Holiday potlucks in Durham, church dinners in Roxboro, and school parties in Mebane often come with crowded tables filled with crunchy, sticky, and sugary favorites. For patients in braces, those moments can feel stressful instead of fun. That is why customized care for patients is such a priority for Dr. Smith, Dr. Heymann, and Dr. Skillestad.
Smith & Heymann Orthodontics takes time to learn your schedule, your eating habits, and your goals before recommending braces or clear aligners.
What Customized Care For Patients Looks Like
Customized care for patients starts with the idea that no two mouths and no two lifestyles are the same. A UNC student in Chapel Hill who travels home most weekends, a busy parent in Mebane juggling carpools, and a child in Roxboro who loves contact sports all need something a little different from orthodontic treatment.
For the team at Smith & Heymann Orthodontics, personalization shows up in several ways:
Time Spent Listening First
Before anyone talks about braces or clear aligners, the doctors want to hear your story. That includes:
- What you like or do not like about your teeth now
- Past dental experiences
- Any big life events coming up, like senior photos or a wedding
- How often you can realistically visit the office
Those details help the doctors shape a plan that works in the real world instead of asking you to rearrange everything around orthodontic appointments.
Matching Treatment To Your Lifestyle
- The practice offers modern options like Damon metal braces, Damon clear braces, and Invisalign clear aligners for teens and adults.
- A teen who loves marching band in Roxboro might do best with braces and extra attention to instrument-playing comfort.
- A working professional in Durham who speaks at meetings all day may prefer nearly invisible Invisalign trays.
- A younger child in Mebane might need a phased approach that starts with simple appliances now and full braces later.
The doctors look at tooth position, bite, and facial balance, then match those needs with the treatment style that fits your goals and daily routine.
Flexible Scheduling Across Four Offices
With offices in Durham, Roxboro, Mebane, and Chapel Hill, it becomes easier to fit visits between classes, shifts, or school pickups.
Some families prefer early appointments in Durham before work, others stop by after school in Mebane, and college students often choose the Chapel Hill office between classes on Franklin Street. That flexibility is part of personalization, too.
Care Stays Throughout Your Treatment
Your first visit is where the plan takes shape. Digital photos and X-rays help the doctors see what is happening below the surface, without messy impressions. From there, they strategize:
- Which teeth need to move
- How long treatment is likely to last
- Whether braces or clear aligners will give you the best outcome
- How to time treatment around sports seasons, exams, or travel
Throughout treatment, adjustments are not on a universal schedule. If your teeth are moving quickly, the plan may shift. If life gets busy and you miss an appointment, the team works with you to get everything back on track.
Holiday Foods, Braces, And Personalized Advice
Holiday gatherings around Durham, Roxboro, and Mebane bring a lot of tempting foods, from peanut brittle and caramel apples at church events to crunchy snack mixes at school parties. The doctors know those treats are part of real life, so they talk through your specific favorites instead of handing out a generic “no” list.
Here are a few ways that customized guidance around food plays out for braces patients:
- Crunchy foods: Raw carrots, whole apples, or hard rolls can be tough on brackets. The team often suggests softer options, like roasted vegetables, sliced apples, or rolls torn into small pieces.
- Sticky sweets: Caramels, taffy, and certain homemade candies tend to cling to wires. Softer treats such as pudding, custard, or a brownie without nuts usually work better.
- Nuts and snack mixes: Those can be tricky for people wearing braces. Many families swap whole nuts for nut butters on soft bread or choose snack mixes without hard pieces.
The difference at Smith & Heymann Orthodontics is that your doctor talks through your own habits. If you love kettle corn at a Mebane holiday festival or chewy treats during movie nights, your plan includes realistic alternatives so you can still enjoy the season while protecting your brackets.
Dental Monitoring For Personalized Care From Home
One of the biggest ways this practice personalizes care is through Dental Monitoring, a smartphone-based system that lets you send photos of your teeth from home. Here is how that helps:
- Less time in the car: Families in Roxboro or Mebane do not always need to drive into Durham for simple check-ins. Many progress checks happen virtually.
- More frequent feedback: Instead of waiting six to eight weeks to ask a question, you can send images through the app and hear back from Dr. Smith, Dr. Heymann, or Dr. Skillestad between visits.
- Faster adjustments when life happens: If an aligner feels loose or a bracket looks off after a big weekend tournament, the doctors can review your photos and decide whether you need an in-person visit or a simple change at home.
For busy households with kids at practices, church youth nights, and school events, Dental Monitoring keeps treatment moving without constant trips to the office.
Custom Care For Kids, Teens, And Adults Across The Triangle
Families in this area often have more than one person in treatment. A middle schooler in braces, a high schooler in Invisalign, and a parent finally ready to straighten teeth after years of putting kids first are common combinations. The doctors customize their approach based on age and stage of life:
Children
Younger kids sometimes benefit from an early look at jaw growth, spacing, or habits like thumb-sucking. When early treatment makes sense, the team aims for the simplest approach that sets things up for smoother care later.
Teens
Teens around Durham, Roxboro, Mebane, and Chapel Hill handle packed schedules with sports, music, and exams. The doctors weigh appearance, responsibility, and lifestyle when helping teens choose between braces and clear aligners. Invisalign can work well for responsible teens who will wear trays as directed, while braces can take some of the daily decision-making off their plates.
Adults
Many adults who come in from Chapel Hill or Durham have thought about orthodontic care for years. The team talks through work expectations, public speaking, and family responsibilities, then recommends options that fit. Often that means Invisalign or clear braces, combined with Dental Monitoring check-ins that fit between meetings.
Schedule Your Orthodontic Consultation
Patients and parents who want care that fits real life can schedule a consultation with Dr. Smith, Dr. Heymann, or Dr. Skillestad to talk about braces, clear aligners, and Dental Monitoring options. Reach out to the Smith & Heymann Orthodontics team in Durham, Roxboro, Mebane, or Chapel Hill to request an appointment and find a treatment plan that fits your goals and your schedule.
