Kids Getting Braces at a Younger Age

Dr. Phil Doleac 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 the 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. Doleac 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!

Distinguishing the myths and facts about orthodontics, from Magic Smiles

Trust us when we say Dr. Doleac and our staff know there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) floating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists set the record straight (no pun intended) and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Magic Smiles in Portland, Beaverton and Scappoose, feel free to give us a call.

Meet Dr. Doleac

I started my orthodontic career as a military orthodontist in Germany, Texas, and Alaska. My military service began when I earned my bachelor degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. While on active duty in the US Army, I attended the University of Texas Dental School in San Antonio. I then earned my Orthodontic Degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in 1981. After nine years as a military orthodontist, I brought my family to Portland to start my private practice.

My wife, Marge, and I have four children. Our oldest son, Jason, works for Boston Scientific and just moved to Salt Lake City with his wife, Meredith, and their three children, Kendal, Carter, and Addison. Michael, our second son, lives in Park City, Utah. He and his wife, Shannon, have 2 sons, Taylor and Boston. Michael is pursuing a masters in Physics and intends to teach either high school or college Physics. Kenny, our third son, followed in my footsteps and graduated from West Point. After 2 tours in Iraq as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, he is planning on leaving the Army and pursuing an MBA. Our daughter, Suzanne, graduated from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, with degrees in Biology and French. She just received her acceptance into Oregon Health Science University Medical School, where she begins in the fall.

I enjoy getting together with my kids and grandkids, especially at our cabin in eastern Washington. I like to golf, fish, snow ski, work out, and watch basketball, especially March Madness and the NBA playoffs. I am fascinated by computers and how technological advances are changing orthodontics. I also love to read historical fiction.

Smile--June is National Smile Month!

It's June already! Where does the time go?

Dr. Doleac and the Magic Smiles team are excited to tell you June marks National Smile Month, a great time to remind our patients to brush, floss, practice good nutrition at home (and over the summer) to avoid cavities and gum disease, among other dental health issues.

After all, there's more and more evidence that suggests folks with gum disease are more at risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Here are a few easy steps you can improve your oral health at home:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during orthodontic treatment.
* Visit your general dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of the tips here, we encourage you to give either of our Portland, Beaverton, or Scappoose offices a call ! We hope you had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

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 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 Magic Smiles, 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.

24/7 Access To Your Account On Our Web Site

At Magic Smiles, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative Invisalign and Damon System treatments that we offer, our high tech web site and social networks, or our modern offices conveniently located in Portland, Beaverton and Scappoose.

Did you know that patients at Magic Smiles have access to their account, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button at the top of the page. Please call us at 503-200-2536 if you have any questions!

Happy New Year from Magic Smiles!

The year is almost over, and as we reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask all our patients what was memorable about 2009 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2010? Do you have a new years resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, from Dr. Doleac and the rest of the team at Magic Smiles.

When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary?

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – but in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. We call this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat. Examples include an upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly, or a mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in.

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has “baby teeth.” Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly, such as a retainer. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent the patient’s permanent teeth have come in. Phase two often does involve braces and sometimes headgear.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit an orthodontist even sooner. For more information about two-phase orthodontics, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Doleac please call 503-200-2536.

Boo!

We know you are excited about Halloween, and we at Magic Smiles want to wish you a fun, safe, and spooky good time this weekend! If you have been on our Facebook or MySpace pages recently, then you know that we are holding a contest that you can participate in each week by posting a message on these sites.

For the next two weeks (November 2-15th), you can enter the contest by posting a photo of your Halloween costume or pumpkin carving on our Facebook wall or MySpace page. Remember, we will be drawing a winner on December 15th to win $100, and every week is another opportunity to enter into the contest!

Happy Halloween from all of us at Magic Smiles!

Imagining Your Life With Invisalign

Are you wondering what Invisalign treatment is really like, and what effect it will have on your day-to-day activities? Will it slur your speech? Will people know you're in treatment? You're not alone in your concerns! Following are a list of questions and answers for anyone pondering Invisalign treatment.

How exactly does Invisalign work?

Using 3-D computer imaging technology, Invisalign creates a series of custom-made, clear aligners exclusively for your teeth, based on the treatment plan that we specify for you. Each aligner moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

Will I experience pain during treatment?

Most people experience temporary discomfort for a few days after a new aligner is placed. This feeling of pressure is normal and is a sign that Invisalign is working by sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination.

Can other people see that I'm in treatment?

One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.

Can I smoke during treatment?

We discourage smoking while wearing the aligners as they may become discolored.

Are there any foods I cannot eat while in treatment?

You can eat normally during the entire course of treatment. One of the advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable. Simply take the aligners out before each meal, brush when you're finished eating, then reinsert the aligners afterward.

What about chewing gum?

We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks, as gum and other chewy substances can stick to the aligners.

How often must I wear my aligners?

Aligners should be worn all day, except when eating, brushing, and flossing.

Will my speech be affected by the aligners?

As with any orthodontic treatment, aligners may temporarily affect your speech. If this does happen, your tongue will adjust within a day or two and your speech should return to normal.

How can I clean my aligners?

The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water.

How often must I visit your office during treatment?

For most patients, visits every 4-6 weeks are frequent enough for us to determine that your treatment is progressing properly. Dr. Doleac will provide you with a specific schedule that supports your individual treatment plan.

Win $100 from Magic Smiles

We have just started our fall patient contest! Here are all the details:

Become our Fan on Facebook or Friend on MySpace then write on our wall (Facebook) or add a comment (MySpace). For each comment (favorable, of course, and limited to 1/week on each site) you will be entered into the drawing for $100.

There are approximately 10 weeks before Dec 15th, so if you made 1 entry on each site every week, you would have 20 entries in the drawing. Head over to the Magic Smiles Fan Page or Dr. Doleac's MySpace profile. If you are not registered on those sites, you will need to do that before you can add a comment.

Thanks and GOOD LUCK!

--Dr. Doleac & the Magic Smiles Team