Michael voted with "best smile"

Michael Paulus a former patient of Drs. Bernard & Eimer was voted best smile by his senior class. He is a 2011 graduate of Tuslaw High School and will be attending Walsh University in the fall to study physical therapy. Thank you for the beautiful smile, Drs. Bernard & Eimer!

Summer F.A.Q’S with Dr. Michael Bernard

Now that it’s summer, people with braces are more active with sports and outside activities. There are some questions that many of our patients ask about taking care of teeth and braces during this very active time.

1. How do I protect my braces and teeth when playing sports?
Ans.: You should always wear a mouthguard. With braces, we provide a mouthguard for all patients that covers the braces and protects the lips and checks and still allows the teeth to move.

2. What activities should I use a mouthguard for?
Ans.: All contact sports but also anything that could cause a fall or minor trauma such as rollerblading, rock and mountain climbing, mountain biking, and even regular biking (I broke a rib and punctured a lung riding alone on a paved road!).

3. What if my tooth gets knocked out of position?
Ans.: Call us immediately! (or your dentist). The tooth can be pushed back into the proper position if done right away. If you wait until tomorrow, it will have to be moved back with braces.

4. What if my tooth gets knocked out?
Ans.: Pick it up gently. (do not clean it off with anything). If dirty, gently rinse and put it into a glass of milk and call us or your dentist and we can put it back into the socket.

5. Should I take my retainer out to play sports?
Ans.: YES – and put your “custom” mouthguard in (made by us or your dentist) after braces are removed. Also remove your retainer while diving in a pool or swimming with waves or engaging in any activity that could cause it to be knocked out and lost.

Your teeth make your smile. Protect them and you can have a beautiful smile for a lifetime.

Our 2010 Scholarship winners!

We'd like to congratulate Lauren Elizabeth Miller from Jackson High School, Alexandra Butz from Central Catholic High School and Kelly Loveless from Jackson High School, our 2010 Scholarship winners!

This year we had 72 applicants for our 19th Annual Scholarship program. Dr. Bernard presented our two winners from Jackson High School at their awards night and Dr. Eimer presented our winner from Central Catholic School. These three young ladies were each awarded our $1,000 scholarship and had previously been awarded with one of our great smiles as you can see from their photos.

We hope you all have a fun, safe and relaxing Independence Day weekend!

Mercy Hospital dentists visit Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics!

In April, four of the five dental residents from Mercy Hospital spent an afternoon at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics to learn principles of orthodontic diagnosis. Nine patients were scheduled who were in observation prior to braces and Dr. Bernard and the four young dentists evaluated the patients for current and future orthodontic needs.

The General Practice Residency at Mercy Hospital is a year long program for dentists who want additional training in all phases of dentistry. They also rotate through some of the medical fields like anesthesia, surgery and emergency medicine. Some of the residents will stay for a second year, some will go into private general practice and some may apply to specialty programs that they become interested in during their residency at Mercy.

Dr. Bernard is the teaching orthodontist on the staff at Mercy Hospital and spends one afternoon each month lecturing the residents at Mercy or working with them in our office. Dr. Bernard became interested in orthodontics when he was a resident at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh and it is his hope that he can return the favor for one of these bright, young dentists.

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.

Protect your this spring, from Drs. Bernard and Eimer

April is almost upon us, and Drs. Bernard and Eimer want you, our valued young patients, to stay safe on the field this spring. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, say children up to 14 years old account for 80 percent of all sports-related emergency room visits. Here are five tips to save face while having fun this spring, courtesy of the AAO:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics. Stay safe and have fun!

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.

Stephanie shares her success story with Dr. Michael Bernard

My ties to orthodontics and this practice began before I was born, since my mother worked for Drs. Osborne and Bernard as an assistant. From her experience, she recognized my need for orthodontic treatment at a young age. I became a patient when I was approximately five years old. The goal was to curb my relentless finger sucking habit and prevent further disruption of my teeth. As I became older, I eventually entered into full treatment. At each visit, Dr. Bernard and his staff made me feel welcomed and comfortable.

Looking back, the time and effort required during treatment were well worth the results. I recognize that without orthodontics, many aspects of my life would not be the same. Having a nice smile definitely gave me the extra confidence and self-esteem I needed to succeed throughout my many years of school. After graduating from Jackson High School in 2002 and Ashland University in 2006, I decided to apply to Case Western Reserve’s School of Dental Medicine with the hopes of becoming a dentist. During my interviews, I was so glad to have a smile I was proud of, since I was convinced all the dentists would be looking at my teeth.

As I began clinicals at Case, I realized I loved treatment planning and wanted to have the same impact on people’s lives that orthodontic treatment had on mine. Thus, I began applying to orthodontic programs. Recently, I was notified of my acceptance as an orthodontic resident at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health. I am extremely excited to enter into a field that can truly change people’s lives. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Bernard and his staff for all of their inspirational efforts.

Sincerely,



Stephanie L. Morgan

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.