Shoes for Orphans Souls

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” -Mother Teresa

In an effort to help those who are most deserving we have teamed up with Buckner International, a Texas based non-profit, to provide shoes to children around the world. There are so many things you can do to help other and providing new shoes is just one way for us as a community to give back the blessings we have earned.

You may be wondering why shoes are the focus of this campaign, but whether you realize it or no not shoes are important to our day to day lives. Here are why shoes are so important to these recipients.

New shoes are important to health: 
Buckner International serves many developing countries. In these countries children don’t have shoes so they must walk around barefoot. In many cases children are walking around barefoot in health hazardous environments, which put them at risk for illness. New shoes help protect children from potentially harmful diseases or injuries that can occur when walking with no shoes.

New shoes are important to education:
Many schools around the world require students wear shoes to attend, for children whose don’t have the luxury of having shoes this poses a threat to their education. Learn is important and everyone should have the opportunity to get an education.

New shoes are important to providing hope:
Children from disadvantaged families and children of orphanages typically share everything including shoes. A new pair of shoes means a lot to these children, it is something of their own which can make a child feel extra special.

Buckner International asks specifically for shoes for the simple fact that is vital to provide children who have so little with durable shoes in their best condition. These children deserve so much this is just a little gesture to show that there are people in the world who care.

We are proud to say that until April 30th, 2015 we will be an office dropout station for the Shoes for Orphans Souls Campaign. As and added “Thank You” to any patient of Wentz Orthodontics who donates a pair shoes will be entered to win a $200 gift card to Cardinals Sport Center. For more info please email tamara@wentzmail.com

Join us in supporting this great cause! For more information about this wonderful campaign visit shoesfororphansouls.com

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.

You Can't Put an Age Limit on Beautiful Smiles

Don't let age stop you from having the straight teeth you've always dreamed of. Braces aren't just for kids anymore. Parents are still making regular trips to the orthodontist's office, but these days more and more are leaving their kids in the waiting room.

Sad, but true…over time our bodies start to wear out, including our teeth. As you age, your teeth break down. Unfortunately, it's one of the most visible signs of aging. As teeth wear, the lower and the upper jaw move closer together. Shortening of your teeth causes your lips to change, creases to form on the sides of your nose and mouth, a deep crease develops between your chin and lower lip and jowls develop on the sides of your jaw. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can also contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay and abnormal wear of the tooth enamel.

Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Numerous technological advances have made braces less noticeable, less painful and even less time-consuming.

As America's baby boomers have become more health conscious, they're rejecting the notion that loosing teeth and dentures are a routine part of growing older. These days people are exercising more and eating healthier and braces are another way of demonstrating that you care about yourself and your overall health.

Don’t believe us? Still think you’re too old for braces? There are many adult celebrities who have been seen on your favorite red carpet rocking brace faced smiles.

Faye Dunaway - Age 61 

Tom Cruise - Age 40

Faith Hill - Age 45  

When people think of braces the assumption is that treatment is specifically for children and young adults. However, you can perfect your smile at any age. If you are consider adult treatment don't wait, give us a call today!

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!