'My goal as an orthodontist is to offer others the same self-confidence that I was given as a teenager and to provide the orthodontic care at the most affordable price without sacrificing the quality that your family deserves. I am committed to providing the one on one time to ensure patients and parents understand the treatment and they are comfortable with every aspect of care they receive at my office confident of the conservative treatment philosophy.'
Dr. Ridder is a graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas where he earned his D.D.S. degree. He continued his education by earning his Master's degree and orthodontic certification at Temple University in Philadelphia. He has been practicing orthodontics since 2006 and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics and isacertified orthodontist. Dr. Ridder has had extensive training in Invisalign and the Damon system and loves to treat both children and adults at his office. Dr. Ridder has a very conservative treatment philosophy that patients and parents will both appreciate.
Dr. Ridder and his wife, Alecia, have lived in Keller with their family since 2007 and have four wonderful children. Kate is the oldest and has a spunky personality to say the least. Luke, the only boy, loves to show off his big blue eyes and is always making us laugh. Dr. Ridder and his wife have also been blessed with identical twin girls Brooke and Layne, they keep the Ridder house moving for sure. Other than spending time with his family, Dr. Ridder loves to be involved at Fellowship Church where he and Alecia met in 1999. He also likes to squeeze in a round of golf whenever possible. As a family, the Ridder's look forward to being involved in their community for many years to come and to see his family grow along with yours.
Don't worry, you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.
When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).
If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.
If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.
You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.
Game, Set, Match we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it's recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.
In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.