Legler Orthodontics Makes You Smile!

As the holiday season approaches, our Legler Orthodontics team want to take a moment to THANK everyone we have shared smiles with this year.  We have the great pleasure of spending our work days in a truly happy place.  Our patients make us smile and laugh every day.  Dr. Legler and our entire staff love working here to make our patients happy, improve their smiles and give them a healthy bite for the rest of their life.

At Legler Orthodontics we also care about making our community smile.  We have donated thousands of dollars and hours of our time this year.  Some of the ways we have served our community were:

• Dental Health Month Education- Lecture from Dr. Legler and tooth brushing kits to thousands of children in Indian River and St. Lucie counties
• St. Lucie Mets Education Days Sponsor- Paid for thousands of children in St. Lucie county to attend baseball games for a field trip from school
• Fifth Grade Graduation Night- Treated hundreds of graduating Fifth Graders to a movie night with their parents in Indian River county
• Summer Camps- Visited hundreds of camps this summer with healthy teeth education guides
• Halloween Candy Buy Back- Collected over 400 pounds of candy to donate to troops through Military Moms
• Toys For Tots- Will collect toys again this year for needy children

Our tag line is: Legler Orthodontics Makes You Smile.  Our hope is that we have done that this year.  Either through our charitable giving, community service, our just by sharing happy moments with you at our office this year.  We sincerely hope we have made you smile....because you certainly have made us smile!

Happy Holidays and Wishes for a Wonderful New Year!

Nightmare on Elm Street Part XX: REVENGE OF THE ORTHODONTIST!!!

Most of us in the world of orthodontics would agree - no time of year is anticipated with more joy, trepidation and downright fear than Halloween.  Sure, my staff and I enjoy dressing up at the office with interesting and unlikely themes that patients young and old seem to enjoy.  We display a world class array of pumpkins decorated by area dental offices and favorites voted on by patients and anyone with access to facebook (Legler Orthodontics)...the competition can really heat up!  But the fly in the proverbial ointment is the dreaded ritual of trick or treating.

You see, in orthodontics, we use braces or brackets bonded or glued to the teeth.  These braces hold a wire that delivers a force to the tooth  that causes it to move into the desired position.  The braces can withstand normal foods, but extreme foods such as hard or chewy candy is the equivalent of an oral tomahawk missile.  Through careful and repeated education and reminding by my staff, we are able to avoid many a drone strike, but Halloween is a challenge.  Once kids of any age don their costumes, the alter ego comes out and anything can happen... especially after the jacking-up process when sugar says "hello, I've missed you " to bloodstream!

So we at Legler Orthodontics are fighting back by teaming up with Ardalan Pediatric Dentistry on Nov. 1st at Mets stadium for the biggest candy buy back program in the history of Freddy Krueger!  Please raid your child's stash of candy and save only the good soft stuff and bring all the sticky, hard, chewy refuse to the Mets stadium.  Your child will be rewarded with cash they can use to buy broccoli, brussels sprouts or beets.  So I hope your child has an enjoyable and safe Halloween and if braces are a part of their couture, please be that braces- breaking, cavity- causing super hero shield we need on the homefront!    Thanks for listening, we hope to see you at Mets stadium and don't forget to vote for your favorite pumpkin!

What is the Advantage of Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment?

Early treatment (also known as Phase One) typically begins around age 7 or 8 (Phase Two will begin around age 11 or older). The goal of early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems such as an underbite or crossbite. Early treatment also helps to make room for the permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the chance for extractions or more complicated treatment in the future.

Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a specialized process combining tooth straightening and growth modification to produce facial changes. The purpose of two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, esthetic result that will remain stable throughout life. Your child may need early orthodontic treatment if they are experiencing the following:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth (your child should typically start losing teeth around age five, and all permanent teeth will be erupted by age 13).
• Difficulty chewing and/or biting.
• Your child continues sucking their thumb after age five.
• Protruding teeth (the top teeth and the bottom teeth extend away from each other).
• Teeth that don’t fit together in a normal manner.
• Shifting of the jaw when your child opens or closes their mouth (crossbites).
• Crowded front teeth around age 7 or 8.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children first be evaluated by an orthodontist at age 7. Dr. Legler will determine if your child will need orthodontic treatment and when would be the most effective time to start. Most patients are treated between the ages of 10 and 14, so if your child is not ready, our recall program will ensure your child is treated at the best age possible to correct his/her orthodontic problem. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions you may have!

What is Surf Bucks?

We are excited to introduce a new patient rewards program to our patients...SURF BUCKS! Since creating a great orthodontic result requires commitment and consistent cooperation from our patients, we want to reward them for all of their hard work! Plus, let's face it, the more each patient is involved in their treatment and responsible for things such as oral hygiene, wearing elastics and avoiding breakage, the less of a burden it is on their parents.

Once enrolled in Surf Bucks, patients are awarded points for cooperation, participation in contests,patient referrals,etc. Points can be redeemed for gift cards to a variety of outlets and our patients love it because they can make the selection!

We hope that you and your kids love Surf Bucks as much as we do!

Do I Need to Wear a Mouthguard?

It’s springtime and it’s again time to remind our patients, at Legler Orthodontics, to protect their faces and teeth while out on the field playing sports. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events annually.

If you are planning on participating in spring sports, it’s imperative to have a proper-fitting mouthguard. Mouthguards can prevent chipped or broken teeth, lip and cheek injuries, jaw fractures, mouth lacerations and even concussions. Additionally, orthodontic patients need to take extra precautions and wear a mouth guard that is made specifically for braces.

To learn more about mouthguards or for general questions about your treatment at our office, please give us a call!

Am I an Invisalign Candidate?

The first day of spring is just around the corner, a time of fresh beginnings and bright energy! We all have one face and one smile and we all know our smile shows our energy and happiness.  

If you are hiding your smile, know that there are more options for straightening teeth than braces. Invisalign® is the clear alternative to braces and it has fantastic benefits. You may be wondering “Am I a good Candidate for Invisalign®?”  

Every patient is unique and therefore has an individual treatment plan that is developed by Dr. Legler. Treatment plans are aimed at not only providing patients with exceptional smiles but also a healthy bite. A complimentary consultation with Dr. Legler will allow him to determine the most effective treatment option for you.  Additionally, Dr. Legler is an Invisalign® premier provider, which means that Dr. Legler is in the top 5% of all providers in the country.  

Inivisalign®takes a modern approach to giving you the smile you always wanted, by visiting www.bracesatlegler.com you will be able to learn more about Invisalign® and its benefits. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

It is Valentine's Day and love is in the air. That's right-Valentine's Day- the day to smile and pucker up with your significant other! But for those of you who find yourselves single, this could be a good time to consider smile improvement with braces or Invisalign Treatment.

Will a better smile help you to find "the one"? Well, Sharon Jayson- a reporter for USA Today, discussed the importance of nice teeth. " A recent online survey of single adults shows that when singles judge a potential date, both men and women rate teeth higher than grammar" explained Jayson. 

In most dating situations, your smile is the first impression. If you want to put your best face forward, but you aren't proud of your smile, consider orthodontic treatment. At Legler Orthodontics, we want to help you put your best smile forward. 

National Children's Dental Health Month!

It is National Children's Dental Health Month! At Legler Orthodontics we believe in the importance of good oral health at young age, therefore we have made it our mission for the past 20 years to raise awareness through visiting elementary schools along the treasure coast and teaching children the importance of developing healthy habits at an early age.

An early start to developing good oral health will give children a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. We also want our patients to recognize the importance of oral health-even while wearing braces. Although brushing and flossing with braces requires extra time and effort, ignoring your dental health can significantly compromise your results. Additionally, a lack of brushing and flossing can lead to tooth decay, sore and swollen gums and decalcification.

We are happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is so critical during orthodontic treatment. If you have questions, send us a message on Facebook! For a guide to brushing and flossing with braces, please visit our website at www.bracesatlegler.com.

Happy New Year!

  

      Many consider the beginning of the new year a time to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2013? At Legler Orthodontics, we recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your health!

      Although you look forward to having a beautiful smile at the end of treatment, orthodontic treatment can have a significant positive impact on your long-term health.  Malocclusion is the technical term we use for crowded, crooked or protruding teeth which do not fit together. The word Malocclusion, literally means “bad bite.”

       Having malocclusion can lead to problems as we age. For example, crowded teeth can be difficult to clean and you may experience tooth decay and gum disease. Additionally, a bad-bite may lead to abnormal wear and breakdown of your teeth, this can damage the bone and soft tissues that support your teeth.

       At Legler Orthodontics we offer complimentary consultations, so resolve to seek orthodontic treatment in 2013! We know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

      We would love to hear from you, share with your resolutions on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2013.