Recipes for your braces…and you!

I came across this great resource for braces-friendly recipes on the American Association of Orthodontists website.   I thought I would share with you one that would be perfect for the season.

PUMPKIN CAKE

Ingredients

* 1 pkg. yellow or white cake mix
* ½ cup vegetable oil
* 4 eggs
* 1 cup canned pumpkin
* ¾ cup sugar
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* Dash of nutmeg
* ¼ cup water (add 2 tbl. of water if eggs are small)

Directions
Put cake mix in a large bowl. Make an indentation in the center and pour in the oil and one egg. Mix using mixer at medium speed, then add the rest of the eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Add pumpkin, sugar, spices, then water. Bake in greased and floured tube pan in 350 degree oven for 60-70 minutes. Cool before removing from pan. Makes a moist and delicious cake—no frosting required.

For more great recipes, click here.  If you have any recipes of your own, let me know!

Braces and Back to School Time!

It's Back to School Time!

During this busy time of getting back into the school routine, it is easy to forget things like taking care of your braces!  Don’t let the change in routine change your good orthodontic habits.  Here are some friendly reminders and tips  for you as you go back to school:

• Take your toothbrush to school so you can brush right after lunch.
• Remember to keep all your orthodontic appointments!  As you sort out all your school activities, make sure your appointments are still convenient.  If not, call the office and re-schedule! (703) 820-1011.
• Need rubber bands?  Call us and we can mail them to you so you don’t have to make a special trip.
• If you are playing school sports, call us and inquire about mouth-guards and other precautions. Usually we recommend that you get a “Boil and Bite” do-it-yourself mouth guard.  It’s easy to find at a drugstore (like CVS or Target) and will help protect your lips from your braces if you get bumped.  (Did you know: in case youdo take a hit to the mouth, your braces will protect your teeth?!)
• Be sure to continue eating the right foods at school.  As you eat your delicious school lunch, don’t forget that sticky, chewy and hard foods should be avoided.

And the most important rule as you go to school – SMILE!

McCombs Orthodontics Introduces Its Tween Consultant

Maddy McCombs, Tween Consultant

Not every orthodontist has an advisor or consultant. I am lucky enough to have one. I call her  my Tween Consultant since she is twelve years old. Her name is Maddy Mccombs and she is my Granddaughter. Yes, I have her in braces. She lives in Denver with her Mom, Dad, brother Jack and her dog Lilly.  We communicate over the internet and she keeps me informed about what kids her age are up to — hobbies, sports, television programs, movies, activities, friends,music, etc.   I ask her about what kids her age talk about.   That gives me information about what my patients are interested in so its easier to talk to them.   Thanks Maddy!

The Cost of Braces – An Excellent Investment

Our orthodontic practice sometimes will get a call asking how much braces cost. That is like asking how much an airline ticket costs. It depends on where you are going.

Only until the orthodontist examines the patient can the cost be determined. We take into account what the patient would like to see fixed, the type of appliance (metal, ceramic, invisalign, removable), the severity of the problem, how long the treatment will take, the degree of cooperation we need to get, and determining if the problem is just dental or is it skeletal.

A Great Smile is Priceless!

So the short answer to the question of how much braces cost: it’s complex.

A patient may just see a crooked tooth but to the Orthodontist its like a jigsaw puzzle. How do you get all the pieces together?  That’s why orthodontists are trained for 10 years after high school. Teeth are like fingerprints — no two are the same.  A specific treatment is designed with feedback from the patient. The total cost is determined by diagnostic records (tooth models, photographs, a tooth x-ray, and a skull x-ray), construction of the braces, the number of appointments to straighten the teeth, removal of braces, fitting of retainers and retention observation. Orthodontists usually do not charge for help visits (pokey wires, loose braces etc).

Because orthodontic treatment can be pricey (starting at roughly $1000 with an average of $6000), payment plans are designed to make braces affordable. We have several plans.  You can get a discount with cash up front (no financing fees), in-house financing with a down payment and monthly payments over the treatment time with no financing fees, or outside financing with no down payment and payments over 5 years with financing fees.  Also, all orthodontic practices work with your insurance.

Overall, the cost of braces is minimal when you compare it to the return on investment. The new smile and the confidence it brings is worth its weight in gold!

Invisalign Teen – A Great New Product

I get a lot of questions about Invisalign Teen. Both Pam and I have been treated with Invisalign aligners. It was so easy and comfortable and totally invisible. I have been an Invisalign provider since it started and was asked to be an “alpha doctor” for the company to help develop the product. I have treated hundreds of patients with Invisalign and believe that Invisalign will be the main delivery system of the future.

Invisalign Teen is a new product for teenagers. Orthodontist were concerned that teenagers would not be compliant enough for the system to work. Invisalign has developed compliance indicators that change colors if the appliance is worn enough. Now parents can tell if they are getting their money’s worth. We can always switch to metal braces if Invisalign is not doing the job. Googling Invisalign will get a zillion hits . McCombs Orthodontics filmed a short piece for YouTube and can be seen here or on our web site. We are going through a time when cool color braces are still popular but as teenagers get older they want to look their very best and are turning to easy and more comfortable clear aligners.  So ask us about Invisalign Teen.