Cold and Flu Season is Here - Replace Your Toothbrush!

Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, our team will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• 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 your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Snow Orthodontics if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Happy Thanksgiving!

All our doctors and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy a day filled of friends, family, and great thanksgiving food! What are you most thankful for this year? Leave us a comment, or if you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we encourage you to share them on our Facebook page!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Staying connected with Snow Orthodontics

At Snow Orthodontics, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook fan page. As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our fan page. For social media to work, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While we take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Please post your thoughts or give us a call!

Write a Review of Snow Orthodontics!

Has your experience at Snow Orthodontics been GREAT?

Would you like to let others know?

Write a review on Google– it’s easy to do! Head to our website and click the office which you have been visiting for your treatment. Then click the write a review icon over the map to head to our Google Places Page!

Do you already have a Google account? Great! Just click write a review to leave your message.

Don’t have an account? Sign up for one–it’s easy and takes only a minute or two!
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience! We really appreciate it!

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here at Snow Orthodontics, a time when families begin to make plans for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. This month, we are celebrating fall with some great deals for INVISALIGN! Let your friends and family know to call and schedule a free consultation!

Today we wanted to ask you, our wonderful patients, "How are you spending your time this fall?" Our team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment across Southern California. We are interested in learning about what makes your community “yours.”

Feel free to post your responses on our Facebook page, or give us a call!

A few Halloween safety tips

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, Dr. Snow & Team would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has provided trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

We wish you all a happy, safe, and spooky Halloween!

Invisalign® tips, from Snow Orthodontics

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, we want you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.
2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.
3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also simple: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Snow Orthodontics, give us a call!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month

Can you believe October is already upon us? October happens to be National Orthodontic Health Month, and this month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

If you happen to damage your braces, please give our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into our office.

Orthodontic fun facts, from Snow Orthodontics

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Snow Orthodontics thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.
• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).
• The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.
• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.
• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.
• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.
• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.
• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.
• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and yes, even Justin Bieber (who actually wears Invisalign Teen!)

Ask Us: Am I too old for braces?

Who’s afraid of “metal mouth” and the appearance of braces? Not adults, apparently. Recently, our staff at Snow Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Ask Us: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Snow Orthodontics is an Elite Premier Invisalign provider across Southern California. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.

New Palmdale Office Groundbreaking Ceremony

We've just shared a few fun photos of our new Palmdale orthodontic office groundbreaking ceremony, check them out on our Facebook page!

Invisalign Teen's "Make Me Smile" Challenge

Think you can make someone smile in 30 seconds or less? Then check out Invisalign Teen's "Make Me Smile" Challenge! Here's how it works:

Each month, a new challenge will be issued on the Make Me Smile Challenge web site. It is up to you to record a video response to the challenge, and upload it on the site. Videos can only be 30 seconds long, but you can enter as many times as you wish!

There are three challenges total, and the first has already begun! At the end of each round, a judge will chose a winner to receive an Apple iPad! A grand prize will be awarded at the end of the three challenges to send you and a friend to Hollywood!

We've included the contest dates below, but be sure to check out Invisalign Teen's web site for more information, and GOOD LUCK!

Challenge 1: August 17 – September 13, 2010
Challenge 2: September 14 – October 1, 2010
Challenge 3: October 12 – November 9, 2010

Congratulations to our "Snow Us Your Smile" Winners

If you've been to our Facebook page, then you know we've chosen our three winners of the Snow Us Your Smile contest! Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who participated!

Sipora Shaolian, First Place

Danielle Desch, Second Place

Kim and Melissa Powell, Third Place

Dr. Azani Explains how Invisalign Teen Works

We at Snow Orthodontics know image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having metal brackets and wires constantly attached to teeth may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. But... not to worry! There is a clear alternative to traditional braces! Dr. Azani and our team thought we'd remind you that Invisalign Teen™ gives you a whole new way to wear braces for a "clearly" amazing smile!

So how does Invisalign Teen work, you ask? Much in the same fashion as Invisalign, but with a few added characteristics tailored specifically to teenagers’ lifestyles. For instance, Invisalign Teen is designed with “compliance indicators” that fade from dark to light during the two week period that particular tray is used and once it has faded teens know to change trays. Each aligner comes with up to six free individual replacement aligners in case the original aligner ends up lost or broken. Another big benefit for the patient!

The treatment period for Invisalign Teen varies from nine to 18 months. If your teen is considering orthodontic treatment, please contact us and we’ll answer any questions you may have about Invisalign Teen.

A Fun Video from Champlin and Snow Orthodontics

Have you seen the latest video from Snow Orthodontics? We had a lot of fun making this one, hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to Invisalign®, mom and dad can have a perfect smile, too! From Snow Orthodontics

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff at Snow Orthodontics can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Ask Snow Orthodontics: What can Invisalign do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with Snow Orthodontics than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible. Besides straightening your teeth, did you know that Invisalign can improve your oral health? Here’s how Invisalign can help improve your health, while shaping your beautiful smile:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque, and gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask us the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page or give us a call! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Patient Convenience at Snow Orthodontics

At Snow Orthodontics, we strive to make your experience at our office an enjoyable and convenient one. Through our web site, we are able to communicate easily with all of our patients via email, text messaging, and our social networks.

Additionally, if you are an Invisalign patient, you can even watch your smile improve on our web site in your own secure patient login area. You can check the balance on your account. These are just a few of the steps we've taken to give you an extraordinary experience at Snow Orthodontics!

How Orthodontics can Improve Your Self Esteem

Besides giving you a beautiful, healthier smile, orthodontics can have a big effect on your self esteem, as Dr. Azani of Snow Orthodontics explains in this video. One of the most rewarding things about working with our patients is how we can change people's lives. It's amazing to see the transformation patients exhibit throughout treatment at our office.

For adults, a straighter smile can improve your self-confidence, especially in your career. For children, a straighter smile can help them avoid years of teasing or embarrassment from their peers. At Snow Orthodontics, we are pleased to offer orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages, and would love to see you for an initial consultation at one of our convenient southern California locations.