LINDENHURST, ILLINOIS—Choosing an orthodontist is an important decision, but it does not have to be an overwhelming task when using these points in the search criteria: well-recommended, board certified, gallery of work available and flexible.
Word of mouth recommendation is usually the best way to start out a search for a new medical provider of any kind. Practices know this and good ones will make sure they cultivate relationships with patients and referring dentists.
“Affiliated Dental Specialists has a great reputation with referring dentists, however, the families of our patients have been the best referral source,” says Dr. Richard Port, a Lindenhurst orthodontics provider.
Today, many general dentists have taken classes to offer certain braces such as the Invisalign orthodontic system, but Dr. Port says that an orthodontist is the best choice for orthodontic procedures.
“General dentists are experts in diagnosis of dental decay, preventative dentistry and restoring, replacing and repairing teeth, while an orthodontist is an expert in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities,” says Dr. Gary Klein.
Orthodontists have two to three years of additional specialized orthodontics education accredited by the American Dental Association, and the best orthodontists are also board certified.
“Not all orthodontics specialists have the distinction of being a board certified Diplomate, which is the highest certification in the field,” says Dr. Port, who is a Diplomate in orthodontics and pediatric dentistry. Dr. Klein is also board certified in orthodontics.
After finding a highly-recommended, board certified orthodontist, look at samples of their finished work and find out if the office is a good fit. Many practices have a gallery of smiles on their website, but the office will also have photos on display of patients who have completed treatment.
Call the office to get the basic information, find out if appointments are open for new patients, discuss insurance and financing policies and ask if they offer free consultations. That is the ideal time to discuss treatment goals and how much experience the orthodontist has in correcting specific problems.
“Our staff is more than happy to answer any questions potential patients have about our practice,” says Dr. Klein. “For our customers’ convenience, we have two office locations, one in Gurnee and Vernon Hills, and regular office hours that include most Saturdays.”
Affiliated Dental also offers patients a variety of affordable payment options, including a no-interest plan for those who qualify.
“Orthodontic treatment can be a lengthy process, and patients interact with the doctors on an almost monthly basis, so make sure the orthodontist you choose is one you are comfortable with and confident about,” he says.
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BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS—Affiliated Dental Specialists’ pediatric dentists and orthodontists urge patients to avoid filling up on high calorie, low nutritive value snacks and beverages from vending machines at school to avoid dental decay.
“Vending machines may be convenient for a quick snack, but if you are vending an increased risk of dental decay or a lifetime of dental and health problems, that isn’t so convenient,” says Dr. James Orbon, one of three children’s dentists at the Buffalo Grove practice.
Good dental hygiene, professional cleanings and routine exams are great steps toward dental health, but the type of foods and beverages consumed, as well as when and how often they are consumed, are where dental health really begins.
According to the American Dental Association and the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, eating patterns and food choices among children and teens are important factors that affect how quickly they may develop tooth decay.
One culprit that contributes to unhealthy nutrition choices is vending machines located on school property, stocked with beverages laden with sugar and snacks full of refined carbohydrates.
“Carbonated and sugary beverages like soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks are very bad for your teeth and so are snacks full of carbs like chips and candy,” warns Dr. David Maddox, an adolescent and children’s dentistry specialist.
Because of this, the ADA and AAPD do not approve of contractual arrangements in schools, sometimes called pouring rights contracts, which promote increased access to soft drinks for children and adolescents, therefore influencing consumption patterns.
When these types of food and drink are consumed, minimize the damage to tooth enamel by eating one small snack, rinsing the mouth with water immediately afterward and brushing teeth with fluoridated toothpaste as soon as possible, instead of grazing all day.
“Another step you can take is to contact your school’s administration and let them know that you want healthier choices available in vending machines,” says pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Wagner, one of the best pediatric dentists in the States.
© 2012 Master Google and the Affiliated Dental Specialists. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google, a free SEO provider, is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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LONG GROVE, ILLINOIS-Do you participate in organized sports or play sports recreationally? Do you wear the proper protective equipment?
Participation in sports considerably increases your risk of dental injury, which is why Affiliated Dental Specialists want to remind their patients to get – and use – a well – fitted mouthguard.
“Even though some injuries are unavoidable, the vast majority of sports-related traumatic injuries can be prevented,” says Dr. James Orbon, a Long Grove pediatric dentist.
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons recommends the use of mouthguards for children and adults when playing any sport that involves falls, body contact or flying equipment. This includes football, wrestling, baseball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, gymnastics, in-line skating, mountain biking – any activity that might result in an injury to the mouth.
“Be proactive and protect yourself so when you get hit in the face with a puck, ball, elbow or the ground you won’t end up in the Affiliated Dental Specialistt‘s chair or worse the emergency room,” says Dr. Cameron Wagner, an expert at the and a pediatric dentistry practice.
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LIBERTYVILLE, ILLINOIS – Occasionally, we get patients who think that certain aspects of the recommended oral hygiene – brushing twice a day, flossing daily and rinsing with fluoridated mouthwash – need not apply during orthodontic treatment.
That is until our orthodontics experts Dr. Gary Klein and Dr. Richard Port set them straight.
“Flossing is usually what patients think they don’t need to do while they have their braces,” says Dr. Klein. “Or some may have the misconception that they can’t with wires, bands and brackets in the way.”
Flossing with braces is very important. Brushing does not remove the food particles stuck in the interproximal areas, in between the teeth. Flossing will take extra time, but the minor inconvenience is worth avoiding tooth decay, bad breath, teeth staining and other dental problemslike gum disease.
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LINCOLNSHIRE, ILLINOIS – We may be an Lincolnshire orthodontics and pediatric dental practicethat is serious about providing patients with care from the highest-qualified dentists around, but we still have an appreciation for fun and games.
Our pediatric dentists and orthodontists at Affiliated Dental Specialists want to get to know the patients and parents and encourage them to get to know us too. To help facilitate this, we give patients opportunities to get engaged with our practice beyond the routine six-month check-up or wire change.
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GRAYSLAKE, ILLINOIS – This Halloween, Americans spent a record-setting $2.273 billion on candy to hand out to ghosts, princesses, superheroes and Harry Potters, according to estimates from the National Confectioners Association.The next day, some of those children brought their loot to the offices of Affiliated Dental Specialists, a Grayslake orthodontics and pediatric dentistry practice, to exchange their stash of candy for cold, hard cash.
The second annual Halloween Candy Buy Back was on November 1 from 3-6 p.m. at the Vernon Hills and Gurnee offices. The going rate for a pound of candy was one dollar, and kids had an opportunity to earn up to five dollars.Three days after the buy-back, Dr. Cameron Wagner was still trying to unearth his desk that was buried during the candy onslaught, said Dr. Richard Port, a dental braces provider. The dental group bought back more than 1,100 pounds of candy.
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LINDENHURST, ILLINOIS – Pacifier. Binky. Soother. Dummy. Fussplug. Hushie. Nuk-nuk. The thing those words have in common is that they are names for the item many kids- and parents- come to love and rely on in the first couple of years of life.
At some point though, every child has to kick the habit, and the experts at our orthodontics and children’s dental office know that for some families the process can be stressful. Using Sesame Street’s Put Down The Pacifier Day on November 4, Drs. James Orbon, David Maddox and Cameron Wagner encouraged parents and kids to make the change.
“They have a bunch of cute videos that can help children understand the importance of getting rid of the pacifier and also help explain some of the feelings they may be going through,” says Dr. Wagner.
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GRAYSLAKE, ILLINOIS – Orthodontic treatment used to be a rite of passage reserved for teens, but it is not uncommon to see kids who have not even hit double digits sporting the wires and brackets.The trend toward earlier treatment dates back to around 1990 when the orthodontists association began encouraging the screening of seven year olds, according to a Wall Street Journal article about early orthodontics.
But the treatment philosophy at Affiliated Dental Specialists, a Grayslake kids’ dentist and orthodontics practice, is to strive for one comprehensive phase as their norm.
“When children undergo orthodontic treatment at a very young age, it is usually part of a two-phase treatment plan – braces now and braces later,” says Dr. Richard Port, an orthodontics specialist.
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ENTER OUR SPECIAL HOLIDAY PHOTO T-SHIRT CONTEST-
WIN A $100 GIFT CARD!
(available to our orthodontic patients)
Take a snapshot of YOU wearing your “Dr. Port and Dr. Klein are creating My Smile of a Lifetime” T-shirt.
Go to our facebook page, “like” us and post the picture on our wall. We will be holding a random drawing on December 20th, 2011.
If you are not on Facebook you can submit your photo to either our Gurnee or Vernon Hills location.
All pictures will be posted on our picture board in our treatment area. Be sure to put your full name, date and location where your picture was taken.
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