Samantha in Forbidden Broadway!

Beginning this upcoming weekend, our very own Samantha Migneault is performing at the Janice B. Streeter Theatre with the Peacock Players in Forbidden Broadway. Her performances are the weekends of February 12 through February 21st! You don't want to miss Samantha's performance! Call the box office for tickets 886-7000 or visit www.peacockplayers.org.

We hope to see you there, and we are very proud of you, Samantha! Photos coming soon.

Photography workshop this Saturday!

Our next workshop is this upcoming Saturday, Feb. 6th, from 10 a.m. to noon. We are doing a photography class, and will have a guest from Camera Land come in and show us a few neat camera tricks.

This class is full. Thank you to all of you who signed up. Don't forget to bring your cameras!! And stay tuned for our next workshop in March - we will be scrapbooking. More details to come.

Ask Dr. Chelian: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Chelian, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started much sooner. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Consequently, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Chelian to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

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

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, give us a call at My Orthodontist to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Chelian wants to know: What do you love about our community?

My Orthodontist, located in Nashua and Merrimack, and serving surrounding communities, is situated around some pretty unique neighborhoods. Each is special with its own personality, created by the people and places (and our wonderful patients) living within.

Today, Dr. Suren Chelian and our team thought we'd ask: What are your favorite things about Nashua or Merrimack? Is there a local event you attend every year? Do you have a favorite eatery? Favorite getaway?

Please feel free to share some information about your favorite local hang-outs in Nashua or Merrimack, and everything you love best about “your neck of the woods.” And, who knows, we might post your response on our social networks! Or, you may give us a call!

Happy Tuesday!

Ask Dr. Chelian: When are two phases of treatment necessary?

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. Dr. Chelian calls this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat.

Examples include:
• An upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly
• A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in
• A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their baby teeth. Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit our office even sooner. Give us a call if you have any questions!

Invisalign® Tips, from Dr. Suren Chelian

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Chelian wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1.) Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2.) Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3.) Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits.

If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at My Orthodontist, please don't hesitate to give us a call!

What puts you at ease at My Orthodontist?

Dr. Chelian and our team understand not everyone is thrilled to see their orthodontist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about My Orthodontist that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our friendly staff? Dr. Chelian himself?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call! And Happy New Year, we are glad to be back!