Blog

It’s the holidays again and at Affiliated Orthodontics we would like to share some simple stocking stuffer ideas to consider for your kids and teens, especially those wearing braces. Instead of candy and sweets that are unhealthy and can bend and break wires and knock off brackets, give something more suitable to make your season bright and avoid problems during family festivities. Read More

2015 is quickly winding down and we will soon be welcoming the New Year. As a courtesy to all our patients, this is a reminder to review your Flexible Spending or Health Savings Account balances to make sure you don’t lose any of your benefits socked away this year.

Give the Gift of a Beautiful Smile This Holiday Season

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Every patient has their own reasons for deciding to undergo orthodontic treatment. For adolescents and teens, image has always been a key factor in social integration and in today’s beauty conscious society, a beautiful smile is high on their list of priorities.

According to NBC TODAY – “Selfie Esteem” give teens a confidence boost and social media is the ideal platform to broadcast yourself to the world. “Even though that seems very simple, that’s an extraordinary shift, historically. “It’s the first time you get to be the photographer and the subject of the photograph,” says Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center. “Control makes people believe in themselves.”

• 65% of teenage girls reported that seeing their selfies on social media actually boosts their confidence.
• 40% of all teens say social media helps them present their best face to the world.
• At least 81 percent of teens, ages 12-17, use social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, according to recent findings from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, with Instagram especially popular among selfie-loving teenage girls.

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Halloween is a fun time of year for kids of all ages… but it can be a “nightmare” waiting to happen if patients are damaging appliances when eating the wrong treats.

At Affiliated Orthodontics we love Halloween!! However, we feel it is important to educate parents and patients of the potential problems that can occur if orthodontic patients don’t pay attention to our foods to avoid list.

This year the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) is offering FIVE TIMELY TIPS to protect braces, aligners and other orthodontic “appliances” while also protecting teeth from decay.

1. Avoid Sticky foods
2. Say “Boo” to hard treats
3. Brush up to avoid cavities
4. Spooktacular News – you can eat soft chocolates, peanut butter cups, etc
5. Make a commitment to avoid hard and chewy food all year round to increase your rate of success

Watch this video put out a few years ago by the American Association of Orthodontics with additional “Halloween Brace Tips” for consumers.

October means something a little different to our team at Affiliated Orthodontics because this is National Orthodontic Health Month. During October, orthodontic offices all over the country work together to promote their services and inform the community about the important work we do. Our goal is to draw attention to the fact that everyone needs to be evaluated for orthodontic treatment. You are never too young or too old if your bite or smile needs correction.

American Association of Orthodontics recommends that parents start early and all kids be evaluated 7 – 8 years of age. During the growing years of 7 – 10, kids undergo a major growth spurt that goes hand in hand with the eruptive pattern of their teeth and development of jaws.Read More