Tuesday, May 31, 2011

What’s on your reading list this summer?

With a lot of our patients almost out of school for the summer, some of us at Apple Creek Orthodontics wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading during the summer is actually a vital step in brain development and warding off the dreaded “summer slide.” Plus, reading is always fun and stimulating!

Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and we'd be happy to provide some good suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian here in Appleton for some ideas or check out these summer reading ideas that we came across on Friday, from Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your summer picks or your all-time novels on our Facebook page!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

"My son is turning 7 - when should we visit Apple Creek Orthodontics for a consultation?"

Great question! Our team at Apple Creek Orthodontics 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 Drs. Tomassetti and Lim 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 orthodontic treatment at Apple Creek Orthodontics! We hope you have a WONDERFUL rest of the weekend!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

What's your story? What made you choose Apple Creek Orthodontics?


At Apple Creek Orthodontics, our goal is to create a comprehensive team approach to treatment, focusing on personalized patient care in an atmosphere that patients of all ages can enjoy. It is our intent to make every visit a pleasant experience.

Whether you've visited our convenient Appleton office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our doctors and staff have fared during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice on the Web, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there.

After all, your generous reviews help us create more beautiful smiles in Appleton and surrounding communities. Thanks in advance, and we hope you have a terrific rest of the weekend!

You may write your review here.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!

Did you know the month of May is designated National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged Americans to incorporate more physical activity into their lives, and the reminder is even more significant in this day and age, as kids everywhere are distracted more and more by television, social networking and video games. Kids living an active lifestyle can improve their health, productivity and overall well-being, and best of all? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these public health guidelines for your convenience. The guidelines call for children and teens to exercise for at least one hour each day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At Apple Creek Orthodontics, we always encourage our patients to stay fit by exercising or participating in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when playing sports. To learn more about how often your child should exercise, we recommend you check out this series of helpful articles about kids and exercise, courtesy of our friends at KidsHealth.org.