Make 2011 the year to improve your Oral Health

Many folks in Plantation 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 2011? Dr. Caponera 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, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile. Happy New Year!

-Your friends at Caponera Orthodontics

The advantage of Invisalign Teen™ at Caponera Orthodontics

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 Caponera 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.

Tis' the Season of Holiday Goodies, Need Help Keeping your Braces Clean?

Caponera Orthodontics understands that keeping your braces clean is exceptionally difficult this time of year. But keep in mind, making sure you properly clean your teeth is even more important when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

Make sure and check out our Braces 101 page as well for more information about taking care of your braces. We hope this helps!

-Dr. Caponera and Team

Ask Dr. Caponera : What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with Caponera Orthodontics than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Caponera the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Tell Dr. Caponera and team what's on your mind!

By now, you're probably familiar with our blog process: each week, our creative team at Caponera Orthodontics blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontic care and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic techniques Dr. Caponera offers at our Plantation office.

This week, however, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our dear 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!

We hope you had a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend!

Caponera Orthodontics, giving thanks

With Thanksgiving almost upon us, it's a great time to ask ourselves what we're thankful for. With our friends and family around us, we celebrate the blessings given to us in the past year. What are you thankful for this holiday season? Do you have any Thanksgiving wishes you would like to share?

Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our entire team at Caponera Orthodontics would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It’s a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat with those braces! If you have any stories or photos to share with us, we’d encourage you to send them along or post them on our Facebook page!

Ask Dr. Caponera: Do cold germs live on toothbrushes?

Fall is here, and with it the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Caponera will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to call us at 954-376-3845 if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Thanks to Invisalign at Caponera Orthodontics, parents can have an amazing smile, too!

Hey moms and dads! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking about having your own set of perfect teeth, Dr. Caponera and our staff are happy to help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, and Dr. Caponera is a Certified Invisalign Premier Provider here in Plantation, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a complimentary initial consultation, so Dr. Caponera can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Happy Halloween from Caponera Orthodontics!

BOOOO! In the spirit of this weekend's sweet and spooky holiday, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our staff at Caponera Orthodontics would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family. The American Association of Orthodontists were kind enough to provide trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by a parent or an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have a parent/adult inspect all treats before kids dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment, including sticky, chewy, gummy and nutty goodies. If you happen to damage your braces, please give us a call immediately.

We wish you all a safe, fun and happy Halloween weekend!

The common cold is back, from Caponera Orthodontics

It's fall season, which means it's also cold and flu season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, says that a common cold usually includes sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and coughing. Symptoms can last for up to two weeks, according to the CDC.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, Dr. Caponera and our staff at Caponera Orthodontics give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Plantation, FL office at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces. For the protection of other patients and our staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

And remember to constantly wash your hands and avoid contact with those who are ill! Have a great rest of your weekend!

Connect with Caponera Orthodontics on Facebook!

Did you know Caponera Orthodontics has an official Facebook page? Our fan page, which keeps growing each day, provides you the latest news from Dr. Caponera and our office. We invite you to connect with us and be "in the loop" for all things Caponera Orthodontics.

We invite you to “Like” Caponera Orthodontics on Facebook, where we share all office news, contest announcements and updates. By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your Facebook news feed!

See you on Facebook!

Ask Dr. Caponera: Which foods are actually healthy for my teeth?

With so many foods and drinks to choose from during your treatment at Caponera Orthodontics, it's hard to decipher which ones are truly good for you. So we thought we'd provide some answers to some of the more important questions you may have.

Which foods and drinks are actually healthy for my teeth?

Natural food and drink are the healthiest! The best drink to have is water. Water re-hydrates the body and does not cause cavities. Plain coffee also does not cause cavities – but it can lead to dehydration. All other drinks either cause an increase in mouth bacteria. If you are drinking juice or milk, make sure to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste! Even though these are natural drinks, they can increase the sugar in the mouth which can lead to cavities. The fluoride helps the enamel of the tooth become harder and better defended against attacks from bacteria.

Can hard candies or hard mints cause damage to my teeth?

Dense mints and candies can, in some cases, chip teeth. If you have a lot of large fillings then the tooth is more apt to crack with a hard, dense food. Also, hard candies tend to be sticky in the mouth. Sticky pieces of candy can lodge in the grooves of the teeth and cause cavities. Natural candy (like chocolate) is better because the saliva is better able to dissolve & wash away the sugars.

Is sugar-free gum good for my teeth, or can it still cause cavities?

The American Dental Association has approved some sugar-free gum brands. Chewing gum increases the amount of saliva that is released into the mouth. This increased saliva carries proteins that help break down the sugars that can cause cavities. So, in some cases, sugar-free gum can be good for you! If you are wearing braces or retainers, ask Dr. Caponera if you can chew gum!

Are spicy or acidic foods bad for my teeth?

Acidic foods, such as citric juices or sodas, can change the balance of the saliva in the mouth. The combination of acid and sugar is the real enemy. The acid can attack the enamel structure of the tooth and the sugar feeds the cavity-causing bacteria. If you drink water or brush with fluoride toothpaste, the teeth are better protected and the acid is neutralized. Spicy foods actually increase the saliva production in your mouth.

Hope this helps!

-- Dr. Caponera and team

At Caponera Orthodontics, October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

Today is the first day of October, which means it's officially National Orthodontic Health Month! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists put a great deal of effort into adding useful information to their website. Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our staff encourage you to check out their braces-friendly recipes!

Here is a brief list of foods we'd like you to avoid while you're wearing braces:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

Dr. Caponera and our staff at Caponera Orthodontics encourage you to give us a call at 954-376-3845, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Caponera during your next visit if you have any questions!

Happy Friday!

Ask Dr. Caponera: What can I expect during my consultation?

Great question.

When you first come in for your initial consultation, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera will conduct a comprehensive examination to assess your oral health. This will better enable us to determine the best treatment method for you.

Your orthodontic evaluation will consist of an oral and facial examination to assess your oral health. Dr. Caponera will have you take intraoral and facial photographs as well as panoramic and cephalometric X-rays to help determine the proper orthodontic treatment method. Then, an impression of your teeth and bite will be taken to construct a model of your mouth. (This will help Dr. Caponera when examining your diagnostic records).

At your second appointment, Dr. Caponera will discuss your options with you. Our team feels it’s important to take the time to carefully examine your diagnostic records after your consultation so that Dr. Caponera can more thoroughly prepare for your treatment at Caponera Orthodontics. This additional preparation will ensure that you receive the best orthodontic care possible. At this time, we encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about your treatment.

If you are seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, our staff asks that both you and your child attend the initial consultation. We feel it is important that both you and your child completely understand Dr. Caponera’s recommendations before we proceed with treatment.

Give us a call and schedule a consultation! We look forward to hearing from you!

Dr. Caponera talks two-phase treatment

Typically, patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth. But in some cases Dr. Rinaldo Caponera has to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. Dr. Caponera and our team call this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat. Examples include an upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly, or a mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in.

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has “baby teeth.” Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly, such as a retainer. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent the patient’s permanent teeth have come in. Phase two often does involve braces and sometimes headgear.

In order to catch early problems, Dr. Caponera recommends that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit an orthodontist even sooner. For more information about two-phase orthodontics, or to schedule a consultation, please give us a call at 954-376-3845.

Enjoy your weekend!

September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month!

This month, our staff at Caponera Orthodontics want you to be extra careful with your braces and appliances. After all, September marks the start of fall sports and an increased risk to mouth injuries. September also happens to be National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, and Dr. Rinaldo Caponera thought it’d be a good idea to share a few sobering facts about sports and facial injuries, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Injuries can happen at any age: More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates—baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during games and practices.

Mouth guards are not being used: Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet, 70% say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt. And here’s a chilling stat: One out of every four (27 percent) parents say their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room, according to the AAO.

Not enough support for mouth guards: Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84 percent say it's because the league or coach does not require it, the AAO says.

Hard hits occur in every sport: The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-to-85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car! Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports, accounting for 65% of all injuries in high school girls' athletics, according to MSNBC.com.

We hope this helps you remember to always wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports! We encourage you to give us a call at 954-376-3845 if you have any questions!

Love your new smile? Then we encourage you to tell the world all about it!

At Caponera Orthodontics, we are dedicated to working with you every step of the way during your treatment. Whether you wear traditional metal braces with fun, colorful bands, or Invisalign, your new smile will be spectacular.

Whether you've visited Dr. Caponera's office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office has fared during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Dr. Caponera create more beautiful smiles in Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and surrounding communities. Thank you in advance, and we hope you have a terrific week!

You may write your review here.

Fun facts about braces with Caponera Orthodontics!

Our patients at Caponera Orthodontics love fun facts - LOVE THEM. Who doesn't, really? But what about orthodontic fun facts? The American Association of Orthodontists has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that Dr. Caponera and our team thought you would enjoy. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

• 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.

Back to school with Dr. Caponera

Now that many of the schools in Plantation and Palm Beach are in session again, Dr. Caponera and our staff would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance. With school, clubs and sports to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit Caponera Orthodontics. In order to accommodate all of our patients' busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you.

As always, please remember to give Dr. Caponera and our team advanced notice if you are unable to make your scheduled appointment. If we receive enough notice, we might be able to schedule another patient for that time. Feel free to give us a call at 954-376-3845 if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment. We hope everyone is enjoying the first couple weeks of classes!

- Dr. Caponera and team

Who really benefits from braces?

Ask Dr. Rinaldo Caponera any day of the week, and he'll tell you that braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore. In fact, we read a fascinating statistic recently: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since from just 15 years ago! 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.

Anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic care, whether it's correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early. To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, not to worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, and your life!

We hope you're having an outstanding summer.

Ask Dr. Caponera: Why are regular checkups so important?

Are you brushing your teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your dentist every six months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting Caponera Orthodontics during your treatment, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health.

Dr. Caponera can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam, your general dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know and we’ll provide a few great references in Plantation, Palm Beach or surrounding areas!

Happy Monday!

Summer plans?

It’s summertime here at Caponera Orthodontics, which means a season full of vacations, adventures and great, great memories is here for at least a couple of months. Whether you're headed to a family barbecue, taking in a Rays game, headed on a camping trip with friends, hitting Florida’s open roads or just having fun on the beach, Dr. Caponera and our staff want to hear all about it! Leave a comment on our Facebook fan page and tell us about your summer!

We also encourage you to post any photos to our Facebook wall as the summer rolls along!

Connect with Dr. Caponera on Facebook!

At Caponera Orthodontics, we value the relationships we have developed with our patients in Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and neighboring communities. Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with Dr. Caponera and team on our Facebook page?

We invite you to “Like” Caponera Orthodontics on Facebook, where we share all office news, announcements and updates. By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your Facebook news feed!

See you online and enjoy the rest of your weekend,

- Dr. Caponera and staff

Dr. Caponera, helping you save face this summer

With summer here, Dr. Caponera and our team know this is a time when most people - especially athletes - damage their teeth. If you'll be playing sports this summer, it's important that you consult Dr. Caponera for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. Mouth guards, Dr. Caponera & staff will tell you, are advised for playing summer sports such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse and many more.

In case of any accident involving the face, we want you to check your mouth and appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, please schedule an appointment with us immediately. And don’t forget to ask us—Dr. Caponera will be more than happy to provide a mouth guard for any patient in treatment!

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call at 954-791-6510 if you have any questions about mouth guards or your orthodontic treatment.

Caponera Orthodontics, wishing you all a Happy Fourth!

For many of our past patients at Caponera Orthodontics, the Fourth of July is a day of fireworks, picnics, playing at the lake or spending quality time with family. Most folks recognize Independence Day as a time to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. It's also a time to pay homage to all our soldiers - past and present - who continue to place themselves in danger every day so that Americans everywhere may celebrate our freedoms.

What about you? What are your Fourth of July plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? Hitting the open road with family? Are you planning on using fireworks? If so, Dr. Caponera and team want you to be extra careful!

Share your July 4th adventures with us on our Facebook page! Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

Patient question for Dr. Caponera: "I'm 44 years old - am I too old for braces?"

Of course not! At Caponera Orthodontics, no one, and we mean, NO ONE, is "too old" for braces! Actually, our staff recently came across an interesting statistic: the number of adults getting braces has climbed 24 percent from just 14 years ago!

We think part of the 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 Plantation orthodontist Dr. Rinaldo Caponera 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. Caponera would love to have you visit for a complimentary consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Happy Tuesday!

Invisalign treatment at Caponera Orthodontics: How does it work? [Video]

Have you ever wondered how Invisalign treatment at Caponera Orthodontics manages to straighten teeth without using braces at all? The Invisalign system is a state-of-the-art system of clear, removable aligners that we proudly offer at our convenient Plantation office. Dr. Rinaldo Caponera is your Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach, FL orthodontist, offering Invisalign for teens and adults. We also have plenty of resources on our website to check out about Invisalign, or give our office a call at 954-791-6510 to learn if this revolutionary new treatment option is right for you!

And Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!

Ask Dr. Caponera: what's the deal with retainers?

If you've recently completed your orthodontic treatment with Plantation orthodontist Dr. Rinaldo Caponera, our entire team would like to congratulate you! Now, after your braces have been removed, Dr. Caponera will provide—or has provided you by now—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized.

Retainers, you see, provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until your bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Caponera is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

If you have additional questions about retainers or your treatment here at Caponera Orthodontics, please give us a call at 954-791-6510.

Have a great week everyone!

Tell Caponera Orthodontics: What should we blog about?

As the summer approaches, our staff at Caponera Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to braces and your treatment with Plantation orthodontist Dr. Rinaldo Caponera.

To help us continue blogging through the course of the hot Florida summer, however, we'd love your opinion: What would you like us to focus on our blog over the summer months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Caponera for a while and haven't found the right opportunity? Give us your ideas by posting here or on our Facebook page! We want your great ideas!

We hope you have a great rest of the weekend!

Ask Dr. Caponera: Any truth to those rumors about braces?

Trust us when we tell you our entire team at Caponera Orthodontics is well-aware that there are a lot of myths and half-truths flying around these days when it comes to braces and orthodontic treatment. But, before you buy into those myths, Dr. Caponera thinks you should get the facts first! Our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists have some helpful information on the myths and facts of orthodontics, and we definitely encourage you to check them out before settling for rumors about braces!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment at Caponera Orthodontics, feel free to give us a call at our convenient office in Plantation.

We hope you have a great rest of your Memorial Day weekend, and we can't wait to see you all again!

Early treatment at Caponera Orthodontics

Dr. Rinaldo Caponera will tell you that Braces were originally considered to be best suited for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are usually not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists say it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Caponera to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give our team at Caponera Orthodontics a call at 954-791-6510 if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

Invisalign® treatment at Caponera Orthodontics: What's the advantage?

A couple of weeks ago, we discussed the importance of straight teeth. Today, we thought we'd follow-up and discuss one of the best ways you can accomplish a straight, beautiful smile: Invisalign.

If you're wondering what Invisalign treatment is really like, and what effect it will have on your day-to-day activities, trust us when we say that you're not alone. Folks always ask Dr. Caponera if Invisalign will slur their speech or if people know they're in treatment?

To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing Dr. Caponera does is take an impression of your teeth as they are now - and digitizes it. Using special software, he looks at the current positioning of your teeth and compares it to the way your teeth should look. Next, Dr. Caponera and team use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. The best part about Invisalign treatment? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Caponera is a certified Invisalign provider in Plantation and surrounding communities. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment at Caponera Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Smile now, smile later, smile often! From Dr. Caponera

Folks with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Wayne State University. The researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they studied photos of 230 baseball players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile).

The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009, and the researchers took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and, yes folks, even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be almost 80 years old.

So smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Caponera Orthodontics on a regular basis? If not, give us a call at 954-791-6510!

"Hey Dr. Caponera! What the heck is malocclusion?"

Malocclusion, or what Dr. Caponera calls “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and even your appearance.

Dr. Caponera will tell you that untreated malocclusion can lead undesirable mouth problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, or chipped and cracked teeth. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of your malocclusion. The goal of your treatment is to move your teeth into the proper position and correct any misalignment in the jaw.

At Caponera Orthodontics, we use the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

Play it safe this spring, from Caponera Orthodontics

April - which is National Facial Protection Month - is almost gone, but not before we remind all our young athletes in treatment to play it safe when out on the field. After all, nearly 60,000 people injure their faces annually while participating in sports activities, and teenagers account for 80 percent of all sports-related trips to the emergency room.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope these tips help. Dr. Caponera will tell you protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Caponera Orthodontics. Stay safe and have fun!

Ask Dr. Caponera: Why are straight teeth so important?

Some people wonder why Plantation, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach orthodontist Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our team at Caponera Orthodontist work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Caponera Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean! Our staff is dedicated to working with you every step of the way. We take extra time explaining all of your options to you, and help you to choose the most effective treatment option for your smile. Whether you wear traditional metal braces with fun, colorful bands, or Invisalign, your new smile will be spectacular.

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Caponera can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Meet Our Orthodontist

I chose to study orthodontics because of the powerful impact a person's smile can have on their self-esteem. I always try to establish a long-term relationship with my patients and always treat them like they are a part of my family.

After graduating with a degree in chemistry from Emory University, I made my way back to Florida and completed Nova Southeastern University's Dental School 2nd in my class. I continued my studies at Nova to specialize in orthodontics. Upon finishing school with honors in 2004, I partnered with Dr. Norman Gorback until taking over the practice in 2008.

I feel a deep commitment to my community and volunteer at several charitable organizations including the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options.

I am lucky to be married to my college sweetheart, Marissa, and we live with our two dogs, Nadia and Eva. When I'm not in the office, I'm most likely near the ocean enjoying water sports and surfing.