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Thanks for the question! Spacers are little 0 rings that we floss between the contacts of your teeth around the molar area. This allows us space to get a metal band around your molars prior to your banding appointment.
These spacers may cause some discomfort for two-to-three days and your will need to use some kind of pain reliever such as Asvil or Tylenol.
We ask that you avoid chewy or sticky foods such as caramel, gum, taffy, etc. You may floss your teeth as usual, but not in the areas we place the spacers.
Spacers sometimes work faster than we anticipate, and they will fall out on their own. If this should happen, please call our office; and we will replace them if necessary, four days before your banding appointment.
Thank you,
Dr. Hablinski and team

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season knocking at our door, our entire team at Dr. Hablinski’s office wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.
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 Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before before orthodontic treatment began.
Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Mark Hablinski and our team recommend that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse as well; ask us for a recommendation.
When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.
You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.
Our team at Dr. Hablinski’s office will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our Houston orthodontic office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.
Lastly, in addition to visiting Dr. Hablinski’s office during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

Proper brushing is essential for cleaning teeth and gums effectively. Use a toothbrush with soft, nylon, round-ended bristles that will not scratch and irritate teeth or damage gums.
Place bristles along the gumline at a 45-degree angle. Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gumline.
Gently brush the outer tooth surfaces of 2-3 teeth using a vibrating back & forth rolling motion. Move brush to the next group of 2-3 teeth and repeat.
Maintain a 45-degree angle with bristles contacting the tooth surface and gumline. Gently brush using back, forth, and rolling motion along all of the inner tooth surfaces.
Tilt brush vertically behind the front teeth. Make several up & down strokes using the front half of the brush.
Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth & use a gentle back & forth scrubbing motion. Brush the tongue from back to front to remove odor-producing bacteria.
Remember to replace your toothbrush every three to four months. Researchers have established that thousands of microbes grow on toothbrush bristles and handles. Most are harmless, but others can cause cold and flu viruses, the herpes virus that causes cold sores, and bacteria that can cause periodontal infections.
Source: The American Dental Hygienists’ Association

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of today’s sweet and spooky holiday, Dr. Hablinski and team 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.
A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• 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
Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give us a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.
Dr. Hablinski & our entire team wish you all a safe, fun and happy Halloween!

Dr. Hablinski and his wife Dorothy recently sponsored 239 people to view the movie “Courageous”. The emotional uplift watching kids and adults cheer adult men making strong choices for the betterment of their families and communities was incredibly inspiring. Dorothy had attended a Houston Area Pastors Council meeting and was talking about how we had seen “Courageous” recently and how we felt Americans needs more of those kinds of movies to encourage our men to lead their families. Dorothy offered to sponsor 30 people and it mushroomed into filling the theatre with 239. She felt it was a “God Moment “as this awesome response happened in literally three days.
Tell all your family and friends to go see “Courageous” with their families preferably! God bless Dr. H.
Head to our Facebook page to view the rest of our night out!

For those who don’t know, October is National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.
Dr. Mark Hablinski and our team realize this is a great opportunity for us and to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Dr. Hablinski and other dental professional in Houston.
The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Ice
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call, or ask Dr. Hablinski during your visit this month!

What class did you take recently? A. P. Westfall Meeting
Where was the class located? San Antonio,Texas June 10-12.
What did you learn? Alexander’s approach to long term stability.
Is it applicable to your practice? Definitely.
What did you like best about your class? The importance of stressing squeezing teeth together in tongue thrust /open bite cases.
In “your opinion” is continuing education a beneficial experience that you would recommend to anybody considering returning to school? Yes, I think it is very beneficial. Continuing education keep you up with the latest in technology and changes that may occur.