Straightening your teeth with traditional braces used to be something of a public affair. While traditional teeth-straightening methods yielded high-quality results, it was also essentially impossible to wear them undetected as you went about your day. The visibility of braces could be especially troubling to teens in the high-stress environment of high school and even during the early years of college.

With Invisalign Teen, Dr. Loretta Rubenstein and our team at Oceans of Smiles Orthodontics will tell you that many of those concerns are no longer as relevant as they once were. Because Invisalign Teen aligners are constructed out of a plastic that is both smooth and clear, in all likelihood friends and family members won’t even realize the teen is wearing them. The smooth and clear plastic also makes the aligners much more comfortable than traditional braces, which means the teenaged user won’t have to deal with something large and obstructive in his or her mouth.

Additionally, the Invisalign Teen aligners are specifically made to be removable when the need arises. Your son or daughter won’t have to worry about getting food stuck in the alignment trays because they can be pulled out before a meal and popped back in afterwards. Invisalign Teen wearers can remove the aligners before brushing, which allows them to make sure their teeth are free and clear of all obstructions.

Invisalign Teen aligners also allow wearers to keep doing all the activities they have previously enjoyed. If your teen plays sports, for example, he or she won’t have to worry about a mouth filled with metal brackets getting injured during play. If your teen plays an instrument, he or she won’t have to worry about traditional braces affecting normal playing techniques. The aligners will remain both comfortable and convenient during all of those activities and more.

If your teen is concerned about physical appearance and worried that braces will adversely affect his or her life for a year or more, Invisalign Teen treatment with Dr. Loretta Rubenstein is definitely the right choice. Teens don’t have to be shy about their smile, won’t have to change any of the activities they normally do, and will still get all the benefits of straight teeth when the process is completed.

For more information about Invisalign Teen, or to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Loretta Rubenstein, please give us a call at our convenient Newport News and Gloucester, VA office today!

Today we wanted to highlight someone very special, Dr. Loretta Rubenstein!  She chose dentistry and ultimately orthodontics because of the difference braces made in her own life as a 13-year-old military dependent living in Germany. That experience and the relationship she developed with her orthodontist and his family is what originally got her interested in dentistry. Her orthodontist and his family played a significant role in helping her get to where she is today. That is the kind of difference what she hopes to inspire in her young patients’ lives.

Dr. Rubenstein received her undergraduate education at the University of South Carolina and attended dental school at the University of North Carolina. Her general practice internship was completed through the United States Air Force, and both her pediatric dental specialty training and orthodontic specialty training were completed at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College.  In today’s world of medicine and dentistry technology is constantly advancing with many new and exciting changes emerging. Dr. Rubenstein strives to stay 100% current on all new technologies and information in her orthodontic specialty, while also staying informed on the advancements in general dentistry. There is no way to be the best orthodontist she can be unless she is current, educated, and informed.

Before becoming an orthodontist, Dr. Rubenstein worked in every area of dentistry and continued to specialize until finding orthodontics in 1988. “It has been a fun, challenging, and rewarding journey; what more could anyone ask for?”  Dr. Rubenstein has been practicing at the Newport News location since 1992. “Over that time we have become a large family, and have been able to see our patients mature and grow into adulthood. It is so very rewarding to be able to develop those types of friendships with our patients! One of the best parts is getting to follow each patient’s unique journey and watch their smiles and personalities transform over time.”  Dr Rubenstein and the team love developing wonderful relationships with patients, and absolutely love helping them achieve the smile they always dreamed of having!

Dr. Rubenstein, her husband,  two children, and their three big dogs moved to Newport News when she resigned from her position as a professor at the Medical College of Virginia Dental School in Richmond. They have lived here now for 26 years! Her husband grew up in this area and they both love the proximity to the beach, because they are all water people, including their Labrador Retrievers. They all enjoy being on the water, boating, jet skiing, scuba diving, throwing tennis balls for the dogs, and watching sunsets or sunrises.

Straighter teeth is something many people desire. A nice smile is one of the most attractive things about a person. However, wearing a mouth full of braces for two, three, or more years can be a major pain, both literally and figuratively.

Luckily, there is another option. Invisalign is an alternative to traditional braces. Learn more about the benefits Invisalign offers and why you should consider this exciting method of straightening teeth.

• When you have straight teeth, your mouth is healthier in general and there is less chance of tooth decay and gum disease. Invisalign makes it possible for more people to straighten their teeth.
• Invisalign is essentially invisible. You can straighten your teeth without unsightly metal in your mouth.
• The average cost is similar to that of traditional braces, which makes it affordable for many families.
• With Invisalign, the aligner trays are smooth and comfortable to wear. Traditional metal braces can be uncomfortable and cause irritation to the mouth.
• Invisalign is removable, so you do not have to wear the system during special occasions, or when you’re eating. With normal metal braces, you are stuck with them for the entire straightening process.
• Brushing and flossing are simple. Since the system is removable, you can brush and floss just like normal.

As you can see, Invisalign is an exciting option we provide at Oceans of Smiles Orthodontics for those who want straighter teeth. If this is something that sounds interesting to you, talk to Dr. Loretta Rubenstein and find out if it would work for your particular situation. Get started today, and before you know it you will be enjoying your straighter teeth.

For more information about Invisalign, or to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Loretta Rubenstein, please give us a call at our convenient Newport News and Gloucester, VA office today!

If Dr. Loretta Rubenstein and our team at Oceans of Smiles Orthodontics have recommended a palatal expander, you might be wondering what it is and how it will help you. A palatal expander is a small appliance fitted in your mouth to create a wider space in the upper jaw. It is often used when there is a problem with overcrowding of the teeth or when the upper and lower molars don’t fit together correctly. While it is most commonly used in children, some teens and adults may also need a palatal expander.

Reasons to get a palatal expander

There are several reasons you might need to get a palatal expander:

• Insufficient room for permanent teeth currently erupting
• Insufficient space for permanent teeth still developing which might need extraction in the future
• A back crossbite with a narrow upper arch
• A front crossbite with a narrow upper arch

How long will you need the palatal expander?

On average, patients have the palatal expander for four to seven months, although this is based on the individual and the amount of correction needed. Several months are needed to allow the bone to form and move to the desired width. It is not removable and must remain in the mouth for the entire time.

Does it prevent the necessity for braces?

The palatal expander doesn’t necessarily remove the need for braces in the future, but it can in some cases. Some people only need braces because of a crossbite or overcrowding of the teeth, which a palatal expander can help correct during childhood, when teeth are just beginning to erupt. However, others may eventually need braces if, once all their permanent teeth come in, they have grown in crookedly or with additional spaces between.

If you think your child could benefit from a palatal expander, or want to learn about your own orthodontic treatment options, please feel free to contact our Newport News and Gloucester, VA office!