This Year, Make a New Year’s Resolution to Smile About!

Let’s face it- when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year’s resolution? We at Caponera Orthodontics believe the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable. If you haven’t yet picked a New Year’s resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!
For example, resolve to brush twice and floss once a day. Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in your oral health and overall health too! For more oral health-themed resolutions for you and your family, check out this article.
We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2012!

-Happy New Year, from your friends at Caponera Orthodontics

Giving thanks this holiday season

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season here, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our entire staff at Caponera Orthodontics wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, this holiday season.
As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality orthodontic care that we have given you.
We hope that this holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Beware of those Christmas goodies!

At Caponera 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 pumpkin pie, 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!

Are you wearing your mouth guard?

With fall sports close to wrapping up and winter sports right around the corner, many patients here at Caponera Orthodontics will once again pick up the ball, bring the cleats out of seasonal retirement and hit the fields for the return of sports action! During this time, however, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this fall and winter, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as basketball, wrestling and hockey
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 that helps! Dr. Caponera and team 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 our office or ask us on Facebook.

Stay safe!

What are your November plans?

Believe it or not, we’re almost in full holiday mode! But before you go celebrating, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our team at Caponera Orthodontics want to know: What are your plans for November? Do you have plans for Thanksgiving? Are you planning a winter vacation? If so, we’d love to hear all about it!
You may share your stories with us below, or by posting on our Facebook page!

–The team at Caponera Orthodontics

Halloween tips from Caponera Orthodontics

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of today's sweet and spooky holiday, our team at Caponera Orthodontics would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family tonight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists were kind enough to provide trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

We suggest looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Otherwise, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.
Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and team wish you all a safe, fun and happy Halloween!

Join the conversation.

Whether you just began your orthodontic treatment and have a follow-up question for Dr. Rinaldo Caponera or our 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 fan page.

Please visit Caponera Orthodontics on the following networks:

Facebook: Caponera Orthodontics
YouTube: youtube.com/caponeraortho

Cold season is here, from Caponera Orthodontics

Cold and flu season is here - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that a common cold usually includes sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and coughing. Symptoms can last for up to two weeks.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our entire staff give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Plantation 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 at Caponera Orthodontics, 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! Stay Healthy!

Caponera Orthodontics Patient LOVES Her New Smile! (Before and After Photos)

One of our patients at Caponera Orthodontics just recently finished her orthodontic treatment with Plantation orthodontist, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera.

Her treatment included one year of clear upper and metal lower braces with two Temporary Anchorage Device(TAD's). After treatment she had veneers on the upper front teeth to address the discoloration and chipped teeth. She loves her new smile!!

If you are considering orthodontic treatment in the greater Plantation area, give our office a call to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Caponera.

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!

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.

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!

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.