before and after with invisalign

Invisalign Before and After Stories With Our Patients

We all love a good transformation story, and there’s nothing better than celebrating our patients’ incredible orthodontic treatment journeys. In this post, we’ll be celebrating just a few of the thousands of notable Invisalign before and after stories at some of our Central Indiana offices.

Patients of all ages come to us at Gorman and Bunch Orthodontics with the hope of creating a beautiful smile that fits both their lifestyle and budget. For many, Invisalign is the tool of choice to accomplish that goal. The clear, removable, custom-made aligners shift teeth in incremental steps to the final desired position for a healthier smile.

Read on to see how our team of orthodontists changed these patients’ lives and be inspired by the Invisalign pictures before and after treatment.


Invisalign Before and After Overcrowding

Westfield, Indiana
Treatment Time: 19 months

While this patient didn’t have any major skeletal bite issues, he came to Gorman & Bunch hoping to correct moderate overcrowding and high canine teeth. With the help of Invisalign, he was able to wear the aligners, while still losing a few remaining baby teeth. He completed his Invisalign treatment plan after 19 months with a lower permanent retainer and an upper clear retainer.

BEFORE

invisalign before and after - overcrowding - westfield indiana - jl - 2

 

AFTER

invisalign before and after - overcrowding - westfield indiana - jl - 1

 

Underbite Correction

Carmel, Indiana
Treatment Time: 23 months

Some wrongly assume that orthodontic care is purely cosmetic. On the contrary, orthodontic treatment is vital in preventing long-term damage to the mouth, teeth, and gums. That was the case for this patient when he started treatment at our orthodontic office. If left untreated, his Class III underbite would have caused excessive damage to his upper and lower front teeth along with gum recession, which would jeopardize the long-term stability of the lower teeth. After just 23 months of using Invisalign and rubber bands, his bite was corrected and the long-term damage to his teeth is no longer a concern.

BEFORE

invisalign for underbite - carmel indiana - tt - 1

AFTER

invisalign for underbite - carmel indiana - tt - 2

 

Carmel, Indiana
Treatment Time: 24 months

This patient pursued treatment for his Class III underbite. He started with a Carriere appliance on his lower teeth to correct his bite along with Invisalign on his upper teeth. Once his bite was corrected (a process that usually takes around six to ten months), he finished his treatment with upper and lower Invisalign aligners as well as rubber bands. He completed his treatment in just 24 months.

BEFORE

invisalign before and after - underbite - carmel indiana - cc - 1

AFTER

invisalign before and after - underbite - carmel indiana - cc - 2

3 Things to Look for in an Invisalign Doctor

See Now

Invisalign for Overbite

Carmel, Indiana
Treatment Time: 15 months

This patient’s Invisalign treatment plan set out to correct her Class II overbite and overcrowding. In addition to Invisalign aligners, her treatment also included a Carriere bite corrector and lingual holding arch. Her bite was corrected within four months, and she was able to complete her total treatment in just 15 months. Following treatment, she was provided with a lower permanent retainer and an upper clear retainer to prevent an overcrowding relapse in the future.

BEFORE

invisalign before and after - overbite - carmel indiana - fnv - 1

AFTER

invisalign before and after - overbite - carmel indiana - fnv - 2

 

Invisalign for Open Bites

Carmel, Indiana
Treatment Time: 23 months

This patient started treatment for a Class III anterior open bite after experiencing damage from an NTI appliance, which is a mechanism sometimes used to treat jaw pain (TMJ) issues. While the appliance helped with her joint pain, it also caused extensive bite problems. Our team of orthodontist specialists prescribed upper and lower Invisalign with rubber bands to correct her upper crossbite and bring her upper and lower teeth together for an enhanced bite. Like many of our patients, she completed her treatment early and now enjoys a healthier smile for life.

BEFORE

invisalign before and after - open bite - carmel indiana - jk - 1

AFTER

invisalign before and after - open bite - carmel indiana - jk - 2

 

Carmel, Indiana
Treatment Time: 15 months

This patient also suffered from an anterior open bite. But after just 15 months, she was able to finish her treatment of Invisalign and rubber bands three months early. She now wears upper and lower Essix retainers to keep her smile in tip-top shape.

BEFORE

invisalign before and after - open bite - carmel indiana - hs - 1

AFTER

invisalign before and after - open bite - carmel indiana - hs - 2


Every patient’s orthodontic journey is different, and at Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics we desire to create a custom treatment plan that fits both your lifestyle and your budget. Our treatment coordinators will work with you to find a custom financing option that fits your unique situation.

We hope you enjoyed these stories and the Invisalign before and after pictures. If you’re ready to start your journey, go ahead and schedule your free consultation today!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The Story Behind Our New Brand

The Story Behind Our New Brand

Things around our offices will soon look a little different!! We’ve been hard at work collaborating with the teams at Keyhole Marketing and Co-motion Studio to design a new brand that best fits our purpose and more clearly communicates our values.

While our former brand served us well for years, we wanted to take our brand to the next level and further improve our connection with our patients. And so, as we launch the new elements in the coming days and weeks, we’d like to share the story behind our new brand.

Making Our Mission and Vision More Approachable

We pride ourselves on our patient care and going above and beyond in ensuring that every person who walks through the door at Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics feels welcomed, informed, and supported.

We wanted to extend that same level of warmth, acceptance, and value to future patients visiting our website and social media channels. Our new brand does just that by evoking a more welcoming and approachable atmosphere within our digital spaces.

The Story Behind Our New Brand - New Logo

 

Broadening Our Impact

While giving each of our patients a beautiful, healthy smile for life is a top priority at all of our orthodontic offices, we believe our impact extends well beyond a smile and can actually lead to life transformation. Our new brand embodies our commitment to offering orthodontic care that fits our patients’ schedules, lifestyles, and budgets. We focus on goals and treatment plans that offer long-term solutions that our patients can enjoy for a lifetime!

The Story Behind Our New Brand - New Badge

Meaningful Connections with Patients

We provide the highest level of patient care by integrating the latest technology and treatment techniques, but our core desire is to connect meaningully with each of our patients. From sporting games and graduations to weddings and new family additions, we love celebrating the accomplishments of our patients.

In addition to creating meaningful connections with patients, our new brand also displays our deep commitment to improving our communities. Our Be the Change program brings awareness to various causes and foundations in our local community and empowers our patients to take action. Also, our Stats for Smiles program offers families in need with scholarships for free orthodontic care.

The Story Behind Our New Brand - New Mark

While our brand has changed, we want you to know that our mission and values have not! Providing each of our patients with a healthy, beautiful smile through exceptional orthodontic treatments and unmatched patient care remains our top priority.

Are you ready to transform your smile? Contact our team for a free consultation today!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

What Your Braces Colors May Say About You

What Your Braces Colors May Say About You

When you select traditional braces to straighten your teeth and give you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted, there’s no reason to keep your personality from shining through! Adding a pop of color is the perfect way to make your braces your own. The elastic bands that surround the metal or ceramic brackets come in a variety of colors and give you the opportunity to express yourself. Need help narrowing your options? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a breakdown of what your braces colors may say about you:

Red Braces

Drawn to fire truck red? You might be passionate, fiery, loving, and courageous. Red is a bold color, and your braces are the perfect opportunity to showcase your spunk!

Pink Braces

Delicate and demure, pink braces communicate that you are charming, gentle, and even secretive.

Orange Braces

Flamboyant and lively, orange braces are sure to make a bold statement.

Yellow Braces

Do you tend to get lost in daydreams? Yellow braces are the perfect choice for dreamers and perfectionists alike.

Getting Braces for Free in Central Indiana

Find Out How

Green Braces

Loyal, supportive, and true, green is an emotional color that conveys friendship and stability.

Blue Braces

Is blue your favorite color? You’re not alone! Blue resonates with many people and signifies depth, compassion, and creativity.

Purple Braces

If you err on the side of intrigue, purple braces might be the choice for you. Purple conveys mystery and imagination, and your smile will keep friends on their toes.

Black Braces

Your black braces mean business! They show that you’re decisive, serious, and strong.

Clear Braces

Lovers of white or clear braces might be described as purists or perfectionists and are simple and to the point.


Regardless of what your braces colors say about you, one thing is certain: there’s no wrong choice to add a pop to your pout!

At Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics, our mission is to create smiles that fit your life and customizing your braces to your personality. We have a solution for every smile. Let’s meet and talk about it!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How to Get Braces for Free in Central Indiana

How to Get Braces for Free in Central Indiana

Think for a moment about the qualities you’d like for your child to have. For many parents, qualities like kindness, thoughtfulness, and confidence top the list. But did you know that one of those qualities is actually greatly affected by orthodontic care?

That’s right! A bright, beautiful smile can make all the difference in your child’s confidence and self-esteem!

While orthodontic care could be the missing link in allowing thousands of children feel the confidence they need to succeed, the cost of braces is often a barrier. We’re excited to let Central Indiana families know how to get braces for free!

Relationship Between Orthodontic Care and Confidence

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, orthodontic treatment does so much more than just straighten teeth. An attractive smile has lots of emotional benefits as orthodontic care brings teeth, lips, and face into proper proportion. Treatments like braces and retainers have been shown to drastically improve patients’ confidence, self-esteem, and overall health as well!

Bringing FREE Orthodontic Care to Central Indiana Families in Need

At Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics, we believe every child deserves a beautiful smile, as well as the confidence and improved general health that comes with it. However, we understand that the cost of braces can be a major factor in getting children the orthodontic treatment they need.

That’s why we launched Stats 4 Smiles™, our new program offering free braces to families in need through all of our seven offices in Carmel, Westfield, West Carmel/Zionsville, Fishers, Kokomo, Marion, and Wabash.

Through the program, we’ll be teaming up with local athletes like five-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon to change lives through the gift of free braces. Each time one of our partner players win, score big, or make a big play during a game, we will gladly donate our time, skill, and resources to treat a deserving child in Central Indiana at no cost!

Top Signs Your Child May Need Braces

See Now

How to Apply for Stats 4 Smiles

We believe that proper orthodontic care can change a community! We would love to serve everyone in financial need, we can only consider candidates who meet the following guidelines:

  • Do not have family income that exceeds 200% of federal poverty level.
  • Must be no younger than 11 and no older than 19 years of age.
  • Live within a 60-minute drive of one of our 7 offices.
  • Maintain good hygiene practices and visited a dentist in the past 6 months.
  • Showcase an esthetic or functional need for braces.
  • Currently enrolled in school with satisfactory performance.
  • Demonstrate a positive demeanor.
  • Adhere to our treatment plan.
  • Exhibit a desire to impact their local community through volunteer service and/or extracurricular activities.

Are you wondering how much braces cost, or how to pay for braces? Visit our Stats 4 Smiles page to apply! Stats 4 Smiles scholarship candidates can qualify by either applying themselves or via nomination from a teacher, healthcare professional, coach, community leader, etc. Potential candidates will be kept on file, and when our partner athletes achieve their goals, our selection committee will name the next recipient of a brand new smile.

All of us at Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics are excited to bring free braces and Invisalign to Central Indiana children in need. By partnering with professional athletes, Stats 4 Smiles helps us play to win for our community!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How We Put Braces On Your Teeth

How We Put Braces On Your Teeth

Once you’ve made the decision to get braces, you may be wondering how we braces on your teeth. Follow along below as we walk through the entire process, so you can come into our office feeling fully prepared, confident and excited about your new smile.

STEP 1: Consultation

To start the process, you must come into our office for a complimentary consultation. Our orthodontists conduct a comprehensive oral examination — examining your mouth for an underbite, overbite, crooked jaw, or any other dental issues — and discuss treatment options. And then, if the doctor feels you are ready — and if you feel prepared to proceed — we can oftentimes get started with your treatment the same day.

STEP 2: X-rays

If you’re agreeable, we typically take panoramic and profile x-rays during the initial consultation so that our orthodontic team can fully understand your situation. These images allow us to see the exact positions of your teeth inside your mouth. X-rays help determine the right course of treatment and the next steps to take along your orthodontic journey.

8 Ways to Reduce Tooth Pain After Braces Adjustments

Find Out Now

STEP 3: Placing Spacers

Oftentimes, your molars sit too tightly next to each other in your mouth, making it difficult to fit rings (also called bands) around your teeth for certain appliances. Before having certain appliances placed, we place spacers for a few weeks to create space between your molars, so that your appliance will slide in easily at your next visit.

STEP 4: Digital Scanning

Finally, we take a 3D scan of your teeth before placing your braces. This process takes about three minutes or less and creates a model of your teeth so that the doctor can determine the exact shape and size of your teeth, evaluate your bite, and have a pre-treatment record of your mouth. Digital models allow him or her to determine your specific treatment plan for the ideal outcome in the most efficient timeline.

STEP 5: Bonding

After thoroughly cleansing your mouth, we rinse and air-dry your teeth before applying a conditioner treatment for about 30 seconds. Then we apply bonding material to the backside of the brackets, which we then place on your teeth. We clean off all excess bonding material from your teeth and use a blue LED light to ensure that the glue stays firmly in place.

STEP 6: Placing Wires

We then attach wires to your brackets using rubber bands. You get to choose the look of these ties — clear or multicolored!

STEP 7: Adjustments & Check Ups

Over time, your rubber bands lose their elasticity and need to be replaced. At our check-up appointments, we replace all bands — again you pick the colors — and we adjust your wires to continue shifting your teeth into place.

STEP 8: Debonding

By far the most exciting part of wearing braces, here we remove your braces in about an hour. And then you get to experience a beautiful smile! After removal, we highly recommend getting a thorough teeth cleaning from your dentist, so you can fully enjoy your new look.


If you have any questions at all about orthodontic treatment or the process of getting your braces on, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to hear from you!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Why Your Child Might Need Orthodontic Surgery

Why Your Child Might Need Orthodontic Surgery

The need for orthodontic surgery becomes prevalent when one or both jaws do not align properly, meaning orthodontic treatment alone cannot create a proper bite. While we as orthodontists can typically fix the misalignment of the teeth through braces, a misalignment of the jaws sometimes requires surgery.

Reasons Your Child Need Orthodontic Surgery

Orthodontic surgery — also known as corrective jaw surgery — cannot occur until the jaws finish growing, which typically occurs around age 16 for females and 18 for males. If one of our orthodontists believes your child needs surgery, he or she will work with a dentist and oral surgeon to determine the final treatment plan.

Some reasons for orthodontic surgery include:

  • To make biting and chewing easier.
  • To correct issues with speech or swallowing.
  • To correct a bite or jaw closure issues, especially with open bites when the molars touch but the front teeth do not.
  • To minimize the breakdown of the teeth.
  • To correct facial imbalance, which could include underbites, overbites and crossbites.
  • To relieve pain caused by TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder.
  • To repair facial injury or birth defects.
  • To improve your child’s ability to fully close the lips comfortably.
  • To provide a solution for obstructive sleep apnea.

Why Your Child Should See a Pediatric Orthodontist

See Our 7 Reasons

The Benefits of Jaw Surgery

Orthodontic surgeons work to correct irregularities of the jaw bones, realigning the jaws and teeth, while also improving facial appearance. Some positives for jaw surgery include:

  • A balanced appearance in your lower face.
  • Improved function of your teeth.
  • Improved sleeping, breathing, chewing and swallowing.
  • Improved speech impediments.
  • Improved self-esteem.

When jaw problems cannot be solved through orthodontic treatment alone, corrective or orthodontic surgery can be the only option at times. Most surgical cases involve wearing braces ahead of time and during the recovery process, until healing and proper alignment conclude.


At Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics, your health and well-being are our top priorities, and we will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you are comfortable with the treatment plan. We want you to walk away with the best possible smile. If you’re interested in learning more about orthodontic surgery, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are happy to answer your questions!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

5 Healthy and Delicious Foods You Can Eat with Braces

5 Healthy and Delicious Foods You Can Eat with Braces

It’s common for dentists and orthodontists to talk about all the foods you can’t eat with braces, but there are also many good foods you can eat with braces. Preventing damage to your archwires, bands and brackets should be your number one priority with braces, and eating the right foods can make that easier to do. As long as you stay away from crunchy, chewy, and sticky foods that can damage your braces, you can still enjoy a whole world of menu options of delicious and healthy food.

The healthier you are, the better results you will see with braces. A healthy diet provides essential nutrients in order to maintain strong teeth and tissues that undergo changes during orthodontic treatment. Here are the foods you can eat throughout the day to keep you happy and healthy with braces.

Fruit

Eating fruit can be a challenge with braces. Apples for example are difficult to eat because you can’t bite directly into them because of the risk of breaking your brackets. Pears and peaches often cause the same problem. We strongly suggest cutting hard fruits into bite-sized pieces so you can chew them with your back teeth and avoid causing harm to your braces. The best type of fruit to eat with braces are blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, especially when your teeth are tender after getting your wires changed.

Vegetables

Similarly to fruit, hard vegetables — like carrots and broccoli — should be avoided with braces. Hard veggies can be tough to bite into with braces, posing a risk of popping a bracket off your tooth. We recommend cutting raw vegetables into bite-sized pieces that can easily be chewed in the back of your mouth. Better yet, we strongly recommend steaming or boiling your veggies in order to soften them.

Grains

One of the easiest food groups to eat while wearing braces, most grains can be soft and easily chewable. We recommend staying away from hard grains, such as bagels, but you can soften them up by warming them or breaking them into bite-sized pieces.

Also Check Out What Foods to Avoid With Braces

See the Dos and Don'ts

Meat

Meat can be hard for people with braces to enjoy because it is often hard to chew, which can loosen the bands that surround your molars. Additionally, eating meat from the bone, like ribs or chicken wings, can potentially cause a bracket to pop off. Instead, we strongly recommend sticking to lean and tender cuts of meat, and chopping them into bite-sized pieces. Some great options can include fish, chicken and lean beef or pork. If vegetarian, tofu can also be an awesome, extremely soft option full of protein.

Snacks

Some of our favorite, healthy snacks to recommend for people wearing braces include nut butters — such as almond or cashew butter — yogurt, sliced avocado, smoothies, applesauce, quinoa, or hard boiled eggs.

Regardless of what you eat when wearing braces, it’s extremely important to brush and floss often in order to remove any pieces of food that may get stuck in your braces. Additionally, it’s important to take care of your appliances, as damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process. Your teeth can only move into the right position if your appliance works correctly, and if you are wearing your rubber bands, retainers or any other appliances recommended by your orthodontist.

While it may seem overwhelming at first to plan on what to eat with braces, many healthy and delicious options still exist out there for you! If you or your child has any questions about orthodontic treatment, consider scheduling a complimentary consultation with our office. We’d love to meet you!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

What Do Rubber Bands Do for Braces

What Do Rubber Bands Do for Braces?

Orthodontic rubber bands, or elastics, are one of the most common tools orthodontists use to straighten your teeth. We use rubber bands for almost every patient who receives traditional metal braces, as they provide the necessary connective forces needed to move your jaws and teeth into proper alignment. But what do rubber bands do for braces?

Continue reading to learn more about how rubber bands work, what rubber bands on braces do, and when you get rubber bands for braces.

What are Rubber Bands for Braces?

Also known as elastics, our orthodontic rubber bands for braces come in many different colors, which can be changed each time you visit the orthodontist. There are two types of braces bands you may need during the orthodontic treatment process:

  1. Ligatures are wrapped around each individual bracket to hold the archwire in place. These types of rubber bands stay in place all of the time and are only removed at your check-in appointments.
  2. Interarch Bands focus primarily on aligning your teeth and jaw and fixing your bite. As for when you start wearing rubber bands for braces, our patients usually start wearing elastic bands 4-6 months into their treatment plan.

Three Braces Options for Teens

See Them Now

But Still, What Do Rubber Bands Do for Braces?

Our patients typically wear rubber bands on either side of their mouths. We hook them onto the brackets that are attached to the top canines, then stretch them down to the brackets attached to your bottom molars (or vice versa). Rubber bands then work to either pull your jaw forward or backward, depending on what movement you need. Proper alignment means that your upper teeth and lower teeth line up and fit comfortably together whenever you bite down. We use rubber bands to accelerate this process.

Now that you know how rubber bands for braces work, you may be wondering, when do you get bands for braces? Well, it depends on the patient. But our patients can start using rubber bands for their braces as soon as one month into treatment or as late as 12 months into treatment. At Gorman & Bunch, our team of orthodontists will create a customized treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and budget.

How to Wear Your Rubber Bands

We strongly recommend wearing your rubber bands every day. Your teeth may feel sore at first, but they will adjust and become more comfortable over time. Here are a few tips for how to wear your rubber bands:

  1. Keep your rubber bands in a safe spot so you don’t lose them.
  2. Replace your rubber bands every time you take them out and always replace each side at the same time. If one breaks and the other stays in place, go ahead and replace them both to apply the same amount of tension to both sides at all times.
  3. Always remember to remove your rubber bands each time you eat and brush your teeth.

Orthodontic rubber bands are a big step in getting closer to achieving a healthy and straight smile. We understand that you may have some nervousness about getting rubber bands for the first time. However, we believe that after a short adjustment period, you will hardly notice the rubber bands while they work to straighten your teeth and align your jaw.


We hope that better answers the question: What do rubber bands do for braces? We are committed to helping you achieve the best possible smile, and so we will make sure you fully understand how to use rubber bands before leaving our office. But as always, please contact us at any time if you have questions or concerns! We’d be happy to help in any way possible!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Palate Expander: What It Is and Why It's Needed

Palate Expander: What It Is and Why It's Needed

In the words of American writer Anthony J. D’Angelo: “Smile, it is the key that fits the lock of everyone’s heart.” A bit cheesy, but also a great description of the role a palate expander plays in straightening our patients’ teeth.

A very common tool of orthodontic treatment, this metal appliance applies gentle pressure on the roof of the mouth and upper jaw in order to prevent, reduce, or correct the severity of jaw and teeth problems. Palate expanders are designed to capitalize on changes in the early development of your teeth and jaw, and work best at a young age.

Read on for more info on why and how we use the palate expander in all of our Central Indiana offices.

Healthier Teeth Can Mean a Healthier Heart

See How

When We Use a Palate Expander

There are a few situations that require us to place a palate expander:

  • Teeth Crowding: According to the American Dental Association, baby teeth are typically replaced with permanent teeth by age 13. Unfortunately, as those teeth come in, they leave some of our patients with insufficient space in the jaw and prevent adult teeth from erupting correctly. Using a palate expander for better alignment helps solve this issue, hopefully before we need to extract any teeth.
  • Impacted Teeth: If you are already experiencing crowded teeth, then teeth that haven’t started erupting yet may be blocked and trapped in the roof of the mouth, requiring oral surgery to allow them to come in.
  • Posterior Crossbite: When your upper teeth become too close to the back part of your lower teeth, this can result in a narrow palate, which causes the back of the upper teeth to bite into the lower teeth.
  • Trouble Breathing: If you experience a high palate or narrow arch, your air passages may need to be widened in order to make breathing easier.

How Palate Expanders Work

We affix the palate expander to molars of the upper jaw with metal rings. In order to stretch the cartilage and bone of the palate, patients turn a key in the center of the expander each day, extending the arms of the palate expanders 1-2 millimeters per week and gently separating and stretching the flexible cartilage in the roof of your mouth. (Don’t worry! Our orthodontic team thoroughly walks through how to operate the palate expander when we first place the appliance.)

This process can take several weeks, though we typically keep expanders in the mouth for approximately one year. After this time, the expansion of the upper jaw is stable and does not require a retainer to keep the jaw and teeth in proper alignment.

What to Expect With a Palate Expander

While it may be a little slow going at the beginning of treatment, you’ll be able to see progress when a gap begins to open between your front teeth.

It’s not uncommon for an expander to feel bulky and uncomfortable at first. It may also cause excess salivation and impaired speech during the adjustment period. Until you feel fully adjusted to the palate expanders, we suggest eating non-sticky foods that do not require much chewing — such as soup, mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding and ice cream.

While wearing a palate expander, it’s critical to maintain a routine oral hygiene routine. Food and other debris can easily get trapped in your palate expander. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily in order to avoid cavities and tooth decay. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids with meals and snacks, and swish with water after eating to remove any food that may have gotten stuck.


It’s important to understand that palate expanders do not take the place of traditional braces or Invisalign. Instead, they help to reduce the treatment timeline by addressing teeth and jaw issues early, aiding in the development of a beautiful smile.

If you think your child may benefit from a free consultation to determine if they are in need of a palate expander, reach out to us today. We’re here to help!

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Choosing the Best Orthodontic Mouthguard for Braces

Choosing the Best Sports Mouthguard for Braces

From basketball, soccer, and football to baseball, hockey and lacrosse, you name the sport, and we’ve seen the athletes come through our seven Central Indiana offices. While our Invisalign patients can safely wear their aligners during physical activity, our patients in braces do run the risk of damaging their teeth or brackets while playing sports. And so, choosing the best mouthguard for braces can help ensure you or your child remains physically active throughout orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic Mouthguards Versus Regular Mouthguards

Mouthguards come in two different options: regular or orthodontic. Regular mouthguards are made from thermoplastic material that you can heat mold to your teeth. However, as your teeth move with your braces, the mouthguard doesn’t fit as well over time. Furthermore, if a mouthguard fits too tightly, it can actually work against the way braces are straightening your teeth.

For these reasons, we highly recommend choosing an orthodontic mouthguard for braces to receive ultimate protection. These mouthguards are made from high-grade silicone, featuring large rubber flanges that fit under your lip to prevent them from being too tight or catching on your brackets.

3 Types of Braces for Your Teens

See Now

Finding the Best Type of Mouthguard for Braces

While many products exist, here are four different types of mouthguard manufacturers to choose from when protecting your teeth.

Shock Doctor

Shock Doctor makes mouthguards specifically for athletes with braces that fit upper teeth brackets and prevent irritating cuts and scratches. One of the slimmest and most lightweight options, these mouthguards adjust as your teeth shift, allowing you to continue wearing them throughout your treatment process.

Vettex

Vettex manufactures mouthguards with lip protection, which stop you from accidentally biting yourself. While a bit larger than other options, these mouthguards tend to be more lightweight and cost-effective.

Gladiator

As the name may apply, martial artists and wrestlers prefer Gladiator mouthguards because they typically stay in your mouth easier and boast a custom fit. This brand also allows you to make a mold of your teeth at home and send it in for easier personalization.

Tapout

Unlike the other brands mentioned here, Tapout can be remolded to your teeth multiple times throughout your orthodontic treatment. They boast a unique feature that allows airflow to enter your teeth and jaw. These tend to be a little more expensive than the other options, but are easy-to-wear and don’t inhibit your natural speech.

Our Complimentary Mouthguard

If none of those mouthguards work for you — or if you just want to save some money — we also offer a complimentary mouthguard to our patients. These mouthguards come in two sizes and allow room for braces and tooth movement without needing to be boiled. Just ask us, and we’ll provide one for you!

How to Take Care of Your Orthodontic Mouthguard

Bacteria can easily get stuck inside your mouthguard and cause issues with your teeth. It’s important to clean your mouthguard after every time you wear it. We recommend using a soft toothbrush with toothpaste to gently clean the mouthguard. Whenever not in use, make sure to keep your mouthguard in a case so you don’t accidentally leave it somewhere, throw it away or sit on it.


Unfortunately, injuries can still happen even with a mouthguard. If you do sustain an injury while wearing a mouthguard, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re happy to take a look at your braces and make sure no serious issues or injuries occurred.

And if you are an athlete or have a child who plays sports and doesn’t have a mouthguard, come see us. We want to make sure you know all of your options for mouthguards, so you can continue playing sports.

Ready to schedule a free consultation?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.