy and currently training for their future. One is training in Corpus for a pilot position and the other is headed to Coronado to start BUD's training. They have jobs, paychecks, and insurance! She can’t wait to see them again.

With all the extra time spent at home, there’s more time to make delicious treats! There’s nothing quite like enjoying a fabulous dessert to relieve some stress. Try Dr. Lauck’s Chocolate Mousse recipe the next time you are in the kitchen!

Chocolate Mousse

What you will need:

1 box instant chocolate pudding (any size)
2-3 cups heavy whipping cream
Instructions:
1. Using a hand mixer, make the instant pudding according to the package directions, only substitute heavy cream for milk. You can also substitute 1/2 and 1/2 or a mix of milk to make less thick if desired.
2. Place it in the refrigerator for a few mins. and then mix it again until it's super thick.
You can store the chocolate mousse in a covered container in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks! Enjoy!

We hope we see you in our office again soon. Stay healthy and safe, everyone!