May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month!

Did you know that May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month? What does that mean?

National Teen Self-Esteem Month was created to raise public awareness about how low self-esteem can negatively affect teens. Especially during May, parents and guardians of teens are asked to be positive role models. If teens can receive positive re-enforcement and their negative images of themselves are improved, then their self-esteem has a better chance of developing in a positive direction.

Dr. Richards and our team at Farr West Orthodontics saddened to know there are a lot of teens living in America, including our own area, that are struggling with depressed self-images. This can affect all aspects of their everyday lives. Some evidence shows that there is an increased risk for learning disabilities and eating disorders if a teen’s self-esteem is low. It can also lead to abuse of drugs and thoughts of suicide. Dating violence among high school teens is now more common than was previously thought.

What can be done to help?

So what can adults do specifically to help their teens? Check out the National Teen Self-Esteem Facebook page. It has tons of suggestions and positive messages for teens and parents alike. Encourage your teen to like this page. Some of the tips offered include:

1. When you stumble, get right back up.
2. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
3. Do things that make you feel good about yourself.
4. Open yourself up to compliments.

How can Farr West Orthodontics help improve teen self-esteem?

We strive to make each of our patients and especially our teens feel important and valued.  Our goal is to create a beautiful smile, but more importantly we work to make each patient smile and know that they are important to us. Dr. Michael Richards and the team try our best to recognize the achievements and talents of each of our patients.  We want our teens to feel comfortable, confident, and accepted for who they are while they are here and everywhere els.

Having a beautiful, healthy smile can help build self esteem and confidence. The team at Farr West Orthodontics can help you or your teen create a smile that will be something you'll be proud and confident to take anywhere with you.

Summary

A great message from the National Teen Self Esteem Month Facebook page:

"Each day is a new day to work on loving yourself as you are. Remember to be kind to yourself, recognize & appreciate your talents

and the things you do well, embrace mistakes, imperfection and quirks, don't let fear keep you from trying, and don't let others shape 

your view of yourself or what beauty is or what it means to be "cool" "in." Love yourself, love your day, and love your life."

Overall, a more positive approach to life will help us all. It is a very important trait to instill in our teens. As parents, a big part of our responsibility is to show our children there is always another day and bumps in the road are just that. We need to help guide their self-esteem and reinforce their positive traits. We can help them recognize the value of who they are.

Let us all use this month to help lift another and help them feel loved and accepted for who they are.  Then, lets carry this momentum of bettering others forward through the year and beyond.

For more information on this topic, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Richards, please give us a call at our convenient Farr West, UT office!

Advantages of Invisalign Over Traditional Braces

While Invisalign is not an option for everyone, it is a great option for many of our patients.  Due to Dr. Michael Richards' extensive training and experience with Invisalign we can treat most cases very successfully using it.  Here are a few advantages of it over traditional braces:

Cosmetic.  Invisalign is a series of clear aligners that gradually move your teeth.  Because they are made of a high quality clear plastic most people won't even notice that you are wearing them. That means that they won't even know you are in orthodontic treatment!

No dietary restrictions.  Unlike traditional braces no food is off limits when you are undergoing Invisalign treatment because you simply remove your aligners to eat and drink. So go ahead and eat those ribs or that Sugar Daddy!

Brushing and flossing is easy.  For patients with traditional braces it is difficult to keep their teeth clean; brushing and flossing are difficult and take more time.  With Invisalign you simply remove your aligners and brushing and flossing is just the same as it has always been for you.

Comfort. There are no wires or brackets poking your lips or cheeks as with traditional braces. 

Come in for a complimentary consultation and ask Dr. Richards if Invisalign is a good option for you.

Why do I need to wear rubber bands with my braces?

Most of our patients will need to wear rubber bands at some point during their orthodontic treatment.  Rubber bands are usually used to correct your bite, making your top and bottom teeth fit together better.  One of the more common problems that Dr. Richards fixes with is an overbite.  Rubber bands help pull the top teeth back and the bottom teeth forward.

Rubber bands come in different sizes and strengths.  Also, there is numerous ways to wear rubber bands. When it is time for you to start wearing rubber bands Dr. Michael R. Richards and the team at Farr West Orthodontics will show you exactly how to wear them and provide you with the rubber bands that will work best for your mouth.  If you get confused on how to wear your rubber bands please call our office and let us know.

One of the best ways to keep on schedule for getting your braces off on time or even early is to diligently wear your rubber bands.  Unless Dr. Richards tells you otherwise, rubber bands should be worn around the clock.  The only time you should take them off is to eat and to brush and floss.  When you do take them out throw the rubber bands away and replace them with a new pair. 

You should wear them while you sleep, while you are at work or school, while exercising, and while relaxing. Weak rubber bands that are worn all the time work better than strong rubber bands that aren’t worn very much. If you lose or run out of rubber bands please call us or stop by the office and we will happily give you some more.  

What do braces cost?

We get this question all the time.  It is a difficult question to answer because no two faces or mouths are exactly the same.  Dr. Michael R. Richards feels strongly that to create the best smile possible for you he needs to develop a unique and personalized treatment plan for you and every other patient. The treatment fee is largely determined by the duration of treatment, which is related to the difficulty of the treatment.  Some cases are relatively simple, requiring one short phase of treatment, whereas, some case are very complex or difficult requiring multiple treatment phases and appliances to create a beautiful smile.

The only way Dr. Michael R. Richards and the team at Farr West Orthodontics can give you an accurate quote for the cost of orthodontic treatment is for Dr. Richards to actually see you and perform a complimentary exam. Our team will get high quality digital photographs of your face and teeth; Dr. Richards will use these to educate you about your own mouth! He will also perform a complete oral exam, listen to your concerns, and answer your questions. By going through this process our team can give you an accurate treatment fee and estimate of how long treatment will take. At this time we can better discuss your insurance benefits and our flexible payment options to make your orthodontic treatment something that will make you smile.

Dr. Richards is not only concerned with making your teeth straight and giving you a great bite but wants to make sure your teeth fit as well as possible with your smile and the rest of your face.   Our passion is to make you smile.  When you smile we smile.

Call us today to at our convenient location in Farr West to schedule a complimentary exam.

Palatal Expanders

It’s no easy feat to have one of the best smiles in Hollywood. The reality TV starlet Kristin Cavallari attributes her gorgeous smile to routine oral hygiene, the removal of two impacted wisdom teeth, and having undergone orthodontic treatment. Kristin’s treatment began in sixth grade when she was fitted with a device Dr. Michael R. Richards and our team calls a palatal expander, which is used to guide upper jaw growth in our younger patients.

What is a palatal expander?

A palatal expander “expands” (or widens) your upper jaw by applying gentle pressure on your top, back teeth. It helps the top teeth fit better with the bottom teeth, giving you a better “bite.” In addition, palatal expanders work to create more room for teeth and promote a broader, more appealing smile!

Do palatal expanders hurt?

Palatal expanders produce very little discomfort, however, you may experience some difficulty speaking and swallowing for the first few days. Dr. Michael R. Richards and his team will give you important instructions on how to take care of your expander so that your treatment will remain on schedule.

Typically, it takes about a month to achieve the desired amount of expansion. After Dr. Richards has confirmed you have the correct amount of expansion, you will keep wearing your expander for about six months. This allows new bone to fill in and get strong. It is similar to after breaking an arm and you have to wear a cast to allow the bone to fill in and harden. Dr. Michael R. Richards and our team at Farr West Orthodontics are eager to make sure your expander works as well as possible.  If you have any questions about your expander or your treatment please give us a call. We are in the office 5 days a week and on weekends Dr. Richards can be reached by calling the number listed on the office’s voicemail message.

How much do braces cost?

We get this question all the time.  It is a difficult question to answer because no two faces or mouths are exactly the same.  Dr. Michael R. Richards feels strongly that to create the best smile possible for you he needs to develop a unique and personalized treatment plan for you and every other patient. The treatment fee is largely determined by the duration of treatment, which is related to the difficulty of the treatment.  Some cases are relatively simple, requiring one short phase of treatment, whereas, some case are very complex or difficult requiring multiple treatment phases and appliances to create a beautiful smile.

The only way Dr. Michael R. Richards and the team at Farr West Orthodontics can give you an accurate quote for the cost of orthodontic treatment is for Dr. Richards to actually see you and perform a complimentary exam. Our team will get high quality digital photographs of your face and teeth; Dr. Richards will use these to educate you about your own mouth! He will also perform a complete oral exam, listen to your concerns, and answer your questions. By going through this process our team can give you an accurate treatment fee and estimate of how long treatment will take. At this time we can better discuss your insurance benefits and our flexible payment options to make your orthodontic treatment something that will make you smile.

Dr. Richards is not only concerned with making your teeth straight and giving you a great bite, but wants to make sure your teeth fit as well as possible with your smile and the rest of your face.   Our passion is to make you smile.  When you smile we smile.

Call us today to at our convenient location in Farr West to schedule a complimentary exam.

How To Avoid Delays In Your Orthodontic Treatment

Our patients at Farr West Orthodontics hate the thought of delaying their treatments and often ask us what they can do in between their adjustment to help. Today, Dr. Michael Richards and our team wanted to provide some tips on how you can stay on track in with your treatment plan time.

The first thing is keep your adjustment appointments. Each visit with Dr. Richards is carefully planned to move your teeth a certain way in a specific time frame. It’s important to realize that missing an appointment can add weeks or even months to your orthodontic treatment time.

Next, we want you to let Dr. Richards and our team know right away if you experience any problems with your braces. A missing wire, rubber band, or broken bracket can delay treatment time, so we ask that you please give us a call right away to report any problems rather than waiting until your next appointment.

Make sure you wear your rubber bands as prescribed by Dr. Richards. Most, if not all, of our patients will need to wear elastics or rubber bands at some point during their treatment. Not wearing the elastics, or not wearing them enough, can slow down your treatment time. Rubber bands are crucial in aligning your bite and getting it to fit together correctly.

Finally, we want you to maintain good oral hygiene. In addition to flossing regularly, we encourage you to brush your teeth multiple times a day. Not brushing will slow down tooth movement, as well as increase your risk of developing cavities or tooth decay, which will inevitably delay treatment time. The last thing you want is a beautiful smile with stains on your teeth. 

If you have any questions about any of these tips, or if you have any general questions about your treatment, please call the office or ask Dr. Richards during your next visit!