Invisalign®, giving parents in Highland and Ramsey something to smile about

Hey moms and dads! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff at Van Vliet Orthodontics can help! Dr. Martin Van Vliet is specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, and is Certified Invisalign Premier Provider here in Highland and Ramsey.

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 complimentary initial consultation, so Dr. Van Vliet can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Happy Wednesday!

Super Cool Kids Club at Van Vliet Orthodontics!

Have you heard the latest in Van Vliet Orthodontics? It's fun, simple and it's cool! It's our Super Cool Kids Club, designed especially for kids like you!

Here's how it works:

* At each appointment, you will have the opportunity to spin the Kids Club Prize Wheel and win prizes such as movie passes, ice cream certificates and much, much more!

* You could also be eligible to enter in our BIG PRIZE drawing, and every 6 months you could win an iPod, portable DVD player or TV/DVD combo!

And here's the best part: By becoming our patient, you are automatically enrolled in our our Super Cool Kids Club while you are on our Pre-Orthodontic Guidance Program. If you don't yet have a membership card, be sure to ask for one at your next visit!

Welcome to The Club!!!

Foods to avoid, from Van Vliet Orthodontics

There are a variety of foods Dr. Martin Van Vliet wants you to avoid while you're in braces. Most foods can damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or break the brackets on your braces. If you have braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch causes plaque, cavities and tooth decay.

Also, avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods to Avoid
• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
• Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give us a call or ask Dr. Van Vliet during your next visit! Have a wonderful week!

Ask Dr. Van Vliet: Why braces?

Our staff at Van Vliet Orthodontics will tell you that braces, are cool, hip and usually pretty “fun” these days. In fact, these were among the findings of a nationwide survey this year of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as SureSmile and In-Ovation, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning, to name a couple—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s kids.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, also provide exciting ways for our patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment, and may also contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child visited Van Vliet Orthodontics for a complimentary consultation? If not, please give us a call and let Dr. Martin Van Vliet help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile this fall!