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You may be coming to the end of your orthodontic treatment and wondering what comes next? For both braces and Invisalign, it all comes to an end with a retainer to keep the retention of your new, beautiful smile. The most common question we get asked is "How long do I have to wear this for?" and our answer is always the same: "For as long as you want your teeth to be straight." This truly is a lifetime commitment if you would like to preserve the treatment you went through.

Of course, one retainer will not last you a lifetime just due to wear and tear overtime. Thankfully the Invisalign retainers that you receive once treatment is finished are a plastic that is 30% thicker than normal Invisalign aligners. They should last you around 2-3 years but all depends on each individual and how well they are taken care of.

For our patients coming out of braces, we recommend wearing your retainers for the first 3 days full time (taking them out to eat/brush/drink sugary drinks) and then it is just to bed every night from there on out.

For Invisalign patients, directions are slightly different, instead we recommend wearing your retainers for 14 hours a day for the first 3 months, then just to bed every night after that.

The first set of retainers is always included in the cost of your whole treatment. Any set after that will be for a fee. We just started offering a promotion for our patients nearing the end. At the appointment that you get your scan done, you can choose to get a SECOND set of retainers for $100 off, OR get a free Invisalign whitening kit that can be used with your retainers!!

We also offer a retainer subscription through the Invisalign app, which allows you to order your retainers whenever you need without having to come into the office. If you are interested, let us know and we will send you the link at your last visit with us!

Lastly, if you ever get away from your retainers for too long and they do not fit anymore and you've noticed some shifting please get in contact with us ASAP! It could be a simple fix for a fee, but will be better than letting it getting even worse!

Here at Kennell Orthodontics we are all about setting new goals and doing whatever it takes to better our practice! Maybe one of your New Year's goals is to change, or better your teeth/smile. In that case we are the place for you!

Let's start with HOW you can get started in achieving that goal. First, you can give us a call at any of these 3 numbers: Littleton (603) 444-7404, Plymouth (603) 536-7404, Laconia (603) 524-7404. One of our wonderful administrative assistants will take your call and will help you set up a consultation. This is a complimentary consultation and is completely free! At that appointment Dr. Kennell will be able to do a basic exam of your teeth, take notes, and offer some options to his best knowledge on how we should proceed! You will leave this appointment hopefully with a better understanding of your teeth!

Some great questions to ask during your consultation appointment are:

"How long will my treatment take?"

"How often will my appointments be? How long will they be?"

"How much discomfort will I be in?"

"How much will treatment cost?"

"What is the difference between braces and Invisalign?"

"Can I whiten my teeth during treatment?"

Thankfully we will have an answer to all of your questions, or at least an estimate for you to consider!

Here are some of the orthodontic treatments we provide at Kennell Orthodontics:

For Early (Phase I) Treatment we can provide children with expanders, space maintainers, limited braces, and just starting in 2023 we now offer early Invisalign as well.

For Phase II treatment and for Adults we provide braces, either clear brackets or traditional metal and Invisalign aligners. Just starting this year in 2025 we will be trying a new orthodontic treatment with braces called LightForce, stay tuned!

We also can provide limited orthodontics with Invisalign touch-up aligners for patients that do not require as much work done to their teeth.

All orthodontic treatment will be completed and maintained with a retainer that is included.

Once you and Dr. Kennell agree on which treatment you may decide on, you will then set up an appointment to have your records done. This includes 2 x-rays (panoramic and cephalometric), a series of photographs with a digital camera, and also a 3D impression taken with our i-Tero scanner (super cool!)

From that appointment we will be able to provide you with your treatment plan during an over-the-phone conference. During that phone call you will set up a time and date to get started!

Hopefully you will make the jump, pick up the phone, and schedule your consultation with us soon! Kennell Orthodontics is here for you! Make 2025 your year for orthodontics!

There are many exciting things the Kennell Ortho team accomplished during the year 2024. Now it is already coming to an end! Let us do a quick recap for you on some of our favorite highlights!

The first thing that comes to mind is our trip to the AAO meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was a great experience for the KO team to bond and to learn how to become a better office collectively. We learned communication skills, how to use our materials effectively, how to keep our ourselves and our patients safe, and got up to speed on what's new in the orthodontic world.

After the trip to the AAO conference, we were influenced to buy the latest i-Tero scanner which is much faster and much more efficient!

We updated our Rewards Program by adding a $10 Walmart gift card as one of our prizes.

We tried our first Invisalign Palate Expander that went very well (read more in our blog from November, "What is an Invisalign Palate Expander"). We have also had lots of our patients starting Phase I Invisalign treatment in general. We have had great results and have been impressed by how responsible our younger patients are.

Along with the Phase I Invisalign, there are now stickers that patients can stick on their aligners to add some fun!

We now offer Croc charms to any of our patients that come into our offices wearing their Crocs. We just got new ones in for the Holiday season!

Dr. Kennell attended the Invisalign Study Club in Costa Rica. He got to see how they actually create the Invisalign aligners and so much more!

Dr. Kennell took the KO team to see Mamma Mia Live in Boston! Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Nico Ristorante!

The whole KO team celebrated Halloween by dressing up as the different emotions from the movie Inside Out 2! So fun! The KO team also attended the annual Lakes Region Dental and Oral Surgery Halloween Party!

We delivered yummy pies to our referring dental offices to show our appreciation!

The front porch at the Laconia office was completely redone with new steps and railings! We hope you like it as much as we do!

Before we are off for the holidays, the KO team got together for a Christmas party at Gusto. Dr. Kennell bought personalized tote bags for everyone. Katie made personalized ornaments. All of us swapped gifts and played fun games! Good times had by all!

We hope you all have safe, happy, and healthy holidays. We can't wait to see what this New Year brings!

The newest appliance we have tried at Kennell Orthodontics is the the Invisalign Palatal Expander. The expander does the same kind of expanding that a regular Hyrax or Quad Helix, metal appliances, would do. It is just a new type of system made by Invisalign.

***Unfortunately not every patient qualifies for the Invisalign Palatal Expander***

But for those who might be eligible for this kind of expander. Let us tell you about it!

First of all, the Invisalign Palatal Expanders are 3D-printed, this makes for a custom fit to our patients teeth and palate. There are a series of multiple expanders that are to be changed everyday that slightly widen the palate creating room for adult teeth to come in.

The expander is easy enough for patients of any age to insert and remove on their own. This also makes it easier for patients to brush and floss because they can remove the appliance. There are no food restrictions because it is removable.

Here is the before, during, and after of our first patient to try the Invisalign Palatal Expander. She had great results and gave us great feedback on the experience.

Ask us about the Invisalign Palatal Expander if you come for a consultation, it just might be the perfect fit for your child's Phase I treatment!