Kids getting braces at a younger age

Drs. Ahman, Janowski and Mayers will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for our doctors to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

Congratulations, Ellie and Kara! They were the August Hygiene Card Contest winners at our Celina office.

Drs. Thomas Ahman, Joseph Janowski, and Matthew Mayers would like to congratulate Ellie and her hygienist, Kara, at Dr. Willmann's office. They were the winners of our August Hygiene Card Contest at our Celina, OH office! Thank you, Ellie, for seeing your family dentist for cleanings and check-ups! Regular checkups are essential in maintaining good oral health, especially during orthodontic treatment.

If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in your area. As always, feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your next appointment at Orthodontic Associates. We would love to hear from you!

Don't forget about your oral health!

Are you brushing and flossing daily properly during your orthodontic treatment at Orthodontic Associates? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every 3-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting our office, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health, especially during orthodontic treatment.

Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam your dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in the greater Ottawa, Lima, and Celina, OH areas!

Orthodontic Associates welcomes the new school year with extended hours!

Here in Lima, Celina, and Ottawa, OH, kids and parents are beginning to stock up on pencils, spiral notebooks, and binders because it’s back to school time! To better accommodate the changing schedules of our patients, our team at Orthodontic Associates will be introducing extended hours at our office. Once a month, Drs. Ahman, Janowski, and Mayers will be hosting Saturday hours from 8am to 12pm this fall and winter. Because it is more challenging to work around school, sports, and after school activities, we want to remind our patients about how important it is to plan in advance for your orthodontic appointments!

Next time you're visiting our Lima, OH office, be sure to check out our new interior remodeling! If you take a look around you may notice the fresh coat of paint, new flooring, and decor changes. Let us know what you think! As always, feel free to give us a call if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule your next appointment.

What do you love about Orthodontic Associates?

From your very first visit to Orthodontic Associates our doctors and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Did Drs. Ahman, Mayers or Janowski and our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you've visited Orthodontic Associates for a week or months, we'd love to hear about your experience with our office! There are many ways you can share your thoughts about your experience with Drs. Ahman, Mayers or Janowski, but we encourage you to visit our Google Places pages to write a review. You can write a review for our Lima, OH office here, our Celina, OH office here, or for our Ottawa, OH office here. You may also connect with us on our Facebook page!

Six reasons to visit Orthodontic Associates this summer!

Our team at Orthodontic Associates knows that summer is a time when folks are putting off visiting the orthodontist due to the nice weather, vacations, and other obligations. However, our team has six good reasons why you should visit one of our Lima, Celina, or Ottawa, OH offices today! Here's why you shouldn't wait to give us a call today to schedule your summer orthodontic checkup:

1) Outstanding customer service is our top priority. We will communicate with you at every level of care.

2) Experienced, knowledgeable, friendly doctors. Drs. Ahman, Janowski, and Mayers have over 35 years of experience and all of them complete over 40 hours of continuing education every year.

3) Multiple office locations and convenient office hours. We have three convenient locations, in Lima, Celina, and Ottawa, OH and provide convenient office hours that work with your busy schedule, including limited Saturday hours!

4) Orthodontic Treatment for Adults. As an adult, you want the most aesthetic option to straighten your teeth and enhance your smile. We offer Invisalign and In-Ovation C clear braces for our adult patients.

5) Phase One Orthodontic Treatment for Children. Some orthodontic problems are best treated with early phase treatments, before the age of 10, and can't be treated later. You may be able to shorten your time in braces if these problems are taken care of early.

5) Flexible Financing options. We offer many convenient payment plans, including a low-down-payment option.

Have a great weekend,

-Orthodontic Associates

Drs. Ahman, Janowski, and Mayers, wishing you a happy Parents' Day!

Our team at Orthodontic Associates wants to know, do you and your family have any plans for this weekend? If you didn't know already, the third Sunday of every July is Parents' Day! According to the Congressional Resolution, this holiday is a time for recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children, similar to Mother's and Father's Day.

Our team at Orthodontic Associates would like to wish you a safe and happy Parents' Day! Thank you to all of the amazing parental role models in our community! If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we encourage you to share them on our Facebook page.

Have a great weekend,

-Orthodontic Associates

Featured patient reviews for Orthodontic Associates!

Once in a while, our staff at Orthodontic Associates like to highlight patient reviews that make us really proud to do the work we do: creating beautiful smiles in Lima, Celina ane Ottawa. Here's what two of our patients had to say about their treatment:

"Dr. Joseph Janowski: Just starting the process with my daughter, but the office is great! Pleasant atmosphere; helpful staff; very relaxing environment overall. Really puts the patient (and parents) at ease." ~ Randi

"Scene & Service: So clean, decorated really nice, bright, spacious. Assistants are well at their jobs. Cheerful. Knowledgable. Dr.'s are great. My TMJ is getting resolved after so many years. They have monthly drawings. On time. Seats are facing out the windows which is really nice, you can watch whats going on outside instead of being bored inside.. It's great!!!" ~ Anonymous

Thanks for writing in! We're glad to have helped create such a beautiful smile for you both! We encourage all our patients to contribute your own thoughts about our office!

Orthodontic Associates want to know: Are you suffering from sleep disorders?

Sleep apnea, a condition in which folks repeatedly stop breathing at night, can occur as many as 20 to 30 times an hour. Drs. Ahman, Mayers and Janowski will tell you sleep apnea is considered a serious medical problem that, if left untreated, can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke.

There are two kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive apnea and central apnea, and the preferred method of treating the condition is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which includes a mask, tubes and a fan. A CPAP device uses air pressure to push your tongue forward and open your throat, allowing air to pass through your throat.

The following symptoms can indicate the presence of sleep apnea. If you notice one or more of these, give our team a call as soon as possible.

* Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
* Loud snoring at night
* Waking up at night short of breath
* Snorting or choking sounds during the night (indicating a restart of breathing)
* Headaches upon waking in the morning
* Falling asleep unintentionally during the day
* Extreme drowsiness throughout the day

Have a great week everyone! We hope you had a GREAT Fourth of July weekend!

Tell Orthodontic Associates what’s on your mind!

Week after week, our creative staff at Orthodontic Associates blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontic treatment care and your well-being, including innovative techniques we offer at our convenient offices in Lima, Celina and Ottawa.

Today, however, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our wonderful patients and readers: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog in the coming months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask us for a while now? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

So… take it away and our doctors & staff will try to answer any questions you may have! We hope you're having a stress-free and relaxing summer!

Smile Contest at Orthodontic Associates!

We are excited to tell you about (and invite you to enter) our “Smile Contest”!

Whether you are a current patient or a friend from the past, we would like you to post your most creative “smile” photo on the Orthodontic Associates Facebook Page. (In order to post, you will need to "Like" our page first.

Have fun and show us your beautiful smiles!

The grand prize winner will be determined by our office and will receive an iPad!

Visit our website at www.smilecreators.net and click on the Facebook icon to enter!

Contest ends December 20, 2010.

GOOD LUCK!

Share your summer plans and adventures with us!

It's almost summer here at Orthodontic Associates, a magical season full of adventures, vacations and great memories. Whether you're headed to a barbecue, an exotic destination, a camping trip, or just having fun in Lima, Celina or Ottawa this summer, we want to hear about it, and would like to encourage you to share your summer plans and experiences on our Facebook page!

Happy travels and have a great summer,

The entire team at Orthodontic Associates

Ask Orthodontic Associates: Who really benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Drs. Ahman, Janowski and Mayers will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment at our convenient offices in Lima, Celina and Ottawa.

To ensure the best overall treatment, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists recommend that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. Taking action early - if a problem is evident - can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road. If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, not to worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a complimentary consultation and find out how orthodontic treatment will transform your smile and your life!

Orthodontic Associates, helping you save face this summer

Wouldn’t you believe it, summer is only two weeks away! At Orthodontic Associates, we know that the summer months bring with them an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of our athletes damaging their teeth. If you're playing sports this summer, it's important that you consult Drs. Mayers, Ahman or Janowski for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard.

Our staff was reminded about the need to wear mouth guards after reading an article recently about hockey great Keith Tkachuk requiring reconstructive surgery after taking a puck to the mouth. Tkachuk’s injury underscores the need for all of our patients to use facial protection at all times when out on the field this summer.

In case of any accident involving the face, we want you to check your mouth and appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, please schedule an appointment to see us immediately. And don’t forget to ask us—our doctors and staff will be more than happy to provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment!

Our team at Orthodontic Associates will tell you that only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call at one of our three convenient offices if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment.

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone!

June is National Smile Month! From Orthodontic Associates

At Orthodontic Associates, we can't believe June is already here! For our staff, June means one thing: it's National Smile Month, and it's once again time to remind our patients about the importance of brushing, flossing and practice good nutrition. After all, there's more and more evidence that suggests folks with gum disease are more at risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Here are a few easy steps you can improve your oral health at home, courtesy of Drs. Mayers, Ahman and Janowski:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Here's a helpful video showing you how to brush with your braces on.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your treatment.
* Visit your dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call. We hope you had a relaxing and fun Memorial Day weekend!

Write a review of Orthodontic Associates!

At Orthodontic Associates, serving Lima, Celina, Ottawa and surrounding communities, we have been creating astounding smiles for more than 35 years, and We strive to provide the best orthodontic care for our patients, focusing our efforts on maintaining solid relationships with each of our patients. We want you to know you are family, and you can count on us for your orthodontic needs!

Whether you've visited Orthodontic Associates for a week or months, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our practice is faring! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about your experience with Drs. Ahman, Mayers or Janowski with the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there. You may also, of course, post your thoughts on our Facebook page!

Thanks in advance and enjoy your week! We look forward to reading your reviews!

Dairy and gum disease, from Orthodontic Associates

Last week, we told you all about fluoride and its health benefits. This week, our team at Orthodontic Associates thought we'd spotlight another healthy yet under appreciated ingredient to a healthy you: dairy.

If dairy's not already a part of your diet, it should be! A 2008 study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt can lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease).

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects your gums and jaw, and results in a loss of teeth and bone - and has also been connected in studies to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Results of the study show that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease. Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

For more information about keeping your teeth healthy, give us a call!

Orthodontic Associates present: Your Friend, fluoride

Our team at Orthodontic Associates will tell you there are many, many ways you protect your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment with either Drs. Janowski, Mayers or Ahman.

Think about it: You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment?

Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties, topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement. Dentists and orthodontists use in-office fluoride treatments to help protect the oral health of adults and children undergoing dental or orthodontic procedures.

Fluoride used in the dentist/orthodontists’ office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask Drs. Janowski, Mayers or Ahman how to purchase professional strength fluoride).

A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your oral health or doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

Orthodontic Associates, wishing you a happy Mother's Day!

Our entire staff at Orthodontic Associates would like to take this time to thank all the wonderful moms out who - week after week - bring their kids to our office for treatment. We want to let you know we appreciate you all and would like to wish you a Happy Mother's Day!

Whether it's driving their kids to our office or just "being there," all of you do a great job in supporting your kids' through their orthodontic treatment, and you all deserve more than just a day of recognition and praise!

And moms? It was also great seeing you all at the Open House last night! Enjoy your special day on Sunday!

Retainers, retainers, retainers...

If you've recently completed your treatment at Orthodontic Associates, our staff would like to take this time to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Drs. Ahman, Mayers or Janowski will provide—or have provided you—with retainers.

Retainers are important because after braces are removed, teeth may shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Drs. Ahman, Mayers or Janowski is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

Give us a call if you have any questions and again, congratulations on being braces-free!