2 Common Bites Orthodontics Can Fix

Our smiles are uniquely ours. However so is our bite. “In orthodontics, “bite” refers to the way the upper and lower teeth come together. A bad bite, called a “malocclusion,” happens when teeth meet improperly, or they don’t meet at all,” according to the American Association of Orthodontist.

There are various bites that affect how we speak, eat and our overall mouth. Two common bites, orthodontic treatment can fix is a crossbite and underbite.

A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth fit inside of lower teeth. Can be caused by misalignment of teeth or a misalignment of the bone; can affect a single tooth or groups of teeth. Your jaw may shift to one side if not corrected and wears down on your tooth enamel.

An underbite happens when the lower jaw sits in front of the upper jaw. An underbite impacts tooth wear and adds a stress on your jaw joints. Through orthodontic treatment, these bites can be corrected and help keep you healthy, beyond an aesthetically pleasing smile.

National Facial Protection Month

April is National Facial Protection Month! National Facial Protection Month serves as a reminder over the importance of wearing mouth guards during sports, protecting your beautiful smile.

67% of parents surveyed by the American Association of Orthodontists said their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet 70% said their biggest fear is their child getting hurt when playing sports. The most effective way to protect your childs teeth and prevent injuries is to wear a mouthguard.

About 80% of traumatic dental injuries occur to the two front teeth. Injuries can happen at any age and any skill level. So when should you wear a mouth guard? Here are just a few.

• Basketball
• Baseball
• Football
• Soccer
• Skiing
• Rugby
• Softball
• Tennis  

Four Flavorful Fall Smoothies

With Fall in full swing and with it the hectic holidays just a step further down the road, we thought we’d put together a list of a few fall-themed smoothies that can serve as a great (and easy!) breakfast or after school snack.

Pumpkin Banana Smoothie
If you’re a pumpkin fan, this smoothie is for you! While pumpkin is a trendy item, especially this time of year, what you might not know is pumpkin has both fiber and protein which makes for a healthy and filling smoothie.

• 2 tablespoons canned pure pumpkin
• 5 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
• 1 banana, frozen
• ½ teaspoon honey
• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• ¼ cup ice

Helpful tip: If you’re finding that you have several over ripened bananas that you aren’t able to eat in time, toss them in a freezer bag! Frozen bananas are the perfect addition to smoothies and help make preparation even easier for those hectic weekday mornings. 

Cranberry, Pear, & Orange Smoothie
That’s quite a mouthful, and trust us, you’ll love this nutrient-packed smoothie!  It chocked full of filling fiber from the pear, Vitamin C from the orange, and antioxidants from the cranberries. If you’re using whole cranberries for the first time, this smoothie might be a bit tart! Add a bit of extra honey to tone down the tart zing.

• ¾ cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 pear, core removed & chopped
• 1 small orange
• ½ cup low-fat plain yogurt (or Greek yogurt)
• 1 teaspoon honey

Feeling adventurous? Add in any of the items below to give this smoothie even MORE flavor!

• A handful of fresh spinach
• A frozen or fresh banana
• A few frozen strawberries, blueberries, mango, or pineapple
• 1 teaspoon of chia seeds

Caramel Apple Smoothie
This smoothie is a great alternative to the traditional sticky treat and delivers all of the delicious flavor! Smoothie staples Greek yogurt and almond milk add filling protein and frozen banana adds plenty of sweetness.

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• ½ cup applesauce
• ¼  tsp caramel extract
• Caramel sauce & cinnamon for topping

Recipe swap: This recipe is very adaptable - the trick is to use what you have! Experiment with different types of milk and yogurt. If you don’t have caramel extract on hand, add a bit of caramel sauce right to the blender! Many of the applesauce pouches that are so popular with kids come in fun flavors too. The options are endless, have some fun with it!

Green Monster Smoothie
When you are ready to move on from using spinach in your green smoothies, Swiss chard is a great next step. Swiss chard has a delicate flavor and softer leaves that blend well in most blenders. It is actually in the same family (amaranthaceae) as spinach and beets!

• 2-3 cups Swiss chard, destemmed and roughly chopped
• 2-3 ripe bananas, fresh or frozen
• 1 tart green apple, chopped
• 1 medium whole grapefruit, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup white cranberry juice or water
• 2 cups ice

This recipe makes plenty, so freeze individual portions for those extra hectic mornings!

Don't Do It Yourself

Do-It-Yourself videos and websites are popular among today’s culture, and while so many great ideas come from several of these outlets, there are some things that you just shouldn’t do yourself! Straightening your teeth or attempting to move your teeth as a “DIY” project is definitely one of the things you should not be doing.

Moving and straightening teeth is a medical procedure that needs to be supervised by an orthodontist. It’s important for you all to be wary of any videos or websites that advise you to use objects such as rubber bands, dental floss, or anything else in order to get straight teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, “Moving teeth without a thorough examination of the overall health of the teeth and gums could result in the permanent loss of teeth, which may result in expensive and lifelong dental problems.”

Wentz Orthodontics and the American Association of Orthodontists have a prompt announcement for consumers about “DIY” orthodontic treatment. It is with great urgency that we emphasize to you all to be cautious about the trending “DIY” orthodontic treatment because straightening your teeth on your own can lead to lifelong dental problems.

If you have any further questions regarding “DIY” orthodontics, or are curious about straightening your teeth, please contact us at (806) 79-BRACE.

Tips For Creating Your #WentzJingleJam Entry

Here at Wentz Orthodontics, we love giving back to the community and patients as much as we can. This month, we're giving you the chance to win 1 of 3 amazing prizes all valued at $1500 each! Don't feel overwhelmed with the requirements of entering, you don't need fancy equipment or video editing skills! Use your smartphone or any camera that allows you to video record, pop on your best smile, and show us some fun moves to our new Wentz Orthodontics jingle!

Keep reading for a few tips on how to create your #WentzJingleJam video entry!

Make a Plan
Ready to make your video? Get creative, get loud, get silly! Dance around with your friends or family and show off that Wentz smile. Think quick, simple, and fun.

Set-up the Scene
Prepare your setting and have all people and props ready to go. If you want to keep it simple use your camera app and attach your camera phone to a tripod or camera stand. This way you can film and arrange the scene without also holding the camera. However, you’ll find out quickly that another set of hands will make life easier.

Shoot
Open the camera app and tap the camera button to go into photo shooting mode, then tap the video camera icon on your phone to enter the video mode. (Unless you have a video camera)

Edit
Watch your video and go back and delete or add shots. If this is a little out of your comfort zone, skip this part! This is meant to be fun and easy so don't overcomplicate it!

Share
Add a description of the video and post it on our Wentz Orthodontics Facebook wall! Be sure to include the tag #WentzJingleJam! Check out the flyer for other ways to enter!

What is the AcceleDent System?

The AcceleDent System is a new technology designed to decrease the time you are in braces or invisalign by increasing the rate of tooth movement.

The AcceleDent System is light, comfortable, hands-free and can be used 20 minutes per day while engaged in variety of daily activities including reading, watching television, listening to music and doing school work.


Patient Benefits
Accelerated tooth movement without compromised aesthetics
Compatible with braces or Invisalign for both adults and adolescents
Lightweight for comfort and use during daily activities
Hands-free design allows you to go about your daily activities during the 20 minute treatment
How does AcceleDent work?

The appliance, used daily for 20 minutes, applies patented technology to gently vibrate the teeth and surrounding bone. The microvibrations increase the rate of bone remodeling and allows the teeth to move 38-50% faster.


Why are microvibrations so important?

The rate of tooth movement greatly depends on the speed at which the bone surrounding the teeth changes. Studies have shown that orthodontic force coupled with micovibrations, generated by the AcceleDent System, safely accelerate tooth movement.

AcceleDent is a well-tolerated system and does not increase the level of discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment. Contact Wentz Orthodontics for more information on the AcceleDent System.

Wentz Holiday Hours

Wentz Orthodontics would like to inform you of our special holiday office hours.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 

Closed 

New Year's Eve & New Year's Day

Closed

We look forward to celebrating the holidays with our families, and apologize for any inconvenience. Our Wentz Orthodontics staff would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

The Reason for the Season

Christmas is officially one week away, and while most are worried about last minute shopping and Christmas parties, we want to remind you the true meaning of Christmas.   As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us open our hearts to the joy that is the reason for the season.  We want to share some of our favorite Christmas bible verses with you as you continue to celebrate and remember the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.

Luke 2:14

Isaiah 9:6

John 3:16

For so many the true meaning of this precious season gets lost in the gift of giving and receiving. We hope these wonderful verses will remind you that Jesus is the reason for the season!

Merry Christmas from Wentz Orthodontics!

Countdown to Christmas 2015

Wentz Orthodontics is blessed to be a part of an amazing community. As we enjoy participating in several local events throughout the year, Christmas time is no exception. Recently, Dr. Wentz and Dr. Reeves were featured on the KCBD Countdown to Christmas! We are so proud of the feature that we want to share it again, for those of you who may have missed it!

The Countdown to Christmas 2015 is not only a great way to get involved in the community, but there are some amazing prizes for you to win! Be sure to register this year and try your luck on the $300 MasterCard Gift Card Wentz Orthodontics gave as a contest prize! We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

The Details On Crowded Teeth

One of the most common problems several of our patients get treated for at Wentz Orthodontics is crowded teeth.  We actually see this problem on a daily basis, and this term is defined just like it sounds, either the teeth are too big for the patients jaw size, or the mouth has too many teeth and is overcrowded. The problem with too many teeth in the mouth is the lack of space, as the teeth are shifted out of place resulting in a crooked position. Unfortunately, this can occur in both adult orthodontic patients as well as children.

It is pretty easy for us to determine this problem for our patients as an examination of the patients’ mouth can lead to a diagnoses. The teeth typically appear crooked and jammed in an unnatural way, causing teeth that can lead to future dental problems because they’re harder to clean. Another result of crowded teeth is the obvious fact of a smile that may not be considered cosmetically appealing and can lead to self-consciousness.

Depending on the severity of the overcrowded teeth, Wentz Orthodontics can determine which method of treatment will work best.  Sometimes having excess teeth extracted helps with expansion of teeth. Other times, palate expanders are used in the mouth to help widen the jaw; this method is only used on children, not adults; their jaws have already stopped growing.  Also, several types of braces give amazing results for adults and children with overcrowded teeth. It all really comes down to the individual being treated when we determine how to correct the crowding.

If you suffer from this condition, please call us to schedule your first visit to learn about some orthodontic treatment options.

Call us at: (800) 794-8124

Be Good To Your Braces & They'll Be Good To You

This summer we’re promoting kindness and as we encourage you to be kind to others we also want you to be kind to your braces. 

What do you mean be kind to your braces?

When we say be kind to you braces we are asking that you take cares of your orthodontic appliance so that your treatment process can go as planned.  Dr. Wentz has determined braces are the best corrective option for you so we want you to take care of your braces. Taking care of your braces and following treatment instructions will help your achieve the best final results.

Here's how to be kind to your braces:

Brush and flossing daily

You will notice that it is much harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food becomes caught in the brackets and between your teeth. Brushing after meals and flossing will help prevent plaque from forming and should become part of your daily schedule. We know that it can be a pain to floss around your braces, but flossing is the best way to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems. If you find flossing with braces difficult, don’t give up on it. There are tools that can help. Ask us about Floss Threaders. Floss Threaders definitely make flossing with braces much easier.

Avoid sticky or hard foods

Even though it may seem like the best foods are the foods that are sticky and/or hard, those foods can break a bracket or wire. An example of sticky food is laffy taffy and an example of hard food is hard shell taco. To see the full of foods to avoid click here.

Chew with the back of teeth

Taking a large bite of food with your front teeth can leave your braces vulnerable to damage. Cut large foods into pieces and use your back teeth to chew.

Wear your elastics

Elastics move the teeth in a direction they could not be moved using braces alone. Change the elastics routinely even if they are not broken. After a while, elastics lose their strength. Change them after each meal and before bedtime. If one elastic breaks, replace both sides.  Carry extra elastics with you at all times. If you don't have enough to last until your next appointment, please stop by our office and pick more up or call us and we can send more to you. We don't want you to run out

Be mindful of wires and brackets 

Every day when you brush your teeth, check to make sure you do not have any loose braces by gently trying to slide each one. If a wire or band comes loose, do not be alarmed. If a tie wire is protruding and irritating, use a blunt instrument (the back of a spoon or a pencil eraser) to carefully push the wire out of the way. If you have a broken or loose appliance, please call us to determine if your breakage is urgent and requires immediate repair.


This summer we're giving out rewards for your kindness! Let us know about your act of kindness and you'll be entered to win cash prize up to $300! Enter in our office, tag us on social media using the hashtag ‪#‎wentzkindnesscontest‬ or email tamara@wentzmail.com. Contest ends August 28th, 2015.

Wentz Orthodontics

4013 84th Street

Lubbock, TX 79423

(806) 792-7223 

(806) 794-8124

4th of July Ortho-Friendly Treats

Every year on the 4th day of July we celebrate a great American holiday, Independence Day. Flags of bright red, white and blue appear everywhere you go. Independence Day is celebrated on the 4th of July because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.

The best things about the 4th of July are Family, Food and Fireworks. Everyone will show off their patriotism in different ways on Saturday. One way to show support for Independence Day that the entire family to enjoy is by making 4th of July themed treats. Since some of our patients are currently abiding by Dr. Wentz’s rules to avoid anything hard, sticky and super sugary, we've listed 5 tasty ortho-friendly treats for our patients under treatment to enjoy.

5 Ortho-Friendly Fourth of July Treats (For recipes click the name of each treat)

Cupcake Cones

Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad

Patriotic Punch

Jell-O Firecrackers

Red, White and Blue Cheesecake

Share your treats and your 4th of July fun with us, Tag us in your photos on Instagram and post photos to our wall on Facebook.

Protect Your Smile This Summer

It’s summer time so that means it’s time to get out and have some fun in the sun. Grab the kids and head outside. While you’re enjoying yourselves it’s still important stay safe which includes protecting your smile.

We advocate protecting your smile all year round, however summer is a time where playing and fun activities are turned up a notch. Here are a few tips for enjoying your summer safely.

Stay hydrated

It’s going to get pretty hot this summer here in Lubbock and all around Texas. When you’re out in the sun you have to stay hydrated, but make sure you are drinking fluids that are good for you. Sports drinks that claim to help you with endurance usually are high in sugar. Super sugary drinks are not the best for your teeth. Sugar produces acid that causes tooth decay which can lead to cavities among other issues. To stay hydrated your best option is to drink lots of water.

Remember the foods you must avoid

Summer is filled with sweet treats, but you have to remember while under orthodontic treatment you must avoid certain foods. To protect your orthodontic appliance stay away from sticky, hard and crunchy foods and treats. Find healthier foods you can snack on that are tasty and good for you.

Guard your grill

Summer is filled with fun and physical activities for kids and families. While participating in physical activities you have to protect your mouth with a mouth guard. Mouth guards protect teeth and jaw from potential injuries. Contact us for information regarding custom mouth guards.

Make your appointments

Summer time = free time for kids since they are on vacation from school, which is the perfect time for dental check-ups. You must make sure you make all of your scheduled appointments with Dr. Wentz to ensure that we can track the progress of your treatment.  Along with visiting us, it is important that you schedule time for a check-up with your dentist to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy.

We hope that all of our patients have a awesome summer and remember this summer we are giving away cash prizes when you complete a good deed. All you have to do is let us know about your act of kindness and you’ll be entered to win. Contest ends August 28th, 2015.

Get Out and Get Active!

Did you know May was National Physical Fitness & Sports Month? 

Recently implemented, during May the President’s Council on Fitness Sports and Nutrition highlights the importance of healthy lifestyles, being physically active, and participating in sports activities. May is the ideal time to promote going outside and being active in nice weather. Warm weather motivates people to get moving. Versus the winter season, during warmer weather people are encouraged to go outdoors for free play, sports, and a healthy dose of physical activity.

According to the President’s Council on Fitness Sports and Nutrition, studies have shown that active kids do better! While it’s great to see our youth outside and active when the weather is nice, they alsoneed physical education and activity year-round. It’s a fact that children can be motivated by their parents, so why not get the whole family involved?

Here are a few ideas to get your family moving: (source: letsmove.gov)

• Play tag, swim, toss a ball, jump rope, hula-hoop, dance to music or even play a dancing video game. It doesn’t have to be sports—just get your family moving!
• Walk the dog, go for a jog, go on a bike ride, take the stairs or head to the park and let kids run around for a while.
• Celebrate special occasions—like birthdays or anniversaries—with something active, such as a hike, a volleyball or soccer game or playing Frisbee at the park.
• Get the whole family involved in household chores like cleaning, vacuuming, and yard work.
• Walk instead of drive whenever you can. If you have to drive, find a spot at the far end of the parking lot and walk to where you’re going.
• Park farther away and count with your children the number of steps from the car to your destination. Write it down and see if you can park even farther away on your next stop.
• Train as a family for a charity walk or run.

We continue to encourage great overall health for all of our patients. Share with us on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) what your currently doing or what do you plan on doing as a family to stay active!

National Facial Protection Month

Each year during April the Academy for Sports Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the American Association of Orthodontists sponsor National Facial Protection Month.

National Facial Protection Month focuses on spreading awareness about the importance of protecting children and adults from oral and facial injuries. Many injuries that do occur during sporting activities could have been prevented had the proper protective gear had been worn. An estimated 12 million people between the ages of 5 and 22 years suffer a sport-related injury annually. A recently published study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a database of injuries treated at hospital emergency departments, for the period 2001-2008. Researchers found the five most common causes of childhood injuries were, in order of frequency, basketball, football, bicycling, playgrounds and soccer.

For our patients we want to remind you that it is important for you to protect your mouth during treatment. For protection you must wear a mouth guard. A mouth guard can help prevent injury to the teeth, mouth and even jaw. Mouth guards are made of flexible material that is fitted to protect your upper and lower teeth. You can buy a stock mouth guard or get a custom guard made. The right fit mouth guard will act as cushions protecting your mouth from hits and preventing serious injury.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons advise that you to take five, and take in these five simple safety tips:

Mouth Guards are a Must
Mouth guards are significantly less expensive than the cost to repair an injury, and dentists and dental specialists can make customized mouth guards that hold teeth in place and allow for normal speech and breathing.  

Helmets are always Helpful
Helmets absorb the energy of an impact and help prevent damage to the head.  

Have 20/20 Vision with Protective Eyewear
Eyes are extremely vulnerable to damage, especially when playing sports.

Face Shields Save Skin…and more. 
Hockey pucks, footballs and racquetballs can cause severe facial damage at any age.

Cheer and Shout Out Your Support for Mandatory Protective Gear.  
Athletes who participate in football, hockey and boxing are required to wear mouth guards. If mouth guards have been proven to significantly decrease the risk of oral injuries, why is it not mandatory in every sport for kids to wear them?

To learn more about National Facial Protection Month please visit AAOMS.org

5 Tasty Easter Day Treats

This Sunday, April 5th, we are going to take time to celebrate the resurrection of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. As we celebrate the rising of Christ we can also make sure our friends and family feel the joy that Easter brings. Cooking is a labor of love and we want give you a few ideas to spread that love through sweet treats.

Bunnies and eggs have become fixtures in our culture to symbolize Easter. Get creative in the kitchen and create these Easter themed treats for everyone to enjoy.

Here are 5 fun treats:

Easter Kit-Kat Cake

What you’ll need:
Two 8 or 9 inch round cake
Frosting
4-6 King Size Kit Kat Candy bars
Coconut
Food coloring
Ribbon
Easter candy of choice for decorating
Twizzlers Pull & Peel licorice for the handles of the basket
For detailed instructions click here


Garden Carrot Cupcakes

What you’ll need:
Chocolate Cake:
Chocolate Frosting
Crushed Oreos
Strawberries
Orange chocolate melts
For detailed instructions click here 



Swimming Peep Jell-o Cups

What you’ll need:
Blue jello mix
Cool whip
Blue food coloring
Chick peeps
For detailed instructions click here 





Bunny Pancakes

What you’ll need:
Bisquick™ Original baking mix
Whipped cream
Sliced strawberries
Chocolate chips
For detailed instructions click here






Easter Egg Fruit Pizza

What you’ll need:
A cookie base
For the Frosting:
cream cheese
Strawberry jam
Powdered sugar
To Assemble:
8 cups assorted fresh fruit, washed and sliced
For detailed instructions click here

Remember, if you are under Orthodontic treatment make sure all foods you consume are safe for your braces. Also, after eating sweet treats you should rinse, brush and floss!

Share your Easter day fun with us on Social Media:

Post pictures on our Facebook wall 

Tag us on Instagram @Wentz_Orthodontics

Or Tweet us @Wentz_Ortho #WentzOrthodontics

Spring Cleaning: Your Oral Health To-Do List

The time has already changed with daylight savings and we're progressively seeing change in the weather as it gets warmer and warmer, and this all because it's SPRING!

When spring comes around the flowers bloom and everyone get the urge to clean. Spring cleaning helps you clean and remove clutter as you enter a new season. As you get your home nice and clean let's also focus on cleaning up your oral health habits. It's not easy to maintain consistent good oral health. That's because in the invisible but serious battle against gum disease and tooth decay, there's no neutral ground. You're either fighting it offensively, or your losing. The moment after you brush and floss, those native oral bacteria are repopulating their favorite playground, your mouth. This is why it's important that develop good habits and stick to a regular routine. To guide you we've composed a to-do list for you.

Oral Health Spring Cleaning To-Do List:

• Make a dentist appointment
• Buy new toothbrushes, you may even want to try an electronic toothbrush
• Make sure you're using toothpaste that fits your oral needs, toothpaste with fluoride is what we suggest
• Refill your mouthwash
• Restock on wax floss
• Remove unhealthy foods from your diet

Staying on top of your oral health is important all year long. We want all of our patients to have healthy teeth and gums, healthy teeth and gums makes for a great treatment process.

Making the Clear Choice with the Top Provider

You've just been told by your general dentist that you have some teeth that need to be straightened and you need to visit an orthodontist. Well, you’ll be glad to know you have lots of options!  A retainer? Traditional metal braces? Invisalign?.. Never fear, we can answer all your questions.  In today's blog let’s discuss the option of Invisalign.

The Invisalign System straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It's virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you're straightening your teeth.

Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using custom-made aligners created for you and only you. These aligners are smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible. And wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements Dr. Wentz has planned out for you.

Invisalign is made to fit your lifestyle:

• Clear, virtually invisible aligners
• Removable, so will not get in the way of your activities
• Easy to remove to eat, brush, and floss
• Graduate to a new set of aligners about every two weeks
• Easy to monitor your progress with regular appointments
• Effective for a wide range of smiles.

Only licensed dental professionals who have been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Wentz Orthodontics is an Elite Top 1% Provider for Invisalign.  This means that Wentz Orthodontics is part of the top 1% of all North American Invisalign providers and are among the most experienced. We have worked hard to provide our patients with the best Invisalign care for adults and teens, allowing us to become the only office in the south plains region to have the Top 1% provider designation.

We are blessed to have received such an honorable accolade from Invisalign. Our experience and treatment methods set us apart from others in our region. For years we have provided our community with exceptional Invisalign care. Instead of the old-fashioned impression, we are able to use cutting edge technology like the iTero digital scanning system to create a 3-D digital computerized image, allowing us to offer a faster and more comfortable experience resulting in more precise fitting Invisalign aligners.

iTero Digital Scanning System

While there are some general dentists who can provide Invisalign services, it is  encouraged that you have an experienced orthodontist provide you with Invisalign care. Orthodontists and dentists specialize in different things, but we do work as a team for you and your oral health. While Dr. Wentz works diligently to perfect your smile, please continue to visit your dentist every 6 months!

Invisalign is not intended for children and is not appropriate for every adult. An orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you've always wanted, contact us to make an appointment today. You may be surprised how fast and affordable your treatment can be!

The Power of Music

Music can be found everywhere, from your car radio to the melodies made by the sounds of nature. But did you know there are benefits associated with hearing your favorite tunes.

Can you still remember your favorite childhood songs? Years can past by yet once you hear the beat of your favorite song you can instantly remember the words. This is one of the effects of music. Many researchers have confirmed the positive effects music can have on your overall health and day to day lives.

Here are 3 Positive Affects of Music:(source: Huffington Post)

Music can reduce stress- In stressful situation music can help calm nerves. For example, many people feel anxiety while visiting dentist or orthodontist but listening to music during treatment can you relax. "Research has shown that listening to music -- at least music with a slow tempo and low pitch, without lyrics or loud instrumentation -- can calm people down, even during highly stressful or painful events."

Music helps aid in memorization- Many people just music to stimulate memory. For instance students often play music while studying. "Music enjoyment elicits dopamine release, and dopamine release has been tied to motivation, which in turn is implicated in learning and memory."

Music gives you an energy boost for physical activity- According to sports researchers Peter Terry and Costas Karageorghis, “Music has the capacity to capture attention, lift spirits, generate emotion, change or regulate mood, evoke memories, increase work output, reduce inhibitions and encourage rhythmic movement -- all of which have potential applications in sport and exercise.”

Knowing what positive affects music can have on the mind and body, we want to give you a chance to reap the benefits live! Enter to win 4 tickets to see country music star Brad Paisey live in concert Saturday, March 7th.

For more information about this contest give us a call today, contest ends March 5th so hurry and enter! 

It's National Children's Dental Health Month!

February is National Children's Health Month!

National Children’s Dental Health Month is sponsored by the ADA (American Dental Association) which promotes creating lifelong healthy habits starting at an early age. Developing good habits early will more likely lead to that child being able to look forward to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. It is very important that parents know that a balanced diet, limiting snacks, brushing and flossing are key to healthy teeth and avoiding cavities. Along with healthy habits, regular dental appointments will help you keep your child on track.

This year's NCDHM campaign slogan "Defeat Monster Mouth" is displayed on the eye-catching children's posters that feature the McGrinn Twins, Flossy and Buck, along with their best friends and next-door neighbors, Den and Gen Smiley and K-9 the dog.  They are fighting to defeat Plaqster the Monster for good oral health.

For more information about National Children’s Dental Health Month please visit Ada.org.

Remember, 7 is the perfect age for an evaluation. 7 years old may sound too early to be thinking about orthodontic treatment, but it proven that early treatment is important for ensuring positive treatment results. 7 isn’t just a number Dr. Wentz came up with, it is the age recommended by the American Association of Orthodontist.

An early examination does not mean immediate treatment is necessary. After your initial examination we may just need to monitor your child periodically to see how teeth and jaw continue to develop. If your child is not ready for treatment he/she will entered into the Wentz Thumbs Up Club. The Wentz Thumbs Up Club provides a way for our office to communicate with each patient’s family about everything going on in our office.

Have any questions about early intervention or want to bring your child in for a consultation? Give us a call today.

National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) began as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 3, 1941. The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single day observance became a week-long event in 1955. In 1981, the program was extended to a month-long observance known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month. Since 1941, the observance has grown from a two-city event into a nationwide program. NCDHM messages reach thousands of people in communities across the country and at numerous armed services bases. Local observances often include displays of posters provided by the ADA, coloring and essay contests, health fairs, free dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations by dentists and other members of the dental team, and dental office tours.
Source: ADA.org