(Special blog post contributed by Ormco, the manufacturer of Damon Braces)

We’re excited to share news that this month the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation (S4L) Orange County chapter awarded orthodontic treatment to 13 year-old Eby Davis-Calvo and we got to experience her bonding first hand! The Orange County S4L chapter and La Habra, Calif. Orthodontist Dr. Robert Gire recently welcomed Eby, an aspiring musical theater actress, to her bonding appointment—her first step in achieving the beautiful smile she’s always dreamed of!

During the bonding, Dr. Gire utilized Ormco’s Insignia 3D interactive smile design software, where he explained to Eby the process of bonding braces and how the appliances will create customized tooth movement. When asked about getting her new braces, Eby said, “I’ve been counting down the days! I can’t wait for my new smile.” Eby is one of six to eight teens who will receive braces and progressive orthodontic treatment from the Orange County S4L chapter this year.

For readers unfamiliar with S4L, the international nonprofit organization provides orthodontic care and free braces to underserved children with financial challenges and orthodontic needs. S4L was founded in 2008 in an effort to link children and teens of low-income families with pro-bono orthodontic scholarships. Since its inception, the foundation has treated more than 800 children who could not afford braces.

We at Ormco are a proud S4L sponsor, as we donate brackets and appliances to orthodontists who provide pro-bono treatment.

We can’t wait to see Eby’s new smile!

I have to admit that my Damon System experience has been much more comfortable and pain-free than I ever expected! I’ve run into a few minor snags along the way, but it turns out that a little preparation (and once in a while, a call to the orthodontist!) usually does the trick. Here are three common braces challenges, their causes and what you can do about them.

Challenge: Poking at the back of my mouth

Cause: After my power chain went on my braces, the gaps in my bottom teeth closed extremely quickly. That left a good 1/8 inch of wire sticking out between my back tooth and gums, almost overnight!  It’s a good sign, since it means my treatment is working (and fast!) but it was a little uncomfortable for a few days.

Solution: Make an appointment at your orthodontist’s office! The assistant can quickly and easily snip off the end of the wire and you’ll be good as new.

Challenge: Dry mouth

Cause: I’ve been great about keeping wax on my brackets, but I was occasionally waking up with the insides of my gums and lips a little sore. I finally realized it was because of the dry air in my bedroom.

Solution: I keep a glass of water next to my bed so I can grab a middle-of-the-night sip, and also run a humidifier in my bedroom to help keep my mouth from drying out. This is especially helpful on nights when I have a cold and end up breathing through my mouth.

Challenge:  Discomfort during appointments

Cause: Most of my appointments have been a breeze, but a few times my assistant and Dr. Harrington have really had to get in there and move things around. When they are removing brackets and bending wires, it can sometimes be a little uncomfortable.

Solution: Dr. Harrington advised me to start taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen around-the-clock for the 24 hours before my appointment. These painkillers also act as anti-inflammatories, so taking them in advance and after your appointments makes you less susceptible to discomfort.

These little challenges throughout treatment have been nothing compared to how excited I am about my new smile!

At my most recent orthodontist appointment, Dr. Harrington told me that from now on I would be wearing ‘power chains’ on my lower teeth.

Power chains? Sounds scary! Isn’t that what they put on snow tires?

As it turned out, ‘power chains’ are just more bands! In this case, the power chains are a tooth-colored  ‘chain’ of elastics that link each bracket to the next and help close gaps faster. First, Dr. Harrington’s assistant removed two of my front brackets, replacing them with brackets that have a little hook on them. Then, using a hook-shaped tool, she looped each link of the chain onto a bracket and anchored it on the front hook.

Once the power chains were in place, I really couldn’t see or feel them, so it seemed like business as usual. However, Dr. Harrington told me I will have to be more mindful when brushing my teeth to really get those bristles in there and dislodge food. Since the power chain fits so snug against my teeth, it doesn’t leave much space.

Dr. Harrington also pointed out that I wasn’t doing as good a job  brushing the lower halves of my bottom teeth. He was right! I had been so focused on getting food out of my brackets and cleaning my top teeth, that I’d been neglecting my lower gum line.

Armed with my arsenal of tooth-cleaning tools, I vowed to tackle my tooth-brushing habits with enthusiasm. Well, maybe I overdid it a bit. The first day after receiving my power chains, I was vigorously brushing my back teeth and popped the power chain off!

I called the orthodontist for help and they scheduled an appointment for me. Lesson learned (again) – if something breaks, pokes, hurts or falls off, call your orthodontist’s office! They can usually take care of the problem quickly and with minimal fuss. That’s what they’re there for!

Since getting the power chain on, I’ve noticed the gaps in my bottom teeth are closing quickly. Dr. Harrington says we’re in the ‘fine-tuning’ stage of treatment now, which is so exciting. My teeth are already so much straighter than I ever imagined they could be. I’m getting compliments on my smile left and right. I just can’t wait to show it off, braces-free!

At a recent orthodontist appointment, Dr. Harrington told me that I’d be wearing elastics on my braces from now on. I panicked for a minute, imagining those big neon colored rubber bands around every bracket like all my friends had in Junior High.

As it turns out, the elastics aren’t the kind that loop around each bracket individually. Instead, Dr. Harrington’s assistant put new brackets on one upper tooth and two lower teeth on each side. The new brackets have little hooks on them, and the elastics loop around the hooks to form a small triangle. This will help correct my “open bite” by providing more movement in my teeth. “Open bite” basically means that my back teeth close together, but my front teeth don’t, which needs correcting.

There are plenty of other reasons your orthodontist might have you wear elastics during your treatment. You may wear them just on your back teeth, or have them closer to the front like I do. Sometimes you wear them for a little while, and other times you don’t need to wear them at all.

I have definitely learned that it’s best to wear the bands as directed and get used to them. When I first got them on, I would get busy after breakfast and often forget to put new bands in until late afternoon. As a result, I was only wearing them about 16 hours a day.

At my next appointment Dr. Harrington said, “You really need to be wearing your rubber bands 20 hours a day.” How did he know?! I’m not sure, but after that, I started setting an alert on my phone to remind me to put new bands in after breakfast. At the next appointment, my teeth had moved more and my front teeth finally closed together!

Here’s a photo of me wearing my elastics. Notice something else about this picture? My teeth are almost straight!

(Special blog post contributed by Ormco, the manufacturer of Damon Braces)

From spreading self-confidence to improving oral health, the gift of a smile can change a life.  Just ask our celebrity endorser Bethany Hamilton, who relied on the Damon® System to transform her smile.  With more than 23 million Americans wishing to improve their smiles, Ormco and Bethany are teaming up to provide one lucky winner a chance to do just that—win a Damon System smile makeover.

We want to hear your story about how a new Damon System would change your life. To enter, please go to our official entry page and tell us—in 250 words or less—how a new Damon smile would be life-changing. Bethany will be judging the contest and select the winners.

Want some more good news? In addition to a winning a beautiful smile, we have other great prizes up for grabs, including surfboards and Soul Surfer books and DVD copies—all autographed by Bethany!

A great smile and a chance to win other prizes? Now that’s something to smile about!  Contest closes April 30, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Every now and then, somebody will ask me why I chose the Damon System over Invisalign or other aligner treatments. Here are a few reasons:

• Ability to correct more serious crowding: Since the crowding in my front teeth was fairly severe, the orthodontists I spoke to were not confident that an aligner treatment, such as Invisalign, could make as dramatic a difference as braces. I found out that, according to clinical studies, aligners can be used to treat mild to moderate tooth crowding but typically do not treat as effectively as braces.

• Fine-tuning ability: I like that with the Damon System, my orthodontist has greater control over my treatment and can adjust the treatment course as we go. With Invisalign, or other commonly used aligners, the manufacturer sends pre-fabricated treatment trays to the orthodontist. As such, it’s not as easy to modify the treatment plan mid-course to suit specific needs.

• Length of treatment: The Damon System typically reduces overall treatment time, including the number of onsite appointments. Whereas, aligners can take longer to treat even minor tooth adjustments.  As a busy mom, fewer visits to the orthodontist’s office means fewer hectic schedule changes and child care needed!

• Ease of use: Between kids, work, home and other activities, I’m already juggling plenty of balls daily! It’s nice to know my Damon System braces are in place, doing their job without requiring me to change trays, as aligner patients do.  All I have to do is keep my braces clean!

Even though my braces aren’t completely invisible, I’m very happy with the way Damon Clear looks. Often people don’t even notice them, and even though you can see the wire, it’s so thin you can hardly see it from a few feet away.  Deciding what orthodontic treatment to use is a personal choice, but be sure to consult your orthodontist to learn what treatment will work best for you. I’m glad I went with Damon Clear!

My orthodontist recently told me I had to have rubber bands put on and now, they’re on! Dr. Harrington had to remove a couple brackets to put on new ones with little “hooks” that  hold the bands in place. They’re easy to put on and take off. I just thread them over the hooks top and bottom, and I’m good to go.

Dr. Harrington’s assistant told me that I might be a little sore at first while my teeth got used to the bands, but just to leave them on and ‘power through’ rather than trying to ease into it a little at a time. She was right! I left the bands on all day for the first two days, and while my teeth were a little tender at first, they got used to it quickly.

Dr. Harrington told me to leave the bands on about 20 hours per day. I usually leave them on from after dinner until breakfast, and then wear them for the remainder of the day, unless I have a party or social event. Of course, they also come off while I eat.  As it turns out, the rubber bands are just one more thing about braces I thought I’d have a hard time getting used to, but have turned out to be no big deal.

It’s hard to believe that I’ve already had my braces for months! Now, whenever somebody tells me they aren’t sure they want to get braces because the treatment seems like a long time, I tell them, “Hey, the time is going to go by whether you get braces or not. But if you get the braces, at least at the end of it you’ll have straight teeth.”

On that note, my 13-year-old son will have his first orthodontic consultation soon. He has some crowding in the front and I think he’s probably going to need braces. What do you think—should we try to arrange a mother-son braces photo shoot?

Sooner or later, every person with braces finds themselves in a tricky situation: You’re out to dinner with friends, or you just decided to enjoy a quick snack in the car on your way to an event, and a quick glance in the mirror shows you that, oh no, those braces are in need of some brushing, stat!

I totally understand feeling shy about brushing in public, but sometimes there’s just no way around it. As it turns out, it’s not a big deal at all! Here are my best tips for brushing while out and about:

• When available, I often try to duck into one of the “family” restrooms. These  offer much more privacy because they are all-in-one bathrooms, with a single stall and sink in one room

• If there  isn’t a family or private restroom available, locate a sink at the far end of the bathroom, which often offers the most privacy

• Before you start brushing, grab a few paper towels or tissues so you can quickly and discreetly wipe the sink, mirror and/or counter as you go

• If you can find one, it’s a good idea to carry a disposable cup with you into the bathroom to make rinsing easier

• Carry a proxabrush with you at all times. I find them much easier to use in public than floss, and they’ll let you quickly and inconspicuously remove much of the food in your front braces before you start brushing!

• Push the brush bristles down through your brackets, then up, on both the bottom and top. This will quickly help dislodge most of the remaining food

What is my biggest tip? Relax! I have found that most people are very understanding about my needs now that I have braces. Many people have “been there” before, and the reminiscing can lead to fun conversations. Not only that, but I’m constantly being approached by other adults who have considered getting braces, and I love giving them my bathroom sink testimonials! I do believe I’ve convinced a few women to get braces, right there in the public ladies’ room.

Having braces doesn’t mean you have to hide away at home. Get out there and have a good time—and if you have to brush, by all means, brush!

Adults with braces can’t help feeling a little bit self-conscious at times. Sure, one in five orthodontic patients are over 18 years old, but it’s still common for me to be the only grown-up at the cocktail party or work conference wearing brackets and wires. But I’ve found several ways of getting past the awkwardness and learning to be really comfortable in my braces:

• Carry Your Tools. Make sure you’ve brought along whatever works best for keeping your teeth clean on the go—a travel toothbrush, dental picks, proxabrush, etc. The first step is being prepared!

• Eat Wisely. When you hit the hors d’oeuvres tray, choose bite-sized items you can chew with your back teeth. Anything that fits on a toothpick is usually a good choice. Cheese, small slices of deli meat, grapes, and olives work well for me. Bread, rice and celery, not so much. Also, as much as it pains me to say this, bacon has a way of getting lodged between brackets and gums and is really hard to fish out. So eat that bacon-wrapped fig if you must, but be prepared for a restroom brushing session later.

• Put Your Best Smile Forward. In addition to doing a good job with your daily brushing and flossing, be sure to get your teeth cleaned at the orthodontist regularly! Since it’ll be harder to give those tooth surfaces a good scrubbing, they may start to look a little dingy. The hygienist will spray your teeth with a salt wash that blasts away stains and leaves you with shiny white teeth. However, do talk to your orthodontist before using any at-home bleaching kits.

(Special blog post contributed by Ormco, the manufacturer of Damon Braces)

We are thrilled to announce that $75,000 was raised at the 2nd Annual Smile for a Lifetime Foundation (S4L) Casino Night fundraiser! Taking place at our 11th Annual Damon Forum, the evening featured a silent auction, casino games and a poker table with professional players Tom Schneider and Kevin O’Donnell. Damon^® System endorser Bethany Hamilton—who relied on the Damon System  to improve her smile—also contributed to the event. A surfboard signed by Hamilton was auctioned for $5,500, while Soul Surfer books and DVDs raised more than $1,000. Other auction items included items such as iPads, hotel accommodations, jewelry and professional orthodontic services.

The money raised at the fundraiser will help S4L, a national non-profit organization, continue its mission to encourage orthodontists to provide free quality orthodontic care to individuals with financial challenges and special orthodontic needs. In 2012, 1,000 scholarships will be awarded to deserving children through S4L, totaling more than $6 million in free orthodontic treatment. We are proud to support S4L and enjoyed being the host for its annual fundraiser! As background, we at Ormco serve as S4L’s primary sponsor and provide free brackets and wires to orthodontists who award S4L scholarships.

For blog readers unfamiliar with the Damon Forum, it’s Ormco’s annual educational event for leading orthodontists. With more than 1,300 attendees, more than 30 interactive workshops and keynote addresses from Dr. Dwight Damon and Bethany Hamilton, we can say with confidence that the four days we spent with the orthodontic community has left us inspired for another great year of innovation to better serve orthodontists and their patients.

A big “thank you” to everyone who helped make the Damon Forum and the Smile for a Lifetime fundraiser a success this year!