Our Blog

Adult Orthodontic Treatment

March 4th, 2021


Almost one third of our SmilesForever Orthodontics patients are adults. In fact tooth alignment can be achieved at any age! A bad bite and crooked teeth often contribute to tooth decay, gum and bone loss, headaches, abnormal wear of tooth enamel and jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain. A great smile can dramatically improve your self esteem and personal appearance, not to mention studies clearly show that healthy gums and aligned teeth have a positive effect on your health, and your heart in particular.

Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells are highly skilled in using new techniques which greatly increase comfort levels, while decreasing the frequency of visits and often shortening overall treatment time. New technology also provides discerning adults today with several lower profile treatment options, that may include clear braces with tooth color arch wires, mini metal braces and Invisalign. Drs. Gilbert and Wells specialize in blending treatment goals with outstanding results, and in many cases, work closely with your general dentist or other specialists to ensure that all treatment objectives are met.

Are you ready to discuss your options for a healthy, beautiful smile? We’re happy to help schedule your complimentary orthodontic evaluation with Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells at any of our four convenient locations in Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville, GA. Give us a call today at (770) 963-3963 or simply click on the provided link to request your free appointment. We can’t wait to greet your smile!

SmilesForever Orthodontics awarded “Best of Gwinnett” for 2020!

February 14th, 2021


At SmilesForever Orthodontics, we pride ourselves on providing patients in the Gwinnett area and surrounding communities with the absolute best in orthodontic care and services. Knowing our caring and specialized orthodontists and staff are doing our best to help improve the lives and oral health of our patients is extremely rewarding. Having our patients, associates and community actively showing their support through voting as a tangible acknowledgement is very appreciated too. That’s why we are so proud to announce that we have been named “Best of Gwinnett” in the field of Orthodontic Practices for 2020 by Gwinnett Magazine!

Being voted Best Orthodontic Practice in the largest county in the state of Georgia is quite special to us. 40 years ago, Dr. Ron Parsons and SmilesForever Orthodontics opened our doors and became part of the Gwinnett community. This year, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we are proudly providing orthodontic excellence with four office locations. Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells, along with every one of our SmilesForever team are committed to helping create beautiful, confident smiles. We enthusiastically participate in extensive training and continuing education to treat our patients with the utmost skill, technology, care, and compassion. We simply love bringing smiles to Gwinnett!

What is the coveted “Best of Gwinnett” award?

“Best of Gwinnett” is an annual poll created by Gwinnett Magazine. The goal of the poll is to acknowledge and award the Gwinnett area’s best businesses in over 20 professional fields in a wide variety of categories. Nominees are submitted by people in the Gwinnett area in categories including Health and Medicine, Orthodontic Practices, Dental Health, Education, Food and Drink, and many more. The winners are determined by reader voting and the editorial staff at Gwinnett Magazine. Before winners are announced, the results are confirmed by the Better Business Bureau reports, ranking sites and voting pattern analysis reports to verify their legitimacy.

We are beyond honored and humbled!

This is the 12th consecutive year that we have been awarded and named “Best of Gwinnett”, which makes this honor all the more special. From our board certified orthodontists, Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells, to our front desk to our team of specialized orthodontic assistants, everyone here at SmilesForever is so touched and genuinely grateful to receive this honor once again. With this in mind, we would like to take a moment to thank everyone who helped in making this possible, including the incredible patients we treat and the entire staff at Gwinnett Magazine. Our commitment to upkeep our rigorous standards and compassionate patient and community care strengthens with your trust and confidence into 2021 and beyond!

TREAT Your Braces and Teeth Kindly This October!

October 21st, 2020

At SmilesForever Orthodontics we LOVE Halloween!! Did you also know that October is National Orthodontic Health Month? As Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells tell our patients - that's not just a coincidence!

Many of our patients and families are opting not to trick or treat door-to-door this Halloween but the candy bags in every store sure are tempting this time of year. Dr. Wells and Dr. Gilbert feel it's still very important to educate both our patients and their parents of the potential risks to braces and teeth with some of the "treat" choices out there. Each of our patients are given a list of foods to avoid while in orthodontic treatment and are encouraged to avoid these hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy items even once the braces have come off. Any food item that may harm braces and appliances may also pose that same risk to permanent teeth!

In addition to our "Foods to Avoid" list for patients, which can also be found on our webpage under the Life With Braces tab, our SmilesForever doctors and team have put together a braces-friendly Pinterest Board of Ghoulishly Delicious Treats recipes. We're teaming up with The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) again this year to recommend FIVE TIMELY TIPS to protect braces and orthodontic appliances, while also protecting teeth from decay.

  1. Avoid sticky foods
  2. Brush up after eating to avoid cavities
  3. Just say "BOO" to hard treats!
  4. Spooktacular News - if your diet allows sugar, you can still indulge in soft chocolates, M&M's and Reeces Peanut Butter Cups WITHOUT NUTS, Muskateer Bars, etc.
  5. Make a commitment to avoid hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy foods all year round to increase your rate of success for worry-free orthodontics and healthy teeth
Fun Ideas to Treat Your Neighborhood Children

Know of any neighbors with braces? Consider handing out alternative treats instead of candy snacks this year. Bracelets, spooky rings, toy cars, coloring books, etc., make an awesome surprise! If your neighborhood opts out of door-to-door trick or treating this year, an option may be a surprise toy bag or ice cream gift card left at the front door for the recipients. We heard of one local subdivision that will be posting pictures of their children dressed in costume on their mailboxes for a fun drive-by Halloween night!

Remember to make good choices for your braces and teeth during and after treatment. We wish you all a safe, happy and HEALTHY Halloween!

School Tips For Patients With Braces

September 14th, 2020

At SmilesForever Orthodontics, we do our best to remind our patients about the importance of maintaining excellent oral hygiene at their appointments and appreciate the support you provide at home. Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our SmilesForever team are aware that the 2020-21 school year has been shaping up a little differently for many of our patients. Whether digital learning has been elected, as for many in Gwinnett County, or students are in the classroom this fall, we want to remind our patients of the importance of their oral hygiene care during the school year.

For parents, this means helping to prepare your child with the essentials they need to keep their braces clean at school and at home. Below, you’ll find some helpful tips to make caring for braces as easy as possible.

Keep Up With Oral Hygiene

Busy class schedules, homework, sports & extra curricular activities can make it hard to focus on oral health. However, failing to follow a regular oral hygiene routine may hinder orthodontic treatments and can lead to tooth decay. Remember to brush & floss as recommended for best results, whether at school or at home.

Pack a Braces Care Kit

Carry a braces care kit with you wherever you go. Your kit should include:

Orthodontic wax
Floss and threaders
Toothbrush
Small mirror
Proxy brush
Rubber bands if instructed
Toothpaste

The care kit should be small enough to carry around in a book bag, backpack, or purse. The kit can be easily kept next to the computer when digitally learning or completing school projects at home. We’re all about helping your child eliminate excuses for not being proactive about their oral health!

Be Mindful of What You Eat

Warning - hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy foods, along with foods high in sugar should be avoided while wearing braces! We have provided you with a list of foods to avoid at your initial braces appointments. These warning foods can potentially damage your braces by breaking your brackets of wires. This could delay the treatment process, and be uncomfortable before its fixed by your orthodontist. We’re always here to help if you have questions and will be happy to provide you with another list of foods to avoid if you need one.

Finishing Your Homework

If you are instructed to wear elastics, they are now a homework task! If you add them to your daily homework list you will be more diligent in making sure to complete the hours of wear directed, in order to progress your treatment.

Keep Your Orthodontic & Dental Appointments

The school year typically tends to get pretty busy. Whether busy at home or at school, just remember, your braces need to be tightened and checked regularly for best results. Also, regular visits to your dentist are necessary to spot cavities, and any early signs of gum disease, so don’t forget to visit your dentist this fall.

To schedule your fall appointment with us, please give us a call at (770) 963-3963 or any of our local offices in Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville. When scheduling a new appointment you are also welcome to complete our online appointment request form. Please call us directly and we’ll be happy to help you make changes to your existing appointments if you need to cancel or reschedule.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy fall and school year! We hope you enjoyed learning about the best ways to care for your braces.

 

Best of Gwinnett
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