In honor of all the beautiful "Pearls" in our life's, we would like for you to guess how many pearls are in the vase!  The vase will be located at the check out desk by Diane so remember to take a good look during your next visit!  The person who guesses the closest to the actual amount of pearls in the vase will win the iPad!  In case of a tie, we will have a raffle to choose the winner.

How to enter: 

Enter your first and last name in the comment box below with your answer.  Remember, only one guess per contestant is allowed.

This contest will be open during the entire month of May.  The last day to enter is May 31st, 2013 at 11:59PM.

Remember: To enter the contest and be eligible to win the iPad you must

-"Like" us on Facebook (Here)

-Join our mailing list (Here)

During impressionable years, kids and teens tend to want to blend in and be more like their peers.  As they mature and become more self-confident, they better understand the power of a great smile.  A nice smile displays confidence, shows friends and peers you like and enjoy their company, and provides a tool to succeed in life.  Those who are unhappy with the look of their teeth have a tendency to smile less and often aren’t as outgoing.

Dale Carnegie devoted an entire chapter of his book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People" to the significance of having a nice smile.  When teeth are unattractive due to lack of good oral hygiene or an orthodontic problem such as crowding, spacing or a skeletal jaw discrepancy, many individuals are too self-conscious to put themselves out there.  It impairs their ability to fit in socially and studies show it can affect one’s ability to succeed in the work force, which in turn reduces long term earning ability.

You are never too old to undergo orthodontic treatment and we've treated patients as old as 85 years old in our practice…and they loved having braces!  Even though adults can significantly benefit from treatment, undergoing orthodontics in during a child's developmental years can have a huge impact on self-confidence and self-esteem.  If you are a parent thinking about orthodontic treatment, giving your child the chance to improve their smile is a gift they will truly treasure throughout their lives.

At Orthodontics Only in Miami, FL, we offer the latest in leading edge orthodontic technology that allows us to achieve better results in less time.  Metal braces are significantly smaller and more comfortable than in the past.  Ceramic clear braces are less visible than metal braces and Invisalign the “braceless” alternative to straight teeth is available for teens and adults who are self-conscious about wearing traditional braces.  We offer an orthodontic solution for everyone's individual needs.

Remember, you will be wearing your smile every day for the rest of your life.  A smile is actually the first thing people notice when they meet other people….make it a good representation of who you are!

If you, your child, or someone you know could benefit from expert orthodontic care in a fun and friendly environment, contact board certified Dr. Derek Sanders and his team for a complimentary new patient exam.  We look forward to making you smile.

It just kills us all at Orthodontics Only when we read or hear about some of the dental “home remedies” that you can find circulating around the Internet, even from Dr. Oz!!  Take it from us, if you believe any of the following about home remedies for dental care, we have some Florida swamp land we want to sell you:

Eat Raisins (or other fruits), Cut Down on Plaque

Ok, let’s get this straight: the rationale is that raisins stimulate the salivary flow, which will turn help rinse away plaque!  That's partially true.  Raisins will stimulate salivary flow.  But the only place for raisins is in cereal!  Raisins are classified as a "sticky sugar" so when you combine sticky sugars with plaque you get – anyone want to venture a guess – CAVITIES (and tooth decay)!  The notion that saliva will rinse away the sticky bacterial mass that is "plaque" on your teeth doesn’t hold water.

I've also heard from Dr. Oz that the vitamin C in strawberries or other fruits will remove plaque.  Not true sports fans!  The only way to remove plaque from your teeth is by brushing and flossing daily and twice a year cleanings by your dentist! There is no magic fruit potion that will "rinse" or "clear" away plaque on teeth.

Baking Soda and Lemon Juice to Whiten Teeth

Here's another one for you (not to try): Use a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice to whiten teeth.  Work with me on this: Lemon juice is acidic.  And, it's not a little bit acidic.  The pH in lemon juice is about 2.  The pH scale goes from 0 to 14.  The strongest acid is 0, and the strongest alkali base (opposite of acid) is a 14.  A level of “2” is the same as what you find in some soft-drinks.  Not a good choice.  Now, let's add baking soda… another abrasive material.  It cancels out some of the acidity of lemon juice because it is mildly basic.  Mixing the two creates bubbles, causing a chemical reaction.  Dr. OZ suggested you mix an acidic liquid with abrasive material and apply it to your teeth.  Definitely a recipe for the erosion of your enamel if I ever heard one!

Even if you leave this concoction on your teeth for only a minute or so you'll still risk dissolving the enamel on your teeth, especially if you do it over and over again over time.

Don't ask non-professionals or believe what you read on the Internet instead of asking for professional advice on how to take care of or whiten your teeth!  Talk to your dentist instead or feel free to ask me or the team at Orthodontics Only on how to safely take care of your teeth during orthodontic treatment.

Let us know if you have any dental home remedies you would like to share.  We will let you know if they are safe or not.  Leave a comment below.

Can you guess what is our favorite dish?!

For April's iPad Contest you have to match each staff member to their favorite dish plus answer a bonus question! The patient with the most correct answers will win the iPad! In the case of a tie, we will have a raffle to pick the winner.

To Enter:

Make sure you're viewing this page

Enter your guess along with your first and last name in the comment box below

Only ONE guess per patient is allowed

Our April iPad contest will end on April 30th, 2013 at 12:00AM.

Remember: To enter the contest and be eligible to win the iPad you must

-"Like" us on Facebook (Here)

-Join our mailing list (Here)

In orthodontics, a “splint” is designed to fit on top of the upper or lower teeth. Treatment varies based on each patient’s individualize needs and is most often used to stabilize the teeth and/or jaws to alleviate discomfort. A TMJ splint may be used prior to placement of braces to help alleviate discomfort if the problem is a result of a bad bite or be used during orthodontics to open the bite. It is also used upon completion of orthodontic treatment if a patient is neurologically prone to grinding. In this scenario, the splint may also act as a retainer.

Bruxism is a medical condition and can afflict both children and adults as well. With bruxism, the patient either clenches or grinds their teeth, consciously or subconsciously, and many times even while sleeping. Obviously this can create many different dental problems such as wearing enamel, fracturing of teeth, and clicking of the TMJ joint. This can result in expensive dental care such as veneers, crowns, root canals, or extraction of teeth in worse case scenarios performed by your general dentist. If the underlying problem is not diagnosed and corrected prior to dental restoration, your investment may be in jeopardy and fail to address pain and discomfort moving forward.

Chronic grinding or clenching of the jaw due to a deep bite, crossbite, edge to edge bite, or other jaw discrepancies can create pain in not only the jaw but also in the facial area, ears, and neck due to the constant stress on the TMJ joint and surrounding muscles. Other symptoms are clicking or locking of the jaw joint, headaches, and ringing in the ears.

Did you know chronic gum chewing has also been known to cause TMJ symptoms because of constant wear and tear to the joint due to over activity?

Resolving the problem may be a simple as eliminating gum chewing or as complicated as requiring orthodontic treatment in conjunction with your general dentist to restore teeth after treatment is completed. Consulting an orthodontist who is a specialist trained in the development of both teeth and jaws is your first step when diagnosing and developing a treatment plan that suites your individualized needs.

If you think that you suffer from any of these symptoms, contact Orthodontics Only for a complimentary consultation. We are here to walk you through your first steps towards addressing the problem at hand.

Click here to enter this month's iPad contest!

Why is Faith Hill Wearing Braces?

As a kid, Faith forgot to wear her retainers when orthodontic treatment was completed. Let this be a lesson for all our patients at Orthodontics Only. Once braces are removed, it takes time for the gum and bone to fill in around the teeth and stabilize in their new position. During this time period, patients are instructed to wear their retainers full time 6 months to a year, based on your treatment plan. After this stabilizing time, patients are instructed to continue to wear retainers at night.

Did You Know Teeth Move as Part of the Natural Aging Process?

Whether you undergo orthodontic treatment or not, teeth move throughout life as part of the natural aging process. The amount of movement is different with every person. Some experience more movement than others. We recommend that all our patients wear their retainers a few nights a week indefinitely to maintain your beautiful smile throughout life.

Yes – retainers are easy to forget to wear like Faith Hill… but definitely less of a hassle than going through orthodontic treatment a second time as an adult. So don't forget to wear your retainers as prescribed and contact our office or an orthodontist in your area if you break or lose them to prevent you teeth moving in the future….

If you went through treatment as a kid, didn't wear your retainers, and you teeth have moved, feel free to contact Dr. Derek Sanders at Orthodontics Only for a complimentary new patient exam at our convenient locations in the Miami FL area.

March's contest is "Magically Delicious" with a jar full of Lucky Charms cereal!

Your job is to guess how many marshmallows are in the jar of cereal. The jar measures 6 inches in height and 4 inches in width. The lucky jar will be located at the check out desk by Diane so feel free to check it out next time your in our office!

To Enter:

Make sure you're viewing this page

Enter your guess along with your first and last name in the comment box below

Only ONE guess per patient is allowed

Our March iPad contest will end on March 31st, 2013 at 12:00AM.

Remember: To enter the contest and be eligible to win the iPad you must

-"Like" us on Facebook (Here)

-Join our mailing list (Here)

• Almost all whitening products contain the same basic ingredient, carbamide peroxide or its breakdown product, hydrogen peroxide. However, the products offered by a dental professional to professionally whiten your teeth are stronger without compromising the health and safety of your teeth, gums, and mouth.
• Over the count whitening systems typically contain no more that 10% carbamide peroxide while prescription only products can contain between 15% and 35%.
• Whitening your teeth is NOT permanent and consequently teeth will slowly yellow again over time as you continue drinking and eating foods that stain teeth. The color begins to fade 6 to 12 months after treatment.
• You can extend your whitening results by not smoking and staying away from foods with colored dyes, red wine, red (tomato-based) sauces, coffee, tea, colored sodas/colas, and blueberries to name a few.
• If you have crowns and/or veneers that are visible when you smile, it is very difficult for whitening programs to perfectly match your veneers or crowns. Keep in mind that bleaching does not change the color of crowns, veneers, bridgework, or any type of artificial tooth.
• One of the most common side effects of whitening teeth is tooth sensitivity and irritation of the gum tissues. This is temporary and often occurs when you embark on a whitening program. The discomfort usually subsides within a few days.

Whitening teeth is an effective way to brighten your smile. Feel free to speak with Dr. Derek Sanders or Dr. Richard Rothstein if you are interested in pursuing a teeth whitening program, even if you plan to use over the counter products. A well informed patient is a happy patient and we aim to please.