One in four parents says their child has had an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO. That’s why Drs. Roger Nettune, Kenneth Banasiak and team at Banasiak & Nettune Orthodontic Associates thought February—also known as National Children’s Dental Health Month—would be a great time to remind our patients to be mindful of their braces and teeth while playing sports. Here are a few tips to stay safe on the field this spring, courtesy of the AAO: Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse. Wear a helmet Wear protective eyewear Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin […]
Fall is here, and sometimes we here at Banasiak & Nettune Orthodontic Associates just feel like a hot delicious meal is in order. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) fall dish that is sure to delight. We would like to remind you that a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment. Pasta Pomodorini Ingredients: • ¾ pound spaghetti or spaghetti• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling• ¼ cup sliced garlic• ½ teaspoon finely minced Calabrian chilies, or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes• 1 pint small cherry tomatoes, stems removed, crushed between your thumb and forefinger• Sea salt, preferably gray […]
It’s almost that spooky time of year again and Basking Ridge, Mendham, and Bedminster orthodontists, Drs. Roger Nettune, Kenneth Banasiak, and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists. Trick-or-treating safety guidelines: • Young children should always be accompanied by an adult• Carry a flashlight• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients: • All hard candies• All chewy candies• Caramel• Nuts• Licorice• Taffy• Jelly beans• Hard pretzels• Bubblegum• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)• Ice Of course, […]
At Banasiak & Nettune Orthodontic Associates, we know nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth during orthodontic treatment, courtesy of WebMD. Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth. Next on the list is flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth. Also, evading a trip to the dentist is probably not a great idea. Let’s […]
Drs. Roger Nettune, Kenneth Banasiak, and his team at Banasiak & Nettune Orthodontic Associates would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO. There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include “Orthodontic Treatment Basics,” “Common Bite Problems Seen in Children” and “Does My Child Need Braces?” We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Banasiak & Nettune Orthodontic Associates, please give us a call.
Should you need to call Banasiak & Nettune Orthodontic Associates in case you sustain any damage to your braces, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces. Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place. Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It’s changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions. Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don’t have a loop. Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in […]
Basking Ridge
