How do I take care of my lingual braces?

Patients at Clear Advantage Dental & Orthodontic Clinic often wonder if lingual braces require the same amount of care as regular braces. The only real difference between lingual braces and traditional braces is the location of the brackets: lingual brackets are mounted on the back of your teeth. This mounting technique means that your braces [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:57-07:00May 5th, 2015|

Invisalign® vs. Traditional Braces

A great smile can go a long way. Scientific research suggests that people who smile are perceived as more attractive and confident than those who don’t flash their pearly whites. When it comes time to invest in orthodontics to improve your beautiful smile, choosing the best option can be daunting. Comparing Invisalign to traditional [...]

2025-06-08T23:16:14-07:00April 28th, 2015|

What causes crooked teeth?

Teeth erupt crookedly for a number of reasons that range from genetics to mouth deformities and serious oral diseases. When extra teeth or abnormally large teeth create a malocclusion (crookedness or misplacement of teeth), the culprit is usually genetic in nature. Other inherited traits involve jaws that are too small to accommodate a full set [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:57-07:00April 21st, 2015|

Braces-Friendly Snack Ideas

Wearing braces limits some of the snacks you can eat. However, you still have plenty of choices for fun and healthy foods that will not harm your braces. You can even enjoy a few crunchy treats as long as you choose them carefully. Sweet Treats Puddings provide a sweet and safe snack while you are [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:57-07:00April 14th, 2015|

How NOT to Forget Your Retainer

The alarm sounds in the morning, you wake up and realize "I forgot to wear my retainer!" If this only happened once, don't panic. Missing one night with a retainer is unlikely to cause significant teeth movement. However, if it has happened often, give our Waterloo, ON, Vancouver, BC, or Cranbrook, BC office a call [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:57-07:00April 7th, 2015|

Braces-Friendly Recipe: Lunch

Getting braces comes with a lot of rules. No sticky candies, watch out for popcorn, and steer clear of chips. These rules leave many braces-wearers wondering what they can still eat without hurting their teeth or their expensive orthodontic appliances. Fortunately, constructing a braces-friendly lunch is straightforward once you know which foods to avoid. Foods [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:57-07:00March 31st, 2015|

When is the best age to begin orthodontic treatment?

Most parents know that routine dental care should begin during their child’s toddler years. And many assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Suzanne Cziraki for an initial orthodontic consultation. The ideal age for an orthodontic evaluation is age seven. At that age, your [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:57-07:00March 24th, 2015|

St. Patrick’s Day: Celtic pride, green shamrocks, and lucky charms!

“St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic.” Adrienne Cook Lucky green shamrocks, leprechauns, and pots of gold – it must be St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re not Irish, how do you go about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? It’s easy: You just put on one [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:57-07:00March 17th, 2015|

What Your Braces Rubber Band Color Says About You

However you may feel about having to wear braces, choosing the color of your rubber bands is sure to bring a smile to your face. Whether you want to express your creativity, coordinate your braces with your outfits, or show some serious school spirit, decorating your mouth with colorful bands takes some of the stress [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:58-07:00March 10th, 2015|

Caring for Your Smile While Wearing Invisalign®

Getting your braces off is exciting. You’ve been working on your new smile for months or years, and it’s time for the trips to our Waterloo, ON, Vancouver, BC, or Cranbrook, BC office to pay off. Can you imagine how bad it would be to discover that your teeth are straight, but that there’s decay? [...]

2025-05-29T14:28:58-07:00March 3rd, 2015|