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ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a princess named Veronica. She did not look like a real princess because her face made her look sad. Quiet and thoughtful, the smile of her eyes, gums, and teeth did not express the happiness in her heart.

One Day There Was A Terrible Storm...

One day there was a terrible storm. There was thunder and lightning, and rain poured down in torrents. To come in from the cold, the princess knocked on the door of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California.

An Old Queen came to the door and looked at the princess. “Good gracious!” said the Queen. “You are under the spell of vertical maxillary excess giving you ‘Adenoid Facies’. This makes you look sad by:

1. Showing the whites of your eyes under your pupils
2. Pulling down the smile muscles of your cheeks
3. Separating your lips at rest
4. Allowing your teeth to protrude
5. Giving your chin a puckered ‘golf ball’ appearance”

Orthodontic Treatment Is A Fast And Permanent Solution

A Wizard had told the princess she could be saved by a lifetime of Botox needle shots to her upper lip. “Hogwash!” said the Queen. “This will not help you! We need a fast and permanent solution by an orthodontist. Let us be happy and fix this forever. Your prince will be here soon!”

A Young Prince Arrived...

Soon the Princess’s teeth were straight, and she was smiling ear to ear. A young prince arrived to Antioch, California from Ciudad Guzman, Jalisco, Mexico. He looked at Veronica and said “You are dear to me. By the smile on your happy face, I can see that you have the best heart and that you are a real princess. I will marry you!”

So the prince and princess were married. Nothing made the Queen happier than to see the prince and princess happy and thriving. They soon had four children. And, they all lived happily ever after.

This Is A True Story!

This is a true story. Veronica is now Treatment Coordinator at Gorczyca Orthodontics and her orthodontic treatment was done by Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, in Antioch, California.

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

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AT GORCZYCA ORTHODONTICS, we have three goals:

• Clinical excellence
• Outstanding customer service
• A great patient experience

We Love To Serve You

We are caring professionals serving valued patients. It is our honor and privilege to serve you. We appreciate you and want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for choosing Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Please take a minute to get to know your orthodontic customer service team. We strive to make your experience at Gorczyca Orthodontics unique, memorable and enjoyable every time we see you.

Pam

As patient coordinator and front desk concierge I say, "Welcome! How is your day today? How did we do?" I will also be scheduling your next appointment. It is my pleasure to serve you! Thank you so much for choosing Gorczyca Orthodontics. We're looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Dr. Gorczyca

As owner of Gorczyca Orthodontics and your orthodontist, I welcome your feedback. Thank you for helping us make your treatment the best it can possibly be. By taking a moment to fill out our customer service questionnaire, you let us know the important little things we can do to make your experience in our office great. I also guarantee your satisfaction and that your orthodontic result will be excellent. Your braces will only be removed at your request. Whatever needs to be done, we will make it right. Thank you for choosing Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Veronica

As treatment coordinator, I'm glad you're here! I will serve your orthodontic needs and find solutions to your orthodontic problems. I will coordinate your treatment in our office and work out your personal financial arrangements. I work hard to make the answer to all of your questions "YES!"

Jolene

As clinical coordinator, it is my goal to always run on time. We try hard to schedule your appointment at the time most convenient for you. We know the moment you arrive and seat you on time so that your wait time is minimal. We promise to keep you informed about your treatment and schedule. We realize and understand that your time is valuable.

Gwen

As your clinical assistant, I am here to ask, "What else can I do for you?" Your comfort is our utmost priority. We will proceed at your rate and be here for you every step of the way. We want each of your appointments at our office to be enjoyable and fun. Earn rewards by having excellent oral hygiene, nothing broken or lose, and wearing your Gorczyca Orthodontics t-shirt. We can't wait to surprise you with a prize!

Monica

As insurance coordinator and office manager, I strive to have the answers to all of your office questions. Whatever you need to know, I will give you answers as quickly as possible as well as coordinate your financial arrangements.

Patti

I have a very important job, office cleanliness. We want our office to not only sparkle, shine and look good, but also smell good, taste good and sound good! We want you to feel great when you are here. Our office maintenance is an ongoing every day project and I take tremendous pride in my work!

We Will Take Great Care Of You!

We hope you will enjoy our office and our customer service attitudes. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com. We would love to see you. We will take great care of you. We want you to feel in your heart that you've come to the right place and that we are your orthodontic customer service team.

Your smile is our inspiration!

ONE OUT OF EIGHT PEOPLE in the United States are living with pain related to TMD every day. Thankfully, if diagnosed and treated correctly, relief is just around the corner.

Common Symptoms of TMD

TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, is pain and discomfort caused by problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw.

Common TMD symptoms include:

• Jaw muscle stiffness; limited movement or locking of the jaw
• Painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint
• Chronic headaches/migraines
• Pain in the neck and shoulders
• Earaches or ringing ears

TMD Has Multiple Causes

Adding to TMD’s complexity, there can be multiple causes. While an autoimmune disease or various forms of arthritis can affect your temporomandibular joint, some lesser known causes of TMD include bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching), bad bite, and stress.

Depending on your symptoms, various treatments and orthodontic solutions are available such as:

• Muscle relaxation techniques/stress management
• Physical therapy
• Medication
• Surgery

Dr. Gorczyca has additional training in the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we are frequently able to reduce TMD pain by use of the TMD splint adjusted especially for you. Pain levels are usually able to be reduced in a few weeks from levels described as 4 or higher down to a 1 or often 0 or no pain at all.

Once your TMD pain symptoms have been resolved, often your bite may need improved through orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign.

Don’t Suffer Needlessly!

If you are experiencing symptoms of TMD or have any questions, make an appointment to come visit us. We’re here to help relieve your pain and regain your quality of life!

Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation if you have questions about temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) or your bite. At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we can help you make TMD pain a thing of the past.

Thank you for your continued trust in our practice!

Top image by Flickr user web4camguy used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WHEN THE COLD AND FLU SEASON STRIKES your teeth and braces are probably the last things you’re thinking about as you reach for another tissue! But there ARE some things related to that cold or flu that can affect your oral health.

Since tooth decay and gum disease can be especially risky during orthodontic treatment, we want you to be conscious of these three things:

Tip 1: Avoid Dry Mouth By Staying Hydrated

Dry mouth increases cavity risk. Most colds come with a giant side order of stuffy nose. We respond by breathing through our mouths! Doing so, combined with decreased saliva production during sleep, makes our mouths more vulnerable to harmful bacteria.

Tip 2: Keep The Bad Stuff Off Your Teeth

• Are you sucking on cough drops all day? Most are loaded with sugar. Opt for sugar-free cough drops if possible. AND, be sure not to bite down on those super-hard drops.
• Cough syrup is loaded with sugar too. If you take cough syrup, rinse your mouth out before going back to bed.
• Stomach acid is hard on teeth. Sorry to bring this up, but if you’re throwing up, keep your teeth rinsed and clean.

Tip 3: No Matter How Tired...

We know it’s tough when you’re sick, but don’t skip your normal brushing/flossing routine just because you’re feeling really tired. Your oral health while you’re in braces is just too important to neglect. (By the way, did you notice the kitty in the photo above? We think she’s smelling his breath because he hasn’t brushed in days.)

We Want To Help You Stay Healthy This Season

Stay healthy this flu season! Remember to sneeze into your elbow and wash your hands often to keep viruses from spreading.

We at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California hope that you will not be getting a cold or the flu this season. Stay well and please call us at (925) 757-9000 for your orthodontic needs. We look forward to seeing a healthy you!

If you’re sick, get feeling better soon! And thanks for your trust in our orthodontic practice.