We are the only practice in the Gurnee and Vernon Hills, IL area with both specialties of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry under one roof. This allows our pediatric dentists to work closely with our orthodontists so that they can catch problems early and correct them at the most optimal time. We believe the best way to keep our young patients happy and healthy is through consistent oral hygiene practices at home and routine visits to the dentist.

At Home Tips for Preventing Cavities in Kids

As a parent, you can do a lot to help prevent your child from getting cavities. If you have an infant, use a clean washcloth to gently wipe the gums and avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water. Older kids should brush their teeth at least twice a day. Since your kids learn by watching you, take the time each day to brush your teeth along with your child. Stand in front of a mirror and make it a fun experience. Another way to prevent tooth decay and cavities is to only provide your child with healthy snacks like fresh fruits and vegetables. If your child sees you snacking on healthy foods, he or she is likely to do the same.

Spend time speaking to your child about the importance of a healthy smile. There are many children’s books you could read together with your child that address the importance of good oral health and its benefits.  Follow up this type of reading session with a discussion about when and why your child should brush, floss and visit the dentist regularly. Talking about the topic of good oral health reinforces the necessity for maintaining a good oral health routine, plus it provides you with a great opportunity to spend quality time together!

Preparing your Child for His or Her First Dental Visit

By starting early dental visits, you can help your child build a lifetime of good dental habits. When it’s time to take your child to the dentist, speak positively about the first visit and avoid any references to needles, drills or pain which will frighten your child. Tell your child that the dentist is a friendly doctor who helps kids take care of their teeth and smiles. Don’t let anyone tell your child scary stories about dental visits. Your child’s visit to the dentist should be a fun adventure that he or she enjoys. We welcome any questions you may have concerning your child’s first visit and his or her particular needs.

You can schedule an appointment for your child during National Children’s Dental Health Month by either filling out and submitting the “Schedule an Appointment” form on our website or by contacting us via telephone during business hours. Your Vernon Hills children’s dentists, Dr. Orbon, Dr. Maddox and Dr. Wagner are dedicated to providing your child with the best possible dental care.

We look forward to helping your child obtain the smile of a lifetime and one in which he or she can be proud of! Even though pediatric dentistry is a “serious business”, our friendly staff members know how to engage children to make the experience a pleasant one!  Affiliated Dental Specialists is open 6 days a week to provide dental care to your children.

Usually we recommend general anesthesia for children who are unable to cooperate or need lengthy or multiple procedures. We may treat them at a hospital or surgery center. All three of our pediatric specialists are on staff at local hospitals or surgical centers.

“We try to prevent the need for this type of operation as much as possible,” says Dr. David Maddox. “But for some situations, like when a preschooler needs eight cavities repaired, in-office treatment isn’t practical.”

Dr. Maddox and Dr. Cameron Wagner practice at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and treat patients under general anesthesia monthly. Dr. James Orbon treats patients under anesthesia at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and Hawthorne Surgery Center where he is on staff.

“It is important for parents and patients to feel free to ask questions during the appointment to help understand what has been recommended and what will happen,” says Dr. Orbon, who has been a children’s dentist for decades.

Hospital sedation is usually a last resort after trying other sedation options such as nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, which can be done at our Gurnee or Vernon Hills pediatric dentistry office. We can use this inhalation analgesic during an in-office visit to help calm anxious patients during their dental treatment.

Prevention is the number one recommendation we give parents to avoid needing major dental work again. Dental decay is largely preventable if patients follow the correct general dentistry guidelines: thorough dental hygiene and consistent visits to the dentist.

There are also other techniques to help combat dental caries in a young patient, including at-home fluoride treatments or sealants- white or clear resin bonded to the hard-to-clean grooves of molars or premolars.

“The biggest thing parents and guardians can do is start dental care early to get in a routine of consistent oral hygiene at home and visits to the dentist twice a year,” Dr. Wagner says.

Dental care starts from birth. For infants, a clean, wet gauze or washcloth can wipe plaque from teeth and gums. A child’s first visit to the dentist should be when the first tooth erupts or by the first birthday, whichever comes first. Once children have several teeth, their parents need to brush their teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush and toothpaste after breakfast and before bed every day. As soon as there are two teeth touching, start flossing daily.

Reduced or limited snacking can also reduce the chance of cavities. Starchy or sugary food and drinks cause the pH level in the mouth to drop sharply, leaving teeth awash in an acid bath that attacks enamel for 20 minutes until saliva normalizes the pH. Frequent snacking means more frequent exposure to acid. Another thing to avoid is putting a baby or toddler to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water.

© 2012 Master Google and the Affiliated Dental Specialists. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google, the company that never uses black hat SEO, 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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We are holding a “Special” contest in honor of Mother’s Day.

You can win a $100 Spa Gift Card for your Mom.

Here’s all you need to do:
Go to our Face Book page and like us. Then tell us why your Mother is so special.
We will hold a random drawing on Tuesday May 8th, just in time for Mother’s Day.
Winner will be notified by phone.

“We believe that patients of all ages deserve a beautiful, healthy smile,” says Dr. Port, who has been a Gurnee braces provider since 1986.

Clarity braces are one alternative to traditional metal braces. The small, smooth, stain-resistant brackets are made of a translucent, composite material designed to blend in with the teeth. More than a million patients have been treated with Clarity braces worldwide, according to 3M Unitek, the makers of Clarity braces.

“Patients wearing Clarity braces tell us that the clear appearance and comfortable design gives them the confidence they need to smile throughout treatment,” says Dr. Klein, an adult and children’s orthodontics expert.

There are two types of brackets: regular brackets with ligatures and self-ligating brackets that do not require ligatures. Self-ligating brackets employ a slide apparatus which permits the archwire to be adjusted freely and allow teeth to shift into position faster with fewer wire check appointments. Patients report little to no discomfort during this method of orthodontic treatment.

“Clarity is perfect for patients who want a discrete option for orthodontics or for patients who aren’t good candidates for Invisalign or Invisalign Teen,” says Dr. Port. “Also, they are constantly in position, aligning your teeth all day, every day to create your beautiful, healthy smile of a lifetime.”

A complimentary consultation with the Invisalign Vernon Hills providers, Dr. Port or Dr. Klein, can help potential patients determine if Clarity braces are the best treatment choice for their circumstances and orthodontic problem.

© 2012 Master Google and the Affiliated Dental Specialists. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google, SEO campaign experts, 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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Sedation dentistry is utilizing pharmacological agents such as nitrous oxide to calm and relax a patient prior to and during a dental appointment.

Nitrous oxide is a colorless and virtually odorless gas that when inhaled helps the patient relax and remain calm.

“Providing high-quality dental care where patients feel comfortable, relaxed and able to communicate is our number one priority, which is why we offer sedation dentistry,” says Dr. Cameron Wagner, who holds the highest certification possible in the pediatric dentistry field.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes nitrous oxide inhalation as a safe and effective technique. They indicate the use of the gas for five types of patients:

1. a fearful, anxious, or obstreperous patient
2. certain patients with special health care needs
3. a patient whose gag reflex interferes with dental care
4. a patient for whom profound local anesthesia cannot be obtained
5. a cooperative child undergoing a lengthy dental procedure

“Most of the time children at our practice are calm and confident about dental procedures, but sometimes a patient needs a little extra support and assistance to relax,” says Dr. David Maddox, who has been a pediatric dentist of Grayslake since 1988.

Nitrous oxide has an excellent safety record, but the AAPD stresses the importance of parents and guardians providing a complete and accurate medical history of the patient, including allergies and previous allergic or adverse drug reactions, current medications, diseases, disorders, or physical abnormalities and any previous hospitalizations.

“One benefit of nitrous oxide is that even though a patient is under mild sedation, they are still completely conscious and able to communicate and answer questions,” says Dr. James Orbon, a braces Grayslake provider.

© 2012 Master Google and the Affiliated Dental Specialists. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google, experts in dental and orthodontic marketing strategies, 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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Invisalign gradually moves teeth into position using a series of clear, removable aligners. After an initial appointment, full dental lab workup and consultation about treatment, the patient is given a set of aligners, usually three sets at each orthodontic visit. The aligner is swapped out after two weeks for the next in the series.

“You’ll visit our office about once every six weeks for a check-up to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned,” says Dr. Richard Port the provider of braces Gurnee.

The average treatment time is usually a year with approximately 24 aligners, but treatment time and the number of aligners varies. This system can be used for adults and teens. In fact, most of the teenage and adult patients at Affiliated Dental Specialists choose Invisalign as their orthodontic treatment plan.

“About a third of our patients are over 18 years of age, and they typically favor Invisalign,” says Dr. Gary Klein, who also offers braces for children.

Because the aligners are virtually invisible, that is often the biggest reason people give for choosing the treatment method, but Invisalign has many other benefits. He says that Invisalign is popular because the aligners are removable, comfortable and they work well for athletes and business professionals.

“Invisalign functions like any other orthodontic treatment and is designed to align the teeth, correct the bite and restore proper function to the jaws,” says Dr. Port, who is an Invisalign Preferred Provider.

A malocclusion, more commonly called a bad bite, can cause speech impediments, jaw or TMJ pain, difficulty chewing and eating, sleep apnea caused by mouth breathing and snoring, grinding or clenching of the teeth, gum disease and tooth decay. There are three primary classifications: crowded teeth that are crooked or protrude, an overbite or buck teeth, and an underbite due to a too-big lower jaw or a too-small upper jaw. Invisalign can be used to treat almost any type of orthodontic problem.

“Patients really like that Invisalign aligners can be removed for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing,” the provider of Invisalign Libertyville. “However, patients need to remember to put the aligner back in promptly or they risk delaying treatment time.”

Due to the popularity of the Invisalign, the parent company, Align Technology, released a line of the invisible braces for teens in July 2008. Invisalign Teen features a blue dot inside the aligner on one of the back molars that will fade if the aligner has been worn as directed. Invisalign Teen also allows for up to six replacement aligners if one is lost or broken.

Dr. Port and Dr. Klein offer complimentary cosmetic orthodontic consultations, so patients can find out if they are good candidates for Invisalign by scheduling an appointment at one of their two convenient office locations in Gurnee and Vernon Hills.

“Come see us and find out what orthodontic options we can use to get you the smile of a lifetime,” Dr. Port says.

© 2012 Master Google and the Affiliated Dental Specialists. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google, orthodontic and dental lab marketing specialists, 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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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.

© 2012 Master Google and the Affiliated Dental Specialists. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google, orthodontic marketing specialists, 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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