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WE’VE ALL HEARD the sad stories about how patients lose their orthodontic retainers. Over and over again, like lemmings jumping over a cliff, orthodontic patients make the same wrong moves and poof, their retainers are gone.

The Top 6 Ways To Lose Your Retainer

Avoid these actions to maintain your retainer for life.

6. Misplace it on vacation
5. Leave it at a restaurant
4. Lose it at your friend’s house
3. Throw it out at McDonald's wrapped in a paper napkin
2. Leave it out for the dog to eat
1. Throw it out in the lunch room

Retainers need to be worn full-time for a minimum of 3 months after braces removal and then every night for one year after you are brace free to insure a straight and beautiful smile. Retainers should be put in at least one night per week for a lifetime to keep your teeth straight and maintain what you and your orthodontist have worked so hard to achieve.

Keep Your Beautiful Smile For A Lifetime!

These teeth were straightened by orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA. You can find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 if you have lost your retainers and need new ones.

Keep your retainer out of harm’s way by keeping it in a labeled retainer case. Avoid these actions to save your retainer for life.

OUR TEAM IS NOT ONLY CONCERNED WITH YOUR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, but we also care about your overall health and comfort. That's why we want to address something that affects one in four households—migraines.

For migraine sufferers, it may seem as though there are only two options—either suffer in silence with a bottle of ibuprofen, or go to the doctor for something stronger. However, experts say that as many as 95% of migraines may be linked to dental issues. So if you, your child, or other family member suffer from migraines, maybe it’s time for a chat with our practice (or your general dentist) instead. If you’re not sure who to talk to first, call us and we can visit about it.

Yes, sometimes the orthodontic work we are doing can cause minor headaches. If this is ever the case for you, please let us know.  However, if your headaches are chronic, there may be another cause altogether.

Your Migraines May Be Caused By TMJ or TMD

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint responsible for jaw movement—talking, crunching, grinding, clenching, etc. It’s a complex system of bones, muscles, and tendons. When something interrupts the function of this system, it’s referred to as TMD, or temporomandibular disorder.

If your jaw is misaligned, your muscles are strained trying to put (or keep) your jaw in its proper place. Soon it starts impacting all the surrounding muscles, including your neck, your head, and even your spine.

Some TMD Symptoms Include:

• Popping or clicking jaw
• Sore teeth
• Facial pain
• Aching neck muscles
• And of course, Migraines

Treating TMD

TMD research is still a developing science and treatments can range from fitting a mouthpiece to actually adjusting one’s bite (which often includes orthodontic work). If you’re suffering from pain in your jaw, your teeth, your face or head, come in and ask us at Gorczyca Orthodontics about it. As you know, we are ALWAYS looking at your bite each time you visit us. However, if you are experiencing some of the symptoms we’ve described here, we should take another look.

If you have questions about TMJ or TMD, leave us a comment below, send us a direct message on Facebook, or contact us for an appointment.

As always, thanks for the trust you place in our orthodontic practice!

A BEAUTIFUL SMILE reveals gorgeous upper front teeth with ideal proportions. With gummy smile, excessive gum tissue makes upper front teeth look short.

Reveal Your Full Smile With A Gingivectomy

The shape of these teeth appears square or like a sizeways rectangle, rather than the normal 80% width to height ratio.

Gingivectomy is a procedure that can be used to restore ideal tooth height where gums are excessive. Removal of excessive gums can be done by laser, quickly and comfortably, for a beautiful result.

Gingivectomy eliminates gummy smile with or without braces. In children, teeth may appear square from incomplete tooth eruption. In adults, teeth may appear short from either excessive gum tissue or extreme tooth wear.

Keep Your Beautiful Smile For A Lifetime!

Your orthodontist, periodontist, or general dentist can answer your questions about short teeth and gummy smile. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org or call Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 in Antioch, California for a complimentary consultation and smile analysis.

Let everyone see your beautiful teeth by eliminating your extra gums. Here's to your gorgeous new smile.

FEW CAN SAY THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE OLYMPICS, yet we all have the opportunity to go for the gold.

In orthodontics as in sports, there are similar marks of excellence. Becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is one of them.

Becoming A Diplomate Of The ABO

The ABO process starts by a dental school graduate completing an additional two to three year post-doctoral orthodontic residency program accredited by the American Dental Association.

Board certified orthodontists pass an examination which verifies mastery of advanced skills in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

An ABO orthodontist demonstrates excellence in patient care by presenting treatment records of their own patients and passing an oral examination given by a panel of expert orthodontists.

The Benefits Of Being ABO Certified

Orthodontic board certification goes far beyond acheiving the approval of a panel of expert orthodontists. The greatest benefit comes from the insight gained through the time and study in ABO preparation. This process usually takes five years to complete.

Only one out of three orthodontists is board certified. To find a board certified orthdontist near you, visit the American Board of Orthodontics at www.americanboardortho.com.

This case was treated by board certified orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

You can be sure that ABO orthodontists have pursued excellence. They've gone for the gold.

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