Match That Movie Contest

Our contest for August is a movie quote contest! Match the quote to the correct movie and you could win $50 in movie passes!

When you come in for your next appointment you will have the opportunity to enter the contest!!

We look forward to seeing you soon!!!

Back to School!

"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." -Sydney J. Harris

We at TS Orthodontics would like to wish you the best as you head back to school! The summer went by fast but we hope that everyone had a great one!

Best wishes and we look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!

April/Teacher Appreciation Week Contest!

In honor of

Teacher Appreciation Week,

tell us why your teacher is the BEST!

Winning teacher will receive a

class pizza party!

Bring your response by the office or Email it to gr8smyle@hotmail.com

Winner will be announced on May 1st!

Extra Token for Wearing Green in March!

During the month of March, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, wear something green to your appointment and you will receive an extra token!!!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Happy Valentine's Day

"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."

-Mother Teresa

Happy Valentine's Day from TS Orthodontics!

14 Ways to Avoid Colds and Flu - Cold, Flu and Sinus - Health.com

Now that cold and flu season is upon us, we wanted to give you some ways to avoid getting sick according to health.com!

Every time you shake someone’s hand, wash yours
But don’t stop there. Wash them as much as possible, says Mark Mengel, MD, chair of community and family medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Running lots of water over your hands will dilute any germs and send them down the drain.

Keep your hands off
Touching your nose and your eyes may hurt you, Mengel says. Those are the most common places for germs to get in.

Go to bed
As if getting enough sleep on a normal basis isn’t hard enough, you need more z’s when you’re feeling under the weather. When you’re tired, your body isn’t fighting as hard, so Mengel suggests getting 8 to 10 hours a night.

Get your shot
Last year’s flu-shot shortages are, well, last year’s shortages, says Jeff Robertson, MD, and chief medical officer for health insurer Regence. Finding flu shots should be easier this year, but you should get one early.

Build up with healthy food
You may think it’s hard to eat healthily on a regular basis, but eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables supports your immune system, Robertson says. And that’s a lot easier than fighting off the flu.

Work out
Get those sweats on and exercise, says Ann G. Kulze, MD, CEO and founder of Dr. Ann and Just Wellness. Working out regularly enhances immune function, she explains.

Stay away
Keep your distance from people displaying symptoms like sneezing and coughing. While that strategy may seem obvious, it applies to more than just strangers and colleagues. Stay away from sick friends and family when possible, Robertson says.

Sanitize yourself
Keep sanitizing gel or alcohol-based hand wipes on you at all times. But read the label before you buy, says Robertson: Some wipes are not alcohol-based and won’t be as effective.

Another reason to quit
Smoking increases the risk of infections by making structural changes in the respiratory tract and decreasing immune response, according to a study of smokers and infection published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2004. In particular, Mengel says, smoking destroys cilia, the little hairlike fibers inside our noses; this can help increase infection risks.

Did you just double dip that chip?
Beware of the dip. It may be harboring more than savory salsa. Double-dippers may be passing germs to those who eat after them, Mengel says.

Another reason to shop
Our purses pick up germs like we do, according to Joseph Brasco, MD, author of The Great Physician’s Rx for Colds and Flu, so you could be re-infecting yourself every time you pick up your handbag. His suggestion: Put away your cloth purse during the winter months and carry one made of easier-to-wipe-down vinyl or leather. Of course, you could always just buy more purses.

I hear your mother calling
Biting your nails may be hurting you, Brasco says. Germs get under your nails and nibbling is a fast way to ingest them.

Try to smile
New research has found that happiness may help you. Carl Charnetski, MD, professor of psychology at Wilkes University, found that sex, positive thinking, playing with a pet, and other pleasurable behaviors will boost your immune system.

You want me to sneeze where?
It may sound strange, but when you have to cough and sneeze, do so into the crook of your elbow, not into your hands. Since your hands are a common source of germs, doing that will prevent them from spreading, Kulze says.

For more information, click on the link below.

14 Ways to Avoid Colds and Flu - Cold, Flu and Sinus - Health.com

If you have a fever or Flu-like symptoms, kindly reschedule your appointment with us. Thanks!

February 2011 Contest at TS Orthodontics

February Contest

When you come in for your appointment during the month of February you will have the opportunity to participate in our contest for the month.
Guess how many chocolate hearts are in the jar and whoever guesses the correct answer or closest to it will win a gift card!!

Come on in and take a guess!

The winner will be announced Tuesday, March 1st!!

Summer Sports Are Here, Keep those Braced Teeth Safe and in the Clear

Keeping Asheville Braces Safe

With Summer in full swing it is easy to forget that school sports are right around the corner, some as early as August 1st.

• We want to provide the most pertinent and relavent information regarding the protection of teeth from trauma.
• Mouth guards are a MUST with sports, plain and simple. It does not matter if you have braces or not.
• Contrary to common belief, football is NOT the source of most dental injuries. While hockey runs a close second, the highest incidence of trauma to teeth from adolescent sporting activities is basketball.
• Now Moms, don't bubble wrap your tiny basketball players, just get them a mouth guard!
• We provide mouth guards for all our patients that are wearing braces. The mouth guards that are worn over braces are a little different than what you might be used to.
• Boil and bite is not right! The mouth guard should not form fit around the brackets

Braces got you down?

Those of us who had braces as kids or as adults realize the benefits of improving our smiles and achieving a health bite by having orthodontic treatment.

...But how about those of us who have not had braces yet.........?

What's the hold-up?

Of course there are financial concerns, but often its the time commitment required and the hassle of wearing braces. I realize this and have dedicated hours and hours to devising treatments that are tailored to your needs.

Invisalign provides a clear choice for an alternative to wearing braces, here is the problem... Invisalign has its limitations which are well documented in the literature and my clinical experience. A recent study in the American Journal of Orthodontics found that Invisalign only achieves its predicted goals 40% of the time. So why would anyone choose such a treatment? For some, Invisalign is a perfect alternative to braces, but for others, Invisalign simply will not get the job done.

Why...?

The reason that most Invisalign cases yield less than optimal results are that certain tooth movements cannot be accomplished with Invisalign Aligners.

How do we give you exactly what you want?

In some instances, we are moving the teeth that invisalign has difficultly moving by using conventional braces, usually on the back teeth. In other instances Invisalign can begin right away moving your teeth into alignment leaving only a short period of time wearing braces. Invisalign can deliver a great result all the time with the help of selective use of braces.

My Team and I are always thinking of ways to make your orthodontic journey as comfortable as possible. Follow us on Twitter, Blogger and Facebook to stay connected with all the newly emerging technologies available to you.

Give us a call for your complimentary visit to see how we can perfect your smile.....

~Dr. Tim Scanlan

Patient Reward program for 2010!

2010 is here, and its time to announce our new patient rewards program! Take a look at all the details below, and start earning your tokens!

2010 TOKEN GUIDELINES:
Earn 1 token each or 3 total at regular appointments:
• On-time for regular scheduled appointment
• No broken appliances and good oral hygiene
• Cooperating with rubber band usage

Earn additional tokens for the following:
• 3 tokens: Each appointment with your dentist
(2 recommended each year with braces)

• 15 tokens: Refer a friend who becomes a patient
(plus your name entered in a drawing for a Wii)

Academic/Citizenship Rewards:
Each semester (2 quarters), earn B’s or higher in core subjects (English, history, science, math) or present documentation of a completed organized community service project and have your name entered for a grand prize drawing.

Rewards

80 Tokens:
IPod Touch, Wii, Xbox 360, Play station 3
Spa Day for 2
$150 Visa gift card

65 Tokens:
IPod Nano, Nintendo DS
Digital Camera or Digital Camcorder Flip
Large digital picture frame
Manicure & Pedicure
Gamefly 1-year membership
Converse shoes –Build Your Own Design
$100 Visa gift card

50 Tokens:
Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii Game
Small digital picture frame
$50 Visa gift card

35 Tokens:
IPod shuffle
Portable CD player
$40 Fun Depot Gift card

20 Tokens:
2 Movie passes
$25 ITunes gift card or $25 gift card to Target

10 Tokens:
$5 Gift card to Cold Stone or $5 Gift card to Starbucks

The Basics of Orthodontic Treatment

Check out this great video from the American Association of Orthodontists about the basics of orthodontic treatment. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a dentist and an orthodontist? Did you know orthodontic treatment works for all ages? Watch the video to learn more about what makes orthodontic treatment important!

Have a great weekend,

--Dr. Tim Scanlan

What do you love about Scanlan Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to TS Orthodontics our orthodontist and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Scanlan? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Do you love your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback on our networks. Or, you can tell us by giving us a call!

Thank you,
The team at TS Orthodontics

Scanlan Orthodontics in the News!

Earlier this morning, Dr. Scanlan was featured on the ABC 13 news describing the SureSmile system. Click the image above to check out this great video, and don't forget to share it with friends and post your comments!

Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at Scanlan Orthodontics!

Why Is It So Important To Have Straight Teeth?

Some people wonder why we work so hard to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime.

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque – the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, give us a call at 828-633-4353 to set up a consultation. Dr. Scanlan can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Accelerating your orthodontic treatment with SureSmile, from Dr. Scanlan

We're well into November, but did you know October was National Orthodontic Health Month? There are millions of busy adults and teenagers who often object to the typical orthodontic treatment length of two years. But now, Dr. Scanlan is offering SureSmile, treatment that is 40% faster and technology that enables him to provide more efficient treatment. SureSmile is known to reduce the treatment time and number of discomfort episodes for patients needing braces.

Take a look at the video above. It's a great description of SureSmile and how this tool is transforming orthodontics as we know it today. Unlike conventional orthodontics, which uses a plaster model and 2-D imaging, SureSmile gives the orthodontist a detailed 3-D computer model of the patients’ teeth that can precisely plot individual tooth movement through the entire course of treatment – from start to finish.

“SureSmile technology is a perfect option for busy teens and adults who do not have time for frequent office visits or lengthy procedures,” Dr. Scanlan says. “With this system, my patients can now obtain the smiles they desire with less overall discomfort and shorter treatment times than before. SureSmile is the future of orthodontic care.”

For additional information about the SureSmile system, give us a call.

Bring Your Canned Food!

Scanlan Orthodontics is helping out the Steadfast House of Asheville, a women and children's shelter, by holding a canned food drive from November 2nd - 24th. Bring your canned food at your next appointment to our office at 131 McDowell St. Please call us at 828-633-4353 if you have any questions.

Thank you for contributing to this worthy cause!

--Scanlan Orthodontics

Boo!

It's almost Halloween, and we understand sour candy is a part of any Halloween celebration. But while sour candy can be delicious, they are arguably as unhealthy for your teeth as sweet candy. The reason is, sour candies tend to be very acidic, and are capable of burning your cheeks and gums while wearing down the enamel on your teeth.

In 2008, the Minnesota Dental Association released a study which suggested the amount of acid in sour candies may eat away at tooth enamel and cause cavities. We would like to remind you that if you should experience a craving for sour candies on Halloween or in the future, please:

1. Remember to rinse your mouth with water immediately after consuming candy, drink milk, or eat a couple pieces of cheese.

2. Do not brush immediately after consuming sour candy. The candy's acidic nature tends to soften tooth enamel. Brushing your teeth can mean abrading the enamel.

3. Limit the amount of sour candies that you consume on a daily basis. If you do indulge, remember not to suck or chew on sour candies for long periods of time.
If tooth erosion has already begun, ask us about ways to reduce sensitivity and continue to protect your teeth.

Hope this helps! All of us at Scanlan Orthodontics wish you a happy and safe Halloween!

Advanced Orthodontic Technology at Scanlan Orthodontics

When you visit our office, not only will you receive the same exceptional treatment and service we always offer, but you will have the chance to take advantage of our advanced orthodontic technologies, including SureSmile®. What could be better?

SureSmile® is the most sophisticated technology available to traditional orthodontic treatment. The advanced digital technology is what separates the SureSmile® System from conventional orthodontics. By utilizing customized arch wires, SureSmile® can deliver:

* Shorter Treatment Times

* Fewer Office Visits

* Less Overall Discomfort

How is this possible? With SureSmile® orthodontics, our assistants use a handheld oral scanner to capture 3-D images that allow Dr. Scanlan to build a precise 3-D computer model of your teeth. Treatment planning occurs on the computer where Dr. Scanlan maps out your entire treatment and designs ideal positions for your teeth. With this information, Dr. Scanlan determines the most efficient way to move your teeth to create the desired result. Your wires are then bent utilizing a robotic mechanism that creates the perfect movement to create your winning smile.

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. Scanlan please call 828-633-4353.

SureSmile in Action - State of The Art Orthodontics in Asheville, NC

Today we wanted to show the revolutionary technology of the SureSmile system in action! Check out exactly how exciting it is when the expertise and experience of Dr. Scanlan, meets the precision of a robot:



Did you know Dr. Scanlan was the first to introduce the SureSmile system to the Asheville community? Give us a call today at 828-254-4602 to learn more about this revolutionary treatment, which can decrease treatment time by as much as 40%!