Healthy Food Substitutes

More and more parents are looking to replace everyday items with another for a better, healthier and safer life for their kids.  When in orthodontic treatment, substitutions are a must...applesauce instead of apples, steamed carrots instead of natural, that sort of thing.  This post is to help give you some ideas on what you can feed your fellow brace-face :)

BREAKFAST:

This meal happens to be the easiest to keep similar to what you were doing before braces since most are options that are soft.  We recommend eggs (cooked any way really), French Toast, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, hot cereal, grits, soft toast, and cereals that will get soggy with milk.

LUNCH:

During the school year, it may be tricky to find foods on the school menu that won't damage or bother braces.  We suggest you opt for bringing lunch from home to help your child make smart food choices.  Tuna, chicken or egg salad sandwiches can help provide nutrition, and are soft enough not to bother braces.  You can also pack turkey or ham sandwich or soft bagel for bread.  Options for sides would include applesauce, yogurt or pudding in a variety of flavors.

DINNER:

Soft meat choices and slow-cooked meats such as meatloaf, meatballs, pot roast, roasted chicken, soft-cooked fish, fish sticks and chicken nuggets.  Serve as a side soft consistency vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, squash, and greens.  Rice, past, risotto, or couscous are excellent sides to add carbohydrates to the meal also.

DESSERT:

Indulging in dessert is fun for every kid, those with braces should be no different.  Soft options such as ice cream, cake, smoothies, milkshakes, cheesecake, cream pies, pudding and Jell-O.  Pick a flavor... they are all yummy :)

SNACK:

Curb their hunger in between meals with yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, bananas, baked apples and ripened fruits with soft consistency.  Saltine crackers are an option to replace chips; then can be broken into smaller pieces and softened by the saliva in the mouth.

Orthodontic Health Month

October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

 

 

 

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recognizes October as a time to raise awareness of the benefits of orthodontic treatment. The AAO is the largest, oldest professional association for orthodontists in North America,
and is comprised of more than 16,000 members (which includes Dr. Angolkar).

 

In a month full of hard, sticky, crunchy, and chewy treats, it’s more important than ever to encourage patients to be kind to their teeth during treatment.

As always, remember to brush and floss after consuming sugary foods. Exposing your teeth to sweets increases your risk of cavities, and allowing it to sit there can
lead to decalcification, the loss of calcium from the teeth.

 If you can’t keep yourself away from the sugar, opt for softer candy such as peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth treats.




 

Social Media

Attention fellow Social Media Users!

Did you know that we are a part of all kinds of Social Media sites?  Looking for a helpful article to aid in gaining knowledge about braces?  Start following us on Pinterest!  It is an excellent site that allows us to share with you interesting facts in a unique way.

http://pinterest.com/angolkar4smiles/

How many of you are using Twitter?  I bet not enough!  This one is AMAZING for getting condensed, quick information about anything under the sun.  We Tweet helpful articles, cool photos, and interesting facts about our office that you will find helpful!

 

https://twitter.com/Angolkar4Smiles

 

 

If you are not our friend as of yet on Facebook, we would love to get to know you through this interactive, fun site.  Almost every day we post on Facebook about braces, our office, our staff, and our doctors.  Check us out today!

 

 

 

 http://www.facebook.com/Angolkar4Smiles

 

 

 

We have also recently added a channel on You Tube that we hope to make a go-to place to find helpful videos in your journey to getting braces, all the way to getting them removed.  Feel free to send in your own videos about your experience with braces!

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/Angolkar4Smiles

 

See you online!



Review us on Yelp!

The greatest compliment we could ever receive is a referral or a positive review from you!

Yelp. com allows you to let us know how we are doing!  If there is something that you would like to rave about our office we would love to hear about it!!  Taking the time to help us spread the word helps other families and patients in need of orthodontics.  More and more people are turning to these review sites for helpful tips on local businesses and we have just updated our listing with them.  Simply visit Yelp.com and search Angolkar4Smiles Orthodontics and select which office you are a patient at, write a few lines to us and you are done!

We hope to hear from you soon!

A Promise to Keep you Smiling!

Our Purpose...

Dr. Raj Angolkar and his professional staff are committed to maintaining the highest standards in orthodontic care for both children and adults.

We are committed to excellence, both in our orthodontic results and in the creation of an environment that is warm, friendly, and fun.  When you leave our office, we want you to feel better about yourself for having been here.  We dedicate our time, skills and energy to this objective.


Knowledge...

Our friendly and professional staff is trained to assist you in answering any questions you may have about orthodontic treatment.  We keep you informed throughout your treatment about what procedures are necessary and why they are needed.

We Promise to:

~Always make you feel welcome.
~Always give you the highest quality orthodontic care.
~Always respond promptly to any need or questions you may have.
~Always give you a service that will make you smile forever.

Brace Friendly Recipe

Three-Cheese Macaroni Extravaganza

Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
Water for boiling noodles
(optional: 1 or 2 onions, chopped)
(optional: 1or 2 Tablespoons margarine for sauteing onions)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (fresh is best, but the canned type works too)
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded mild or sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup bread crumbs or dry stove top stuffing

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium pot, boil macaroni in water until you can just cut it with the side of a fork; drain and set aside.  In a medium saucepan, saute the onions in the margarine until they are clear and tender.  In a 3-quart greased casserole, stir together the macaroni and milk.  Sprinkle with the cheeses and onion, then stir it all together.  Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top.  Cover and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.  Serves six to eight.  From "The Braces Cookbook: Recipes You and Your Orthodontist Will Love" by Pamela and Brenda Waterman.  www.bracescookbook.com

What are the different types of braces?

We get many frequently asked questions and many of you are wondering about the different types of braces that we offer at our practice. 

Metal braces are the most popular with kids and teenagers. They love using different colors of ligature ties. These braces are much smaller than ever before.

Translucent clear ceramic braces are the most popular with adults. You have to be very close to someone to be able to see them. Yet, because they are a ceramic material, they are more fragile and have some limitations. The Angolkar4Smiles team will discuss these choices of braces at the consultation appointment.

The Invisalign system is becoming a very popular method of orthodontic treatment for adults who are candidates. The Invisalign system consists of a series of clear orthodontic appliances called aligners that allow you to straighten your teeth without having to wear traditional braces. Each set of custom-made aligners is worn for about two weeks and moves the teeth in small steps to the desired final position. However all orthodontic patients are not candidates for this treatment option. For more information about the Invisalign system, please call Angolkar4Smiles to make an appointment for a complimentary exam to see if you are a candidate for this exciting new system.

Your First Visit

What to Expect at your Initial Exam

Complimentary Consult with X-rays:

Our objective is to make sure your visits with us will be pleasant and informative. Your first visit consists of a complimentary examination with orthodontic x-rays and a discussion of potential treatment options. We take orthodontic x-rays on all patients before the initial consultation. These x-rays help us to evaluate the orthodontic needs of the patient thoroughly and are an important step in the path to get a beautiful smile.

Financials:

Our Financial coordinator will discuss the financial options after the Doctor has finished the consultation and gone over the treatment options, Generally, orthodontic treatment fees are financed by the practice with no interest and affordable monthly payments over a period of two years.
Our office has a unique financial model whereby we offer an option of "NO DOWN PAYMENT" to most of our patients. We strongly feel that braces should be made affordable to all.
Financial and Consent forms are signed once the treatment recommendations and financial plan are accepted and you are ready to start the process to get that dazzling smile.

Orthodontic Records

The next step involves taking Orthodontic records of the patient. These consist of impression of teeth to make study models and digital photographs.
There is a fee for this step, however, our office offers a 50% discount if the records are done on the same day as the initial consultation. This saves time for the patient as well as our office and expedites the process of starting the orthodontic treatment.
THIS FIRST VISIT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES, SO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH MOST COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTATION.
Appointments to put the braces on are scheduled as soon as possible after the above steps are completed.

Wondering if your child needs braces?

What are the signs or symptoms of orthodontic problems?

Although determining if orthodontic treatment is necessary can be difficult for you to assess, the following may help in prompting you to seek our orthodontic advice.

Look at the teeth at any age. If you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child's teeth or overlapping teeth, orthodontic treatment may be necessary.

Have your child bite all the way down, but keep their lips open so you can their teeth. Do the front top teeth line up with the bottom? Do the top teeth protrude out away from the bottom teeth? Do the top front teeth cover more than 50% of the bottom teeth? Are the top teeth behind the bottom teeth? All these are indicators for potential orthodontic treatment.

Look at the alignment of the jaws. Does the jaw shift off center during biting down? If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, it suggests a skeletal or jaw bone problem, which requires early orthodontic intervention. These are only some of the obvious symptoms of orthodontic problems.

Asking your general dentist is good reference, but Angolkar4Smiles is the best resource since orthodontics or braces are all we do. Our initial exam is complimentary, so it makes sense to get a consultation with us and we will be happy to give necessary recommendations.

We hope to hear from you soon!

A Brace Friendly Recipe

 A cool drink for a hot summer day!

Strawberries and Cream Slush Drink Recipe

Ingredients:

2 1/2 Cups (about 1 pound) strawberries, fresh or frozen

1 Tablespoon lime juice

1 1/2 cups crushed ice

1 1/2 cups club soda

3 Tablespoons vanilla syrup

1/2 cup sugar or more, to taste

1 can whip cream

Directions:

Wash and drain strawberries.  Remove stems and slice.  Put lime juice in blender, and then add batches of strawberries, about a half-cup at a time, blending until liquefied.  Strain the strawberries through a fine sieve to remove most of the seeds and some pulp.  Place back in blender, and blend with the crushed ice.  Pour into a 2-liter pitcher and stir in club soda, vanilla syrup and sugar.  Serve in six tall glasses with a swish of whipped cream on top. 

From "The Braces Cookbook 2: Comfort Food with a Gourmet Touch" www.bracescookbook.com



Phase I and Phase II, What's that?

 

What is Phase I (Early Interceptive Treatment) and Phase II treatment?

Herbst Appliance

Palatal Expander

Phase I or Early Interceptive Treatment usually starts while the child has most of their baby teeth with few of their permanent teeth. The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept moderate or severe orthodontic problems early in order to reduce or eliminate them. These problems include jaw bone problems, cross bites and developing crowding. This phase does not use full braces as braces are never put on baby teeth. Generally we use expanders, removable appliances, herbst appliance (instead of headgear) and retainers during this phase. This treatment approaches takes advantage of the active growth to change the jaw bone structure to either make extra room or address jaw bone discrepancies. This helps reduce the need for extractions or jaw surgery and delivers better long term results and treatment options. Most Phase I patients require a Phase II treatment in order to achieve an ideal bite.

Phase II treatment involves use of full braces to with a goal to finish the occlusion or bite ideally. It usually occurs when all permanent teeth are present. Many times there is gap of time between Phase I and start of Phase II treatment. This phase most commonly occurs around the age of 12 or 13 years.




Expander: A fixed device given to expand or stretch the upper jaw. At a growing age the upper jaw is not one piece of jaw bone but divided into two parts at the middle of the roof of the mouth. The expander stretches the suture in this area. This treatment is used to gain space (to prevent extraction) as a wider arch means more room. It also corrects cross bites and creates wider beautiful smiles. It is better to do the expansion as early as possible. Expander is generally given on the upper teeth only as the upper jaw covers the lower. Also, as upper jaw is expanded the lower follows the upper and expands naturally most of the times.

Herbst Appliance: This treatment is given to address large overjets/overbites caused by skeletal (jaw) discrepancies. This device has generally replaced headgears which are also given to address such situations. The Herbst appliance has helped us to stop using headgears in our office for the last several years.
The Herbst appliance consists of hydraulic like devices that go on the crowns cemented on back molars. This fixed device propels the lower jaw forward and pushes the upper back to address the antero-posterior jaw discrepancies. Again, earlier this treatment is given, better the response of growth achieved.

Meet your Orthodontist!

Raj V. Angolkar, DDS, MDS

Dr. Raj Angolkar received his graduate orthodontic training from the University of Oklahoma.  He is a board certified Orthodontist, certified by the American Board of Orthodontists and has over two decades of experience. 

Dr Angolkar has authored seven research papers published in the American Journal of Orthodontists and has lectured in many orthodontic meetings.

Dr. Angolkar is married and has two children, Tejal and Pranal.  In his spare time he enjoys golfing, yoga and camping.



Dr. Thomas Gessel, DMD



Dr. Thomas Gessel is a native of University Place, Washington.  After graduating from dental school at Harvard University, Dr. Gessel completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Louisville.  Dr. Gessel is board eligible, is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, and Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists.

Dr. Gessel met his wife Emily during his final year of residency and she happened to be from University Place also!  They enjoy all of the great outdoor activities that come with living in the great Northwest.



Update your Info today!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!!!

Well, almost anyway!  We are so excited for summertime; longer days and of course NO SCHOOL for the kiddos... 

Please make sure and enjoy any sunny weather we are fortunate enough to get! Take time to remember about your orthodontic appointment you may have scheduled as well. If you happen to forget and it passes you by without knowing, our office may call to let you know you've missed it. It is so important to give us any new contact information like phone numbers or address if it's changed recently.  This will help our office to get you in as soon as possible without treatment delays due to missed appointments.

Also remember, you can always connect with our office via Facebook, Twitter, or our website @ Angolkar4Smiles.com. 

Here's to SUMMER VACATION :o)

Remove Braces with Photoshop

Angolkar4Smiles is always looking for helpful hints, tools, and tips to help you get through the process of orthodontics as seamlessly as possible.  We came across this helpful video that can remove braces from photos to preserve the look of brace free teeth!

Senior pictures?  School dance?  Anyone with braces can erase them right from your photos by using a little photo shop!

Find out how here!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxaEERUeS3A

Check us out on the web!

Check us out on the web!

angolkar4smiles.com

Here at Angolkar4Smiles Orthodontics,  we strive to keep you as informed as possible when it comes to caring for your braces.  We are just one click away to a ton of wonerful and useful information online.  The more you know, the better off you are keeping your braces in tip top shape!!

Read how to care for braces now:  http://angolkar4smiles.com/oral.html

If you haven't been to our office it may be hard deciding if you may need treatment and if so, what kind?  Here at Angolkar4Smiles Orthodontics, we prefer to start seeing kids by the age of 7, as many problems are often detected that early.  If you are anywhere over that age, you are also invited to enjoy a free consultation with our office.  You are never too old for braces!!   There are many Frequently Asked Questions that may be helpful in making the decision. 

FAQ: http://angolkar4smiles.com/faq.html

There is also a link where you can get to know our wonderful staff!  Next time you are in,  see if you can recognize some faces and names of our friendly team. :o)

Staff/Doctors photos and Bio's: http://angolkar4smiles.com/doc.html

There is so much more for you to discover, it's just a click away! 

See you online...

What's the deal with those Retainers anyway?

Here at Angolkar4Smiles Orthodontics we strive during treatment to achieve our goal of a 100% outcome.  A combination of straight teeth and a perfect bite, but what happens once your braces are removed?  Our office stresses the importance of wearing a retainer.  Below are some useful tips on what a retainer is and how to care for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retainer_(orthodontics)

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Your-Retainer