PRIOR LAKE, ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – The primary reason for getting braces is to align teeth and promote improved oral health, but the staff at Cosmopolitan Orthodontics, a Prior Lake, MN orthodontics office, have learned some lessons through the years about braces\’ other benefits.

Dr. Trudy Bonvino, a Prior Lake orthodontist at Cosmopolitan, has seen cases in which braces came to the rescue of some patients- those who participate in sports, and those who simply are spectators.

Orthodontic appliances including wires and brackets have helped save some patients from having their teeth knocked out on a few occasions. Even patients who wear Invisalign aligners appear to derive some benefit from wearing their aligners in those odd instances when they’ve been hit in the mouth by a stray arm or a ball while involved in sports, said Bonvino, who also is a Prior Lake Invisalign provider.

\”I cannot stress enough how important it is for children to wear mouth guards when playing youth sports,\” said the Prior Lake invisible braces provider. \”But with that said, it is comforting to know that products such as Invisalign, as well as traditional braces, seem to help prevent serious injury in some of our patients when they\’ve been hit during playing with friends, during after school activities or during organized sports.\”

When discussing occasions in which orthodontic appliances have helped keep patients from losing a tooth or teeth, Bonvino usually is referring to unplanned incidents, such as getting hit in the mouth with a ball during a physical education class, by a foot or fist while tussling with friends, or by a wayward ball while watching a sporting event.

\”We can\’t expect our patients to wear a mouth guard when they\’re just a spectator or they\’re playing at a community playground or park,\” Bonvino said. \”When a patient gets hit by something they didn\’t see coming, it often turns out that it was a good thing they were wearing braces at the time.\”

Sometimes orthodontic appliances- including Invisalign aligners- help provide enough stability, as well as a slight buffer from trauma, said the Prior Lake braces specialist.
A mouth guard that offers protection for the teeth and soft tissue is a vital piece of equipment for students who participate in sports and other activities that may result in oral or facial injuries. Wearing a mouth guard can prevent children’s lips from getting pressed into their teeth or braces, should they get hit in the mouth by something while playing sports.

\”We have seen patients have their lips cut by their teeth or braces when they\’ve been hit by a ball or otherwise hit in the mouth while not wearing a mouth guard,\” Bonvino said.

An orthodontist can suggest an appropriate mouth guard for use while undergoing orthodontic treatment.

It should be noted that mouth guards need to be checked at least annually for proper fit while in orthodontic treatment, she said. Teeth that are shifting as a result of orthodontic treatment may cause the mouth guard to no longer fit properly.

Learn More
To learn more about how oral hygiene improves orthodontic treatment time or to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Trudy Bonvino at Cosmopolitan Orthodontics, please call (952) 469-3333 or visit the practice’s website: www.cosmoortho.com.

Cosmopolitan Orthodontics has two locations: 17757 Juniper Path in Lakeville, and 8310 C.R. 42 in Savage.

About Cosmopolitan Orthodontics
Cosmopolitan Orthodontics opened on June 4, 2009 in Lakeville, MN. The state-of-the-art facility features the latest in orthodontic technology. It is designed to provide an outstanding experience for patients and parents.

Dr. Trudy Bonvino is the orthodontist on staff at Cosmopolitan Orthodontics. A native of the Twin Cities, Dr. Bonvino was drawn to a career in orthodontics because it combined her two greatest interests: art and science.

Dr. Bonvino earned her bachelor\’s degree from the University of Minnesota before attending the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and graduating with high distinction and her Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 1992. In 1994, Dr. Bonvino completed a residency in clinical orthodontics at the University of Minnesota and earned her master\’s degree there, as well

The staff at Cosmopolitan Orthodontics takes pride in caring for the orthodontic needs of residents in the Twin Cities- St. Paul and Minneapolis- and their surrounding regions, including Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Apple Valley and Prior Lake, Minnesota.
Cosmopolitan Orthodontics is located at 17757 Juniper Path in Lakeville and 8310 C.R. 42 in Savage.

© 2011 Sinai Marketing and Cosmopolitan Orthodontics. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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Author Bio: To learn more about our Prior Lake orthodontist, Dr. Trudy Bonvino and her Prior Lake orthodontics office and her invisalign orthodontics service at Cosmopolitan Orthodontics, please call (952) 469-3333.

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