Blog

Sports are an incredibly popular way for kids to exercise, create life-long relationships, and have fun. Whether it's baseball, football, basketball, or one of the many other sports available, multiple studies have shown the positive influences that sports

Taking good care of your teeth and braces or clear aligners at home is pretty easy: you have all the tools you need and all the time you need to clean them properly. But if you’re getting out and about for work or other activities these days, it can be a little tougher to stay on track. Going to and from school, work, and home can leave you with

Many people wish to have a straighter smile. Most people who want a straighter smile want it quickly and easily, which is why clear aligners, and more specifically, online orthodontics have become increasingly popular. While these services are incredibly appealing for their direct-to-your-door convenience and relative ease, there are several important trade-offs when comparing them to traditional orthodontics.

Orthodontic technology has advanced greatly over the past few years. With clear plastic aligners becoming an increasingly popular option, many people wonder if they are the right option for their orthodontic treatment. Choosing a treatment option should not be based on aesthetics alone; there are several key aspects to compare when choosing the right option for you. We have put together a list of comparisons that we hope will help you make a more informed decision:

What Is an Orthodontic Emergency?

No matter how hard you may try, having braces can come with an occasional bump along the way. From sore teeth, a broken wire, or even getting injured playing sports, orthodontic problems, though very rare, can pop up. Most issues can be addressed at home, or with a quick phone call to the office for guidance, but some issues - particularly

One of the most common questions people have about braces is "Do they hurt?" Even though the installation process itself is painless, it is normal to feel mild soreness or discomfort for a few days or even a week after. This can also happen after each orthodontic appointment,

Everyone loves to eat delicious food, but having braces means that you have to take a little extra care with what you eat. Having food stuck in your braces is never a good look, and some foods can be very hard to clean out or even damage your braces. Luckily, there's no need to worry; the majority of foods are still perfectly safe. 

Getting braces is an important and life-changing moment for children. For parents and children alike, this is an exciting time, but such a big change can also take some preparation. As a parent, there are several ways to help make this transition easier for your child, and get them on track to a beautiful smile:

Now that you've come through the season of giving we hope you’re enjoying the warm glow of gratitude from everyone on your list. One of our favorite things about the Christmas holiday is the way it focuses our attention on others, but when the calendar changes over to the new year it's a chance for us all to breathe a collective sigh of relief – and - a chance to think

They say that when you are fully committed to something...whether it is a cause, a goal, or even a relationship - you become bolder, more decisive, gutsy, even unstoppable. It's true! When we are committed to something, we have lots of energy and are driven by a strong sense of purpose to achieve great things.

If you're like most parents, you want what's best for your kids - and that includes a healthy smile. These days, it seems like everywhere you look you can find a doctor - or an online company - offering some form of orthodontic treatment. What they don't tell you is that you can't count on the same results from these various "providers".

At Carlson Orthodontics, we measure our success one patient at a time. So we were thrilled to be voted the Best of the Best in the Northland's People's Choice Awards - and not just once! Our "best of" awards included:

• Best Dental Office
• Best Small Company To

If you've been in the Carlson Orthodontics offices lately, you may have noticed a fresh new face. That's because we've added another exceptional orthodontist. Meet Dr. Joe Dougherty!

Dr. Dougherty was almost as excited to join our team as we were to have him join. He says

Free movies in the park - sponsored by Carlson Orthodontics. Summer is especially great in Northern Minnesota - and one of our favorite summertime activities is Movies in the Park. That's why we decided to sponsor the event! The lineup of movies is fantastic and we can't wait to see everyone there.

The orthodontists at Carlson Orthodontics understand that having braces comes with challenges…at least for some of us. Getting used to wearing them and taking care of your smile during treatment takes a little time and taking care of

Now that the Spring sports season is in full swing, we wanted to share a little info...and a little humor about mouthguards. And, we also want to give you a heads-up that we offer custom mouthguards. We think this topic is so important we want everyone who plays a team sport to know about it.

This month we’re super excited to feature our Business Coordinator, Annie, in our Team Feature. She’s an amazing team member, an incredible Mom and one of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. As our Business Coordinator, Annie plays a role in just about everyone’s life in and

You know how a photo is like a moment that's frozen in time? This time of year, that "frozen" part can have additional meaning, but no matter what the weather is like when you get your picture taken, that photo - and your smile - are frozen for all time.

At Carlson Orthodontics we couldn't be more proud of our team and today we're excited to introduce you to one of our clinical assistants - Erinn. She is Duluth born and raised and proud to be a "local girl". She joined Carlson Orthodontics in the Summer of 2018 and says

For us, every new year offers lots of reasons to celebrate – and you might have noticed that we kind of like to celebrate! After all, our company’s motto is “celebrate your smile” and we get to do that 24/7/365.

There's really no better way to show confidence than to smile in the face of...well, anything! When you face adversity, challenges, that coworker or kid at school that is never in a good mood, your smile is your best weapon. There are so many benefits to smiling and now there's research from the University of Missouri-Kansas City that adds to the list.

At Carlson Orthodontics we think about smiles 24/7/365. In other words, we spend all our time thinking about helping people love their smiles but this month is special. October is National Orthodontic Health Month so we wanted to remind you that orthodontics is a team sport - and you’re on the team.

Summertime is always filled with lots of activities and the Carlson Team (our work family) loves participating. This summer we've sponsored a bunch of community events, held a great patient appreciation night at the Huskies, made complimentary custom mouthguards for the Chargers Lacrosse team and

If you are of a certain age – or you have children of a certain age...it’s that time of year again. It’s wedding season! Whether you are part of the wedding party or a guest; wedding season can be one of the best times or one of the worst times of your life.

You may be surprised to know that the benefits of having properly aligned teeth extend far beyond a beautiful, confident smile. According to the American Dental Association, straightening your teeth can actually significantly affect your overall dental health.

The recommendation by the American Association of Orthodontists is that every child should have an evaluation by an orthodontic specialist by age 7 or 8, even though there often is not an immediate need for treatment. The primary objective of the appointment is

Many of our patients consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year before but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2016?

As we approach "Thanksgiving eve", we think of the many gifts we have in our lives; most importantly the people who are our families and the patients who we now call friends.

We recently returned from a trip to the American Orthodontics facility in Sheboygan.  Whenever we have a business related trip, we always come back energized and anxious to apply some of our learning to our practice.

How can I help my orthodontic treatment finish?

This is a common question! We don’t take offense…we understand that patients are eager to complete their orthodontic treatment. It’s a great day and a great feeling when your braces come off!

One of my favorite things about being an orthodontist is seeing the change that happens both inside and outside a person when we create a healthy, beautiful new smile. I also love the way the technology in our profession is always changing and how it allows us to make treatment more comfortable and efficient than ever before!