Talkin' rubber bands with Dr. Bernard

We call them “Elastics” and in Western Pennsylvania they call them “Gum Bands”. But whatever you call them everyone in braces wears them at some time and without them we have no good way to establish an ideal, stable, fit of the teeth.

Rubber bands normally go from teeth or wires on one jaw to teeth or wires on the other jaw. The orthodontist decides the direction needed to get the teeth to fit and the size and strength of the force needed. The ideal force to get the desired movement is determined by the doctor so do not “double-up” or wear different size rubber bands to get done faster. Rubber bands have larger diameters for longer distance and smaller diameters for short. The band material itself is thicker when more force is needed.

When rubber bands are attached, it takes 10 hours or more for the teeth to start moving. This is when the teeth may be sore. Once the teeth are moving, they will not be sore unless the rubber bands are stopped for over 30 minutes. Then it will take 10 hours to start them moving again and they may be sore (again!).

Some short, tight rubber bands may have to be removed to eat certain foods but most can be worn to eat and the chewing motion helps move the teeth. If they have to be removed for eating or brushing they should be re-inserted within the 30 minute time frame.

You need to know that if you cannot wear them full-time due to the need to wear mouthguards for several hours a day, your treatment time will be extended or you will finish with less than an ideal bite.

We now have “rainbow” or multi-colored rubber bands for a fashion statement but the goal is still 24/7 wear. They should be changed at least once daily and always have a pack with you in case they break or shoot across the room while away from home.

Back to school with Dr. Bernard

At Bernard and Eimer Orthodontics, we know a new school year brings a lot of stress for many kids. New classes, new teachers, new friends and new academic challenges can be overwhelming! That’s why we thought we’d provide a few steps for our patients to enjoy their time in school and succeed this upcoming school year!

• Get plenty of sleep every night. Eight hours is recommended.
• Eat a healthy breakfast as it’s the most important meal of the day.
• Pack a healthy lunch or make healthy choices when selecting your school lunch. Try to avoid the vending machine and limit your intake of junk food.
• Stay on top of your homework and reading assignments.
• Stay active. Limit the time in front of the TV or playing video games. Instead, try to get outside to get some exercise—go for a walk or ride your bike.
• Ask for help. When you are having a hard time understanding a concept, ask your teacher or your peers for guidance.
• Always have a positive attitude and a smile on your face!

We hope everyone has a productive and fun school year!

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!

Are you wearing your mouthguard? From Dr. Bernard

With fall sports almost here for a lot of our patients at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics, we thought today would be a great time to remind all our young athletes in treatment to take care of both their mouth and appliances while participating in sports – especially contact sports such as soccer and football – this fall.

One of the most important pieces of sports equipment you can wear on the field is a mouthguard. A well-fitted mouthguard, which we’re happy to provide, allows you to breathe and speak more clearly, in addition to protecting your mouth and braces. Only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. The next time you’re in for a visit with Drs. Bernard & Eimer, we encourage you to ask us for a mouthguard! In addition, the American Association of Orthodontists has five quick tips for keeping kids safe during sport activities this fall.

• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eyewear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant, even as a spectator

We hope you’re enjoying your summer, and invite you all to share your summer photos on our Facebook page!

Tell us about your summer!

The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better time for Drs. Bernard & Eimer and our team to ask our patients about their summer!

Whether you visited our nation’s capitol, went on a camping trip, visited the state fair or just stayed in town and hung out with friends, we want to know how you’re all spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page as the summer comes to an end soon for a lot of our patients at Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics!

We look forward to reading all about your adventures! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

August featured patient testimonials!

Here they are, our August featured testimonials! Thanks again to everyone who wrote in - we hope everybody is having a great summer!

"The support staff exceeded my expectations. Each member was friendly, helpful and supportive. It was clear they trusted the doctors and enjoyed their work. Every effort was made to accommodate me and my needs. I would highly recommend this facility." - Charity G.

"Your office and doctors were wonderful, pleasant, and kind. I am working on saving money to get that initial appointment for my daughter to get her records to get the process started. This way we can continue to experiencing that wonderful atmosphere. Thank You, God bless." - Caleb L.

Braces and your overall health

Everyone today wants that perfect, white, red carpet, smile. Appearance is becoming more important every day. We are in a culture that values straight teeth and many hiring and relationship decisions are based on facial balance and a great smile. But are we better off health-wise for having two years of braces or are we just getting a cosmetic improvement with no total health advantage?

We will discuss a few health benefits of orthodontics with the most important benefit last. The first benefit is MUSCLE BALANCE. When the bite is ideal, the muscles are in better balance and less likely to become overworked and sore. An ideal bite also prevents TOOTH MOBILITY which can happen when just one or a few teeth are in contact when teeth come together or move across each other. Teeth can actually be “knocked out” by uncorrected bites if the trauma occurs over a long period of time. TOOTH WEAR is caused by poor tooth relationships, especially excessive overlapping of the front teeth. Once teeth are worn down, they don’t function as well in biting or chewing and then have to be restored with metal or ceramic crowns.

The most important health benefit regards the heart and overall health of the body. PERIODONTAL DISEASE is caused by bacteria that build up in pockets of unhealthy gum tissue around the teeth. These bacteria release toxins that get into the blood stream and are transmitted to the heart and other organs of the body. Having straight teeth makes brushing and flossing easier and evens out the gum tissue so it can be stimulated and kept from forming the pockets that house bacteria.
People with straight teeth generally take care of them better than those with crooked teeth. This maintains the periodontal health and subsequently the whole body health. We all take care of a shiny new car better than we do a “beater” and the same goes for your teeth!

So enjoy the beautiful smile but rest assured that you are receiving significant whole-body health benefits from orthodontic treatment.