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At Huls Orthodontics, we pride ourselves on becoming your family orthodontist in Champaign and on our ability to improve your smile once and for all. From crooked smiles to crowding, our team custom-tailors each treatment plan for our patient's needs. More specifically, our leader, Dr. Mark B. Huls, works with each patient to instill productive habits and routines into their lives that facilitate optimal oral health. However, one question crops up time and time again: how do I clean my mouth once I have braces? If you're battling your braces or think orthodontic braces are in your future, here's how to maintain a healthy smile while navigating braces

Here at Huls Orthodontics, Dr. Mark B. Huls has seen his share of dental issues. One of those issues that most frequently plagues people is crowded teeth. Dental crowding is a type of malocclusion – a fancy way of saying "bad bite" – that happens as the upper and lower mandibles develop. That's why we see this problem so often in children and young adults.

Not all teeth alignment devices work the same. The process requires careful monitoring over the course of wear. A good orthodontist is always on hand to see how things are progressing, along with the patient’s well-being. Invisalign is one of the most popular orthodontic products on the market. It’s best for anyone with mild-to-moderate alignment issues. Yet, only an orthodontist can determine if you’re the right candidate.

While good oral hygiene is a must to keep a wonderful smile, it can be difficult and require patience when you have braces or fixed retainers.

When it comes to correcting your smile, retention is an important step. When orthodontic braces are just about ready to be removed, it's a good time to get prepared for transitioning to a retainer. One of the three common retainers is the Essix Retainer. But is the Essix retainer the right retainer for you? Read on to learn more.

Starting orthodontic treatment is an exciting time. Not only are you beginning the journey to a great new smile, but you’re also making positive changes for better oral health. As your trusted family orthodontist, we are proud to help guide you through your orthodontic braces treatment with quality, individualized treatment plans. Adjusting to your new braces at first can take some getting used to, but luckily you can follow these 5 tips from Huls Orthodontics for making it through your first week with braces.

Choices, choices! Gone are the days when there was only a singular option for correcting your teeth. Today, there are multiple options available when it comes to orthodontic treatments. After determining a course of action, Dr. Mark Huls at Huls Orthodontics will help you choose which avenue best suits your needs, preferences, and lifestyle.

At Huls Orthodontics, we offer multiple types of treatment to combat any issues with your teeth. If the time has come that orthodontic braces are being discussed, you might find yourself overwhelmed with the options. We would love to help you narrow down the options by talking about what the difference is between metal braces and ceramic braces.

Orthodontic braces are the most commonly known orthodontic treatment and play a vital role in maintaining a clean, healthy smile. Many patients first get braces during their adolescence, which at that age can sometimes seem intimidating or even scary. It’s important for both a child and their adult to be as informed as possible before beginning treatment, not only to help put the patient at ease, but so they can also be prepared to take proper care of their braces and teeth during the treatment period. Here are 6 things we think you should know before getting started.

As an adult, would you go to a pediatrician? Not necessarily, because treatment is different for children and adults. The same could be said for orthodontics. At Huls Orthodontics, while Dr. Mark B. Huls provides orthodontics for both children and adults, we approach it differently. There are different factors to consider when treating different patients. Learn the difference between Child and adult orthodontics, and how treatment can help you at any age.

The long wait is finally over, you’ve done your time, given up those sticky, crunchy, chewy foods for such a long time and now the day has come when your braces are coming off. However, this moment is not the end of the journey, and today Dr. Huls of Huls Orthodontics in Champaign and Monticello, IL would like to provide patients with a list of things to expect when they get their braces removed.

Whether you have braces or Invisalign, some foods pose a real threat to your teeth and the success of your orthodontic treatment. The last thing you want is to finally get your braces off and have unsightly stains on your newly straightened teeth or finish your Invisalign treatment only to need fillings in your beautiful new smile. Here at Huls Orthodontics, your provider of orthodontic braces in Champaign, IL, we believe that each one of our patients should be happy with the results of their orthodontic treatment which is why we encourage our patients to be aware of certain foods while wearing braces or Invisalign. Find out which foods and candies are the most damaging to orthodontic treatments so you can make sure your braces or Invisalign give you the results you want!

Congratulations! You finally finished wearing braces! However, treatment is still not done. To make sure that your teeth remain straight for a lifetime, you must wear a retainer. Retainers are little devices that hold your teeth in their new positions while bone tissue stabilizes. At Huls Orthodontics, we provide retainers to patients after they have completed their main orthodontic treatment. If you’re about to receive your first pair of retainers, here’s what you need to know about taking care of them, and why they’re important to wear.

When wearing braces, a healthy diet becomes important to maintain your oral health. Certain foods can damage your braces and your teeth. However, there are a lot of other foods to enjoy, and with healthy habits, you can have a balanced diet without giving up most foods you love. At Huls Orthodontics, we aim to educate all of our patients on what to do before, during, and after orthodontic treatment. If you’re struggling with what to eat while wearing braces, here’s what we recommend.

Summer is finally here, and so are tasty treats! We know summertime is all about vacationing, swimming, barbecues, and getting together with friends and family. And with the hot summer sun, everyone grabs a cool treat to cool off. However, most treats are unhealthy, and not friendly to braces. That’s why at Huls Orthodontics, we have come up with a list of what treats you can enjoy while wearing braces this summer.

Invisalign is the most popular way to straighten teeth, helping patients achieve predictable, visible, and beautiful results. Huls Orthodontics is proud to provide our patients with this convenient and effective treatment by offering Invisalign in Monticello and Champaign, IL. Huls is a family orthodontist, providing comprehensive care and support from childhood to adulthood to guarantee results that last a lifetime. If you’re considering straightening your teeth with Invisalign, that’s very exciting! Here are five pointers for adjusting to life with Invisalign.

When most people think about the benefits of orthodontics they think about straightening out their teeth and achieving a beautiful, clean-looking smile—but what many forget is that your gums are as much a part of your smile as your teeth are. This fact is usually apparent to people who suffer from gummy smiles, in which an excess of gum has grown over part of the teeth and can make teeth look stubby or truncated. Here at Huls Orthodontics, your local Monticello Orthodontist, we believe that everyone should be able to be proud of their smile, which is why we offer an array of solutions for overly gummy smiles (also known as gingival hyperplasia). Check out our quick guide to gummy smile causes and learn about how your local Champaign dentist can help you find a solution!

When you’re young, caring about the integrity of your teeth 40 years down the line might be the furthest thing from your mind—but those of us who neglected our teeth as kids have since learned why oral hygiene should start early.

We all know that life gets in the way, and sometimes not for the best. At Huls Orthodontics, we want all of our patients to be healthy and happy, but we also know that accidents or serious ailments can occur unexpectedly. While one may get a serious dental emergency, there are very few cases involving orthodontic emergencies.

If you have been considering orthodontic treatment but have avoided it because you don't want to wear braces, you most likely have another option - Invisalign. Invisalign is a series of clear aligners that move your teeth into the desired position.

Huls Orthodontics delivers high-quality orthodontic care in Champaign and Monticello, Illinois, as well as the surrounding communities. Using the latest orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic technologies, Dr. Mark Huls and our staff work with you to create a customized treatment plan based on your individual needs.

Whether you have metal braces, ceramic braces, or clear braces, you may get restless during treatment. Our advanced orthodontic treatment in Champaign takes time to work for good reason.

Life with braces can take some getting used to. Learn the most important things to avoid while wearing braces, then schedule a consultation online today!

If you’ve ever dreamed of having a straighter smile, you’ve probably considered Invisalign treatment. At Huls Orthodontics, we’ve helped countless patients achieve a smile they’re proud to show off with Invisalign Champaign.The amount of time it takes Invisalign treatment to produce the desired result will vary based on the complexity of the case, and each patient’s personal smile goals.

There is nothing so exciting for our Monticello and Champaign area patients than the day they get their metal or clear braces removed or ceremoniously discard their last set of Invisalign clear aligners! Seeing your new, beautiful smile for the first time is a moment of joy for teens and adults alike, as well as Dr. Huls and the staff at Huls Orthodontics. However, amidst all the excitement it’s important to remember that this is not the end of your orthodontic treatment. All braces and Invisalign patients enter the next phase of treatment - the retention phase.

Everyone deserves a smile they're truly proud of, and thanks to the convenience of modern orthodontics, it's never been easier to achieve one. For patients seeking a more discreet option for orthodontic treatment, both clear braces and Invisalign offer low-profile, discreet ways to achieve a new smile – but how do you know which is best for you? As your Monticello & Champaign orthodontist, we at Huls Orthodontics are here to shed some light on these two orthodontic treatments and help you determine the best option for your new smile

Flossing your teeth becomes a whole new ballgame when you add braces to the mix! Huls Orthodontics, in Monticello and Champaign, is here to help you through the adjustment period and teach you tricks and tips to continue flossing effectively, even with braces.

With so many orthodontic treatment choices it can be tough deciding what treatment option is right for you. While many of our patients choose to improve their smiles with standard braces, a growing number of adults and teens are choosing our Champaign & Monticello Invisalign treatment. To help you decide if Invisalign is the right treatment for you, we’ve put together some of the main benefits offered by Invisalign.

Getting braces during the summer can be a great advantage for your teen. It allows time for them to adjust to the new appliance in the comfort of their own home instead of having to face troubles at school on their own. Becoming familiar with these aspects under your guidance is a lot easier on teens who are often a bit weary of the treatment.