Our Blog

Archive for February, 2012

What’s your story? What made you choose Blacker Orthodontics?

Monday, February 27th, 2012

At Blacker Orthodontics, our philosophy is simple – to provide each of our patients with the highest quality of care in a comfortable and relaxing environment. We make sure our patients achieve successful treatment results and leave our office with the smile they’ve always wanted.

We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Blacker’s work? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your 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. One way you can let the world know how you feel about us is on our Google page.

You may a review of our Chandler office here: http://bit.ly/ebZjc9

Or, you may a review of our Tempe office here: http://bit.ly/fknMP5

Thanks so much in advance—your generous reviews help us build more beautiful smiles!

- Dr. Blacker and team

Posted in Braces, Oral Health, Orthodontics, patient feedback | No Comments »

Presidents’ Day Fun Facts with Blacker Orthodontics!

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Today marks Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents’ Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Blacker Orthodontics.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:

*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called “20-year curse,” in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Ask Dr. Blacker: How long does orthodontic treatment take?

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Your smile is totally unique, so the time you’ll need to spend undergoing orthodontic treatment will also be unique. Generally, orthodontic treatment will take about two years, and this is for good reason. During this time, your teeth will slowly move into their desired positions, leaving you with a great smile with as little discomfort as possible. Rushing treatment can result in a less than perfect smile with a greater chance of tooth movement after your treatment is complete. At Blacker Orthodontics, we don’t want to waste your time with treatment that won’t retain your smile for the rest of your life.

Of course, treatment time will vary depending on your specific situation. Very minor tooth movement may only take a few months to correct, while serious malocclusion (poor bite) may need more than two years to correct. Only Dr. Blacker will be able to accurately estimate the time your treatment will take. But trust us—it’ll all be worth it in the end!

Has your child or teen visited Blacker Orthodontics for an orthodontic consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help him or her begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Posted in Braces, Oral Health, oral hygiene, Orthodontics | No Comments »

February marks National Children’s Dental Health Month!

Monday, February 6th, 2012

At Blacker Orthodontics, February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, as well as National Dental Health Month, and Dr. Blacker and team thought we’d promote good oral hygiene among our patients with a few tips and tricks, courtesy of the American Dental Association.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.

• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.

• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.

• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you’re going to drink one of these beverages, don’t sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.

• Regular dental visits: in addition to seeing our team at Blacker Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Dental Health Month aims to increase awareness about the importance of our patients’ oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Blacker Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook!