Wearers of Braces Beware: Orthodontists See More Emergency Visits Around Halloween Than Any Other Holiday

WHAT:

With October brings National Orthodontic Health Month and Halloween, the scariest time of year for many orthodontists and a nightmare for kids that wear metal braces...especially when they have to tell mom and dad (who may have invested between $4,500-$7,000 on treatment) that they broke a wire, bent a bracket, or worse.

Every Halloween, orthodontists see a significant increase in the number of emergency visits. In a recent survey orthodontists were asked, "how significant is the increase in emergency visits around Halloween?" Nearly three-quarters (78%) reported an increase of at least 10%; another 20% reported a 25% increase in emergency visits. Among the worst offenders are sugary, stick-to-your-teeth candies and gum, but Halloween party favorites like bobbing for apples and crust from pizza also can wreak havoc on braces.

Los Angeles-based Orthodontist Dr. Gilbert H. Snow is available to offer "sink your teeth into" advice for Happy Halloween haunting. He can comment and elaborate on the following:

• Candy and treats orthodontists fear most and why; examples of the worst and the most-surprising offenders
• Suggestions for orthodontic-friendly options
• Tips for staying out of the orthodontist chair in between scheduled appointments – one of the easiest ways is with clear, removable braces like Invisalign Teen that let patients enjoy foods and activities, and makes maintaining oral health easier than with other braces options
• Graphic details of the frightening damage Halloween treats can cause to the different types of braces
• Horror stories about what happens when kids that wear braces neglect their oral health...with the increased candy consumption during Halloween, patients need to be extra vigilant about brushing, rinsing, and flossing as well as making sure they remove pieces of candy or treats that can get stuck in braces and between teeth, leading to tooth decay and gum disease

WHO:

Orthodontist Dr. Gilbert H. Snow is a Los Angeles-based orthodontist with six offices.  He is a graduate of the USC School of Dentistry with a post graduate specialty degree from Loyola University in Chicago. He is a former instructor at Loyola University in Chicago and a regular speaker on orthodontics at national and international forums.  He was the 2010 Staff Program Chairman for the American Association of Orthodontists in Washington, D.C.; an active member of the American Dental Association (ADA); the California Dental Association (CDA); and has served on the Board of Directors for many dental and orthodontic societies.

Dr. Snow is personally invested and committed to give back to his community.  In addition to providing free school dental screenings, he is the founder of the Hi Desert Children's Dental Clinic which provides free dental treatment for children from low income families.