Ask Bogdan Orthodontics: Am I too old for braces?

Who’s afraid of “metal mouth” and the appearance of braces? Not adults, apparently. Recently, our staff at Bogdan Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic: adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: cosmetics. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Bogdan can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

The fact is, orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. One of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21. Jaw surgery is sometimes required for adult orthodontic patients because their jaws are not growing. However, new force systems, which allow tooth supporting bone to remodel (reshape), have dramatically reduced the need for surgery to achieve good results in the majority of adult cases.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Drs. Frank and Mark Bogdan would love to have you visit for a consultation. Give us a call to set one up!

Bogdan Orthodontics annual Jelly Bean Jar contest!

Come into Bogdan Orthodontics this month and enter in our jelly bean contest!! The winner will be the one whose guess is the closest to the actual amount of jelly beans in the jar! The winner will receive a gift basket from Al Richard's Homemade Chocolates! Good Luck!

The winner will be announced March 30!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, from Bogdan Orthodontics

February is National Children's Dental Health Month and our team at Bogdan Orthodontics thought we'd promote good oral hygiene among our patients with a few tips and tricks, courtesy of the American Dental Association, or ADA.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.
• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.
• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you're going to drink one of these beverages, don't sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.
• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.
• Regular dental visits: in addition to seeing Dr. Bogdan, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Children's Dental Health Month, now in its 60th year, aims to increase awareness about the importance of kids' oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Drs. Bogdan, please feel free to give us a call!

Tackling sports injuries with Bogdan Orthodontics

Wouldn’t you believe it, it’s almost springtime! The spring and summer months, however, bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. If you play sports, it's important that you consult Drs. Frank or Mark Bogdan for special precautions. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball and soccer. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with Bogdan Orthodontics.

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Bogdan Orthodontics.

With Bogdan Orthodontics, 24/7 access to your account

At Bogdan Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Bayonne.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Just see what our patients have to say about this service!

"I can easily check appointments, payments, history." ~ Irma I.

"I am able to check on the progress of my teeth by viewing photos of the beginning and where my teeth are at now." ~ James W.

"Ortho Sesame has allowed me to remember my appointments easier, and I enjoy seeing the progress through the pictures." ~ Michael J.

"It makes it very easy to keep track and in touch with my doctors and my progress." ~ Mark C.

You may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call us at Bogdan Orthodontics if you have any questions!

Bogdan Orthodontics is on Facebook!

Did you know Bogdan Orthodontics is on Facebook? Our fan page, which keeps growing each day, provides you the latest news from Drs. Bogdan and our office. We invite you to connect with us and be "in the loop" for all things Bogdan Orthodontics, which serves Bayonne and surrounding communities.

Become a "fan" today and have a great rest of the week! From Drs. Frank and Mark Bogdan, and the entire team at Bogdan Orthodontics!

Ask Drs. Bogdan: When should my child be seen for a check-up?

Many parents just assume they should wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Drs. Bogdan, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. But did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

Ok, you're thinking, what’s so great about age seven? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for the team at Bogdan Orthodontics 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 detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age 7, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Some interesting videos about orthodontics, from Drs. Bogdan

Drs. Bogdan would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Bogdan Orthodontics, please give us a call.

How To Stay Young & Healthy, from Bogdan Orthodontics

Whether you’re five or 50, your health depends on your awareness of what’s good for you. But in a world filled with fad diets, blaring advertisements, and unintelligible ingredient lists, Drs. Bogdan and our team at Bogdan Orthodontics know we at know it can be difficult to determine exactly what is good for you – and what’s not.

For straightforward guidance on how to live a long, healthy life, we recommend, Brush Your Teeth! And Other Simple Ways to Stay Young and Healthy, by Dr. David Ostreicher. The book sums up good health in six fundamental principles: hygiene, diet, attitude, exercise, sleep and personal safety.

Drawing on nearly three decades of experience as an orthodontist and professor of health and nutrition, Dr. Ostreicher definitively answers age-old debates, like the best way to prevent colds and flu (your mom was right: wash your hands). He provides straight talk on a variety of diet choices including salt, fats, carbs and organic food, and he documents the importance of regular sleep, stress reduction and positive thinking to your overall health. His suggestions throughout are simple, clear, and inexpensive.

Dr. Ostreicher advocates a back-to-basics, common-sense approach to staying young and healthy. We at Bogdan Orthodontics couldn’t agree more, and we’d like to repeat the title of his book as our favorite piece of advice: don’t forget to Brush Your Teeth!

Happy Monday!