Beyond Braces, from Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics

Our practice is not just concerned with straight teeth. We are firmly committed to improving the health and well-being of all families in our practice. Our mission statement emphasizes that “We” strive to serve our patients by educating them to fulfill their dental needs and to help in their mental and physical growth”.

We have a “lending library” with books and CD’S with personal growth content. Two recent additions include a two DVD program on “Effective Parenting- When Both Disagree” and a CD and workbook on “Getting A’s by the digital learning system. A third addition is two workbooks by Dr Larry Koenig titled “Smart Discipline” and “The Making of a Happy Family”. Check these programs out the next time you visit our practice. You can also take a look at these websites:

www.smartdiscipline.com
www.BrainX.com
www.thetotaltransformation.com

Dr. Bernard wants to know: what's on your fall reading list?

It's almost fall season, which means it's back to school time for most of our patients at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics. Today, we wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading.

In addition to textbooks, it's always great to pick up a great novel or a comic book. Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR fall reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites?

Out of ideas for great fall reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian here in North Canton for some ideas or check out these fall reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Borders.

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

The importance of elastic wear, from Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics

At some point during treatment you may need to wear elastics (rubber bands), which exert force that creates pressure to move teeth. In order for the force to remain constant, elastics must be worn 24/7 and be changed every day (to keep elasticity). When elastics are not worn as instructed, treatment is prolonged.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

1. You are responsible for wearing elastics, and to wear them as instructed. Remove only when brushing teeth and flossing. It is recommended that you eat with your elastics in, if too difficult; remember to put back in after meals.

2. Make sure you carry extra bags of elastics with you, so that if one breaks you have a spare.

3. If you forget to wear your elastics, DO NOT double up, this may cause you to over correct-just wear as instructed.

4. Be sure to change on a regular basis, they loose their elasticity and do not apply the proper force to your teeth.

5. If elastics break frequently, or a hook breaks making it impossible for you to wear elastics-call the office immediately. Don’t wait until your next appointment. Waiting will prolong your treatment time.

6. Call the office if you are out of elastics or are running low and we will mail them out to you or you can stop by during business hours to pick a few packages up.

Summer dos and donts, from Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics

AVOID THESE:

SPORTS DRINKS: Gator Aid and Power Aid and even citric drinks like orange and lemon-aid are very acidic. They can erode the enamel of your front teeth and leave white mark or patches; especially in those with braces.

STICKY FOODS: Most sticky foods have a high sugar content and when they get stuck in the grooves of the teeth, they provide food for decay producing bacteria over a long period of time. Watch out for sticky dried fruits like raisins as well!

HARD CANDY: Sucking on hard candy will again keep sugar bathing the teeth for a lengthy period. And it you decide to bite on it, your wire will bend and your bracket will be knocked off.

PROLONGED GUM CHEWING: Chewing gum for long periods will cause the muscles of the jaws to tire and even go into spasm. The jaw joints could become painful or begin clicking as well and headaches can occur from stressed facial muscles.

HEAD HOLDING: Propping up your head with your hand or sleeping on your hands could force the jaw sideways out of the sockets causing clicking or pain in the jaw joints. Pressure against the cheeks could also cause the teeth to move inward resulting in crooked teeth or a narrower arch.

(Instead,)
TRY THESE:

WATER: Not very tasty but always the best liquid for hydration and health! If you must have soda or sports drinks, always use a straw so the liquid cannot get to your teeth.

VEGETABLES: If you must have foods with sugar, try vegetables. Carrots have sugar but do not stick to the teeth or cause decay. Just remember to cook them or cut them up into small pieces if you have braces.

SOFT CANDY: Actually, some believe that dark chocolate is a cavity preventative. Soft candy may contain a lot of sugar, but it is easily chewed and swallowed so the contact with the teeth is minimized over hard or sticky candy.

LIMITED GUM CHEWING: Chewing sugarless gum for 5 minutes after meals is actually good for the teeth. It promotes saliva which washes away plaque and neutralizes acid. And gum with xylitol will even keep plaque from adhering to the teeth and prevent decay.

GOOD POSTURE: Keeping the back straight and head upright will promote good muscle tone and balance in the head and neck. It will allow the jaw joints to rest comfortably in the sockets and eliminate muscle and joint pain.

June marks National Smile Month!

According to a March 2011 poll by Glamour Magazine, a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature, which is why it's important for our team at Bernard and Orthodontics to support National Smile Month this June.

Show off your pearly whites by posting your favorite smile photos on the wall of our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing what you share!

Have a GREAT weekend everybody!

Connect with us on Facebook!

At Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics, braces is all we do! We have a friendly, caring staff and a modern and comfortable facility in North Canton.

Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with us on Facebook?

There, we share office news and updates, so check it out! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

See you on Facebook! Have a great weekend!

What is your New Year's Resolution?

The year is almost over, so our staff at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you most looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, to all our patients, friends, family and all our dental and medical colleagues.

Join us on the Web!

In the past year our office has made several new and exciting technological advances. We have enhanced our ability to communicate with you, through several new sites; beginning with Ortho Sesame, which is new inter-active software that allows patients/parents to view their account. This also gives them the ability to either cancel or confirm their appointment or contact us through e-mail.

Dental offices are able to receive mutual patient information through Sesame Interactive, (there is a link for this on our website) or through e-mail. We have also joined several networking sites, which include: facebook, youtube and myspace. On these pages patients have the ability to click on a “directions icon” to print street to street directions directly from their home to our office. Our address is already listed.

These sites allow patients to learn more about our office and to post comments. Dr. Bernard writes interesting facts about orthodontics and writes articles for our blog. Our website, which is www.drsosbern.com, contains information about our doctors, staff and valuable information about treatment, along with emergency information. Please stop at the front desk and fill out a form with your e-mail address (you can submit several addresses), you can give this to one of the receptionists.

Ask Dr. Bernard: Why did you become an orthodontist?

It was the middle of the dark ages. I was 13 and my mother did not like my front teeth which were spaced and sticking out a bit.

The closest orthodontist was in downtown Cleveland; an hour and a bus transfer away. He was at least 80 years old and was on the 10th floor of an inner-city high rise. He used metal rings on all my teeth, which he fitted over the teeth by “driving” them on with a mallet and chisel. I’ll never forget the chisel slipping off the band just as he swung the mallet, this puncturing the roof of my mouth.

After each appointment, I would run for the elevator which would deliver me to the drug store on the first floor. My drug of choice was a chocolate ice cream soda which temporarily relieved the tightening of the heavy, steel wires until the bus delivered me home for some Bayer aspirin.

My decision to be an orthodontist was not fostered during my treatment years. Dentistry was the furthest thing from my mind as a teen. But 15 years after my brace experience, I decided to become an orthodontist because of the young people whose lives I could positively affect with the resultant healthy, happy smile.

Your turn! From Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics

By now, you know the drill: Week after week, Drs. Bernard and Eimer and our talented staff write about topics related to orthodontic care and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic techniques offered at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics. This week, we thought we’d ask you, our great patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Drs. Bernard or Eimer for a while now? Let us know and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have!

Wishing you Happy St. Patty's Day, from Drs. Bernard and Eimer

Did you remember to wear green when you stepped out the door this morning? Whether Irish or not, millions of people around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with toasts, parades and "the wearing of the green." Here are some fun facts about St. Patty’s Day Drs. Bernard and Eimer know you will enjoy:

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17th because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.

• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which simply means “shoemaker.”

• Some American towns have Irish names. They include: Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio and Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia

• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed in Ireland. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

• St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in America in Boston, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics and Smile for a Lifetime

Drs. Mike Bernard and James Eimer are proud to be partners of the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization that provides orthodontic treatment to people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to acquire assistance.

To become a candidate, interested families must be at or below poverty level and must complete a one-page application for their child or candidate. Local Smile for a Lifetime Foundation applications can be picked up at school guidance offices, Stark County YMCA branches, or downloaded online from our web site.

Happy Tuesday!

Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics want to know: What are you up to in March?

It’s almost springtime! The daffodils and buttercups are on their way, the sun is warming up and the smell of freshly-cut grass is wafting from a baseball field nearby. Drs. Bernard & Eimer thought this would be a good time to ask: What are your plans for March?

Are you ready for spring? Are you participating in school sports? Do you have exciting plans? We’d love to know them all! You may share your stories or plans with us here, on our social networks or by giving us a call!

We’re almost there!

Ask Dr. Bernard: What does it mean to be a Schulman Study Group practice?

Drs. Bernard and Eimer are both members of The Schulman Study Group (SSG), a nationally-recognized association of prominent—among the top 1 percent—orthodontic practices. Recently, Dr. Bernard was approached and asked, "What does it mean to you and Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics to be a member of The Schulman Study Group?"

When Dr. Bernard joined Dr. Harry Osborne in the practice in the 70’s, Dr. Osborne was writing educational brochures for a business man named “Bud” Schulman who owned a dental supply company. Mr. Schulman began to help young orthodontists who used his company with business and promotional plans to help make their practices successful. In the 80’s, the orthodontists who had been mentioned by Bud Schulman formed a group called the Schulman Study Group. Annual meetings were held and Bud Schulman presided over the meetings of the most progressive and successful orthodontists in the country.

Today, the Schulman Study Group is comprised of 125 orthodontic practices in the US and Canada. Dr. Ron Redmond leads the group since Bud’s passing and there is a long waiting list to join. The annual meeting is every March and each member must submit two “pearls” from their practice to share with others. The members also share other statistical data and practice ideas that make each practice more current and “cutting edge”. Between annual meetings, The Schulman Group hosts a meeting for staff advancement in the fall and daily e-mails among members to help solve problems and pass on valuable information to the members.

Dr. Bernard attended his first Schulman Study Group meeting in 1984 and he and his wife Sally will be leaving on March 7th for a week long 2010 meeting.” I can’t imagine practicing orthodontics without the support and backing of the members of this wonderful study group”, says Dr. Bernard. He firmly believes that his practice and his patients have greatly benefited by membership in this prestigious group.

19th Annual Scholarship Award at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics!

Attention: All High School Seniors!
Once again Drs. Bernard and Eimer’s office is offering three scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to seniors in our practice from all local schools.

To qualify:

**The student must be a high school senior.
**Has been (or is being) treated at Bernard and Eimer Orthodontics.
**Write a 500-word essay on “A Vision of My Future After High School.”
**Submit three copies to be presented to three judges.
**Must include a “Cover Letter” with your name, addresses and phone number (also include school name and counselor’s name.
**Submit all of the above on or before Tuesday, April 1, 2010 (Include your activity schedule).

Judges from various civic groups in the area will review the entries and the top three will be chosen. Keep in mind these entrees should be treated as three individual applications since they are distributed to three individual judges.

**If there are not three individual applications or any part of the requirements is not met the entrée will be disqualified. Please post this letter or announce on your PA system so that any high school Senior from our office can have the opportunity to try for this Scholarship.

If you have any questions regarding the above please contact our office
at (330) 470-7785. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Respectfully,
Drs. Bernard, Eimer and Staff

What puts you at ease at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics?

Drs. Bernard and Eimer understand not everyone is thrilled to see their orthodontist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our friendly staff? Dr. Bernard? Dr. Eimer?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call!

Patient reviews for Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics

Drs. Bernard & Eimer, who serve North Canton and surrounding areas, have been receiving some great patient reviews lately! Check out what our current patients are saying about our doctors and their team!

"Dr. Bernard and staff are very nice. They make you feel welcome. We like how Dr. Bernard calls after certain appointments to see how the kids are doing" ~ Jeff F.

"Having my 3rd child in Dr Bernard's care, I can personally say, I am so happy with the treatment plans, the caring staff, the cleanliness of the facility & the value you all put on my time as a mom. In the 11+ yrs of coming, I do not remember ever waiting more than 10 min for an appointment. All the staff members have always been friendly & helpful. You all seemed to be doing what you love & it shows! Thank you for your continued professional care & support you give to the teens! Our family thanks you!!!" ~ Daniel R.

"I love the entire staff. They have been great and very patient with a not so good patient. Getting braces and having surgery was a difficult ordeal for me to go through. They have all been very understanding and supportive" ~ Diane B.

"What I like best is knowing that Dr. Bernard knows what he is doing. He also had my Mom, Aunt and Uncle as patients. So it was a comfort to look at there teeth and know how well mine were going to look when I got the braces off. And sure enough they looked FANTASTIC!" ~ Nicole B.

"Everyone in the office is so friendly and they are always on time!!" ~ Joseph D.

Braces 101, from Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics

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

Let Drs. Bernard & Eimer know how they're doing!

Whether you have visited Drs. Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics for a week or for years, we’d love to hear your feedback about your experience with our doctors and staff! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment!

You may write a review here.

Thank you and have a great week!

--Drs. Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics

Dr. Bernard Separates the Myths and Facts of Orthodontics

Drs. Bernard and Eimer know there are quite a few myths about orthodontists circulating around these days. Before you buy into those myths, they think you should get the facts! We came across a great site that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontists, check them out today!

Here’s the link: http://www.braces.org/mythsandfacts/index.cfm

Hope this helps. Contact us if you have any questions!

--The team at Drs. Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics