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

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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."