Today marks Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents’ Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Willes Orthodontics.
Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:
*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.
*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.
*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called “20-year curse,” in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.
*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.
*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents measuring 6’ 4” tall.
*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.
Your smile is totally unique, so the time you’ll need to spend undergoing orthodontic treatment will also be unique. Generally, orthodontic treatment will take about two years, and this is for good reason. During this time, your teeth will slowly move into their desired positions, leaving you with a great smile with as little discomfort as possible. Rushing treatment can result in a less than perfect smile with a greater chance of tooth movement after your treatment is complete. At Willes Orthodontics, we don’t want to waste your time with treatment that won’t retain your smile for the rest of your life.
Of course, treatment time will vary depending on your specific situation. Very minor tooth movement may only take a few months to correct, while serious malocclusion (poor bite) may need more than two years to correct. Only Dr. Willes will be able to accurately estimate the time your treatment will take. But trust us—it’ll all be worth it in the end!
Has your child or teen visited our convenient Carlsbad office for an orthodontic consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help him or her begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!
Grind, grind, grind, grind. If you live with a teeth grinder, especially a night grinder, you may be familiar with this unpleasant sound. Other symptoms of teeth grinding (technically called “bruxism”) include:
•Sensitivity in the teeth
•Tightness or pain in the jaw
•Dull headaches, earaches, or facial pain
•Chipped, worn down, or loose teeth
People frequently grind their teeth in response to stress, so taking measures to reduce or eliminate stress can help solve the problem.
Here are some things you can try to stop grinding:
•Cut back on caffeine and alcohol
•Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
•Relax right before bedtime with a warm bath or shower
•Help your jaw learn to relax by quitting any chewing habits (pens, pencils, gum)
•When clenching or grinding happens during the day, place your tongue between your teeth to serve as a reminder to avoid the habit
If grinding goes untreated, it can lead to chipped teeth, worn enamel, chronic pain, or even TMJ, a painful jaw disorder. If the teeth-grinder in your house can’t stop, make an appointment to see us by contacting us. Dr. Willes and team can help determine the cause of the problem and possibly even prescribe a custom mouthpiece to help break the habit.
It’s almost February, which marks National Children’s Dental Health Month, and a perfect time of the year to remind our patients at Willes Orthodontics about the need to practice good oral hygiene while wearing braces at home and visit Dr. Willes on a regular basis for adjustments. Besides brushing, flossing and staying away from all those sweets and braces-unfriendly foods while you’re wearing braces, we encourage you to visit our YouTube channel to see what some of our patients’ advice on keeping your braces in tip-top shape! Above, two of our wonderful patients share some tips!
The fact is, most of us aren’t born with a red carpet smile. And that’s where Dr. Michael Willes and our team can help. Of course, orthodontic treatment help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. But did you know you can get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted — without braces?
Our team at Willes Orthodontics are proud to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time at our office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.
If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you in for a visit. Please give us a call to set one up! A complimentary consultation with Dr. Willes can determine if Invisalign is right for you. See you soon!
In the 1950s and ’60s, civil rights champion Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized the need to bring about social justice, strengthen America’s communities and move the nation forward. Today, thousands of people of all ages and races across California spent their day building, giving and renovating our communities to help celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Did you have the day off? If so, what did you do to help your local community?
We’d love to know about your activities and events this MLK Jr. Day. If you have any video or pictures you’d like to share, please share them on our Facebook page!
Dr. Willes and our entire team at Willes Orthodontics are proud of your work in our community! Happy MLK Day!
At Willes Orthodontics, we know having an attractive smile puts a spring in your step—or two—as well as increases your self-confidence, no matter if you’re 14 or in your late forties.
Smiling not only makes people happy and puts them in a good mood, doing it often can even help you live longer, according to previous studies!
If you’ve been hiding your smile because you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment at Willes Orthodontics. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how quickly and efficiently today’s most advanced correction techniques can straighten your smile!
Don’t hide your smile any longer—give us a call today to schedule yours or your child’s orthodontic consultation. See you soon!
Are you brushing and flossing daily during your orthodontic treatment? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting Willes Orthodontics, 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 Carlsbad area!
At Willes Orthodontics, we truly value the relationships we have developed with our patients here in Carlsbad and surrounding communities. Even if you only visit us for your regular adjustments, did you know that you can connect with Dr. Willes and team on Facebook?
We invite you to “like” Willes Orthodontics on Facebook at Facebook.com/WillesOrtho. We share office news and updates on our Fan Page, so check it out! By Liking our page, you will also receive all the up-to-the minute updates from our office automatically on Facebook!
Have a safe and happy New Year, to all our patients, friends, family, and all our dental and medical colleagues – see you in 2012 everyone!
In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as Dr. Michael Willes and our team reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2012? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?
We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!
Happy Holidays from our entire team at Willes Orthodontics!
