Your pal, fluoride

There are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment with Dr. McFarland. You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment? Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement.

Fluoride used in our office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

Dr. McFarland invites patients to our 21st Annual Picnic!

Our office would like to invite our patients to Dr. McFarland's 21st Annual Picnic. It will be held at Zone Action Park on October 6th from 4:00 - 8:00pm. It is a lot of fun! There will be many activities, including batting cages, a bounce house, go-carts, games, miniature golf and fantastic door prizes. We will serve pizza and hot dogs. All of our patients are invited, along with family and friends, so don't forget to mark your calendars!

As always, feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about the annual picnic, or if you would like to schedule your next appointment.

Thank you,

-Dr. McFarland and team

Tell Dr. McFarland what’s on your mind!

Week after week, Dr. McFarland and team blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontic treatment care and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic techniques we offer. This week, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our wonderful patients and readers: What’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog in the coming months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask us for a while now? Let us know by posting here or on our interactive Facebook fan page!


So… take it away and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have!

Ask Dr. McFarland: Am I too old for braces?

Who’s afraid of “metal mouth” and the appearance of braces? Not adults, apparently. Recently, Dr. McFarland and our staff read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. McFarland can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. McFarland would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Ask Dr. McFarland: When should my child first visit the orthodontist?

At McFarland Orthodontics we know that it isn't always obvious to know at what age children should first visit an orthodontist. Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. Richard McFarland for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Richard McFarland to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at the office of Dr. Richard McFarland to schedule an appointment.