Nirenblatt Orthodontics

At our office, we know image can be everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a consultation at our office. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in for a consultation?

We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

We are living in an age with a renewed commitment to conservation, and are frequently reminded to recycle, reduce and reuse. Last Sunday marked Earth Day, so today we thought we would discuss some of the things we do to conserve our natural resources and the environment.

Our office is digitalized, which means we can operate without the use of large amounts of paper and printing materials. The information in our office can be sent and processed digitally, which is also more efficient. We take all of the steps possible to be a 'green' office, making us better for the planet and more convenient for our patients.

We would love to hear how you minimize your impact on the environment. Leave us a comment below or post on our Facebook page!

The number one goal of orthodontic treatment is to give you or your child a good bite, meaning straight teeth that work well with the teeth in the opposite jaw. A good bite makes it easier for you to eat, chew and speak. It can enhance your dental health and your overall health, and may well improve your self-esteem. As a part of your comprehensive dental health care plan, orthodontic treatment can help you retain you teeth—and your smile—for a lifetime.

Let your smile express yourself! Nothing can show the world how happy you are quite like a beautiful smile. In fact, it’s one of the first things others notice about you, too. With orthodontics, you can be proud to flash your smile, because you’ll know that your smile truly represents your positive attitude.

Make your mouth healthy! Straight teeth aren’t just pretty, they’re healthy as well. Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to clean, reducing the amount of plaque buildup and risk for gingivitis. The cleaner you keep your teeth, the longer they’ll last!

Feel free to live your life! Orthodontics is easier today than ever before, with treatment options that fit your lifestyle and schedule. From clear braces to removable aligners and totally invisible lingual (behind the teeth) braces, we can personalize your treatment to suit all your needs.

Spring is in the air! As you probably know, you can always connect with us on our Facebook page, but we invite you to please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you.

We also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

Thank you! Have a great weekend!

Visiting your dentist during your orthodontic treatment will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy while you have braces, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Your dentist is specifically trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next adjustment appointment. Take care of your teeth!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? During this time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Dr. Nirenblatt.

In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces with braces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give Nirenblatt Orthodontics a call.

Rubber bands, or elastics, can be an integral aspect of orthodontic care, so if Dr. Nirenblatt has prescribed elastics as a part of your treatment, it’s important to follow the directions fully. Elastics help to align your bite or cause teeth to move in different directions and straighten more quickly. We will instruct you how to hook one end to an upper bracket and the other end to a lower bracket so the rubber band goes vertically or diagonally from one bracket to another. The tension of the rubber band produces pressure on the bracket, which causes the teeth to move and straighten. This tension is also sufficient to correct an overbite or an under bite in the jaw.

If rubber bands are a part of your treatment plan, there are a few things to keep in mind. With rubber bands, you won’t be able to open your mouth fully, so they will have to be removed when you eat and reapplied after meal time. Many times, rubber bands are only needed at night, so you won’t need to worry about eating with them. Also, if you try to open your mouth too wide, your rubber bands might snap – so be careful!

Failure to wear your elastics full time or as instructed can lengthen your treatment time and may make it more difficult to achieve an optimal result. But don’t worry; your time in elastics will be well worth it when you see your beautiful, new smile.

We’ve rolled out our new Facebook Timeline page and would love for you to check it out! You’ll find all the useful information that was there before, but now in a fun, new layout. When you connect with us on Facebook, you’ll be able to check out photos of our office, find out about new events and contests, or you can even leave a note about how much you enjoyed your visit at our office. We love hearing your feedback to make our practice serve you and your family even better. To make life even easier, if you “Like” us on Facebook, you’ll automatically receive updates from our office right on your own news feed!

In fact, you will get all of the updates about our current contests at Nirenblatt Orthodontics! We have different monthly contests in our offices, and for the month of March the contest is: How many gold coins are in the jar? The winner will receive 4 tickets to Magnolia Gardens and 5 smile tokens! Stop by the office and make a guess.

See you on Facebook!

At Nirenblatt Orthodontics, we strive to provide our patients with only the best in orthodontic care in a comfortable, friendly and informative office. Today we took some time to answer questions about what patients can expect when they start treatment at our office.

Do you take the time to explain options to your patients, and what each procedure entails?
Yes, we always make time to explain everything that is going on.

Do you partner with your patients other dental professionals to make sure they receive superior treatment?
Yes, we stay very close in contact with our patients' other dental professionals to ensure the best treatment possible.

Do you use state of the art technology to make procedures more efficient and cause less discomfort?
Yes, we have the latest technology possible to make our patients' treatments more understandable and as comfortable as possible. Such as, videos for all procedures, whether it be a more of a severe case like extractions needed or an easy case like elastic wear. We make it as easy to understand for our patients as we can.

Do you offer extras like wireless Internet access, coffee or snacks?
We do not provide Internet access at this time, but are thinking of providing it in the future. We do, however, supply lots of goodies at our snack bar and always have the coffee on and ready to go.

Do you have incentive programs to help your patients stay motivated about good oral health?
We sure do! We have a Smile Tokens Reward Program, which means that every time our patients come in for their appointments and have good oral hygeine, wear their Nirenblatt Orthodontics t-shirts, are wearing their elastics according to treatment plan, etc...they will receive up to 2 or 3 smile tokens per appointment and are able to cash them in at anytime to receive one of our many prizes! But, that's not all! We are in the process of getting a NEW and MORE EXCITING rewards program. So stay tuned for more information on the new and upcoming rewards program!!

Do you do anything that you feel sets you apart from other doctors in the area?
Yes, we offer NO down payments and some interest free monthly payments!

If you have any questions about our practice, or would like to schedule a consultation, give us a call today!

Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt and the team at Nirenblatt Orthodontics strive to provide our patients with only the best in orthodontic care in a friendly and fun environment. Our patients can expect to be treated courteously, be seen on time, complete treatment as promised, and have all their questions and concerns addressed. Today we wanted to answer a couple of commonly asked questions that we receive at the office:

What do we expect out of our patients?
• Cooperation
• Being on time for their appointments
• Communicate with us and let us know if there are any questions or concerns that you are having

How can patients improve the way they approach treatment?
• For patients to be well informed and to visit our website, which includes a lot of information on all the different options for treatment.

How can Doctor-Patient relationships improve?
Just getting to know us better and communicating with us more so that we can really learn about the patient and get to know each other.

What qualities make for a great patient?
• Responsibility
• Cooperation
• A positive attitude
• Patience

Have another question? Just ask! You can contact us at the office or visit us on Facebook.

Nirenblatt Orthodontics, serving North Charleston and the surrounding areas, has been receiving some great patient reviews lately! Check out what our current patients are saying about Dr. Nirenblatt and team!

"Amazing
The initial visit far exceeded our expectations. The staff was very friendly. The level of service was unbelievable. We were given a break down analysis of everything and left the office feeling knowledgeable. This office raises the bar compared to other offices that we visited. Outstanding job, guys!"
-- Robert R.

"Relieved Dad
My daughter had braces for two years from another orthdontist. i took her to Dr. N. He did the intial exam and then gave me her treatment requirements. Not only did she have crooked teeth, she also had a mandibular prognatism. She just had her braces removed a week ago and Lauren has a beautiful smile and her prognatism is virtually non existant. An excellent Dr. and staff!"
-- Lauren A.

"Great Service
Everyone is always very friendly everytime we go in for an appt. We never have to wait long and treatment is always explained. I recommend them to all of my family and friends."
-- Austin

"I just finish my treatment and i would like to say thank you and that i rarely had any problems during the whole thing..i'm glad i came here an i recommend them to anybody."
-- Myjah W.

"Third child
I would recommend Dr. Nirenblatt to anyone who is seeking orthodontic work. If I did not believe in his work, I would not be bringing my thrid child to him for braces. The whole office is very professional and will answer any questions you may have. I have never had any problems with his work and respect him and his knowledge as an Orthodontist."
-- Carly S.

Thank you for all of the kind words! If you have any questions about our practice or your orthodontic treatment, give us a call or ask us on Facebook.

Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt of Nirenblatt Orthodontics is proud to sponsor the News 2 Cool School Program! News 2 and Dr. Nirenblatt are excited to congratulate Beech Hill Elementary on receiving the Cool School Award.

According to an article from News 2:

"The school met AYP three years in a row, and rated excellent on the state report card. Beech Hill Elementary is a Palmetto Gold Award winning school, and has nearly forty business partners, and has nearly thirty Wednesday Early Release Day clubs, including service, sign language, and juggling clubs."

Congratulations Beech Hill Elementary!

Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt and our team love getting patient reviews. And lately, Nirenblatt Orthodontics, serving Charleston, SC and the surrounding communities, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Tuesday!

"Awesome Group of People
Thank you for all your help"
-- Shavon

"Starting Adult Braces
I am just starting Invisalign braces. The staff has been very pleasant, helpful in answering questions, going over what to expect good or bad. I had another ortho consult and they wanted a down payment of $1,200 for the Invisalign braces which I could not afford. I would have had the traditional braces because of the cost. Thanks to Dr. N. I can have almost invisible braces and in a shorter time."
-- Amy

"More Friendly Than I Expected
I was so thrilled yet nervous about my consultation with Dr. Nirenblatt, but as soon as I walked through the door and realized how friendly everyone was, it calmed me down! Everything about my appointment was awesome, from the time I walked in to the time I walked out. Everyone I came in contact with was very professional and helpful. Charline was very thorough when it came to the treatment as well as the financing for my treatment. She was also very patient and understanding when it came to my 2 year old daughter not wanting to listen! Dr. Nirenblatt and his team have me sold, and I'd recommend this orthodontist to anyone!"
-- Shakira

"Wonderful Staff
Dr. N and his staff are very wonderful people! It was my first visit but they made me feel like I was part of the extended family for a long time. Looking forward to seeing them more often during my treatment! Thanks guys!"
-- Nikki S.

"This Office Rocks!
I was very pleased with my treatment at Dr. Nirenblatt's office. He and his staff are very professional and knowledgeable. They explained each step as I was getting my braces and provided excellent after-care instructions. I am very excited about future visits as I embark on this journey towards my "perfect" smile. :-D"
-- Kecia

"Amazing
The initial visit far exceeded our expectations. The staff was very friendly. The level of service was unbelievable. We were given a break down analysis of everything and left the office feeling knowledgeable. This office raises the bar compared to other offices that we visited. Outstanding job, guys!"
-- Robert R.

Thank you for all of your kind words!

Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt and our team know having an attractive smile puts a spring in your step—or two—as well as increases your self-confidence, no matter if you’re 14 or in your late forties. Smiling not only makes people happy and puts them in a good mood, doing it often can even help you live longer, according to previous studies!

If you’ve been hiding your smile because you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment at Nirenblatt Orthodontics. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how quickly and efficiently today’s most advanced correction techniques can straighten your smile! Dr. Nirenblatt offers a variety of orthodontic treatments, all customized to create the best results possible. As an Invisalign® Preferred Provider, he has worked with hundreds of patients to help them achieve a straight smile without sacrificing aesthetics and convenience. In addition to Invisalign and Invisalign Teen™, Dr. Nirenblatt also offers traditional clear braces, In-Ovation® Lingual Braces, temporary anchorage devices, and Tip-Edge Plus System of braces.

Don’t hide your smile any longer—give us a call today to schedule yours or your child’s orthodontic consultation.

Nirenblatt Orthodontics, serving North Charleston and the surrounding areas, strives to provide exceptional treatment in an informative and friendly environment. Have you had a great experience at our office?

Share your story with the world!

Just select the "Review Us on Google Places" button above to write a review on our Google Place Page. We look forward to receiving your feedback!

Thank you,

The team at Nirenblatt Orthodontics

At Nirenblatt Orthodontics, we know image is everything. For many people, the thought of having metal brackets and wires attached to their teeth for two or more years may be more than enough to delay orthodontic treatment.

If you’ve been considering straightening your teeth but are apprehensive about metal wires and brackets getting in the way of your smile, Invisalign treatment at Nirenblatt Orthodontics may be a great solution. Invisalign, which straightens teeth through a series of clear, custom-fit removable aligners, does so in a way that is discreet and hardly noticeable.

If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment at our office, please give us a call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt.

Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt and his team are always available to answer your questions about your teeth and orthodontic treatment. We strive to provide our patients with quality care in a warm, family-friendly environment.

We also recognize that the most important questions are our responsibility to answer. Some of the questions that we hear in the office include:

-- Is it going to hurt?
-- Am I getting a shot?
-- How long will this take?
-- How much longer will I be in treatment?
-- Do I have to wear retainers?
-- How long do I wear retainers?

We also encourage you to ask us:

-- How is my oral hygiene?
-- Am I wearing my rubber bands enough?
-- If I wear retainers all the time, will it help my teeth from shifting in the future?
-- After treatment is over, will my teeth ever shift again?
-- Will I have to wear my retainers forever?

The next time to you have an appointment with us at Nirenblatt Orthodontics, please let us know if you have any questions. We want your orthodontic experience to be informative and comfortable.

Many folks consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2012? Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt and our team recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health—we want to hear from you! After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

—Your friends at Nirenblatt Orthodontics

The year is almost over, so we wanted to ask what was memorable about 2011 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2012? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, from Nirenblatt Orthodontics!

At Nirenblatt Orthodontics, we know maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of Christmas? With grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding, you just can’t say “I’ll pass” each time. But trouble lurks: every time you chow down on that chocolate or candy, the bacteria in your mouth have a feast on the sugar—at your expense. The sugar turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the enamel on your teeth and between your braces. Then, you start getting cavities.

Instead, try fudgy cocoa bites, marvelous molasses cookies, wonderful waffles or other braces-friendly recipes, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO, and “The Braces Cookbook” by Pamela Waterman.

If you must indulge in chocolaty goodness this Christmas or holiday season, remember to brush your teeth after eating sugary treats. Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Happy Holidays!

Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt knows image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having metal brackets and wires constantly attached to teeth may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. But... not to worry! There is a clear alternative to traditional braces! The team at Nirenblatt Orthodontics thought we'd remind you that Invisalign Teen™ gives you a whole new way to wear braces for a "clearly" amazing smile!

So how does Invisalign Teen work, you ask? Much in the same fashion as Invisalign, but with a few added characteristics tailored specifically to teenagers’ lifestyles. For instance, Invisalign Teen is designed with “compliance indicators” that fade from dark to light during the two week period that particular tray is used and once it has faded teens know to change trays. Each aligner comes with up to six free individual replacement aligners in case the original aligner ends up lost or broken. Another big benefit for the patient!

The treatment period for Invisalign Teen varies from nine to 18 months. If your teen is considering orthodontic treatment, please contact us and we’ll answer any questions you may have about Invisalign Teen.

At Nirenblatt Orthodontics, we know nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth during orthodontic treatment, courtesy of WebMD.

Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to the dentist is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your general dentist at least twice a year or as recommended by your dentist, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth while wearing braces.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick up that candy bar, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt. If you have any questions, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Whether you just began your orthodontic treatment at Nirenblatt Orthodontics and have a follow-up question for Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt or team, or if you’d simply like to drop us a quick line, we’d love to hear from you! We love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our interactive Facebook page.

Please visit Dr. Nirenblatt and our team on the following networks:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Twitter

See you online!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season knocking at our door, Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt and our entire staff at Nirenblatt Orthodontics wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We also want to extend a special "Thank You" to all of our military families and to those who are serving in our armed forces overseas and at home. We are so thankful for your service. Our office wishes you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

We hope that this Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

There are a variety of foods Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include:

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Also, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give Nirenblatt Orthodontics a call or ask our staff during your next visit.

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Nirenblatt Orthodontics thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.
• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).
• The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.
• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.
• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.
• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.
• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.
• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.
• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Many people know that Invisalign is a great alternative to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Bradley Nirenblatt wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also simple: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Nirenblatt Orthodontics, give us a call!