Contests and Events on our Facebook Fan Page!

If you haven't already, be sure to head to our Facebook Fan Page to connect with our office and other patients! We host a variety of fun contests and events, and our Facebook page is a great way to stay up to date! Become a fan today!

What’s so special about an Orthodontist?

"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Carlson started out in dental school and earned a DMD (dental degree). After dental school however, Dr. Carlson decided he wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics; which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a dental expert here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

The importance of wearing a mouth guard when playing sports, with Dr. Carlson

At Carlson Orthodontics we know how important it is to protect your face while playing sports. The spring and summer months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Dr. Carlson and our dedicated team also know sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer.

That’s why Carlson Orthodontics are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Dr. Carlson will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment.

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Carlson is trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Carlson Orthodontics.

Olympics trivia at Carlson Orthodontics!

Think you know Olympics trivia? Then we have a challenge for you! Head over to our web site, find the newest trivia question about the Olympics, be the first to answer the trivia question and win a prize! Contest runs through the end of the month, so be sure to join and be a part of our web-based contest! We look forward to hearing from you!

In addition, our team at Carlson Orthodontics is collecting Olympic-themed memorabilia and hanging various items in our office. We all have Olympic spirit! If you have an Olympic-themed item you'd like to share, feel free to drop it off at one of our offices! Or, if you have any questions about the contest, you may give us a call.

Ask Dr. Carlson: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Carlson Orthodontics, only to discover that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

Ok, you're thinking, what’s so great about age seven? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Carlson to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity for him to check for malocclusion, or what we call “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 age seven, give us a call at Carlson Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

With Carlson Orthodontics, 24/7 access to your account

At Carlson Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Duluth and Cloquet.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You may look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Just see what some of our patients have to say about this helpful service!

"Nice to check on upcoming appointments. Very nice to see the picture section." ~ Connie. P.

"Easy to look up payment and insurance information to verify that they have received payments." ~ Paul O.

"Good to stay up to date on the balance. Also enjoyed the pics/x-rays." ~ Leslie W.

"As I parent I can quickly check to see that a payment has been credited and to check and see when the next appointment is." ~ Dan H.

"Quick, easy access." ~ Robert P.

You can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at Carlson Orthodontics at if you have any questions!

Invisalign® tips from Carlson Orthodontics

The team at Carlson Orthodontics has blogged about the advantage of Invisalign treatment with Dr. Carlson in the past. Today, we thought we'd share a few helpful Invisalign tips with you, our wonderful patients.

When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Carlson 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 a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a 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 easy: 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 Carlson Orthodontics, give us a call!

Have a great week!