Why do people need braces?

Why do people need braces, and why didn't evolution/natural selection eliminate the need for braces?

Orthodontic problems are built into your genes.

Back, 10,000 years ago, in the days of the cave men people had nearly perfect bites. No one needed braces. But then adult cave men were only four feet tall. Teenagers were two or three feet tall.

In the last 10,000 years, people got bigger. People's mouths got a little bigger but people's teeth got A LOT BIGGER. The result is that most peoples teeth no longer fit correctly in most people's mouths. Your orthodontist moves around your teeth and possibly stretches your mouth so everything fits correctly.

Look how big your front teeth are now. Would those teeth fit if you were only two or three feet tall? Chances are, probably not.

Braces Improve Your Health

You're wondering if you should get braces. This is the first in a series explaining why braces should be considered outside of the obvious reason of just having straight teeth.

Braces improve your health.

• You will be able to chew your food better.

  Chewing is the first step in digestion. If your teeth are not straight, you will not be able to chew your food correctly so partially unchewed food will go down to your stomach. That can give you an upset stomach
  

• You will avoid dental problems.

  If you do not get orthodontic treatment when you need it you will have problems with your teeth for years to come; your teeth will be hard to clean. Your gums will hurt. Your teeth will wear in ways that the should not. The effects are significant enough that many adults are now going back to the orthodontist for braces.
  

• You may avoid developing a breathing problem.

  As you get older the roof your mouth can sometimes partially block the air passages in your nose. That makes you snore loudly, and may contribute to a condition called "sleep apnea." If you get braces you can avoid this possibility.
  

Contest Sweepstakes Deadline Extended

About a month ago we announced our new $2,500 sweepstakes. The goal was to achieve 1,000 fans by May 15 and we would award some lucky patient with $2,500 to go toward an orthodontic treatment from Buckman Orthodontics.

Well, we're going to be hard pressed to achieve our lofty goal of 1,000, so Dr. Buckman has modified the goal and prize, and most importantly, extended the deadline.

The new information is as follows:

• 1,000 fans on Facebook
  
• $1,500 Grand Prize to winner
• June 15, 2010 deadline

Tell all your friends about our Facebook page and have them join so we can give away the $1,500 toward an orthodontic treatment in June.

Braces Installation at Buckman Orthodontics

Last week we showed the process for removing braces. Today, we show how it all starts -- installation. This "edited" version provides a good idea of the various steps involved from etching (the cool blue ink on your teeth) to curing the glue (the cool blue light), and everything in between.

Braces Removal

From the first day they go on, orthodontist patients with braces look forward to the day when they come off. Not only will their teeth be straight, they won't have to worry about special brushing and flossing procedures, and they can resume eating apples, chewing gum and other "hard" foods not allowed with braces.

Here's what the braces removal process looks like in :60 on that special day!

It's never too late for a great smile

About 4.5 million Americans wear braces or other dental appliances to straighten their teeth, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Many more - an estimated 50 to 75 percent of the population - have some form of malocclusion or misaligned teeth and could benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Of the 4.5 million, it's certainly not all teenagers. What are many of the "older" patients opting for as a solution? Invisalign is a popular choice these days. This is a series of clear aligners that straightens teeth like metal braces and costs about the same, but is virtually invisible on your teeth.

Read more.

$2,500 toward an ortho treatment

We mentioned on Monday that today, April 1, we would be announcing a big new contest. Well, it's officially up on our Facebook page. We're going to give $2,500 toward an orthodontic treatment to one of our lucky fans.

First, we need to reach 1,000 fans by April 15. Once we achieve that, we'll then have a drawing out of the 1,000 fans for one person to receive the $2,500 grand prize to be used for an orthodontic treatment from Buckman Orthodontics.

We're very excited to be offering this great prize and hope all our patients will join in, invite their friends, and let someone they know enjoy the feeling of having a beautiful smile!

Welcome Video and Contests

Videos
Last week we talked about how the Buckman Office was going to be transformed into a Hollywood movie studio. It was. Check out our new "Welcome" video. The other video we mentioned, the braces installation, will be coming soon to a blog near you. In fact, check back later this week.



Contests
And finally, our recently unveiled Fan of the Week contest is coming back. It starts tomorrow (March 30) and our Facebook fans will just have to enter their name and email address to register. It's that simple.

One other note, we'll have a big contest announcement on Thursday, April 1. Check back!

Ever wondered what getting braces looks like? Feels like? How long does it take?

Inquiring minds want to know the answers to all these questions. Tomorrow, the Buckman Ortho office will transform to a Hollywood studio and be the scene for a video on "Getting Braces." We'll have a camera in house filming the entire process from start-to-finish of a new patient getting braces put on. We'll also get the patient's facial expressions during the process and final reaction once the process is complete.

Make sure to check back to the Buckman Ortho Blog as well as our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/buckmanortho) to see the video.

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow

Tomorrow is March 17, or as most recognize it--St. Patrick's Day! The day where everyone dresses in green or wears something with green on it. If you somehow forget or intentionally dismiss the tradition, you are essentially inviting anyone and everyone to pinch you.

Dr. Buckman, our resident leprechaun, won't be pinching anyone, but he will be out and about spreading some Irish cheer throughout Austin.

Make sure to check back to the Buckman Ortho Blog and our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/buckmanortho) to see pics from the big day!

Buckman Ortho Tip of the Day - Foods to Avoid

There are certain foods that should be avoided as they can damage your child's braces or appliances, causing discomfort and delaying treatment.

Your child should avoid hard or sticky food. Also avoid foods that can get stuck in your appliance, and excessive sweets. Examples of foods to avoid include:

* Pizza crust, pretzels
* Ice
* Caramel, candy, bubble gum
* Hard rolls
* Nuts
* Beef Jerky
* Popcorns
* Raw carrots, apples & corn on the cob (cut into small pieces instead)
* Doritos, Tacos, Tostitos, Cheetos, & other foods that ball up in your mouth..
* Soda (very sugary)
* It's not a food but - chewing on pens, pencils or other non-food products

Vote on the New Buckman Ortho T-Shirt Design

Online Surveys & Market Research

Start of Spring Sports - What you need to do to protect your child

The following article comes from Examiner.com. It's a good article on preparing for spring sports including how to properly protect your chompers.

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Soccer, track, lacrosse, tennis are just a few of the sports middle school athletes across the country are trying out for this week and next. It’s good time to review with your tween some safety tips and reminders.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of the all sports-related emergency room visits for children between the ages of 5 and 14. And with more than 30 million children in the United States participating in sports, that can mean about 3.5 million receive care for an injury.

Adding to that statistic, researchers found that 62 % of the injuries occur during practices, not games. "When we think of sports injuries, we tend to think of dramatic tackles or falls - such as the plays you often see on highlight reels, but young athletes are also at risk of injuries," says Rene Hopkins, Coordinator of Safe Kids East Central. "If your coach recommends certain types of warm-ups, it's not just to make you a better athlete - it will help keep you from getting hurt."

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is encouraging kids to “play it safe” and consistently wear mouth guards and other protective gear during competitions and practices.

Safe Kids USA adds the following safety recommendations for all children playing or practicing individual and team sports:

• Never "play through" an injury. Get immediate help from a coach or trainer and be sure to mention everything that hurts or aches. All coaches should have a plan for dealing with emergencies.
• If you're playing outside, wear SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.
• Follow the rules. In most sports, the rules are based not only on sportsmanship, but safety.
• Last but not least: "Stay hydrated," says Hopkins. "Drink plenty of water or electrolyte sports drinks before and during the activity, and rest frequently during hot weather. A child can lose up to a quart of sweat during two hours of exercise, and kids get overheated more quickly than adults and cannot cool down as easily."

Ugly Betty to lose her braces?

If you watch the show Ugly Betty on ABC, you know that Betty, played by America Ferrera (gotta love that name) wears braces. In fact, they are her trademark. Apparently, as the series comes to an end this year, Betty will have her braces removed.

The actress/orthodontist tasked with the removal will be actress Kathy Najimy according to Entertainment Weekly. The magazine also reports that Najimy will play an important role in an episode that has an It’s a Wonderful Life-esque fantasy subplot. Najimy's character will serve as the guardian angel who shows Betty what life would have been like had she been blessed with perfect choppers.

A Winter Wonderland

In Austin, rarely does it snow, and if it does, it doesn't ever snow enough to make a snowman. No Frosty in these parts. Until yesterday. With up to three inches of snow in many parts of the Austin area, it was a Winter Wonderland for kids and their parents. There were more than a few snowmen standing tall in the front yards of Austinites.

One snowmen in particular caught our attention. Okay, it wasn't so much a random snowman, but a snowman created by the son of one of our former employee's that was adorned in attire that would make any orthodontist proud.

We present to you the "Official Buckman Orthodontics Snowman."

Hope everyone had a great day!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Buckman Orthodontics Blog.

Here you'll find all kinds of fun and entertaining things about Dr. Brett Buckman, his family, and his office. Be sure to check back often for how-to videos, photos, as well as a variety of not-so-orthodontic-like things including patient contests.

Also, be sure to check out the Buckman Ortho Facebook page and become a fan!

Thanks!