Friday, July 31, 2009

Invisalign Days at Snow Orthodontics

Snow Orthodontics recently held an Invisalign day at each of our office as part of an office pride and educational event. Each office got their spirit on, wearing the orange and blue invisalign colors. Take a look at a few pictures below!




Thanks to everyone for participating! Stay tuned for the next Invisalign Day at Snow Orthodontics to help decide if Invisalign is right for you!

--Dr. Snow

Friday, July 24, 2009

Bottled Water May Be Behind Tooth Troubles, Dr. Snow Explains



We at Snow Orthodontics want you to know that as more families turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride!

As of 2005, bottled water is second only to soft drinks as the most popular drink in the United States, beating out milk, juice, and – more significantly – tap water. Between 2001 and 2006, the amount of bottled water sold in the U.S. rose an average of 10% per year. And many dental health specialists point to bottled water’s increased popularity as the culprit behind rising rates of cavities.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. The benefits of fluoride were noticed in the early part of the twentieth century, when researchers found communities with low levels of tooth decay. It turned out that these towns had measurable levels (around 1 part per million) of fluoride in their drinking water.

Beginning in the 1940s, communities have fluoridated their water supplies, and dentists have seen a significant decline in cavities ever since. The American Dental Association endorses both community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride-containing products as a safe means of preventing tooth decay. Between tap water and toothpaste, most of us get sufficient amounts of fluoride.

But if your family avoids fluoridated tap water in favor of ever-more-popular bottled water, you could be missing out on the levels of fluoride necessary to make a difference in your oral health.

If bottled water is your water of choice, check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride. As of a 2006 decision, the FDA allows bottled water containing .6 to 1.0 milligrams per liter of fluoride to carry a label stating that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay. The ADA has backed this decision.

Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth. To keep your choppers in tip-top shape, it’s important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake and visiting us at Snow Orthodontics regularly.

Friday, July 17, 2009

How To Stay Young & Healthy



Whether you’re 5 or 50, your health depends on your awareness of what’s good for you. But in a world filled with fad diets, blaring advertisements, and unintelligible ingredient lists, we at Snow Orthodontics know it can be difficult to determine exactly what is good for you – and what’s not.

For straightforward guidance on how to live a long, healthy life, we recommend Brush Your Teeth! And Other Simple Ways to Stay Young and Healthy by Dr. David Ostreicher. The book sums up good health in six fundamental principles: hygiene, diet, attitude, exercise, sleep and personal safety.

Drawing on nearly three decades of experience as an orthodontist and professor of health and nutrition, Dr. Ostreicher definitively answers age-old debates, like the best way to prevent colds and flu (your mom was right: wash your hands). He provides straight talk on a variety of diet choices including salt, fats, carbs and organic food, and he documents the importance of regular sleep, stress reduction and positive thinking to your overall health. His suggestions throughout are simple, clear, and inexpensive.

Dr. Ostreicher advocates a back-to-basics, common-sense approach to staying young and healthy. We at Snow Orthodontics couldn’t agree more, and we’d like to repeat the title of his book as our favorite piece of advice: don’t forget to Brush Your Teeth!

Friday, July 10, 2009

What’s so special about an Orthodontist?



"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" At Snow Orthodontics, we hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Snow started out in dental school and earned a DDS (dental degree), just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Snow decided he wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics; which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a dental expert here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Snow Orthodontics- Patient Testimonials


Snow Orthodontics is committed to providing quality orthodontic care across California. Take a look at what some of our patients have to say!



Clean and friendly atmosphere. Appointments are always on time. ~ Lori W.

Very friendly and approachable. The Snow Orthodontics staff is always very professional. Everyone is smiling! ~ Ronald S.

Friendly service. Everyone I have met on the staff at Snow Orthodontics has gone above and beyond. I couldn't be happier! ~ Victoria R.

Dr. Snow has a nice environment that is comfortable, especially for the kids. ~ Terry D.

Everything! I love the environment, staff, and the way everything at Snow Orthodontics is organized! ~ Merissa M.

Dr. Snow has a long history in the dental field and orthodontics which, to my observation, makes him more in tune with the newer services like Invisalign. When I had a question he returned my call and helped me through a problem I was having with the Invisalign. It worked itself out but I appreciated his assistance. I also like that he is working in tandem with my periodontist to make certain everything is covered. ~Virginia U.