Today’s recipe not only sounds delicious, but the macaroni and shredded chicken will be soft and comfortable for those wearing braces.

 

Ingredients:

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the dish

Kosher salt

1 pound elbow macaroni

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup hot sauce (preferably Frank’s)

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons dry mustard

2 1/2 cups half-and-half

1 pound yellow sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)

8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

2/3 cup sour cream

1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

 

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken and garlic and cook 2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, then add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.

Spread half of the macaroni in the prepared baking dish, then top with the chicken mixture and the remaining macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce evenly on top.

Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko, blue cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

PANORAMIC VIEW X-RAY

When patients are getting ready to delve into orthodontic treatment they will notice there may be several orthodontic records prescribed for them by the orthodontist.  It may seem overwhelming and you may even question if they’re really necessary.  Here we’ll explain what those records are and why they are required to give you the optimal orthodontic experience.

 

This enables us to view the upper and lower jaws, all the teeth and supporting bone, sinuses, and a non-detailed look at the jaw joint.  It enables us to see abscesses, cysts and tumors of the jaw, the number of teeth, the angles at which they are coming in, and general health of the bone.

CEPHALOMETRIC VIEW X-RAY

This is an x-ray of the entire head taken from two views.  The frontal of full-face view allows us to see any asymmetries of the jaws, the skull, nasal septal deviations, and various diseases of the bone.  The profile skull view allows us to measure approximately 50 different areas by which we can construct a growth analysis (child), classify facial type and make accurate predictions as to what will happen without treatment and what can happen with various alternative treatments.

TMJ LAMINOGRAMS

These are very specialized views of the jaw joint, which are routinely taken on patients who have or are suspected of having jaw joint disease.  The laminograms allow us to check for correct joint position, anatomical problems, various types of arthritis, and degenerative diseases and malignancies.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Facial photographs allow us to study asymmetry of the face, smile lines, lip competence, and certain facial muscle habits.  The smile line is crucial to a truly excellent result.  Photographs of the mouth itself allow us to study texture of lips, cheek, tongue, etc. as well as documenting various types of stains or discoloration of teeth.  They also allow us to see the malpositions of teeth from various angles.

MOUNTED STUDY MODELS

Plaster models of the teeth are placed on an instrument called an articulator, which can exactly duplicate the position and movements of the jaw joint.  This is perhaps the most critical diagnostic aid we have.  It gives us a true picture of the way your bite actually is.  While this has been routine in our office for many years, most orthodontists, unfortunately, do not use it.

 

The actual records prescribed for you will be determined by your orthodontist on a case-by-case basis.  Having this information will ensure that your orthodontist is able to have a full understanding of your needs and create a treatment plan that will give you the best results possible.

Is getting orthodontic treatment just about looking better or is there any other real purpose?  You may think, as many people do, that the only reason to get braces is so your teeth and smile will look better.  In reality, there are numerous incentives to not only your dental health, but also your overall health that makes orthodontic treatment a valuable investment of your time and finances.

 

If the upper and lower teeth do not come together properly, resulting in a bad bite, you may experience problems with chewing food and digestion, inadvertently biting the inside of your cheeks, chipped or broken teeth, or even bone loss.  If teeth are hitting against each other improperly, over time this can cause mobility of the teeth and recession of the gums.  TMJ Disorder can also develop from a bad bite, which can result in pain in the jaw joints and surrounding muscles, headaches, sore neck and back, grinding of the teeth, and the movement and shifting of teeth.

 Teeth that are crowded are much harder to keep clean.  This means that it’s easier for food and bacteria to get trapped in the mouth, which may cause cavities and gum disease, and in some cases can even lead to heart disease or a stroke.

While the psychological effects of a healthy smile are invaluable, you can now see that the additional health benefits are immeasurable.

 

This is a favorite family recipe, which our crewmember, Katherine, is requested to make every Christmas for her family.  It’s soft texture makes it a great dish whether you’re wearing braces or not, and with a few easy swaps it can be made into a low-fat dish as well.  Enjoy and let us know how you like it!

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef (healthier option – ground turkey)

1 yellow onion, diced

¼ c. milk (healthier option – fat free milk)

16 oz. jar of salsa

10.75 oz. can cream of mushroom soup (healthier option – 98% fat free soup)

10.75 oz. can cream of chicken soup (healthier option – 98% fat free soup)

4 oz. can diced green chiles

4 c. shredded Mexican blend cheese (healthier option – low-fat or fat-free cheese)

10 flour tortillas (healthier option – low-fat, fat-free or whole wheat tortillas)

 

Instructions:

Brown the ground beef and onion, then drain.  In a bowl, thoroughly mix the ground beef with all ingredients except the cheese and tortillas.  In a 9×13 pan cover the bottom of the pan with half of the tortillas, then layer half of your meat mixture, then half of the cheese.  Repeat the layers.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, until cheese begins to brown.

“Do braces hurt?”  This is one of the most common questions that patients have when they come to the orthodontist.  Whether the patient is an adult or a child, this can be a nerve-inducing concern for them as they consider their orthodontic options.

As a crewmember at the Orthospaceship, I have seen hundreds of patients get braces and proceed with their journey through orthodontics, but in addition I was also fortunate enough to be a patient of Dr. Hakim’s.  This gave me the experience of empathizing with our patients as I became an adult with braces and, I have to say, it wasn’t that bad.

I too had some concerns about what level of pain might be involved, but to be honest it wasn’t a huge concern to me because I knew I wanted to get braces regardless.  I was willing to do anything to get a straight, beautiful, healthy smile.  With that said, I think the attitude a patient approaches orthodontics with goes a long way to helping them through the process.

In the spirit of honesty I will say there is some discomfort involved with having braces, we are moving teeth after all.  The level of that discomfort is going to vary from patient to patient depending on the treatment involved and the individual’s pain tolerance.  This being the case, I can’t say exactly what your experience will be, but I can share with you the complete truth about my own experience.

When my braces were first put on, I was sore for about the first week.  I would say it felt like having a toothache.  By sticking with soft foods, cold foods, and taking pain relievers as needed, it was completely tolerable.  Each time I would have a wire changed or an adjustment, there will be a similar discomfort for a few days after, but with these appointments being an average of every 8-10 weeks, it wasn’t that often.  I’d have a few days of annoyance, but then it was easy-going for two months!

The most uncomfortable experience I had with my braces was when I first received my rubber bands about halfway through my treatment.  The first 36 hours were quite unpleasant, but I kept wearing them and didn’t take them off (other than to eat or brush) because I knew they were required in order to correct my bite.  However, after that first day and a half I got used to them and it was no problem wearing them.  In fact, I got so used to the rubber bands that I’d often start to eat lunch and forget I was wearing them!

All in all, the answer to the question “Do braces hurt?” is yes…sometimes they do hurt.  Unfortunately, a little discomfort is part of the process, but it’s not unbearable and it’s definitely worth it in the end.  If I had to do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat because there is nothing better than finally being proud of my teeth and smile!

The American Association of Orthdontics (AAO) recommends that every child receive an orthodontic screening by the age of seven.  Some may wonder why it is necessary for such a young child who still has their baby teeth to be seen by an orthodontist, but early diagnosis and treatment can have many benefits such as: 

• Improved speech.
• The ability to guide and monitor facial growth.
• Correcting habits such as thumb-sucking and tongue thrust.
• By straightening crooked teeth they will be easier to clean and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
• The ability to guide the path of erupting teeth.
• Prevention of extractions and surgical procedures later on.
• May reduce the amount of treatment time when the patient is older.
• Improved self-esteem.

If the orthodontist decides that early treatment is not necessary, they will continue to see the patient on a regular schedule to monitor their dental and facial development and determine when it is the appropriate time to begin orthodontic treatment.

Choosing the Right Orthodontist for You

You’ve decided you’re ready to begin orthodontic treatment, or maybe you’re not completely ready yet, but you want to find out more about it.  Your next question may be, “How do I know which orthodontist to use?”

 

There are a few possible ways to start the process.  The most obvious would be to ask your general dentist for a referral, as they are likely to know a good orthodontist.  Another option would be to ask friends or family who have gone through treatment who their doctor was and if they would recommend him or her.  If you’re unable to get any personal recommendations, you could also do a search on the internet to find an orthodontist in your area.

 Once you have found an orthodontist the next step would be to go in for an initial consultation.  During this exam you should get the answers to the following questions:

•  Is the doctor a member of the AAO or ABO? (The American Association of Orthodontists-AAO is an organization that is open to orthodontists only, which will let you know this person is a true orthodontic specialist.  A member of the American Board of Orthodontics-ABO is board certified, which means he or she has voluntarily gone through a certification process to demonstrate their knowledge in the field of orthodontics.)
• What type of treatment is recommended?
• How long will the treatment take and what type of care, if any, will be needed afterwards?
• Are orthodontic records going to be taken? (Full orthodontic records including x-rays, photographs, and study models should be taken.  It may be necessary for the records to be taken before the doctor is able to provide you with the final treatment plan.)
• When should treatment be started?

 Once you have the answers to these questions as well as any other specific concerns that you have, you need to determine if you feel comfortable with the practice.  Unlike many other medical services, during orthodontic treatment you will visit the office on a regular basis and develop a relationship of sorts with the doctor and his staff.  It is important that you are comfortable with the doctor, his assistants, and the office staff.

 If you feel your questions are not being answered or that the doctor and/or his staff are not a match for you, then it may be necessary to seek out a second opinion.  This is a relationship that will continue for months or perhaps even years, so it is vitally important that you trust the knowledge and feel at ease with the manner of the orthodontist you select and his staff.

Education

Many general dentists perform some type of orthodontic treatment in their offices, whether that is braces, aligners, etc.  So you may wonder, “Why should I go to an orthodontist?  I can just have my dentist do the treatment.”  Before you make that decision, there are a few things you should consider.

 

Orthodontists are dentists who, after completing dental school, have gone on to received 2-3 years or more of additional training specifically in the field of orthodontics.  This additional training is where they learn the fine details of tooth movement and facial development.

Experience

An orthodontist limits their practice to orthodontics only.  That means that orthodontics is what they do all day every day.  This is their specialty.

Before you begin your orthodontic treatment, consider the fact that you are making a lifetime investment in the health and appearance of your teeth and you are most likely to receive the best results by receiving treatment from someone who has dedicated their life to the field of orthodontics.

Welcome to the Orthospaceship blog!  We will have fun and informative articles coming soon, so please stay tuned and thank-you for visiting!