For orthodontic patients who choose to make fashion statements with their mouths, colors are really heating up. From soft pastels that coordinate with a wardrobe to bright hues for celebrating holidays or expressing school spirit, the colors appear on the elastic ties that bind the wires to the brackets. These ties can be changed when the wires are changed.
While colors for braces are fun, the fun serves a serious purpose, notes Dr. Christine Abenoja, an orthodontist in Liberty Park and Warrior for 8 years, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Enthusiastic patients are more apt to follow instructions on oral hygiene and diet. Good cooperation can yield results that “When patients are involved in their treatment, they may take better care of their braces. That helps patient and doctor to reach treatment goals and produce a healthy beautiful smile, emphasizes Dr. Abenoja.
Patients have a splashy array of hues from which to choose. Colors are a hit with countless braces-wearers. “We make sure we have an ample supply of appropriate colors on hand for upcoming holidays,” says Dr. Abenoja.
Patients can celebrate every time they smile, year-round: red and white for Valentine’s Day; green for St. Patrick’s Day; red, white and blue for July 4; orange and black for Halloween; green and red for Christmas—or blue and white for Chanukah, or black, red and green for Kwanzaa.
Adults, too, are known to choose different colors when they have their braces adjusted. For a sports fanatic, it’s a unique way to express loyalty to college or pro teams.
Some patients prefer to be less obvious about their orthodontic treatment. They have a variety of options including tooth-colored brackets; self-ligating brackets, which do not require ties to join the wire to the bracket; or clear aligner trays. “Thanks to today’s technology, the materials we orthodontists use to move teeth can range from obvious to almost imperceptible,” notes Dr. Abenoja.
About Abenoja Orthodontics:
Dr. Abenoja is a diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics. She graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine and completed an additional three year, advanced educational program studying orthodontics at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
For more information, visit Dr. Abenoja’s website at www.bracesbham.com, call 205-969-1969 or see her Facebook page Orthodontics at Liberty Park.
Dr. Abenoja is a member of the AAO. Orthodontists are uniquely qualified specialists who correct improperly aligned teeth and jaws (bad bites). They receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth. Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists are eligible for membership in the AAO. Visit the AAO online at www.mylifemysmile.org.
