How to prioritize your oral health, from Adams Orthodontics

Now that you have braces, it's more important than ever to maintain good oral health. Dr. Adams would like to share a few good oral hygiene tips with our patients, courtesy of the American Dental Association, or ADA.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush, using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.
• Flossing: Hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and place between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth. We encourage patients to visit our website for more oral care tips!
• Snack wisely: Choose healthy snacks such as vegetables, fruits and cheese and avoid sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, make sure to brush after doing so.
• Carbonated or sugary drinks: These beverages create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. When drinking one of these beverages, avoid sipping on it throughout the day. Rather, have a drink and then brush your teeth.
• Regular dental visits: You should visit your regular dentist for a checkup every six months (or as recommended).

If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Adams Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call!

Flossing 101 with Dr. Adams

Here is a very concise video explaining the proper way to floss your teeth. Many people think that flossing is only to get the food out from in between your teeth, when actually flossing should be done every day on every tooth to help protect your teeth and gums.

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Dr. Adams, your Ottawa Orthodontist, strives to offer our patients exceptional orthodontic care in a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere. With an orthodontic treatment plan that is specifically tailored for you, you can be confident that the ending result will be a smile that's good for life. Have you had a great experience with Dr. Adams and team?

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-The team at Adams Orthodontics

Preparing for Cold and Flu Season, from Adams Orthodontics

To promote a healthy and clean environment, our doctor and team at Adams Orthodontics give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our office at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces.

For the protection of other patients and our staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

Maintaining and protecting oral hygiene equipment is also important this flu season. To protect your toothbrush from bacteria follow these steps:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace toothbrush after every cold or flu or every 3-4 months when bristles appear worn

Hope this helps and give us a call if you have any questions! Stay healthy!

Kids getting braces at a younger age

Dr. Adams will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Adams to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

SureSmile makes the rounds on ABC’s “The Doctors”

On a recent episode of ABC's "The Doctors," Dr. Thomas Lee of Oxnard, California, was interviewed in front of a live audience and demonstrated SureSmile technology and discussed treatment benefits for orthodontists and their patients. Dr. Lee's 14-year-old patient, Nina, who had just completed SureSmile treatment, was part of the segment as well, and spoke positively about her SureSmile treatment experience.

SureSmile is a software program that facilitates the precise positioning of a patient’s teeth placement for orthodontic braces. Did you know that Dr. Adams is a certified SureSmile provider? Give us a call and ask for more information!

Why the Damon® System?

Big things are happening in the orthodontics world, and the Damon System is at the forefront of these revolutionary changes. With the Damon System, achieving a perfect smile is easier and faster than ever before with braces!

Damon® is a better option:

With the new Damon braces, you are able to achieve amazing results and finish treatment faster. Depending on your case, this could potentially save you months of treatment! After reviewing your specific needs, Adams Orthodontics and our staff will be able to provide you with a treatment plan that will have you smiling soon! Because Damon braces are very precise and effective, we can reduce the need for many of the time-consuming and complicated procedures that are used with traditional braces. Because Damon braces work more efficiently, fewer adjustments are required. As a result, your appointments will be faster and fewer in number. Due to the unique design of this new braces system, we can move your teeth into their correct positions with much less discomfort than traditional braces. Also, Damon braces are small, very comfortable, and easy to keep clean.

Dr. Adams is a certified Damon System provider. To learn more about the Damon System or your treatment here at Adams Orthodontics, please give us a call. We look forward to meeting you!

At Adams Orthodontics, easy access to your account information

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple, convenient and great, doesn’t it?

Patients at Ottawa's Adams Orthodontics enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. You may look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages! Just see what some of our patients are saying about this helpful service:

"Confirmation of appointment times, account balance and as a 'nice to have' abiltiy to view photos and X-rays. Great." ~ Carol S.

"Viewing my daughters Xrays was very interesting and gave me more insight into her care." ~ Sara P.

"To have the pictures available just in a few seconds is awsome. Also I love that I can see my next appointment." ~ Nadine S.

"Other doctors should have this service because it is easier to get information and the contact between the office and the patient is consistent. Makes finding information much easier between visits as well." ~ Karen L.

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call at 613-748-1252 if you have any questions about getting started!

Relax! Hollywood stars also struggle with crooked teeth!

Ottawa orthodontist Dr. Blair Adams know people often struggle with small imperfections. Making crooked teeth straight, stained teeth sparkling white and chipped teeth smooth is part of what Dr. Adams does as an orthodontist. The sense of renewed self confidence that comes to my patients after having some sort of reconstructive work is what makes my job worthwhile.

Consider Katherine Heigl, award-winning actress, and considered by many the Grace Kelly of our day. She describes struggling with crooked teeth her whole life until finally there came a point when she said "enough is enough!" She decided to do something to straighten her teeth.

Our staff at Adams Orthodontics think you will enjoy this clip. Please feel free to leave comments, and tell us what you think! Have you ever struggled with this same problem? Have you felt the relief of smiling to reveal a straight, bright smile after hiding crooked ones for so long? Contact us so we can hear your story, or share your story on our Facebook page!

Write a review of Adams Orthodontics!

Whether you have visited Adams Orthodontics for a week, month or for years, we’d love to hear your feedback about your experience with Dr. Blair Adams! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. Our staff would like to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment!

You may write a review on our Google Local page.

Thank you! And Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

Get those checkups! From Adams Orthodontics

Are you brushing your teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s fantastic! But, don’t forget that it’s also important to visit the dentist every six months in addition to brushing your teeth a couple times a day and flossing (and visiting Adams Orthodontics, of course). Dr. Adams will tell you that regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. He or she will also screen you for oral cancer. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment - there are some terrific dentists here in Ottawa!

Don't forget about those retainers, from Dr. Adams

If you've recently completed your treatment at Adams Orthodontics, our staff would like to take this time to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Adams will provide—or has provided you—with retainers.

Retainers are important because after braces are removed, teeth may shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization, and are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes.

Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

Give us a call if you have any questions and again, congratulations on being braces-free!

Ask Dr. Adams: What can I expect during my consultation?

At your initial consultation, Dr. Blair Adams will conduct a comprehensive examination to assess your oral health. This will better enable him and our staff to determine the best treatment method for you.

Your orthodontic evaluation will consist of an oral and facial examination to assess your oral health. Dr. Adams will have you take intraoral and facial photographs and some X-rays to help determine the proper orthodontic treatment method. An impression of your teeth and bite will also be taken to construct a model of your mouth.

At your second appointment, Dr. Adams will discuss your options with you. Our team feels it’s important to take the time to carefully examine your diagnostic records after your consultation so that Dr. Adams can more thoroughly prepare for your treatment at Dr. Adams. This additional preparation will ensure that you receive the best orthodontic care possible. At this time, we encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about your treatment.

If you are seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, our staff asks that both you and your child attend the initial consultation. We feel it is important that both you and your child completely understand Dr. Adams' recommendations before we proceed with treatment.

Give us a call today and schedule a consultation! We look forward to hearing from you!