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Easter Facts…Easter is not just about egg hunts, candy, Cadbury eggs and chocolate rabbits. For Christians, Easter celebrates the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ. It is a moveable holiday or feast since it does not occur on the same exact day every year. Most Christian churches in the Western part of the globe celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21st. Thus it usually falls between March 22nd and April 25th each year.

The exact origins for the name of this celebration are complex and there are many theories. Some think it is named after a Teutonic goddess of Spring Eostre. Still others believe it comes from a Latin term hebdomada alba or white week to celebrate the white clothing of those that were baptized during that time.

Although Easter is a religious event, it has also become a commercial holiday with marshmallow chicks, jelly beans and all kinds of chocolate bunnies. Even the White House has an annual Easter Egg hunt for hundreds of children in the area. It is also the time for “Mardi Gras” in New Orleans.Read More

Orthodontic retainers…Do you really know how important they are? Okay, so you decided to invest in the straightening of your teeth. Your smile is perfect and you are absolutely delighted with your results from Affiliated Orthodontics. Now what?

Orthodontic retainers that were made specifically for you are the most important key to you maintaining that new gorgeous smile. Do you have to wear them? YES…If you want to keep your teeth straight and perfect like they are now.Read More

Tooth decay…Did you know that for over a century dentists removed both healthy and diseased portions of tooth structure when treating patients as a preventative measure to avoid future decay? However, in the 1970s, a new treatment options emerged, in the dental field known as “Minimally Invasive Dentistry” (MID) attempts to preserve as much of the healthy structure as possible.

Before MID, dentists offered treatment protocol developed in the 19th Century where dentists remove healthy structure considered vulnerable to decay. This practice resulted in reducing the tooth’s volume and by today’s standards, created larger than necessary fillings.Read More

Oral Hygiene…Okay we all know what oral means and the definition of hygiene is “conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness”. Therefore it means taking care of your mouth and teeth. All dentists and Orthodontists like those at Affiliated Orthodontics recommend being attentive to your teeth and your overall oral health.

Oral hygiene and good oral health knows no age limits. From infants to seniors oral hygiene is important to your whole health picture.Read More

A dental abscess, or tooth abscess, is an accumulation of pus that forms inside the teeth or gums. The abscess typically originates from a bacterial infection, often one that has accumulated in the soft pulp of the tooth.

Bacteria exist in plaque, a by-product of food, saliva and bacteria in the mouth which sticks to the teeth and damages them, as well as the gums. If the plaque is not removed by regular and proper tooth brushing and flossing the bacteria may spread within the soft tissue inside the tooth or gums, eventually resulting in an abscess.Read More

Care for your teeth! Have you ever been frustrated opening a bottle, container, prying open a lid, or ripping open a package with your hands? Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC-TV’s popular “Tonight Show” tried prying open a tube of scar tissue repair gel with disastrous results.

For the 40 year old comedian, what happened next wasn’t funny: when trying to open the gel, Fallon chipped his front tooth, on top of another medical problem, a serious finger injury he suffered a few weeks resulting in trying to open the scar cream. Moral of the Story… Always use the right tool for the job… and your teeth are never the right tool!

Did you know that according to the American Association of Endodontists, chipped teeth account for the majority of dental injuries? Fortunately, modern dentistry offers a number of great ways to restore damaged teeth and if you are considering orthodontic treatment or currently wearing braces when an accident occurs, orthodontic brackets can be bonded to the different restorative options.Read More