What is your New Year’s Resolution?

Many folks consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2011? Drs. Haerian, Ludwig, Simon and our team recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

-Your friends at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics

January Special at Sylvania, Lambertville, & Fallen Timbers Orthodontics

Let’s face it- when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year’s resolution? We at Sylvania, Lambertville, & Fallen Timbers Orthodontics believe the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable. If you haven’t yet picked a New Year’s resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!

To help you get motivated this January, our offices we will be offering a special for anyone starting a new full orthodontic treatment (some restrictions apply). If you begin treatment in January you will receive an iPod Touch or $250 off. We offer various treatment options including: Traditional Braces, Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, and iBraces.

Please feel free to give one of our offices a call if have additional questions about starting orthodontic treatment.

Happy Holidays!
- Drs. Haerian, Ludwig, Simon, and Team

What is Invisalign, and is it right for me?

Today we thought we'd share a helpful video for those who are intrigued by the idea of straightening their teeth without using traditional metal braces. The Invisalign system at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics is a state-of-the-art system of clear, removable aligners that we proudly offer to adults and teens at our convenient offices in Sylvania and Fallen Timbers Ohio, and Lambertville Michigan. We have plenty of resources on our website to check out about Invisalign, or give our office a call to learn if this revolutionary new treatment option is right for you!

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 in our office getting adjustments.

Shane has lots to Smile about!

Shane had the misfortune to fall on a wooden block when he was 18 months old and push his baby teeth on the bottom forward. Unfortunately, as his permanent lower incisors erupted, they followed suit.

His pediatric dentist, Dr. Jennifer Zoll, referred him to Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics when he was ten because his two front teeth were trapped behind his lower teeth. This Class III bite can cause extensive problems with not just the teeth, but also the jaw. Early treatment (Phase I) is necessary in most cases to adjust the front teeth so the upper teeth fit over the lower. Sometimes a palate expander is needed to create more upper jaw width or braces on a few of the upper teeth to make this adjustment. In Shane’s case, however, one of the simplest (and cheapest!) methods was used. He was given tongue depressors to use to push the top teeth forward. Shane even used his thumb when he was in the car to push on those teeth when he forgot to bring a tongue depressor.

We followed his progress carefully and Shane was able to achieve his goal. Once he accomplished this, it was just a matter of watching and waiting until his permanent teeth were in. His evaluation a year later showed a need for a palate expander along with a face mask to keep pulling the upper jaw forward. Shane was as complaint with orthodontic treatment as he was with tongue depressors and his mother is very pleased with his beautiful smile.

Cold and Flu Season is Here - Replace Your Toothbrush!

Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, we will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our doctors and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It's a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat with those braces! If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we'd encourage you to send them along or call our office and ask how.

Gobble Gobble!

Ask Us: Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Our team will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, as well as your life!

My Life Behind Bars

Cindy is very comfortable with her clear, upper braces and recently made further headway by getting her lower braces put on. The way the upper and lower teeth come together dictates if all braces go on in the beginning or just the upper. In Cindy’s case, brackets on the lower teeth would have been more prone to breakage because of the way her top teeth come together with the lower teeth. Since the top usually take longer to straighten, this way of doing things doesn’t slow down treatment at all.

Cindy continues to enjoy many activities and she recently even found romance under the stars this summer! While enjoying the music at Centennial Terrace with a group of friends, she was introduced to the drummer in the band. He asked her to dance and since then, they’ve been singing a sweet duet together. After their second date, she mentioned something about her braces and was delighted to find that he hadn’t noticed that she even had them. Just goes to show that straightening your teeth as an adult definitely doesn’t get in the way of an active social life.

Incentives for Oral Health in Sylvania, Lambertville and Fallen Timbers

Having braces, a palate expander, or a MARA requires even more time in the bathroom and diligence with a toothbrush. At every appointment, we monitor oral hygiene and award a wooden token for good brushing. Patients can also receive a token for not missing appointments, not breaking anything on their braces, and for wearing their official Drs. Simon, Haerian & Ludwig t-shirt to their appointment. Although missing appointments and frequent breakage are what slows down orthodontic treatment; it’s poor oral hygiene that can literally stop it in its tracks.

We constantly encourage brushing by awarding a wooden token and making sure they know exactly how to brush under and on top of each bracket to keep it shiny and free of sticky plaque. The wooden tokens can be exchanged for something fun in our Prize Case or saved up for gift cards to Target. Assistants that notice exceptional brushing give that patient a special entry form to fill out so they can also enter The Good Brusher’s Contest.

Braces are essential for straightening teeth but it’s good brushing that’s essential for keeping teeth healthy! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call!

A few Halloween safety tips

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, we would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has provided trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

We wish you all a happy, safe, and spooky Halloween!

CJ's New Smile to Last a Lifetime

C. J. is down to just wearing an invisible retainer to maintain his beautiful smile and was nice enough to share some of his thoughts on his orthodontic experience. One of the first things to come up was that the assistants and the scheduling coordinators were really nice. He also said he liked the fact that at one of his last appointments before getting his braces off, the doctor had said “his teeth looked good but we want perfect.” Instead of being bummed about not getting his braces off asap, C. J. felt good knowing that when they did, the best possible result had been achieved.

C. J.’s mom confirmed that the time and the money invested in his smile was worth it, too. She said C. J. had friends whose orthodontic treatment was a little less but that the results were noticeably less, too. Both C. J. and mom are happy to know their orthodontic investment is one that can last a lifetime!

Kristle's New Smile

I met Kristle and her mother at their Post Orthodontic Consult. This appointment is reserved for a review from the start of treatment all the way to our “photo finish.” We also talk about what it takes to maintain that smile a lifetime. I do these appointments twice a week in the office and always enjoy showcasing a patient’s smile and, every once in a while, I meet someone who’s story needs to be shared.

Kristle’s mom is a teacher in the field of special education. She is a very articulate, personable woman and she is also profoundly deaf. Her own mother was determined she be at home in a hearing world and worked with her an extra three hours every day on academics, speech, and social skills. When she gave birth to a child of her own with perfect hearing, she was just as determined as her own mother that her little girl be exposed to the one thing she couldn’t provide – music.

Kristle’s grandmother slipped easily into her roll as teacher once again with Kristle as her rapt pupil, only this time focusing on music. Singing came easily for Kristle as she was born with the gift of perfect pitch. She also plays the recorder, piano, and excels at the violin. As a freshman in high school, she sings opera at a college level and plans on pursuing musical studies in college. Kristle and her mother are the only two members of the family who practice the art of signing. Both participate in a deaf choir to bring music to life by virtue of signing, facial expression, and body language.

There is no doubt that Kristle comes from a line of women with fortitude and foresight and Kristle reflects those characteristics, too. With the loving “polish” from mom and Grandma there is absolutely no doubt that Kristle is bound to shine brightly!

Maumee / Monclova Location Open NOW!

September traditionally heralds new beginnings - a new school year, the football season, and for the orthodontic team of Drs. Simon, Haerian & Ludwig - a brand new location at 4359 Keystone Drive, off Monclova Road (behind Champion Windows), in Maumee, Ohio.

The same friendly, efficient service found in our Sylvania and Lambertville offices is now conveniently accessible to our families in the Fallen Timbers region.
If this location is more convenient for you, just give us a call and ask to schedule, or even reschedule, your next appointment in the Fallen Timbers office.

Regular checkups are essential in maintaining good oral health

Are you brushing and flossing daily properly 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 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 area!

The importance of retainers

If you recently completed treatment at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, we will provide—or have provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can 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 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.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

Congratulations to Becky Minger Miss Ohio 2010

Congratulations to Becky Minger Miss Ohio 2010! Becky once had her orthodontic treatment right here at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics. We are so proud to be a sponsor off hers and to help her compete for Miss America this January 2011! Becky's platform is all about self-esteem- something our team helped her with in improving her smile!

End of Summer Recap From Your Friends at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics

The summer has come and gone so fast! We had a great past few months, and we hope you did too! If you haven't yet heard, we have some big news! Later this month, we will be opening a new office in Fallen Timbers/Monclova, OH. We can't wait to get started at the new location, be sure to stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the grand opening!

If you visit our web site, you'll notice that it has been updated with the photos of all our Perfect Smile contest winners! The photos are being featured all over our web site and other promotional material. Check them out to see if you recognize yourself or a friend! Thank you again to everyone who participated, and we hope you are all having a great start to the school year so far!

Little Time - Big Results!

Daniel’s mom was concerned because his two front teeth were in front of his lower teeth but his upper laterals were trapped behind the lower teeth.
She felt this problem would require years and years of orthodontic treatment to correct. Instead, only18 months later, Daniel is sporting a perfect smile!

They both have been pleased with their visits to our office (although neither one cared very much for the palate expander used to create enough room on top for all his teeth.) From the friendly service of the scheduling coordinators to the expertise of the doctors and assistants in the clinic – treatment moved forward very efficiently. Both mom and Daniel love his beautiful smile and the fact it was done so quickly just gives them even more time to enjoy it!

A Patient's Inspiration To Pursue a Career In Orthodontics

Kyu walked into our office with the idea of changing the way his teeth looked and ended up changing careers. Kyu worked in the building next door to our office in Sylvania as an engineer, so coming in for appointments was a breeze. As he came in for appointments, he talked extensively to Dr. Haerian about the mechanics and biophysics of orthodontic treatment. He was intrigued with the similar vocabulary engineering and orthodontics shared –torque, abutment, bridge, etc.

At the same time, he had been discussing careers with his cousin who had decided to pursue a medical field and was considering dentistry. Kyu came to the conclusion that he, too, would enjoy working hands on with people and that a degree in orthodontics would allow him to apply some of his engineering skills to patients instead of paper. Since then, he has been on the fast track to earning a degree in dentistry before pursuing a specialty in orthodontics. Dr. Haerian is pleased with Kyu’s smile, but he’s even more pleased to know that he inspired Kyu to follow his dream.

Peggy's Story in Braces

Over the course of time, Peggy had undergone orthodontic treatment two other times before deciding to try one more time at Sylvania Orthodontics. Lucky number three turned out to be her winning number as she can now chew comfortably on both sides rather than just on the left. An added “age defying bonus” turned out to be a fuller upper lip after treatment.

Her children had preceded her in completing their orthodontia at Sylvania Orthodontics to correct cross bites and straighten teeth. Peggy noted that no matter what part of the country her adult children reside in, they can always count on their dentist remarking on their “perfect teeth.”

Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics, supporting Moms for Mouth Guards

Hey, Moms! Have you signed the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge?

Here at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics, we care about your pearly whites, and we want to help keep you protected from sports injuries that can be damaging to your beautiful smile. As a way of ensuring that children are using proper facial protection equipment, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontics have introduced the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge.

Mouth guards are vital to protecting your teeth from sports related injuries while participating in sports, such as football, soccer, baseball, hockey and basketball, just to name a few. The Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge is a way for moms nationwide to make a commitment to protecting their children’s smile from facial injuries.

We’ve discussed the importance of using facial protection in the past. Today, we thought we’d invite moms to take action by visiting the Moms for Mouth Guards website and taking the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge.

Have a safe weekend everyone!

Age 7 is the magic number for an orthodontic check-up

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see us for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for our doctors to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

All the cool kids do it!

Braces today are cool and—many would say—even fun. These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with us, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

What’s on your summer reading list?

With summer in full swing, some of us at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading during the summer, but reading during the summer is a vital step in brain development and warding off the dreaded “summer slide”—and it's fun!

What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas or check out these summer reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your summer picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

Invisalign® tips, from Sylvanie & Lambertville Orthodontics

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, we want you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also simple: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Sylvanie & Lambertville Orthodontics, give us a call!

Easing into Braces

Some people have an innate fear of having work done on their teeth. Sometimes it stems from a traumatic visit to a dentist as a youngster where he or she had teeth poked, prodded, and possibly even pulled. Many times, these invasions of the mouth are done to young patients without any explanation. The probe or pliers might get the job done and fix the physical problems but, in its wake, create an ongoing mental anguish over subsequent dental visits.

It’s easy to spot the nervous patient, whether they are 7 or 70. However, no matter what the age of the patient, we set them at ease by going slowly and thoroughly explaining the exam process. We emphasize that we are only looking in the mouth to assess health of the gums and position of the teeth. Once we gain their trust and they begin orthodontic treatment, we work hard to keep it by noting on their chart to explain what is to be done first and also to be extra gentle. We usually add extra time for each appointment for the nervous patient so they don’t feel unduly anxious or rushed.

We treat all our patients with kindliness and courtesy. Our goal is to have our patients looking forward to each appointment as a step towards reaching their goal of a great smile. By providing a little extra TLC, even our fearful patients can leave the office with at least a little smile on their face!

Smile–June is National Smile Month!

It’s June already! Where does the time go?

Our doctors and team are excited to tell you June marks National Smile Month, a great time to remind our patients to brush, floss, practice good nutrition at home (and over the summer) to avoid cavities and gum disease, among other dental health issues.

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:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during orthodontic treatment.
* Visit your general dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of the tips here, we encourage you to give us a call!

-Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics

My Life Behind "Bars", Part II

We continue our My Life Behind "Bars" series this week with Nancy's story below:

Nancy has the distinction of being our oldest patient in treatment at this time. Orthodontics was not something on the radar for Nancy as she approached her 75th birthday, but her daughter, Lee, persuaded her to explore her dental options. Lee has been very satisfied with her own smile since undergoing orthodontic treatment with us and was determined to see what we could do for her mom.

Lee knew from taking bite wing x-rays of her mom years ago while in dental assisting school that her teeth were “curious.” Nancy had retained a baby tooth for 65 years before finally needing to have it extracted. After that procedure, her adult tooth finally decided to join the party, but then proceeded to come in way up on the gum line!

Nancy was sure that since her teeth were so terribly crowded, she’d need adult teeth extracted which she really didn’t want. However, after reviewing her x-rays and doing an examination, we feel we can align everything AND bring that wayward tooth in line, too. She was excited about having her teeth straight for the first time in her life, and started her orthodontic treatment with upper, clear braces on April 6, 2010.

For Nancy, life is always interesting and she has found orthodontic treatment to be very interesting, indeed. She was fascinated with having her brackets put on using the “indirect method” and likes the fact that we utilize cutting edge technology. She has also been amazed at how relatively easy the process has been and surprised she can be so relaxed in a dental chair. Nancy has an incredibly sunny outlook on life and enjoys making a statement with her “Braces are Beautiful T-shirt.” Her only challenge so far has been eating sandwiches because her bite has been changing so much. She’s dealing with that by cutting her sandwich into bite size pieces and eating them with a fork. There’s no doubt that she’s looking forward to the day when she’s finished with treatment and can bite into a big old hamburger at Red Robin’s with her straight teeth and perfect bite!

My Life Behind "Bars", Part I

For the next two weeks, we will follow two adult patients from the start of their orthodontic adventure to its conclusion. Periodically, we’ll check in to see how they’re doing and even post some photos of their progress! Stay tuned for Nancy's story next week.


Cindy came into our office on February 23, 2010 for her free consultation to see what it would take to create the perfect smile. For her, deciding that our office was the right place for orthodontic treatment was both professional (she’s a nurse so understands first hand how patients like to be treated) and intuitive. For the past two years she’s been on a journey of self-improvement after spending almost 20 years taking care of everyone else. She did an assessment of her life and decided the first step in the process was to take better care of her physical body, to feel good, and to be happy. She joined a gym, changed her way of eating, allowed more restorative sleeping time, and most importantly – “upgraded” her thinking.

She knows a positive attitude is what keeps you moving forward with a smile on your face. (And you want that smile to be one you’re proud of!) Cindy feels that devoting two years of her life to straightening her teeth will add even more value to the self image she’s been working on.

We started Cindy’s upper braces on March 11th and she is amazed at the change she can already see. She said 40 years of crooked and tight fitting teeth have made for difficult flossing. Now, however, she can actually “breathe” through her front teeth! She opted for clear brackets and gets many comments on them (well, if people notice them, that is!) Some people think she’s having a mid-life crisis but she knows what she’s experiencing is a wonderful mid-life revival.

Creating a perfect smile fit perfectly into Cindy’s plan for self-improvement. Helping her achieve that goal gives us a perfect reason to smile, too.

Summertime Oral Hygiene Tips from Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics

Just because summer is here and you're slathering on the sunscreen doesn't mean you can lighten up on the toothpaste! Summertime, and the living is easy, but we don't want you to take it TOO easy in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Please keep your smile as bright as the summer sun by frequent flossing and diligent brushing.

One of the best things about summer is the loosening up of daily routines. One of the worst things about summer for your oral health is the loosening up of daily routines! It's so easy to be having a great time right up until the minute you plop yourself in bed for the night. However, it is so important to brush your teeth before resting up for the next fun-filled day. So, if you find yourself drifting off for the night, you need to: STOP! DROP! and BRUSH! That means: STOP shutting those eyes, DROP your feet to the floor and head to the bathroom and BRUSH. Afterwards, you will drift off to a pleasant, restful sleep filled with dreams of beautiful, shiny smiles!

Summer is traditionally vacation time. To make it easier than ever to keep your teeth clean, many drugstores now carry disposable toothbrushes and dental picks. These won't replace a thorough job of brushing and flossing but it's an easy alternative for people on the go this summer.

-Drs. Haerian, Ludwig & Simon-- Orthodontists serving Sylvania, Lambertville, and Toledo

Putting Patients at Ease, from Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics

At Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics, we strive to make your orthodontic treatment a pleasant and enjoyable one. That is why we take so many steps to ensure patients are at ease while in our office. For example, we have a free game room in both of our locations, and a TV in all treatment rooms which patient can watch while they are in their appointment. We even have a token program to reward patients for good hygiene/compliance, being on time, and wearing their Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics t-shirts.

We offer free orthodontic consultations, allowing patient to explore the office, and see all their options to make an informed decision. We will also partner closely with your general dentist to ensure oral health and other concerns are being addressed throughout treatment.

Both our Sylvania and Lambertville locations are state-of-the-art in terms of technology, and besides traditional braces, we are pleased to offer lingual braces, and Invisalign aligner treatment. Give us a call to schedule your consultation today!

The Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics T-Shirt Design Contest

We announced our video contest last week, but it is not the only way you can earn some truly awesome prizes here at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics!

We know we have many creative patients in our office, and now we want to put those talents to good use! It's time to come up with a new slogan/design for our official t-shirts, and we are asking you to create us a winner!

Just lay out your idea on the entry form and give it to one of our front desk staff or mail it in by June 1st. We'll post the best submissions at both of our offices and also on our web site and social networks. Patients will then be asked to vote for his or her personal favorite. The entry that receives the most votes will become our official new t-shirt. Imagine how cool it would be see your creative idea "on display" on all our new patients!

So far, we've used "Tough Guys Wear Braces", "Heavy Metal", "Bling", "Bling-Bling", and "Got Smile?". Come up with a catchy slogan and design along with the names of Drs. Simon, Haerian & Ludwig to catch yourself a great prize AND celebrity status as a dynamite designer!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Drs. Simon, Haerian & Ludwig want YOU to get up close and personal with US! Create a YouTube video about your experience in our orthodontic office and/or braces and send us the link or DVD to enter. Your video can be informative, funny, or both! Just make sure you use the names Drs. Simon, Haerian & Ludwig somewhere in your title and also in the video you produce. Winning videos will be featured on our web site, Facebook, and YouTube. Winners will receive an "Oscar" proclaiming them as Best Director, plus a stellar prize!

Entries must be submitted by June 30th with winners to be announced on July 15th! Visit our web site or our Facebook Page for more details!

Adult Orthodontic Treatment at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, as well as your life!

A Patient Thank You for Sylvania and Lambertville Orthodontics

Watch as one of our patients and her mom describe their enjoyable experience at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics. Do you have a story to share? Leave a comment here on our blog, or share with us on Facebook!

A Winning Moment from Orthodontic Treatment

Julie and her son, Matt, both had orthodontic treatment at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics. At the end of Matt’s treatment, unbeknown to him, mom entered his photos in our Perfect Smile Contest. When all the votes were in, he walked away as one of our winners. For Julie, her winning moment came when someone commented: “You have a beautiful smile.” It was the first time in her life that anyone had ever said those words to her, but we’re sure it won’t be the last.

Tell us about YOUR winning moment from achieving a straighter smile! Leave a comment here on our blog, or head over to our Facebook page!

There's no reason to be afraid of orthodontic treatment, one of our patients explains

Visits to the orthodontist are feared by some, but as one of our patients explains, there is no reason to be afraid!

Denise, at age 14, shows a maturity beyond her years as she shares her reasons for her comments. Her goal is to help anyone considering orthodontic treatment to not be afraid of the process. She said her friends told her horror stores about how bad it was going to be and she found that not to be valid at all. Her only minor inconveniences were being sore sometimes after a wire change. The solution of having soup on the menu after her appointment (or better yet, ice cream!) took care of the problem. She loves the way her smile looks and can confidently say it was so worth it.

Call Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics today to learn how orthodontic treatment can benefit you!

Cleaner, More Compact Orthodontic Braces at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics, A Patient Experience

Actually, Lexie didn’t think her teeth were bad at all – she just didn’t like the space between the upper two front teeth. However, after her initial consultation at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics she found out that besides the spacing issue, her bite was way off on the left side. Turns out, her upper left cuspid and bicuspid had never erupted.

She started orthodontic treatment on March 10, 2007 and got her braces off on December 15, 2009. We had estimated her treatment time as 24 months, but the teeth we had to “help” come in weren’t on the same time schedule. The goal is always to achieve a finish as close to perfect as possible, and Lexie certainly did her part by wearing her elastic bands to fine tune her bite.

She noticed while she was in braces that some other kids in orthodontic treatment elsewhere had two rubber ligatures on each bracket to hold the wire in place. She liked the fact that her brackets utilized a miniature mechanical door that opened and closed for that purpose. She felt it was much easier to keep her braces clean because of the compact, metal brackets. She also is a fan of the clear invisible retainer she uses now for her upper teeth vs. the metal wire Hawley retainer that some kids use.

Now that Lexie is in the 18 month retention phase, she knows that even though it took a little longer than estimated, it was certainly worth the wait. She’s also happy to no longer have a space between her two front teeth AND have a beautiful bite, too.

Six Months Less Time In Braces - A Patient's Experience at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics

Megan started orthodontic treatment at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics on July 10, 2008 and had her braces removed on January 20, 2010. What’s so special about that? How about the fact that we estimated it would take 24 months to straighten her teeth and correct her bite and it only took 18 months to obtain that perfect smile?!

The average length of treatment in our office is right around 24 months so there was no error in our estimate. What helped speed her treatment along turned out to be two factors. First, mom tried to schedule her next appointment as close as possible to the earliest recommended time for her next visit. Since the usual length of time between visits is 10 to 12 weeks, she opted for appointments closer to the 10 week mark. Many times that meant taking a less popular morning appointment time to achieve that goal.

The second factor was totally in Megan’s control. She actually followed the instructions given at each visit! For her, that meant wearing small elastic bands fastened to small hooks on her upper and lower braces to correct the bite. She also changed the elastics frequently during the day since they lose tension from being wet and stretched.

Regularly scheduled appointments + no missed appointments + conscientious and consistent elastic wear = six months LESS TIME in braces. Congratulations, Megan, on achieving your winning smile in record time!

At Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics, easy access to your account information

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at our offices enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our web site. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

--Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics

The Bedford Trade Fair

This weekend we are going to The Bedford Trade Fair where we will have a booth. Our theme is "Swing into Spring With a New Smile!", we will have 3 perfect smile winners helping us play mini golf for a prize! The trade show is all weekend at Bedford High School. Will you be at the show? Be sure to stop by and say hello! If not, we will make sure to post photos next week on our Facebook page!

Go Incognito!

We understand many orthodontic patients have an aversion to the idea of “metal mouth” during treatment. A lot of patients have found alternatives to the classic bracing system, instead choosing to strengthen their pearly whites with Incognito (formerly marketed as iBraces), lingual orthodontic braces that are made for teens and adults, and are custom-made for each person. Because they are placed behind your teeth, they are hidden, and no one will ever know you are wearing braces unless you tell them.

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, or would like to know more about In-Ovation, please visit our web site or contact Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics today!

-- Drs. Haerian, Ludwig and Simon

New Videos at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics!

We are so excited to be on all our different social networks, including this blog, our Facebook Fan Page, and our YouTube channel. We just posted our first set of videos on YouTube of our winners party. Be sure to check out both videos and let us know what you think!

Have a great weekend,

-The Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics Team

Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics want to know: Are there teeth grinders in your house?

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, also called "bruxism." These 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
• 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 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, schedule an appointment to see us by giving us a call. Drs. Simon, Ludwig and Haerian can help determine the cause of the problem and possibly even prescribe a custom mouthpiece to help break the habit.

Perfect Smile Contest winners at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics!

The votes are in, and our winners of the Perfect Smile Contest at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics have been notified. Our Big celebration party is this Saturday, Jan. 30. We will have cameras rolling and will post videos of the party, so be sure to come back and see the celebration. The winners of our Perfect Smile Contest will be heading to their professional photo shoot at the end of February, Where Bob and Stevie at Grand Lubell Photography will make all our Perfect Smile winners look like stars.

Our team will be posting all our winners on our web site soon after! Stay tuned and enjoy the rest of your week!

What are patients saying about Sylvania and Lambertville Orthodontics?

Last week, we asked you, our fantastic patients, what you most liked about Sylvania and Lambertville Orthodontics. Well, we received some pretty great reviews, and thought we’d share a few with you today. Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office! Drs. Haerian, Ludwig and Simon enjoy getting patient testimonials and would absolutely love to hear from you!

"I like the fact that everyone there is very nice and they do whatever they can to make the patient comfortable." ~ Susan L.

"Very nice and friendly staff. Easy scheduling and billing. Great environment." ~ Karima K.

"As her parents, we appreciate that EVERYONE speaks TO Marissa instead of about her. Her inclusion in her progress is a great help." ~ Michelle B.

"First impressions were great. Everyone was so helpful and kind in the office. I liked how the doctor talked specifically to Drew to make him feel really involved in his treatment." ~ Jeff H.

"They are all nice to our family, and that is very important. We enjoy going to Sylvania Orthodontics." ~ Luis G.

What do you love about Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics?

From the very first time you visit Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics our doctors and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Drs. Simon, Haerian or Ludwig? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Do you love your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback on our networks. Or, you can tell us by giving us a call!

Ask Drs. Haerian, Ludwig and Simon: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work, our doctors say. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Drs. Simon, Haerian and Ludwig are some of the most experienced certified Invisalign® providers in Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment at Sylvania & Lambertville Orthodontics, please don't hesitate to give us a call.