Happy Halloween from Magness Orthodontics!

With Halloween here, Dr. Magness and our staff at Memorial Smiles know a lot parents are worried about their kids going overboard on candies this weekend.

For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, you do need to be careful of the types of candies you consume this weekend. We encourage you to watch the video above about which candies you should avoid, but feel free to ask us if you have any questions about what is and isn't braces-friendly!

We hope everyone has a fun, safe and scary Halloween!

Emergency care with Dr. Magness

At Magness Orthodontics, we know true orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our Houston orthodontic office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with Dr. Marc Magness. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our Houston office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan. Give us a call to learn more! We hope you're off to a great Halloween season!

Cold season is here, from Memorial Smiles

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, Drs. Marc Magness, W.Bonham Magness and our entire staff give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Houston 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 Memorial Smiles, 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!

"Dentists,Orthodontists ... What's the Difference?"

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. Magness started out in dental school and earned a dental degree, just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Magness 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 in Dr. Magness to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and we wanted to remind our patients in braces to be careful when they bite into their treats. Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, bubble gum, popcorn kernels and suckers are some of the foods you should be avoiding this Halloween Season! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time!

Of course, Halloween doesn’t have to be completely treat-less. Plain chocolate candy should be fine, as long as you remember to brush afterward! But, what's better than candy? Braces-friendly treats! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists put a great deal of effort into creating some delicious recipes you can enjoy this Halloween season! Enjoy!

- Dr. Magness and team