Smile Sooner

Jets Headed Back to Winnipeg?

2011-05-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

Well that is the latest report from the Globe and Mail. Here is a good summary of the situation as of Friday, May 21, 2011.

http://m.news1130.com/National/Article/229106

I believe that the NHL is coming back to Winnipeg, but it is not official yet. I feel badly for Atlanta - it hurt when the Jets left Winnipeg back in 1996. I attended the last game - a losing playoff effort against the mighty Detroit Red Wings back in April of that year. My daughter Alex and I was there to celebrate the team and mourn their loss. Alex was only six at the time, but a big fan even then and she still is a big fan. My son Reid is excited to have the team coming back too.

This has nothing to do with braces or orthodontics except that like braces, hockey is designed to improve people's lives. NHL hockey will bring more fun to the City of Winnipeg and that means more smiles. So I guess there is a connection after all.

Have a great long weekend! It is the official start of the summer for us and I hope it is a great one for everyone!

Go Jets!

What is a blog for?

2011-05-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

To me a blog is about having a conversation - talking about things that are relevant and revealing. It is about being transparent - showing who you are and what you think.

I don't think blogs are supposed to be boring and corporate. Blogs should be real.

Blogs should give people information and help them to do things. Websites should do the same thing and I am still working on mine. Hmm - I was a month late when I was born - my website is taking a lot longer than that, but I do not want the typical website.

I think it will be worth the wait. I sure hope so.

We are looking for our next great assistant - now hiring

2011-05-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

We are seeing more people who want great smiles. And they want them as quickly and as comfortably as possible, which is just the way we like to do it. We are becoming busier so we are looking for a new member of our team.

This is a new position for a Phase 2 dental assistant with the ortho module. The position is permanent and part-time - 3 days a week - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at our Polo Park office.

So if you are looking for a great place to work for 3 days with long weekends, please contact us by fax, 944-0538 or email: smilesooner@gmail.com.

We are looking forward to meeting you and working with you.

2011-05-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

So my silence is broken again. Will it continue? You will have to tune in to find out.

Enough build-up. I am back here because I just had a brain wave.

It's never too late to be young. Yes. You're never too old to be young. Get out there and have fun.

I think that fun is the first key to being young. I am having fun - a lot of fun actually.

I hope you are too.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

Its a new year and we wish you all the best. We hope your holidays were festive with family and relaxation.

We are looking forward to the new year here at our office. We will have some changes to announce.

And I don't find that new years resolutions are that helpful, but I am going to be blogging more regularly in the new year. I will also be adding youtube videos.

My priority in the new year is going to be teaching, learning and communicating with the people I work with - you the patients, parents, dentists, and all the other members of the oral health team - dental hygienists, assistants and reception staff.

Orthodontic treatment can be puzzling. It helps to know more before your treatment, during your treatment and after your treatment. I want to make it easier for you to be empowered with your orthodontic knowledge. But I know it can be a case of information overload at times so it is important for us to be here on the web to provide the information you need and deserve.

So smile lots in the new year and remember that we want you to smile sooner. I want you to smile with your first contact with my office - whether you do that with a phone call or a visit here on the web. I want you to smile as we inform you, treat you and support you in your health and smiles.

Cheers for a great 2011!

Braces Dragging On - The Last Thing We Want for You!

2010-09-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

We want your orthodontic treatment to go as quickly and as comfortably as possible to reach a great smile. We want you to be in braces for the least amount of time.

We do not want your braces to drag on. We want your treatment to keep moving. Braces drag on when we are not making the progress we need to get that great smile.

Some people will joke that their orthodontist will say six months more in braces, but they really mean nine more months. Sure your orthodontist may estimate two years of braces in total, but it will be more like three years - some people will say.

We do not want this "dragging on" at all. We never want people to say this about us or my office We want to give you our best estimate for how long your braces will take before you begin your orthodontic treatment. During your orthodontic treatment, we want to keep you up to date on our progress - are we ahead of schedule? or behind schedule?

With our Damon braces and the experience we have gained with them over the past six years, we find more and more of our patients get their braces off on time or even ahead of schedule. Not all. We are always striving to do better.

There are some things we do to reduce your time in braces and there are some things you can do to help us - and yourself. We all want the same thing - a great smile - as quickly and as comfortably as possible.

I am going to be talking more about those things we do and the ways you can help in future blog posts - stay tuned.

Why are you getting braces? You don't need them.

2010-09-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

I hear that from a surprising number of people. Many people come to see me and say that their family or friends think their smile is great already. "You don't need braces."

And they are right - no one "needs" braces like they would an operation, food or water. Braces are the best way to straighten teeth for a healthy and a confident smile. There can be real benefits for your health and your appearance. If something is bothering you, it makes sense to get it checked out and see what braces may be able to do for you.

I may agree that braces may not be the best way to go for you. It may make sense for your dentist to bond or place veneers on your teeth to improve their appearance. Or braces and later veneers may make the most sense for you and your smile.

I am not here to tell you that you need braces. I am here to listen to you and your concerns. I am here to let you know what braces can do for you. Friends and family members may mean well, but they may be trying to hold you back from doing something that they would like to do for themselves, but are not willing to do for any number of reasons.

People can find it easy to give advice to others - they know what's best for others, but they struggle with their own decisions. I don't pretend to know you or your concerns. I want to listen to you, examine your smile and have a good discussion about what braces can do for you. Then you can decide what works for you.

And it is not unusual that when the braces come off, those same friends and family who questioned the braces, say: "WOW - those braces made a big difference - great smile." All's well that ends well.

Summer Time!

2010-08-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

Manitoba is in the middle of a great summer - hot and sunny after all the rain we got in the beginning.

We just got back from holidays - today is our first day back so we are getting limbered up after our rest and relaxation. Everyone here had a nice vacation. I went on a road trip to Montana. It is a beautiful state with lots to see. We got as far as Yellowstone and saw Old Faithful erupt - very cool. The people are wonderful too - very friendly. I can highly recommend the trip. Glacier National Park is supposed to be spectacular, but we will have to return to see that in the future.

We stayed at a wonderful bed and breakfast in Glendive Montana on the way home. It is an 8000 square foot mansion over 100 years old that has been beautifully restored. It is a step into the past, but all mod cons - air conditioning, wifi, etc.

http://www.charley-montana.com/

is the website and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling in that area.

Bed and breakfasts offer an inviting home away from home when you are traveling and you meet new and fascinating people much more than you would staying in a hotel. I am definitely going to stay in more B n B's in the future. I can hardly wait until my next road trip.

So get out there and enjoy the rest of the summer - still lots left. In the meantime, while you are relaxing, do not take a vacation from the toothbrush. It is easy to let things slide during the summer months, but you want to keep your teeth healthy and your orthodontic treatment on track.

Is It Time To Be An Optimist?

2010-07-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

It is never easy to be a kid or a teenager. I remember my time there - I had lots of fun, but growing up is a challenge. When I grew up in the seventies, there were lots of challenges in the world apart form my own personal life - the economy, oil prices and shortages, pollution worries - you name it, we had it. It was actually a lot like today.

When I was in my teens, I really didn't think I would ever own a car. If I was lucky, maybe a small electric golf cart - those were the pessimistic ideas circulating around that time. It was not just me. Well it turned out not to be so. I think the world is much better now than it was then.

I bring this up because I came across an excellent post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-ridley/down-with-doom-how-the-wo_b_630792.html

The author is Matt Ridley who also wrote a great book called The Rational Optimist. Optimism is good for you - it supports your life and your health. It encourages more smiling - all good.

http://www.rationaloptimist.com/

I ran into a great example of why we should be optimistic. They are testing a new roadway paving stone that removes harmful pollution from the air. Now that is very cool. In orthodontics I have seen how much technology is helping us to help people and I know that every business and every technology is making progress. Very cool.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/07/07/road-surface-purifies-air-by-removing-nitrogen-oxides-nox/#more-21558

We will always have challenges - the Gulf oil leak is tragic. People and wildlife are suffering and we have to develop better technology. I am confident we are and we will. So my last word is to young people - my children, my young patients and everyone else. Lets be optimistic as we work toward making the world a better place. The future belongs to the optimists.

Beauty Smile Trainer

2010-07-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Here is something I ran across when I was Googling "smiles" and such. I am always curious what is out there on the web and I thought this was interesting. It appears to be a jelly rubber tube that you place behind your upper lip above your teeth. I am guessing that it is designed to "raise the curtain" of your upper lip to show off your smile more. I could not find a website directly for this and I suspect that it is a Japanese site. Beyond some French, I only speak English - too bad. Japanese is definitely a language I would like to know.

This gadget could help your smile - at least when you wear it. It could help to show off your smile and your upper teeth, for some people, depending on the position of their teeth and upper lip. It could also look a bit weird - you're on your own with it.

It's actually a clever device. I am not sure how well it would work, how natural it would look and how comfortable it would be. But the idea behind it makes sense. I have the same goals in orthodontic treatment.

Number 1 of course - we want to straighten and even out your teeth. But number 2 is just as important. We want to position your upper teeth and your smile so that you have a wide natural smile that supports your upper lip. This kind of smile looks younger, longer.

That is our goal for you and that is why I only use Damon braces. Nothing helps me more to achieve that broad beaming smile than the Damon braces I have been using for the past 6 years. Beauty Smile Trainer or Damon braces for that full gorgeous smile? I have no experience with the Beauty Smile Trainer, but with Damon braces, I have lots.

In the meantime, things like this make me want to visit Japan even more. I would be in gadget heaven.

Happy Canada Day!

2010-06-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

It is a great day to celebrate Canada. Tomorrow - our nation's birthday - its 143rd! Wow. I can remember Centennial Year - 1967. It was a exciting - Canada seemed to be be growing up. It was cool to be a proud Canadian. I was young in Centennial Year, but I felt that it was a turning point in our history.

Since that time, Canada has continued to grow up. It has become cool to wave the flag, celebrate our country and be proud of who we are. And who are we? I believe we are country that allows people to be free and proud of who they are. We come from all over the world to work and play - to live our lives in the best way for ourselves, our families, and our fellow citizens.

Canada celebrates our differences as individuals, allowing us to work and play together to make our lives richer with more and more opportunities every day. Canada welcomes newcomers and new ideas. Canada is a celebration of being human.

I have never been more excited about the future. Technology is allowing us to communicate, interact and learn like never before. I predict that the world is going to become a better, richer, more interesting place. The possibilities for our lives will grow and grow. The environment will become better as we become smarter, healthier and wealthier. Canada is a small part of the world, but our freedoms and our diversity are huge strengths and we will enjoy the benefits of the 21st century as much and more than most countries. We are very lucky to live in this wonderful country.

I am looking forward to the future like never before, but right now I want to pause, be here, and enjoy the moment. Happy Canada Day!

I'm Back - Did Ya Miss Me?

2010-06-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

Well my blogging schedule fell a bit behind - lame I know.

It turns out that it is easy to be enthusiastic about blogging - more of a challenge to remain enthusiastic. That's like braces for our patients I guess, which is why we work so hard to minimize your time in braces.

I am actually working hard on my website. It's overall structure is forming in my head and I am writing up what I want to say. I also want to make a number of videos to provide you with information in a quick and easy way.

Now I know why so many orthodontic websites are the way they are - original content is so time intensive. I still think that it is worthwhile however. I insist that a website should provide valuable and unique information to people or why bother? The people I serve are worth it.

Checklist Manifesto

2010-02-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

I just read the book, The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande. It is a brilliant book. Atul Gawande is a surgeon dedicated to his patients and to improving - to doing his best for his patients. He explores the power and the simplicity of checklists. He talks with construction project managers and pilots. He makes a compelling argument for checklists for any important activity you are likely to repeat in the future.

I am in the process of developing checklists for my office. I share Dr. Gawande's goals and I am convinced that checklists can help us all remember the important steps that can be overlooked when your are distracted. Dr. Gawande comes across as a very thoughtful and intelligent man. He is obviously a thinker and a healer - very wise. I would love to spend an evening with him over dinner and hanging out. I suspect you could spend hours with him and not be bored.

Definitely a book to checkout if you are interested in being better in what you do - highly recommended.

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande @ Chapters.ca

Websites Are Hard Work - But Worth It

2010-01-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

I am in the process of putting together my new website www.smilesooner.com.

I can hardly wait for it to go live, but we are not there yet. I do not want a cookie cutter orthodontic website. I want one that is useful for my audience - patients, parents, dentists, hygienists, assistants and anyone interested in orthodontic treatment, braces, and smiles. I want to provide unique content in my own voice.

The great team I am working with at thepracticemarketers.com are a huge help. Beth and Marcello are doing the heavy lifting of design and coding. I am giving my voice to the site. I am excited about the possibilities of a web presence and look forward to building my site.

My site will continue to grow with more useful information. I will be posting videos to help you before, during and after your orthodontic treatment. These will be videos that I have put together. Please let me know if there is any specific information or questions you would like answered. I am ramping up the smilesooner video production studio as we speak. Lights. Camera. Action.

Nothing Bigger Than Your Head

2010-01-22T07:49:00.000-08:00

A lot of patients and parents ask us - "what can you eat with braces"? Often they ask what shouldn't they eat with braces.

My answer is: you shouldn't eat anything bigger than your head with braces. Now this is more of a human limitation than a brace thing.

Eating with braces is not the same as eating before your braces. And with straight teeth, eating is going to be easier and more comfortable than with crooked teeth.

Until then, with your braces, you do need to eat differently. Braces are stuck to your teeth with a strong glue, but they are designed to come off your teeth with the right kind of pressure that will not hurt you or your tooth. With eating you want to avoid that pressure.

Keep the pressure on your teeth and not on your braces to avoid breaking braces. You can eat almost anything with braces as long as you avoid the pressure on the brace itself. To do that, eat more slowly until the food has softened up, chewer smaller pieces so the food is between your teeth and away from the braces, and move toward softer foods when possible.

You can eat popcorn, potato chips, and even a granola bar if you are careful. Chew slowly with small pieces until the food has softened up. Chewing gum is fine, but go slowly until the gum is softer and a smaller piece of gum will be safer. But remember - nothing bigger than your head.

Happy New Year with Damon Clear Braces!

2010-01-21T09:26:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great holiday. I had a wonderful break and I am excited about the New Year. Last year was great - this year promises to be better.

We are excited about a few changes coming to our office with more to come.

First - Damon Clear braces - we are excited. Damon Clear braces are the same as what we have been using for the last five and a half years except they are clear. They go on the front six teeth and they are the most invisible braces there are - no metal clip - no elastic to become grungy and discolored. They look great - or should I say your teeth look great with them on. The braces are almost impossible to see.

The Damon Clear braces are not widely available - only in offices familiar with the Damon system. We have started placing them on adults and with their expected strength and durability, we will likely start using them for teenagers who are going to be careful. The regular Damon braces will remain the best choice when you want the greatest durability.

Our website is going to be up very soon. And I am starting to make videos for it. I want to make valuable information available for you to quickly find and see for yourself - help for any problems you may be having - things you are wondering about. Let me know any of your suggestions for videos and I will put it on my list. If you have a question, I am here to answer you.

And further along the lines of explaining things, we are about to get two larger video monitors which will help us inform you of our vision for your smile and how we are getting there. The more you can understand the big picture as well as the details, the easier and faster your treatment moves - smile sooner!

Waiting in Our Office and Explaining Things to You

2009-12-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

The two are related - waiting and explaining.

We know you do not want to spend any more time in our office than is required. You want the job done and on to the rest of your life. You do not want to wait around. We feel the same way on our errands.

A big part of our job is explaining things to our patients and their parents so everyone understands what is happening. We never know when someone will need a longer explanation. My staff is great - they can often address questions very well. But there are times when I need to provide the explanations - I love these opportunities to interact with you. I am happy to spend the time to consider your question and provide an answer and explanation that helps you to understand the situation.

I love understanding things myself, and I love helping someone else to do the same - big part of my job and one of my passions.

These explanations can require time and this can disrupt our schedule somewhat. I apologize for your waiting for me or my staff. We want to complete your appointment as soon as possible, but if you require some explanation, ask us. We are here to answer.

Wisdom Teeth

2009-12-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

A lot of people are concerned about their wisdom teeth pushing their other teeth crooked. Wisdom teeth are your third molars. They usually develop enough to come into the mouth by the late teens or early twenties.

Most people do not have enough room for the wisdom teeth to erupt into the mouth to be useful and healthy teeth. It is rare for the third molars to eurupt into a normal position to be useful teeth, but it does happen.

For most of us, the wisdom teeth can come in partially - often leaning at an angle and partially covered by gum tissue. These teeth that are in half way can be a real source of problems - infection and pain. It is usually a good idea to have teeth like this removed - often the sooner the better.

In other cases, the wisdom tooth gets stuck on the second molar - impacted. These teeth may not cause problems right away, but there is a good chance they eventually will. Again it is a good idea to get them out.

We used to believe that the wisdom teeth could try to force their way in and push the other teeth around to become more crooked. The evidence for this is not very good. It is completely normal for teeth to move whether or not you have had braces, and whether or not you have wisdom teeth.

Some people do not have some or all of their wisdom teeth - they never develop. More commonly, a person has their wisdom teeth, but they are stuck in the gum and bone. They may cause problems in the future. Your dentist is the best person to guide you on these cases.

If you have any questions about wisdom teeth, please ask us. I got mine out in my early twenties. My own daughter, who is nineteen years old now, will likely be getting hers out in the next year or so. They are starting to bother her and it is time to schedule the extractions at a time that will fit with her school schedule.

To close I should make some smart remark about wisdom etc., but I won't.

We Know Brushing Your Teeth Is Not Number 1 In Your Life

2009-11-27T08:05:00.000-08:00

Brushing our teeth is not number 1 in our lives either. We understand. You do not have to be obsessed with cleaning your teeth to have healthy teeth and gums, with or without braces.

Clean by the gum line for two minutes - at least once a day, but twice a day is better. If you miss an area once, you will catch it the second time.

Patients will come in and tell us: "yah, I forgot to brush my teeth this morning". Well okay. In these cases we almost always see plaque - that white stuff that collects around the gum line. Plaque takes at least 24 hours to grow so we are often seeing the result of a few days growth. So the toothbrush bristles were missing the gum line for at least a few days.

Don't feel bad. Just get in their with the toothbrush by the gum line. Your gums may bleed a bit. That means you want to brush your teeth more - not less. A few days of brushing by the gum line and all will be right.

Good News - Keeping Your Teeth Clean With Braces is Easy

2009-11-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

Less good news - it is really important.

If you are frustrated that you are brushing but we are still pointing out the problems with your teeth and gums, do not be discouraged. You are either not brushing in the right places - by the gum line. Or you are not brushing long enough.

Concentrate on the gum line. Concentrate on the gum line. Concentrate on the gum line.

And 10 to 15 seconds can seem a long time to brush, but it is not enough. Two minutes brushing by the gum line will do it.

Please do it. It is easy. It is really important.

What You Are Cleaning Off Your Teeth

2009-11-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

You are cleaning plaque and the food that feeds the plaque. Plaque is a thin colorless film of bacteria that forms when fed by the food you eat. The plaque must be removed or it will cause permanent stains on your teeth and your gums will become swollen and bleed easily. The plaque is an infection and you don't want that.

Brushing your teeth with a soft bristle tooth brush by the gum line is the way to remove the plaque. Flossing is less important than really good brushing. Concentrate on the brushing.

Plaque takes 24 hours to grow so you if you are seeing plaque, it is not because you skipped your morning brush. It has been at least 24 hours since the toothbrush bristles reached that area - often longer. When we see gobs of plaque by the gum line, we know that you have been missing those areas for days.

Often people will tell us they are brushing their teeth. And we believe them. The trouble is that they are brushing the chewing side of the teeth, but that is not where the plaque collects and that is not where the problems occur. Its the gum line. Unless you get the bristles there by the gum line, you will not remove the plaque.

Bleeding gums always mean to brush more by the gums - never less. The bleeding isw a sign of the infection and will quickly get better once you keep it clean for a few days.

Cleaning Your Teeth With Braces

2009-11-23T07:16:00.000-08:00

Keeping your teeth clean, with your braces on will be the theme this week.

When you have braces on, it is very important to keep your teeth clean. Braces do make it harder to clean your teeth. If you are a so-so tooth brusher before braces, you will become a poor tooth brusher with the braces.

The most important part of your teeth to brush is right by the gum line. This is true for everyone - braces or not. Braces make it tougher to reach that area unless you are concentrating on that area.

A lot of people just brush the tops of the teeth - the chewing surfaces and the brush bristles only occasionally get to the right spot by the gum line. With braces, that won't happen so plaque will build up there. You have to get the bristles in by the gum line for sure.

Good news - its easy. Brush with a soft bristle toothbrush by the gums. That's it - that's the secret. Two minutes of brushing by the gums with a soft bristle toothbrush will do the job. Do that once in the morning and once at night before you go to bed and your teeth will remain clean and healthy during your orthodontic treatment and for the rest of your life.

Position of Braces on the Teeth - The Handles

2009-11-19T09:56:00.000-08:00

Each brace is a precise handle on the tooth. Braces are the best way to move teeth because teeth are round and slippery - hard to move unless you have a good handle on them. Retainers and aligners cannot move teeth as well as braces because they don't have the same precise handles.

You can't just place the handle anywhere on the tooth. Well you can actually, but it will take much longer to straighten the teeth and it will take more work for the orthodontist and the patient. The better the braces are placed on the teeth, the better and faster the teeth will move.

I place all the braces in my office - attention to detail. And I position the braces differently for different patients because teeth have to move differently. If you compare two people, one may have the upper braces close to the gum. The other may have the braces farther from the gum. I will even sometimes place a brace flipped or upside down. This is hardly noticeable when you look at it, but it can make a big difference in moving the tooth faster and more comfortably . Not everyone's braces are placed in the same position because people's teeth are different.

I want to get your teeth straight and your braces off, as quickly and as comfortably as possible. Attention to detail in brace position is a big part of that. And that is why all the braces in my office are placed by me.

Teeth Never Stop Moving

2009-11-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

If you are alive, your body is always changing. Life is movement. This movement includes your teeth. Your teeth never stop moving whether you have had braces or not.

If you have had braces, you are going to notice those movements even more. That is why we give you retainers - to help hold the teeth in those new straight positions. You want to keep the retainers fitting well. That is a sign your teeth are staying straight. With care, the retainers we give you can last for many years - decades.

No one can predict how your teeth will move or how noticeable that movement may be. If you keep your retainers fitting well, your teeth cannot move very much at all.

Don't get discouraged with your teeth moving - think of it as part of being alive, because it is. Nothing in your body can remain as young and healthy looking as your teeth and smile. You can have a great smile that radiates confidence for your entire life. Keep your retainers fitting and keep seeing your dentist for that healthy smile to last a lifetime.

New Wires and Treatment Progress

2009-11-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

We know what you want - straight teeth and to get your braces off. We want the same thing for you.

We are doing our best to keep your orthodontic treatment progressing to that great smile and your braces off. To make that steady progress we will sometimes change your wire. Other times, the wire you have is still doing its job and a new wire will not help us.

With the Damon braces we use, we do not have to change your wire as often. This means fewer tightening appointments and less discomfort for you. Rest assured we are moving your teeth as quickly and as comfortably as possible. Wire changes are not the only we make progress to get your braces off.

Braces Are Great and Braces Suck

2009-11-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

Sorry to be a little crude, but I have to tell it like it is. There are two sides to braces. Braces are simply the best way - fastest and often the most comfortable way - to a great smile. But there is no getting around it, braces suck. You have these small things stuck to your teeth making it a little tougher to clean your teeth and you have to be more careful when you eat. Wearing braces is weird and uncomfortable in the beginning... until it isn't. You will be amazed how quickly you get used to them. After a few days to a week or two, they feel normal. Everyone gets used to the feeling of wearing braces.

Remember when you lost a tooth and it felt so strange to have that huge hole there? All you could do was to check it out with your tongue. You were obsessed with that feeling for a few days and then all of a sudden you realized it felt normal again. Same thing with braces - they soon feel normal.

You will totally get used to your braces, or almost totally. But you will be very happy when we take the braces off. You will love the feeling and look of your smile. You will think that it was worth it. Before that there will be times when the braces are a hassle. That is why we are dedicated to seeing your orthodontic treatment finished as soon and as comfortably as possible. That is why we use the Damon System of braces.

Braces are not the only thing that can suck. Crooked teeth suck. Not wanting to smile sucks. Putting off a great smile to a tomorrow that never comes, can suck.

I love what we are able to do for people. I have never been happier about the way we do it. But I never forget that you want your orthodontic treatment to be as quick and as comfortable as possible. My support team and staff never forget that either. We are obsessed with giving you a great smile in less time and in greater comfort.

Why Braces? Why See Your Dentist? Why Smile?

2009-11-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

Wow - this is brilliant. This reminds me why I am so proud to be a dentist and an orthodontist. Everyone in the profession can and should be proud - dentists, orthodontists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians and lab people, support staff, suppliers - everyone can be proud. I love it.

tip of the hat: http://www.squidoo.com/thebestsmilemaker

Your Family Dentist

2009-11-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

Your family dentist is the quarterback. She or he is the professional who knows you best. They know your changing dental health and they are in the best position to coordinate your care. As an orthodontist, I see us as the wide receiver. If you can score a touchdown without us - great.

In some cases, orthodontic treatment may not be the best approach. Minor spaces can be treated better by enlarging the teeth. If the spaces are larger, it may make sense to move the teeth with braces and then enlarge the teeth with dental bonding. Every situation is different and special to that person. We work with your dentist to help you get the best result. The internet is going to make it even easier to work together. I am looking forward to getting better at working with my dentist colleagues.

We are always happy to see you for a consultation, to let you know what can be done with orthodontic treatment. Braces make sense in a lot of cases, but not all. We are always happy to sit down and discuss your options with you. You do not need a referral from a dentist to see us - you can call us anytime. But do not forget the quarterback - we won't either.

Time and Timing In Orthodontic Treatment

2009-11-03T07:12:00.000-08:00

Earlier I talked about time in orthodontic treatment. We want you to get a great smile and a healthy result. We want the treatment to get you there to be as short and as comfortable as possible. We want to save you time in treatment.

Timing of your treatment plays a big part in all of this:
     1. A Great Smile
     2. Shortest Treatment Time
     3. Most Comfortable Treatment

I do not want to start any treatment too soon. This can lead to longer treatment, which is less comfortable. Longer treatment times can actually lead to a less satisfying result because of "burnout". We need your help in your orthodontic treatment - not a lot, but what we need can be very important to get the best results for your smile.

If your treatment is taking longer, you may not have the energy and enthusiasm to give us that help we need. We want to keep you excited and involved in your treatment. Shorter times in treatment help that a lot.

I really like to time your treatment to make things go as smoothly as possible. Starting early makes sense in a few cases, but the main reason to start early is to finish early. Early treatment, without a good reason, can lead to more treatment and less comfortable treatment, without a better result. I do not want that for anyone.

Fortunately the timing of treatment is not mysterious. Depending upon the problems we are seeing, there is usually a best time or "sweet spot" in timing the orthodontic treatment. This is certainly not the only time for braces, but it is good to know when the best time for orthodontic treatment happens.

We will be talking about this a lot more in the future, because we all know how important time and timing are, in our lives and in orthodontic treatment.

My Two Bosses

2009-11-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

Everyone has a boss. You hope to have a good boss. Someone who helps you in your work. Someone who directs your work. Someone who helps you to figure out your goals and the values in your work. Someone who inspires you to do your best work

I have two great bosses - you and your smile. Your teeth and jaws make up your smile. That is who I work for. You and your teeth and jaws (your smile) tell me the best way to do my job to get the best result for the two of you.

As I have talked about before, not only do I want the best and healthiest result for you and your smile. I want us to get there as quickly and as comfortably as possible.

My job is to listen to my two bosses - you and your smile. Then I can formulate a treatment plan that makes the most sense, to achieve the best result, in the best way possible. I have to look carefully at what is going on with my two bosses. I use my knowledge and experience to figure out what they are telling me to arrive at the best solution that fits them. I also have to adapt with changes throughout treatment.

Thank you for being a great boss. An orthodontist and his team couldn't ask for any better.

Design - Making Lives Better

2009-10-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

I love reading. I love ideas. I love learning from other people. I ran across a new book the other day from a review in the Winnipeg Free Press. The book is "Glimmer: How Design Can Transform Your Life, Your Business, And Maybe Even The World" by Warren Berger.

You can check out the book at Chapters: http://tinyurl.com/Glimmer-at-Chapters

I have just started the book, but it is a fascinating look at the design process, which is really just solving problems for people. We all design things from our wardrobe, to our bedrooms, to our lives. In my office I want to design the best experience for patients, parents, dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants - everyone who comes into contact with us. I want to design healthy and confident smiles to last a lifetime for my patients.

Design is important - it matters. The design of my office makes me happy every day I come into work. The thought that went into our office shows up in so many ways. The design of our office helps us to be better in our job. The design of the Ipod makes you want to touch it and use it. The design of a restaurant experience can bring you more pleasure than the food alone. The design of the interaction you have with the clerk at 7-11 can brighten your day.

"Glimmer" is about the design process for people like you and me. We may not think of ourselves as designers in the same way Tommy Hilfiger is, but we are very much designers, of our own lives. Cool book - I am looking forward to getting into it more. I am sure I will have more to say in future posts. I think the book is intended to inspire us to all look at ourselves as designers. I know it has inspired me.

Halloween, Teeth, and Braces

2009-10-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

Halloween is an exciting time - dressing up and free candy. Life is good. Dentists and orthodontists are not huge fans of eating a lot of candy. We were young once ourselves and you have to have some fun.

The sugar from candy will make your teeth dirtier, faster. With braces, cleaning your teeth is more of a challenge, but totally doable. Cleaning your teeth is not that hard when you are young and healthy, even with braces.

We recommend that you clean your teeth for 2 minutes before you go to bed and for 2 minutes when you wake up in the morning. Concentrate on brushing by the gum line. Those gums have to feel the bristles. This is important even if you do not have braces, but with braces, those bristles have to get by the gums to clean your teeth. Its not that hard - it is really important.

One more thing - be gentle when you eat your candy. Your braces are not permanent - they are semi-permanent. When your teeth are nice and straight with that great smile, we will remove the braces without hurting you or your teeth. The braces are designed to come off your teeth with the correct kind of pressure. Chomping into any food with enough force will snap a brace off or bend a wire.

That damage can slow down your treatment. As we tell all of our patients - eat softer, slower and smaller to reduce the pressure on your braces.

Our number one advice is to have fun. Happy Halloween.

Begin With the Future in Mind

2009-10-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

As orthodontists, we are often reminded of this. When we first see a patient, we are thinking about the final result - that gorgeous smile. And of course in our office, we are also thinking about how quickly and comfortably we can give you that great smile.

As we have been talking about, time is a big issue. Teeth do require time to reach that smile and we do our best to minimize your time in treatment.

It is helpful for you to consider what is coming up in your life and think about how orthodontic treatment can fit into that. It is common for me to see kids who are 12 or 13 years old - grade 7 or 8. There are orthodontic problems, and I can see that we are ready to treat them.

The family or the patient may be thinking that the problems may get better on their own or its not that bad. They are not ready to start orthodontic treatment. No problem - you are ready when you are ready and that is totally alright. My job is to inform and provide people with options.

Now most orthodontic problems do not get better on their own, particularly when you are 12 or 13 years old. Time goes on and one morning you wake up and decide you want to get your teeth straightened - you want that great smile. If you wait until 16 or 17 years old - grade 11 or 12, you may not be able to get your teeth straightened and the braces off for grade 12 graduation.

There are always options and we will have more in the future, but it is nice to get that great smile and get past the braces sooner rather than later.

Smile and Laugh Your Way to Health?

2009-10-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

I just ran across this on the web. I can't vouch for all of the advice here, but it seems pretty clear that smiling and laughing are two wonderful ways to improve your health and well-being. Orthodontic treatment is not necessary to smile - you should show off your smile regardless. Your smile will make you and those around you happier and healthier. What could be better?

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/10/11/laugh-smile-part-two.aspx

Time in Orthodontic Treatment

2009-10-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

Every orthodontist hears one question from their patients more than any other. When am I getting my braces off? It turns out that no one wants to wear their braces any longer than they have to. Everyone wants their treatment to move along as quickly as possible to that happy day when the braces come off. Then you can show off your great smile to its fullest.

We understand that feeling. Braces have never been more comfortable and they have never worked better at giving you a great smile. But a shorter time in braces is always better as long as you get that great result. Shorter orthodontic treatment time is better for the person wearing the braces - obviously. But shorter treatment also makes the parents happier - fewer visits to our office. Dentists and dental hygienists like shorter treatment times - less time with the braces interfering with tooth brushing.

We know how much you, and your family, and your dentist want your orthodontic treatment to move quickly to that great smile. We want exactly the same things. We are not rushing, but we are doing everything we can to move things along quickly and efficiently to a great result. I often tell a person that their braces will be coming off soon - but not soon enough - we understand.

In later posts, I will be talking more about the things we do and our approach to shortening your time in treatment. It is one of the goals we are dedicated to in all of our orthodontic treatments.

Concerns? Call Us and Come On In

2009-10-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

We just saw a patient earlier today who was concerned about some discomfort she was having. Her lower front teeth were a little sore all of a sudden. Her Mom thought it would be a good idea to have us check it out. We agree - if you have any concerns, give us a call and we will be happy to see you as soon as possible.

This person found it very convenient to see us since she works here at Polo Park. We were pleased to be able to reassure her that everything was going fine. Her teeth are looking great and her treatment is progressing very well. It is not unusual for teeth to be occasionally sore at times in treatment. It is not common, but it can be normal. It usually lasts for part of a day or perhaps one or two days.

Rinsing with cool water or taking some Ibuprofen or Advil for the discomfort can settle things down. The discomfort will pass. If it is lingering longer, or if you are concerned - call us - we are happy to see you.

My Favorite Thing

2009-10-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

My favorite thing to say to our patients is: "everything is going really well - we are ahead of schedule in your orthodontic treatment - we should be able to get your braces off ahead of schedule".

When we give you an estimated time in treatment - we mean it. We are working toward moving your treatment along as comfortably and as quickly as possible. It turns out that steady gentle pressures on your teeth move them faster with greater comfort. Nature moves your teeth in the same way.

We do all we can to move your treatment along as efficiently as possible. We know you are eager to get your braces off as soon as possible to show off that healthy and confident smile. We are working hard to make this happen.

I will be talking a lot more about this subject in later posts. We know that time is very important to you - it is to us too.

We Love Our Office

2009-10-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

It is colorful, bright and energizing. We love it. The most frequent comment we hear is “it doesn’t look like a dental office”. That is our goal. Dentistry has changed so much over the years – more comfortable, more civilized. Orthodontics has changed right along with it and we want an office that reflects that warm, comfortable, and relaxed environment. We want the visitors to our office to feel at home.

I like to think of our office as modern, but in a timeless way if that makes sense. I am not the designer though. Our office was designed right here in Winnipeg, by Rob Everitt. He is a great designer who is fun to work with but listens to his clients. When I think about it, that is the way I want to be for the people I serve. What goes around, comes around.

http://www.everittdesign.com/

Rob shows off our office on his website:

http://www.everittdesign.com/project.php?id=26

Tell us what you think.

Say Yes to Your Healthy Smile and Your Dentist

2009-10-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

Our mouths are one of the most important parts of our bodies. Our mouths taste and eat the foods we take in to nourish our bodies. Our mouths communicate to our loved ones and the important people around us, with words and smiles - big smiles and little smiles - a thousand messages throughout each day.

If the eyes are the window to our souls, the mouth could be the doorway. Our mouths reflect our health and vitality. Few things in our bodies can remain as young and vibrant as our mouths when we take care of them. People constantly look to our mouths to see what they reveal.

Orthodontic treatment is not the most important part of that health and vitality of your mouth. Good dental care is. That includes seeing your dentist regularly. The return to you for your health and well-being is going to be huge.

If you have put off seeing your dentist, it is never too late to go. Please call for an appointment for a cleaning and check-up if you have not done so for a while. Your youthful and healthy mouth will thank you and your smile will return the favor a million times over.

If you don't have a dentist - no problem. Manitoba and Winnipeg are full of great dentists. Click on the Manitoba Dental Association to find the right dentist for you:

http://www.manitobadentist.ca/dentists.cfm

Braces Are Not All the Same

2009-10-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

Braces are not all the same

Braces are really a system for moving teeth with 3 main parts:

1.
the actual brace – the handle on the tooth – glued to the tooth – by itself nothing happens – the brace needs the…

2.
the wire – the wire delivers the pressure to the tooth through the brace – it is removable and needs to be held into the brace to apply the pressure – now you have to hold the wire into the brace…

3.
the wire holding mechanism
You need a way to hold the wire into the brace to deliver that pressure from the wire to the brace, to move the tooth.
Now this is where it gets interesting – at least for orthodontists.

There are 3 main ways to hold the wire into the brace in modern braces:

a. elastic ligature or O ring – the traditional way
b. metal clip – newer way pioneered by a Canadian over 20 years ago
c. door – new technology developed by Dr. Damon

As the teeth move to get straighter, the brace must be able to move or slide along the wire. The door mechanism that was developed by Dr. Damon allows this movement to take place more easily. The elastic O ring or clip puts a drag on the wire that must be overcome with more pressure. Damon braces using the little built-in door, without the clip or elastic, let the wire slide more easily.

The difference with these Damon braces is huge in my experience. We use lighter wires delivering less pressure on the teeth, to move teeth faster and more gently. I have been using the Damon brace system for more than five years now. I love what they can do, and the way they do it.

Damon braces are certainly not the only way to straighten teeth. I used regular braces myself for many years and I was pleased with the results. Braces work to straighten teeth – they all do the job.

I found that as time went on, I wanted to move teeth better without having to remove teeth to make the space for that movement. I wanted orthodontic treatment to be more comfortable than it was with regular braces. I was not satisfied with regular braces.

There are lots of good orthodontists who use regular braces with the O rings or the ones with the clips and achieve good results. Some orthodontists do not believe that the Damon braces are any better. I rely on my experience with regular braces for over twenty years and what I am seeing now with Damon braces. I would not return to the way I used to straighten teeth.

Getting the most out of Damon braces requires learning many new techniques and skills. It has been a challenge to use them to their full advantage, but my staff and I agree that the work we have done to learn the Damon System has been very rewarding. We love our Damon braces, but more importantly we love what they can do for our patients and their smiles.

Check out the Damon brace website to learn more:

http://www.damonbraces.com/index.php

Hey You Didn't Tighten My Braces

2009-10-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

No. We do not routinely “tighten” your braces.

First what is “tightening” the braces? It is not turning a screw. You may be relieved to know this.

You can think of tightening the braces as making a change to the braces that increases or changes the pressure on your teeth. Your teeth are not sensitive so much to pressure, but CHANGES in the pressure. Of course when you first get braces, the change in pressure is large even though we are starting with very gentle wires. Your teeth feel it.

Quickly, your teeth get used to that pressure and it becomes normal. Your teeth are now much more comfortable, but they are still getting pressure from the braces and wires. They are moving lots, even though your teeth are now used to the pressure and there is little discomfort.

One of the big advantages of Damon braces (the ones we use) is that we do not have to change the wires as often. The wires work for longer periods of time to keep the teeth moving. When we do change the wire, or make another change to your braces, you will likely feel that change in pressure. You will call that “tightening” the braces, and it is a good way to describe it – your braces do feel tighter. Quickly, the teeth will get used to that change and the discomfort will go away.

When we do change the wire with the Damon braces, the change in pressure is less than with traditional braces. This means less frequent and gentler “tightening” of your braces.

Good news all around. So rest assured. We will see you for appointments to check your progress with the braces. We want to see how you are doing and how your teeth are moving, but in a number of cases we will not have to tighten the braces. In some cases we may only change one of the wires.

As the captain of the ship says “steady as she goes”, and I might add “comfortable as she goes”.

So What is the Best Way to Straighten Teeth?

2009-10-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

New technology is everywhere. We live in a wonderful world where new ideas pop up everywhere and are made into reality faster than ever.

Braces have been around a long time. With all that modern technology, what is the best way to move teeth to achieve that great smile? Short answer – braces. Good news though – braces have never been better. Technology has moved braces into high gear.

A brace is really a handle that is placed on each tooth. It allows us to precisely and efficiently move each tooth into the best position for that great smile. You need that precision for the best smile, in the shortest time

A retainer is a removable plastic, or plastic and wire appliance. It does not stay in permanently, which can be an advantage, but it has huge limitations. Aligners are a variation on retainers. There are new aligner systems that take this old technology and make it more useful to move teeth, but braces remain the best way to move teeth.

Why are braces the best?

The best way to move teeth is the way nature moves teeth – with steady and gentle pressures. Moving teeth is not like moving a heavy box across the floor. With our braces we are applying light pressures on the teeth that tell the body where we would like the teeth to move. The teeth move when the body tissues, bone and ligaments, begin to adapt to allow the teeth to move. These adaptations need gentle forces to occur. Heavy forces do not work as well and neither do forces that are not steady. You can play the trumpet for a few hours a day and not move your teeth even though the pressure to your front teeth is high. Teeth are designed to stay put with such pressures that are high and not constant.

Retainers and aligners do not move teeth as well because they tend to use higher pressures and the pressures are less steady. They work, but not nearly as well as braces. Retainers and aligners do not give us the same precise 3-dimensional control that we get from braces. And if retainers or aligners are not worn enough during the day and night, the teeth will not move.

I love the idea of clear retainers and aligners to move teeth. I remain convinced that so far, braces remain the best way to achieve the best smile. I am committed to being the best I can be, using the best tools I can find. That is why I use braces to move teeth, but not just any braces.

Tomorrow I will discuss the different kinds of braces.

Question-Who Puts the Braces in Your Office?

2009-10-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

Along with my regular posts, I will be answering questions. These will be shorter posts.

So... who does put the braces on in our office?

I do. No one else is given this very important task. I have never delegated this job.

I have wonderful staff who are highly experienced in orthodontic treatment. They do wonderful work and help me deliver the best care.

My staff, Elena, Erin, and Erin (confusing I know - 2 Erins) prepare the teeth to be bonded, but I place the brace on the tooth in the proper position. Elena, Erin or Erin will then use the light to set the glue.

I want the brace to be in the best position possible. I do this because it is such an important part of achieving that great smile, in the shortest time, in the most comfortable way - you know - OUR MISSION.

Our Mission for You... and For Everyone

2009-10-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

We believe that getting straight teeth and a great smile should be as short as possible and as comfortable as possible. That is our mission. We believe that our patients, parents and families, dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants believe the same.

We use this mission to guide our decisions in everything we do in the office. Now what do we mean in this mission? I want to look at the different parts of our mission and discuss what we mean by them. I will be talking a lot more about these things in the future. But briefly for now:

1. Straight teeth are well aligned with no crowding or spaces, with a good fit of the upper and lower teeth.

2. A great smile is one that fits the face beautifully. It is nice and wide, is youthful, and supports the lips.

3. Orthodontic treatment should not take any more time than necessary. We are not in a hurry like a racehorse. But we are trying to straighten the teeth and achieve that great smile as efficiently as possible. This means that we want to start your treatment at the best time for your teeth and jaw growth. And it means that during your treatment we are doing as much as we can to move the teeth efficiently toward that great smile.

4. We also believe that orthodontic treatment should be as comfortable as possible. We want to minimize your discomfort and inconvenience. We want your treatment to proceed as smoothly as possible.

I hope this gives you a better idea of what we mean by our mission. I have chosen this mission because it was one that we - I and my staff - can be passionate about. It fires us up and inspires us. It makes it easier for us to make decisions for your treatment. We use this mission to guide us in everything we do. Everything is a balancing act and we cannot always maximize everything in a way we would like. But this mission gives us the target we are aiming for, with no doubts.

I am going to be talking about this a lot more in future posts. This mission is really in my mind all the time, and for all the posts.

This mission is our guiding star. It is why we come to work every day.

Overview of Orthodontic Problems

2009-10-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

So an orthodontist straightens teeth?
Yes.
So what are crooked teeth?
What can an orthodontist do?

To answer these questions, lets start at the beginning. What is a malocclusion? - a fancy word for crooked teeth.

A malocclusion can be thought of in three broad categories of problems:

1. Teeth that do not look good - appearance of the teeth and smile
2. Teeth that do not work well together - the "bite" or the occlusion of the upper
and lower teeth
3. Teeth that are hard to look after and keep healthy

These problems are often related. Many people have teeth that are giving them problems in all three areas. Sometimes not. Sometimes a problem is only showing up in one area and not so much in the other areas. And of course, these things can change with time. A single problem may spread into other areas.

Orthodontists help people in these areas by moving teeth to:

1. Make the teeth and smile look better
2. Move the teeth and change the way they fit together to make chewing easier
and more comfortable
3. Make the teeth easier to keep clean and take care of

That is the broad outline of orthodontic problems and what orthodontics can do.

I will be going into more detail about each of the three main areas and talk more about what orthodontics can do to make your life better and healthier.

Introduction and Welcome to my Blog

2009-10-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. I am an orthodontist who wants to have a conversation with the people I serve - patients, parents, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental receptionists, and dental lab people - anybody connected with teeth, braces, and health. I guess almost everybody.

I want to teach people about teeth, smiles, braces, and orthodontics, from my view as an orthodontist. And I want to learn from you. I want to know your views and ideas on these things.

If you have ever had to write or even explain something, you soon realize that you learn a lot yourself from doing that. Just putting things down to paper (or computer) teaches you a lot. I am look forward to doing that and learning from the process.

And of course feedback from you will teach me a lot too. This leads to the conversation part - back and forth - learning as we go.

This is my first blog. I don't even have a website quite yet.

NO WEBSITE? No. I love the web - I love the chance to research things - find out about new things etc. etc I have always intended to have a website, but I wanted a unique website that reflected me, and my office. I never wanted a regular website. I am also a bit of a perfectionist - I wanted the perfect website.

Well I finally decided that perfect was going to take forever so now is the time for me to jump off the dock and plunge in - time to get started. In discussing my web presence with the great team I work with, I also realized that a blog is a perfect way to make my website informative and topical. It is the perfect tool to work with my website to have this conversation with you.

Here I am. I am looking forward to this.

2009-09-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. I am an orthodontist who wants to have a conversation with the people I serve - patients, parents, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental receptionists, and dental lab people - anybody connected with teeth, braces, and health. I guess almost everybody.

I want to teach people about teeth, smiles, braces, and orthodontics, from my view as an orthodontist. And I want to learn from you. I want to know your views on these things.

If you have ever had to write or even explain something, you soon realize that you learn a lot yourself from doing that. Just putting things down to paper (or computer) teaches you a lot. I am look forward to doing that and learning from that.

And of course feedback from you will teach me a lot too. This leads to the conversation part - back and forth - learning as we go.

This is my first blog. I don't even have a website quite yet.

NO WEBSITE? No. I love the web - I love the chance to research things - find out about new things etc. etc I have always intended to have a website, but I wanted a unique website that reflected me, and my office. I never wanted a regular website. I am also a bit of a perfectionist - I wanted the perfect website.

Well I finally decided that perfect was going to take forever so now is the time for me to jump off the dock and plunge in - time to get started. In discussing my web presence with the great team I work with, I also realized that a blog is a perfect way to make my website informative and topical. It is the perfect tool to work with my website to have this conversation with you.

Here I am. I am looking forward to this.