Great question! When you first come in for your initial consultation, Dr. Judy 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. We 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 us when examining your diagnostic records).

Then, we 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 we can more thoroughly prepare for your treatment at Judy 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 the doctor’s recommendations before we proceed with treatment.

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

At Judy Orthodontics, we know image is 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, which is almost here, 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 with Dr. Judy. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood?

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. With Earth Day coming up on Sunday, 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!

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 week!

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!

When you have braces, your wires will need to be replaced with new ones regularly. It is the slow, steady pressure placed on your teeth that move them into their desired positions, so these adjustments are a vital aspect of your treatment. We have set out a specific treatment plan to achieve your optimal results, and keeping up with your appointments will allow your treatment to be completed in the predicted amount of time.

Scheduling your adjustments sooner than planned may result in more pain and discomfort, because your teeth haven’t been allowed to settle into their new positions properly. Skipping appointments or scheduling them farther apart will result in a much longer treatment time. Visiting our office regularly will also allow us to answer any questions you may have, check for damaged appliances, and monitor your progress.

Orthodontic treatment for adults is becoming more and more common. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! More adults than ever are realizing that orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, and can help improve the aesthetics and health of a smile of any age! In society where appearance matters and can help make the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing wisely to invest in orthodontic treatment.

Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:

• Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart, sometimes as a result of tooth decay or gum disease
• Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw
• A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly

Most of all though, adult patients come to our office seeking a healthier mouth and a more confident smile! Orthodontic treatment at our office can be successful at any age, and adults especially can appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

As an adult patient, we recognize that you have different needs than our younger patients, and we will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. We understand you have a busy schedule, and will work with you to find a time that is convenient for you. Please visit our website or give our office a call to schedule your appointment today!

It is an exciting time to be a patient at Judy Orthodontics as treatment options expand. One of top advances in our practice is combining Invisalign with the Damon bracket system.

Invisalign technology has continued to evolve to make it a viable option for more and more patients. This is despite many of our patients having been previously told that they didn’t qualify for Invisalign.

Through our continuing education and experience, many complex cases can be treated at Judy Orthodontics with a combination Invisalign and limited braces. We can usually keep the braces out of sight as we move the back teeth to accomplish difficult movements, while utilizing Invisalign to move the rest of the teeth.

You have probably seen Invisalign offered at a variety of practices at a wide range of fees. You owe it to yourself to ask important questions such as how much training and experience the doctor has with Invisalign. It is also important to know what your options will be if the Invisalign treatment needs to be supplemented to get a good result.

Dr. Judy is a Premier Invisalign Provider who is an orthodontic specialist with years of Invisalign experience. You can be assured that our team will make every effort to help you achieve that great result and beautiful smile!

Valentine’s Day was yesterday, and there is a lot of candy making the rounds this week. It’s once again time to remind all our patients to be extra careful when choosing those candies and treats!

All those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats are known to damage teeth, as well as braces if you’re wearing them! Did you know sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities! Sour and fruity candy, such as Starburst and Skittles, are the worst for your teeth since these candies have a low pH value, which is known to ruin enamel.

We recommend softer treats, such as soft chocolate or peanut butter cups, or melt-in-your-mouth foods. Those who indulge should make sure they brush and floss between teeth, as well as at the gum line.

All of us at Judy Orthodontics hope you had a great Valentine’s Day!

Each February for the past 62 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. New options for braces such as Invisalign Teen, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Judy is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Come and join the Judy Orthodontics family and see what everyone is so excited about! Contact our Carmel office or Indianapolis office to schedule an appointment today!

The fact is, most of us aren’t born with a red carpet smile. And that’s where our team at Judy Orthodontics can help. Of course, orthodontic treatment help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. But did you know you can get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted — without braces?

Dr. Judy and team are proud to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time at our Indianapolis or Carmel office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up! A consultation at Judy Orthodontics can determine if Invisalign is right for you. See you soon!

Christina takes about 10 minutes each morning and each evening on her oral hygiene routine. As a result, her teeth are immaculate and her gums are beautiful! Christina wants Santa to bring her a Chevy Avalanche (can you tell she is 16!)! Once her braces are removed next spring, she is going to celebrate by eating Chocolate and Carmel Turtles!! Way to go Christina!!! Keep up the awesome work!!!

It was an exciting week at Judy Orthodontics as the latest version of the Invisalign treatment software was released! Dr. David Judy will now be able to use Invisalign on more difficult malocclusions.

With over 10 years of Invisalign experience, Dr. Judy has seen many improvements in Invisalign technology. Initially, Invisalign was utilized on patients with very mild problems. These new innovations now will allow Invisalign treatment plans to be used in patients requiring certain tooth extractions, open bite corrections, and even in conjunction with some types of jaw surgery.
Exciting times indeed!

There are other aligner systems in the orthodontic marketplace, but none have as much experience, research and development as Invisalign. Dr. Judy is committed to keeping current with the latest in Invisalign through extensive continuing education programs.

If you have been told that your treatment is too severe for Invisalign, please schedule a complementary consultation with Dr. Judy. You may be in the next group of patients who can have that beautiful smile you always wanted without braces!

Great question! Our staff at Judy Orthodontics will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest 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. David Judy to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s orthodontic treatment at our Indianapolis or Carmel office!

We hope you're all off to a great week! Dr. Judy recently examined several new patients and existing family members who are planning their 2012 Flex spending, FSA, MSA, cafeteria accounts, etc. as 2011 winds down. This is an excellent time to plan for 2012 and beyond. Dr. Judy generally can give you a good estimate of when ideal treatment should start, and our treatment coordinators can answer your insurance questions.

If you would like some help with such planning, give Missy or Bea a call, and we'll see you soon.

- From Dr. Judy and team

Our staff at Judy Orthodontics wanted to remind all our wonderful patients to be careful when they bite into their treats this evening. Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, bubble gum, popcorn kernels and suckers are some of the foods you should be avoiding this Halloween! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time!

Of course, Halloween doesn’t have to be completely treat-less. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have provided a helpful list of tips and braces-friendly recipes for the Halloween Season.

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

From Dr. Judy & team

For those who don't know, it’s National Orthodontic Health Month. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists put together a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly recipes, . facts about braces and treats you should avoid while undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Dr. David Judy and our team also recommend you to ask us if you have any follow-up questions about keeping your braces in tip-top shape. Please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Judy and team during your next visit!