Get to know your braces!

Should you need to call Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics in case you sustain any damage to your braces, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.



Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

--Drs. Bernard & Eimer and team

When to stop, from Bernard and Eimer Orthodontics

Most young children keep something in their mouth to soothe or comfort them. After breast feeding and the bottle, that something is usually a “pacifier”. There are even “orthodontic pacifiers” with a shape which is supposed to help in proper upper arch formation although this has never been proven.

The problem with a pacifier is that it will cause an openbite or prevent the upper and lower teeth from coming in contact which effects chewing and speech and can develop poor and harmful tongue posture. To prevent this condition permanently, the pacifier should be stopped at 18 months.

My daughter had a 5 mm openbite (measured from upper to lower front teeth) from her pacifier or “binky” at 22 months. The solution was to take it away and hide it! After one week of withdrawal (crying, restlessness), the habit was broken and after two weeks, the front teeth were touching!

Of course, a finger or thumb habit is harder to stop because you can’t take it away like a pacifier. More later on when to stop that harmful habit.

School is in session! (And we helped it get started)

For the third year, our practice traveled to a local school to help an art teacher get her room ready for the incoming students. This year, we chose the classroom of Heather Boxler, the art teacher at Lake Middle School.

Three of our staff; Lyn Common, Judi Hegarty and Grace Margaritakis worked with Mrs. Boxler to get the classroom ready. We also gave her a $400 gift card to Pat Catan’s to purchase more art supplies for some of her projects this school year.

The young art teacher was excited to have the help from our practice; especially since she had her braces with us as a teenager some years ago! She hopes to do an “orthodontic art project” sometime during the year.

Drs. Bernard and Eimer will be involved by giving Mrs. Boxler some orthodontic objects from the practice and some of our clinical staff will donate some of their time to help with the project. We will keep you posted as we learn more about this wonderful art teach, Heather Boxler!

What's new at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics?

Check it out! We now have Wi-Fi anywhere in our building so bring your lap top and surf away in the reception area or clinic. The wireless connection is secured so you will have to ask the receptionists for the code to enter into your computer.

Forgot your laptop? We have created a desktop computer station for your use any time you are in the office. Look down over the railing as you enter the building and you will see the station on the lower level. A printer is attached to the desktop for office work, boarding passes and internet information. No password is needed!

Forgot your umbrella and it’s raining? We now have a rack of umbrellas in a stand next to our entrance. Take one to get to your car and home and return it on your next visit.

Too chilly in the office or out of the office? We have Medium and large zip-up hoodies for your use whether inside or outside. If you leave the office with one, we ask that you return it on your next visit so we can launder it and make it available to others.

If you have any suggestions on how we can make you more comfortable or serve you better, please let us know.

Austin Grooms and Harriet Whitzel, our Smile for a Lifetime scholarship recipients!

Austin Grooms and Harriet Whitzel were awarded the second two scholarships for free orthodontic treatment in our practice. Our 10 Board members rated these children the most needy in terms of malocclusion and financial hardship.

Austin is 11 and in the 6th grade at Alliance Middle School. He had letters of recommendation from his dentist, pediatrician, and mother’s co-worker. Harriet is a 14 year old 8th grader at Minerva Middle School. She was recommended by her dentist and school counselor.

Two more candidates will be chosen in the fall and applications for Smile for a Lifetime can be downloaded from our website, www.drsosbern.com or picked up at school guidance offices, YMCAs, and community centers.

National Smile Week at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics!

It’s National Smile Week, and a GREAT time to remind our patients at Bernard and Eimer Orthodontics to practice good oral hygiene to keep those teeth shining during your orthodontic treatment! This includes brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding foods that can stain your teeth such as tea and coffee (and many others) and visiting your general dentist on a regular basis.

And remember to smile at people you come across throughout the week, whether you know them or not. Smiles are contagious, and are a good thing to give and to get. In addition, smiling can actually help you live longer, according to a recent study! We hope you're having a relaxing and wonderful summer!

From the Bernard and Eimer Orthodontics staff

Drs. Bernard and Eimer want to know: What should we blog about?

With summer 2010 almost here, our staff at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to braces and your treatment with Canton orthodontist Dr. Michael Bernard.

To help us continue blogging through the course of the long summer, we need your help: What would you like us to focus on our blog over the summer? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Bernard for a while and just haven't found the opportunity? Give us your ideas by posting here or on our Facebook page!

We hope you have a great rest of the weekend and an even better upcoming week!