Dr Brust Ortho Blog

How your teeth grow in, alignment of your jaw, and even childhood behaviors can have long lasting impacts on the shape of your mouth, and could contribute to misalignments.

If you’ve made the decision to get braces, you care about your smile. With the knowledge you’re doing all you can to make your teeth straight and even, you might be wondering how you can make your smile brighter at the same time.

A new trend that promises to give people the smile of their dreams might be easier, but might not be the best choice for everyone!

According to the American Academy of Orthodontics, “a simple two-step routine can not only effectively remove dental plaque and strengthen your teeth but can also help to minimize your time in orthodontic treatment.”

For a long time, unsightly “headgear” was the best way to align teeth. Then came metal braces, which are still very common. But the next step in beautifying smiles is Invisalign! Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Invisalign.

Do you wish your teeth were straighter? Do you envy those people who have perfectly white, straight smiles? If you’ve just started seeing an orthodontist, or are wondering if you should continue treatment, we’re here to help.

Whether you’re looking for outdoor fun, or a cozy night indoors, there’s lots of fun attractions happening around town that are great for you and the kids.

The holiday season is fast approaching! Peppermint everything, twinkling lights, and best of all – time spent with our friends and family. It’s also the perfect time of the year to reflect on what we’re all grateful for. You can be grateful for holiday foods – many Thanksgiving staples are great foods for those of us with braces or Invisalign!

According to Colgate, “more than 1.2 million U.S. adults currently sport braces.” Are you one of them? Maybe you’re a teen or you have a child who needs braces, or is currently receiving treatment.

We love seeing happy patients and their beautiful smiles, and want to help you, too! According to the American Dental Association (ADA), “having straighter teeth can improve your mouth, body, and mind.”

When thinking about summer parties, you probably also think about the delicious food! Burgers, brats, s’mores – it’s the best time of year to enjoy these tasty treats. How can you serve healthier options that won’t interfere with your braces while still enjoying traditional party foods? We’ve got the answers!

If you’re wondering whether you should consider traditional braces or Invisalign, we know that it can be a tough decision, especially for adults. However, the benefits of having straighter teeth are more than just aesthetic!

If a big multi-state road trip or trip flying across the country isn’t in the cards for your family this summer, consider exploring your own backyard! Some of the coolest places in Michigan lie along rural backroads and in the heart of the state’s biggest cities.

Did you know that smiling can make you healthier? If you’re considering the cost of braces in Ann Arbor, these health benefits alone may be worth it!

As the weather breaks and you and your family start to gear up for summer, start planning those summer vacations and get ready to hit the road!

When you throw braces into the mix, weekly menus have to change a little bit. But don’t let that discourage you! There are plenty of braces-friendly substitutes for most of teens’ favorite foods.

If traveling isn’t in your plans for spring break this year, you can still find fun things to do as a family right here in Ann Arbor! Here’s some suggestions for some fun things to do to enjoy spring break as a family.

The first week or so getting used to Invisalign is a big change if you don’t know what to expect. Many orthodontists say the best advice for people about to begin wearing clear aligners is to establish a consistent, healthy routine that you can maintain throughout your treatment.

Want to know how to keep your braces clean even while running around all day? Are you worried your hectic schedule will prevent you from having good hygiene with braces in Ann Arbor? Looking for tips for a cleaner mouth on the go?

Just as your body changes throughout your life, your teeth change too! As you grow, there can be problems with tooth placement and jaw position. An orthodontist can help transform misaligned teeth into a healthy, radiant smile.

Straight, beautiful teeth are just one if the outward signs of orthodontic treatment, but there are many other reasons to continue seeing your orthodontist!

Invisalign treatment is an amazingly simple process that relies on hi-tech imaging and custom-made aligners to make the experience easy on you! Read on to get the scoop on the whole process!

Whether traveling by plane, car, or train, traveling with everything you need to take care of your braces or invisible aligners can be tricky. To make it easier on you, we’ve put together a handy checklist to make sure taking care of your braces on vacation is easy.

Did you know that summertime is the best time for kids to get braces or Invisalign? We know – it’s not the most fun summer activity, but for many kids, summer is the perfect time to see your orthodontist and get a head start on having a healthier, straighter smile in time for picture day.

It’s very common for kids and teens to be nervous before they get braces. Depending on which type of braces they get (traditional metal braces, or clear braces like Invisalign), the process may differ, but there are common aspects that you should know to help them feel better about what’s coming up.

Having issues with your teeth can be frustrating, and we know it can sometimes cause low self-esteem. At Stieper & Brust Orthodontics, we can help get you a beautiful smile that you’ll want to show off!

Even though it’s important to steer clear of braces-busting foods when your teeth are covered in brackets and wires, you can still dig into some delicious foods and snacks when you’re wearing braces! To celebrate the start of the beautiful Michigan fall season, we’ve got a few recipes to share with you here that are perfectly safe to eat when you’re wearing braces.

The patients we see at Stieper & Brust Orthodontics visit us to improve the appearance and health of their smiles by wearing orthodontic appliances on their teeth. If you’ve been told by your dentist that you have a malocclusion, it means that there is a problem with your bite like the alignment of your teeth or crowding of your teeth. Your dentist may have recommended that you see an Ann Arbor orthodontist to correct your imperfect smile for improved cosmetics and better oral health.

Lately, we've been noticing a resurgence in a trend that we had hoped was gone for good: DIY braces. As a premier orthodontist serving the Taylor and Ann Arbor, MI areas, we're passionate about helping people improve their smiles, but DIY braces are no way to do it. While they may seem like a clever way to get a better smile, DIY braces are actually incredibly dangerous and have the potential to destroy your natural smile. At Stieper & Brust Orthodontics, we want you to be as informed as possible, so let's take a look at what's so wrong with do-it-yourself braces.

Spring is here, and we at Stieper & Brust Orthodontics are very excited to welcome the new season! We hope you are too, and if you're welcoming spring while wearing braces, we wanted to help you celebrate with a few braces friendly spring recipes. Try these at home and we know you'll be feeling the mood of the season!

If you’re an adult who is unhappy with the appearance of your smile due to an orthodontic problem like crooked, misaligned or gapped teeth, you should definitely look into seeing an Ann Arbor orthodontist for a consultation. Long gone are the days of orthodontic treatment being just for kids as today, a growing number of adults are discovering the many benefits that come with undergoing orthodontic treatment. Below are a few benefits you could enjoy by improving the health and appearance of your smile with orthodontic treatment.

The holidays are here, and while this is many people's favorite time of year, for those wearing braces, the holidays pose a new set of challenges. While the foods, sweets, and treats we love to enjoy during this season may be delicious, they can also pose a major threat to braces. But that doesn't mean you have to give up on all the food and fun! Here are a few holiday recipes that are delightfully delicious without posing a risk to braces.

Halloween is drawing closer and closer, and as fun as it is to tell scary stories about ghosts and goblins, there's another spooky situation this season that truly gives us a fright: cavities! While we all love to enjoy the candy that Halloween night inevitably brings, those hard, sticky, and sugary treats can do a number on braces and orthodontic equipment. However, there are plenty of delicious treats you can enjoy this Halloween that won't damage braces or teeth. To help you celebrate without breaking your braces, here are a couple of yummy Halloween treats that people with and without braces can enjoy!

Braces are still the most popular form of treatment and offer a reliable, cost-effective solution for a healthy smile. Recently, advances in orthodontic treatment have allowed for new alternatives to traditional braces, and one of the most popular alternative treatments is Invisalign. Invisalign is a revolutionary treatment that straightens teeth safely, effectively, and invisibly, and now, there is a version specially made for teenagers....Click the title to read on!

Whether you are wearing Invisalign or traditional braces, it is of the utmost importance that you practice good oral hygiene so your orthodontic treatment is not derailed due to problems like tooth decay or gum disease.If you are wearing metal or ceramic braces that are cemented to your teeth, you must spend more time brushing and flossing because there are more places for food debris and bacteria to hide in all the nooks and crannies around your appliances. Here are a few tips for making sure you are at the top of your game when it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene while wearing braces....Click the title to read on!

Since its release, Invisalign has rocked the orthodontic world and quickly ascended to be one of the most popular forms of treatment, and with little wonder! It is a comfortable, convenient, and virtually invisible alternative to braces that lets you continue to enjoy your favorite foods. With all its benefits, it sounds like a no-brainer! But as convenient as Invisalign is, there are a few things you should know before racing to get it...Click the title to read on!

Since its release, Invisalign has rocked the orthodontic world and quickly ascended to be one of the most popular forms of treatment, and with little wonder! It is a comfortable, convenient, and virtually invisible alternative to braces that lets you continue to enjoy your favorite foods. With all its benefits, it sounds like a no-brainer! But as convenient as Invisalign is, there are a few things you should know before racing to get it....Click the title to read on!

Thank you for taking the time to visit our website and read our blog! We like to keep our patients up-to-date with what’s happening in the office, so check often for the latest posts. We may post an informational article, an announcement about an office contest or a spotlight on a special patient or staff member! At the end of each post, you will see an “Add Comment” box. We welcome your feedback, so feel free to leave a comment. We love engaging with our patients, and regularly updating this blog is a great way for us to connect in between your scheduled visits!