110th AAO Annual Session in Washington D.C.!

This year, the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session was in our Nation's Capital. Dr. Michael Bernard, his wife Sally, and Rhonda attended. Rhonda went to many lectures, and did some site-seeing. Her favorite speaker Joan Garbo was wonderful. She has lots of positive energy and you come out of her seminars feeling renewed and ready to help people change their lives. Her quote “Never let anyone steal your Joy!”

We walked around the White House (which is cream in color by the way) and many monuments. My favorite was the World War II memorial. It’s a beautiful tribute to those who served. We went to Georgetown for shopping and lunch and stood in front of the house that JFK and Jacqueline lived in when he was running for President. On the last day we went to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Dr. Bernard was a monitor at several lectures, introducing the speaker. He also did his share of lectures. He said his favorite speaker was Jeff Behan on Social Networking and The Web. We had a great time, but it’s always good to come home!

Reminder! Mouth guards are important!

April is National Facial Protection Month and we urge all athletes to protect their teeth whether wearing braces or not. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation indicates more than 5,000,000 teeth are knocked out each year in organized sports or other activities.

Our Practice will provide you with a special orthodontic mouth guard while braces are in place. This type covers the braces on top and bottom to protect the lips and cheeks as well as the braces and teeth. It is more loose fitting than a regular mouth guard because the teeth are constantly moving and a form-fitted mouth guard would prevent tooth movement or would not fit from day to day unless re-made. You are much less likely to lose a tooth while in braces because they are wired together but they can still be fractured or the lips and cheeks can be lacerated by the braces or impaled on them.

Once your braces have been removed, you should ask us or your dentist for a custom mouth guard which not only protects your teeth and jaws but serves as a retainer to hold the teeth in the proper position. Then remember to wear it for all contact sports, including those played in the playground or backyard. One quick blow to the mouth can spoil a smile and a few years of braces.

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics, from Drs. Bernard & Eimer

Drs. Bernard and Eimer 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 Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Happy Monday!