This Year, Make a New Year’s Resolution to Smile About!

Let’s face it- when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year’s resolution? We at Papandreas Orthodontics believe the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable. If you haven’t yet picked a New Year’s resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!

For example, resolve to brush twice and floss once a day. Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in your oral health and overall health too! For more oral health-themed resolutions for you and your family, check out this article.

We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2011!

-Happy New Year, from your friends at Papandreas Orthodontics

Dr. Papandreas asks: What is your favorite holiday song?

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as the team at Papandreas Orthodontics reflects on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? Caroling with friends or family? An event in our North Royalton community? Also, what is your favorite holiday song?

Here are a few of our favorite holiday songs:

1. White Christmas
2. The Chipmunk Song
3. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. The Christmas Song
7. Snoopy's Christmas
8. Here Comes Santa Claus
9. Little Drummer Boy
10. O Holy Night

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays on our Facebook page. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

Wrapping the “Perfect Present”

1. Measure the wrapping paper, before cutting it. I know its Christmas and you're in a hurry, but you need to take time to measure your wrapping paper before cutting it. If you don't, you may end up with the paper being too short or way too long. To easily measure your wrapping paper, sit the Christmas present on the wrapping paper you've rolled out. Pull the wrapping around the present and then cut the paper. This ensures that your paper is the proper length and will look perfect on the Christmas gift.

2. Use a pop-up tape strip dispenser. This item makes wrapping your Christmas presents much easier. You will be able to hold the paper in place with one hand while taping the present with the other because the tape dispenser goes on your wrist.

3. Be sure to use sharp scissors. Nothing is more frustrating than wrapping Christmas presents and having your paper tear when you try to cut it. If you aren't using sharp enough scissors, you will not get a clean edge when you cut your wrapping paper. Instead you may get tore edges, because the scissors got caught and ripped the wrapping paper.

4. Place the gift upside down when wrapping it. I know this may sound silly, but in order for the Christmas present to be opened properly, you need to place the gift upside on the wrapping paper. This will ensure that when the gift recipient opens their gift, it will be right side up.

5. Use sticky gift labels. Sticky to and from labels make wrapping your Christmas gift much easier. Throughout the day, your home can change temperatures and the tape on your labels, may loose their stickiness, which can cause the label to fall off. To prevent this, use the to and from labels that are like stickers. These labels will easily stay on your wrapping paper and save you the trouble of fussing with all that tape.

How to Disguise a Gift as a Candy Cane

This week, our team at Papandreas Orthodontics would like to share a fun way to wrap holiday presents. Package small everyday presents with a twist by wrapping them to look like candy canes.

First, roll the gift (a tie, for example) into a paper towel tube, with tissue stuffed at the ends. Then, roll the cylinder in white tissue paper, leaving enough material at one end to curve over like the top of a lowercase "r." Finally, wrap red ribbon diagonally around the tube and cover the entire thing with Saran Wrap. You'll end up with a sweet-looking surprise!

Marvelous Molasses Cookies, a braces-friendly holiday recipe!

This is was the very first soft-cookie recipe that I collected back in the mid-60s. They smell wonderful even before baking, melt in your mouth, and never harden. Yum - the best of gingerbread and ginger snaps in one!

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
½ tsp salt
½ cup molasses
½ cup warm water
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ginger
2 ½ cups flour



Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Baking time 11 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine shortening, brown sugar, egg, salt and molasses, using an electric mixer and beating until fluffy. Add cinnamon and ginger. In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir the baking soda into the warm water; add water mixture to the molasses mixture alternately with the flour until well blended.

Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 11 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes about 4 dozen. Store in a covered container.

Help spread the holiday spirit at Papandreas Orthodontics!

Our team at Papandreas Orthodontics invites our patients to join us in decorating our North Royalton office! Please bring in a picture or a piece of art that you have created, so we can decorate our office for the holiday season. We can't wait to "deck the halls" with your pictures and handmade holiday creations!

Thank you,

-Dr. Papandreas and team

Patient Question: Why are straight teeth so important?

Some people wonder why North Royalton orthodontist Dr. Papandreas and our team work tirelessly 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 at Papandreas Orthodontics 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, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Papandreas can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Why do you love being a patient at Papandreas Orthodontics?

Dr. Papandreas and our team are excited to announce our Share a Smile, Win a Flip Camera contest. We want to know: Why do you love being a patient at Papandreas Orthodontics? Share your story for a chance to win a Flip Camera!

Here's how you can enter to win:
• Post a video of yourself on your YouTube channel and email the link to alisha@drpapandreas.com.

• Record your video at our office and we will post it online

• Bring a video in to our office and we will post on our YouTube channel

Papandreas Orthodontics collects over 120 pounds of candy for a Cleveland Food Pantry

This Halloween, many of our patients chose to go trick-or-treating and then cash in their candy at the Papandreas Orthodontics Halloween Candy Buy Back. We were able to collect over 120 lbs of candy for a Cleveland Food Pantry, while preventing our patients from damaging their teeth.

Participants in our Candy Buy Back received $2 for each pound of candy that they collected. In addition, we donated $1 per pound of candy to the child's school. In the picture above, one of our patients is holding up the money that he received for his five pounds of candy. The event was a huge success!

If you haven't already, be sure to "like" the Papandreas Orthodontics Facebook page, so that you are able to view all of the photos and videos from our Halloween Costume Contest and Candy Buy Back. Thanks to everyone that participated in our sweet and spooky Halloween events!

Dr. Papandreas announces the winners of our October contests

North Royalton orthodontist Dr. Papandreas and our team love connecting with our patients through contests and events, both in the office and online. Today, we would like to announce that Adam M. is the winner of our October T-Shirt Drawing and Tricia K. is the winner of our November T-Shirt Drawing. We would also like to share that Michael A. is the winner of our "How Many Bite Blocks Are In The Jar?" Contest. Thank you to all of our patients who have been wearing their Papandreas Orthodontics t-shirts and participating in our fall contests!

Have a great weekend everyone!

-The team at Papandreas Orthodontics

Halloween at Papandreas Orthodontics: Lady Samantha shares her story!

Here at Papandreas Orthodontics, we're all about changing lives one smile at a time. Dr. Papandreas and our team strive to provide a fun and friendly environment, where are patients feel at ease and comfortable. In this short video, you can see for yourself what Halloween was like at our North Royalton, OH office!

For more information on Papandreas Orthodontics, and orthodontic treatment options in North Royalton Ohio, be sure to give us a call!

A braces-friendly Halloween recipe, from Papandreas Orthodontics

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, Dr. Papandreas would like to share a great braces-friendly Halloween recipe with all of our patients, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO, and “The Braces Cookbook” by Pamela Waterman. This Spider Bites recipe is delicious, and provided that you remember to brush and floss after indulging, this is a cookie that won’t bite back!

Spider Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 1 Tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa
• 1 Tsp. salt
• ½ Tsp. baking powder
• 1 package black rope licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces**
• 1 small tube of white (or color of choice) frosting
• Toothpicks

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine shortening, sugar, water, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add eggs into the mixture and blend. Slowly mix in flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder using low-medium speed. Drop tablespoon helpings of mixture onto ungreased cookie sheets and roll each helping into a ball.

Bake 9 minutes at 375 degrees. The batch should produce around three dozen cookies.

Let cookies cool for about 10 minutes. Then using a toothpick, create four small holes in either side of the cookie. Still using the toothpick, push one end of a piece of the cut licorice into each hole, creating the “legs” of the spider. Once all eight pieces are in place, create eyes or decorate at will using the white frosting. Then eat and enjoy!

**Licorice can sometimes stick to braces; parents should monitor

Wanted: Smiles for a Lifetime in Northeast Ohio

North Royalton, OH orthodontist Dr. Papandreas knows that a great smile can create self confidence, inspire hope and change the lives of children. Last Friday, Papandreas Orthodontics launched the Northeastern Ohio chapter of the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization that provides orthodontic care to individuals that might not have had the opportunity otherwise. It is the mission of Smile for a Lifetime to provide the gift of smiles.

For more information on the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation, and how to apply for orthodontic care, be sure to visit our website. The complete Smile for a Lifetime kickoff event photo album is available on the Papandreas Orthodontics Facebook page.

Papandreas Orthodontics announces our Halloween Costume Competition!

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, our team at Papandreas Orthodontics is hosting a Halloween Costume Competition. We would like to encourage all of our patients to stop by our office Oct. 28, 2010 to vote for their favorite costume. We can't wait to see who YOU think is the best dressed!

As always, don't hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions about our Halloween Costume Competition, or if you would like to schedule your next appointment with Dr. Papandreas.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month. What a great time to visit Dr. Papandreas!

Can you believe October is already upon us? October happens to be National Orthodontic Health Month, and this month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

Dr. Papandreas and our staff are celebrating Orthodontic Health Month. Has it been six weeks since you last visited Papandreas Orthodontics? If so, don't hesitate to schedule your next appointment!

Papandreas Orthodontics part of your community for over a decade!

Papandreas Orthodontics has been Changing Lives One Smile at a Time in northeast Ohio for over a decade! During that time we have become not only part of the southwest suburban area fabric, but a top practice nationwide evidenced by our invitation to the Schulman Study Group of select orthodontic offices. Papandreas Orthodontics thanks you for making us part of your family!

Papandreas Orthodontics congratulates our iPad winner!

Dr. Papandreas and our team would like to congratulate Niki Z. again on winning our iPad Giveaway. We made a short video of our doctor and team surprising Niki with the iPad at her appointment. Thanks again to all of our wonderful patients who entered the contest. Be sure to check back to our social networks in the upcoming weeks, as we may announce another upcoming contest.

Thank you,

-Dr. Papandreas and team

Papandreas Orthodontics attends Study Club to stay connected with the orthodontic community!

Located exclusively in North Royalton, OH, Dr. Papandreas strives to change lives one smile at a time! One of the ways that Dr. Papandreas and our team ensures that we are knowledgeable in the latest and most effective orthodontic procedures is by hosting the OAIDT Staff Study Club this October, in partnership with the President and Founder Betsy Klos. This event is open to hygienists, office managers, front desk receptionists, and financial coordinators. Together, we will learn from guest speakers and discuss new ideas.

A great smile will brighten your life. That's why our team at Papandreas Orthodontics makes it our mission to provide the highest level of specialty orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics for each of our patients. Don't hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions about orthodontic treatment options at our office, or if you would like to schedule a consultation.

Dr. Papandreas asks: Have you entered the Papandreas Orthodontics T-Shirt Contest?

Our North Royalton, OH office recognizes our new patients when they first get their braces on by providing them with a Papandreas Orthodontics t-shirt. This is one of the ways that we congratulate patients on beginning orthodontic treatment. Would you like to win free movie tickets? Each time a patient wears their Papandreas Orthodontics t-shirt to an appointment they will be entered into a drawing for movie tickets!

It is our mission at Papandreas Orthodontics to provide the highest level of specialty orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics for each of our patients within a caring environment. If Dr. Papandreas or one of our staff members spots a patient wearing their t-shirt outside of the office, they receive movie tickets or a prize chosen by Dr. Papandreas.

We hope to see everyone wearing their Papandreas Orthodontics t-shirts at their next appointment and around our North Royalton, OH community. Feel free to give us a call if you are considering orthodontic treatment at our office, or if you would like to schedule your next appointment.

Congratulations, Nicole! She was the winner of the Papandreas Orthodontics iPad Giveaway.

Nicole was the lucky winner of the Papandreas Orthodontics iPad Giveaway! Congratulations, Nicole! Thanks to our family of patients who supported us through video testimonials, reviews online, as Facebook fans, and more.

How did Nicole win an iPad?
Entries for our contest were be were made by:
- "Liking" Papandreas Orthodontics on Facebook
- Following us on Twitter, Blogger, or YouTube
- Posting testimonials on our social networks, such as Google Places or Yelp

If you didn't have a chance to enter for our September drawing, or if you weren't the lucky winner, keep an eye out for details about our upcoming contest! Are you ready for our next giveaway? Get started with any of the above!

Thank you,

-Dr. Papandreas and team

Are you the iPad Winner? Check out our video on Facebook!!!

If you are the lucky iPad winner, be sure to visit our Facebook page and claim your prize!

Papandreas Orthodontics Presents: Friday Fun Facts!

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Papandreas Orthodontics thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Alex off to Kent State - Good Luck!

Alex, our summer Lab Coordinator heads off to Kent State for his freshman year. Good luck Alex, you have been a great part of the Papandreas Orthodontics' Team and will be missed!

The importance of retainers, from Dr. Papandreas

If you recently completed treatment at Papandreas Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Papandreas will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Papandreas is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Papandreas, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

Have you spun the Papandreas Orthodontics Wheel of Fortune?

Wheel of Fortune comes to Papandreas Orthodontics! For kids in our observation program, everytime you come for your appointment, spin the wheel and win a prize!

Is it worth it? Dr. Papandreas and our team thinks so! Wheel of Fortune prizes include discounts on treatment and free retainers, as well as more exciting items for younger family members. Dr. Papandreas will be standing in for Vanna (best we could do). Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment, and your chance to spin the Wheel of Fortune!

Ask Dr. Papandreas: Who benefits from Incognito™ Braces?

Dr. Papandreas serving North Royalton, OH and surrounding areas, is pleased to offer our patients Incognito Orthodontic Braces. Our team is always receiving questions about Incognito (formerly known as iBraces), which is why we wanted to discuss today a few of the unique benefits of this new 100% customized orthodontic treatment.


To begin, Incognito Braces are placed behind your teeth, rather than in a visible area. Because of this, no one will ever know that you are wearing braces! This unique type of braces is created using state-of-the-art technology and is entirely customized to the shape of your teeth. Hence, you can improve your smile efficiently and effectively in a discreet new way.

Who especially benefits from Incognito?

• Athletes
• Models
• Actors
• Musicians, especially those who play wind instruments
• Adult professionals

For more information on Incognito and treatment options at Papandreas Orthodontics, please give us a call today to schedule your consultation!

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics, from Papandreas Orthodontics

Dr. Papandreas and team would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at our office, please give us a call.

What’s so special about an orthodontist?

"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Papandreas started out in dental school and earned a dental degree, just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Papandreas decided he wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics, which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a dental expert here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

What’s on your summer reading list?

With summer in full swing, some of us at Papandreas Orthodontics wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading during the summer, but reading during the summer is a vital step in brain development and warding off the dreaded “summer slide”—and it's fun!

What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff (and Dr. Papandreas would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas or check out these summer reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your summer picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

Share a Smile with family and friends and Win an iPad from Papandreas Orthodontics!

We wanted to remind you of our fun summer patient contest, and how you can win the grand prize- a brand new Apple iPad!

How to enter you ask?

• Refer a friend (2 entries)
• Post a Facebook video testimonial on Papandreas Orthodontics Wall (2 entries)
• Write a Facebook testimonial at Papandeas Orthodontics (1 entry)
• Update your Facebook status at Papandreas Orthodontics (1 entry)
• Follow our blog at PapandreasOrthodontics.blogspot.com (1 entry)
• Follow our Tweets at PapandreasOrtho (1 entry)
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel PapandreasOrtho (1 entry)
• Write a review on Google, Yahoo, Bing, and/or Yelp (1 entry each)

We will draw 1 name 'sometime' in August and post the potential winner on Facebook, that person will have only 2 weeks to to claim the iPad. If not claimed, 1 additional name will be drawn and under the same terms have an opportunity to claim the iPad!

Have fun and GOOD LUCK! Let your friends know too!

Happy Fourth of July, from Papandreas Orthodontics

This upcoming Sunday - which happens to be Independence Day, of course - Dr. Papandreas and our staff will celebrate our nation's 234th birthday. For most folks, the Fourth of July is a chance to celebrate and commemorate America's Declaration of Independence. It's also a time for every American to pay homage to all our soldiers, past, present and future - who lost their lives in battle - and the brave servicemen- and women who place themselves in harm's way every day so that we may continue enjoy our freedoms.

Today, we thought we'd ask: what are your Fourth of July weekend plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? A picnic? Hitting the open road with family? Having fun in the sun?

Whatever you might be doing over Independence Day weekend, our entire staff hope you have a great week and a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend! Feel free to post your Independence Day photos on our Facebook page!

What do you love about Papandreas Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to Papandreas Orthodontics, we strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Papandreas? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with 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. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you!

Reminding You To Enter the Invisalign Teen Choice Sweepstakes!

We wanted to share this Invisalign Teen Choice Sweepstakes information with everyone. The sweepstakes are from now until July 11th, and you could even win a trip to the Teen Choice 2010, along with several other great prizes. We encourage you to check it out!

When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary?

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. 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
• A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in
• A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their 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. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

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 Orthodontists). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit our office even sooner. Questions? Set up your complimentary initial consultation with Dr. Papandreas today!

Dr. Papandreas & Team Want You To Smile–June is National Smile Month!

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

Dr. Papandreas and 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 us a call! We hope you had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

–Papandreas Orthodontics of North Royalton, OH

The advantage of Invisalign Teen™ at Papandreas Orthodontics

At an age when image is so important, the thought of having metal brackets and wires constantly attached to teeth may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. But... not to worry! There is a clear alternative to traditional braces! The team at Papandreas Orthodontics thought we'd remind you that Invisalign Teen™ gives you a whole new way to wear braces for a "clearly" amazing smile!

So how does Invisalign Teen work, you ask? Much in the same fashion as Invisalign, but with a few added characteristics tailored specifically to teenagers’ lifestyles. For instance, Invisalign Teen is designed with “compliance indicators” that fade from dark to light during the two week period that particular tray is used and once it has faded teens know to change trays. Each aligner comes with up to six free individual replacement aligners in case the original aligner ends up lost or broken. Another big benefit for the patient!

The treatment period for Invisalign Teen varies from nine to 18 months. If your teen is considering orthodontic treatment, please contact us and we’ll answer any questions you may have about Invisalign Teen.

Papandreas Orthodontics wants to know: are there teeth grinders in your house?

Grind, grind, grind. If you live with a teeth grinder, you may be familiar with this unpleasant sound, especially recently. A recent study published in the journal Head & Face Medicine suggests that people—adults and kids—faced with stress tend to cope by grinding their teeth. In addition, the Chicago Dental Society suggests that since the recession began in 2007, teeth grinding, or bruxism, has been on the rise.

The Chicago Dental Society surveyed more than 250 members about the connection between stress and oral health. Nearly 75 percent of dentists said their patients reported increased stress over the past year, largely due to the economic recession. During stressful times, teeth grinding can be a nuisance that causes headaches and sleep problems, but it also can cause lasting problems for your teeth and gums, including chipped teeth, worn enamel, chronic pain, or even TMD, a painful jaw disorder.

The first step of recovering from teeth grinding is noticing the problem. Symptoms of teeth grinding include:

• Sensitivity in the teeth
• Tightness or pain in the jaw
• Dull headaches, earaches, or facial pain
• Chipped, worn down, or loose teeth

An important thing to remember is that people frequently grind their teeth in response to stress, and taking measures to reduce or eliminate stress can help solve the problem. If the teeth-grinder in your house can’t stop, schedule an appointment to see us by giving us a call. Dr. Papandreas and our team can help determine the cause of the problem.

Papandreas Orthodontics and Invisalign team up for great discounts!

Dr. Papandreas will be speaking at Southpark Mall in Strongsville this Saturday May 22nd from Noon to 2 pm about Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. Complimentary screening to exams to determine if Invisalign is right for you and limited time discounts from Invisalign.

The Journey's Backyard BBQ tour, is a nationwide action sports and music festival taking place in five cities, including Cleveland, sponsored by Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. The BBQ is a free event for all ages and includes a day of music and action sports. Features include up and coming regional bands competing in a “Battle of the Bands,” top musical acts on the main stage, and incredible skateboarding, freestyle motocross and BMX demos. For more information about the events you can visit www.journeysbbq.com.

Onsite Activities Include:
>$500 Invisalign discount and up to $250 Invisalign rebate!
>Touch Screen Kiosks with chance to win free treatment!
>Additional discounts for staff members of all dental offices!
>Custom Bandana Bar where kids can create their own DIY bandanas with custom heat transfers.
>Photo Station to shoot and send onsite pictures online

Forward this email to a friend and see you Saturday at Southpark!

When: Saturday, May 22: 12‐2 p.m.

Where: Southpark Mall
500 Southpark Center, Strongsville, OH 44136
http://www.westfield.com/southpark

Enter the AAO Video Scholarship Contest!

We have some exciting news to share with all of our patients this Friday. The American Association of Orthodontists, which Dr. Papandreas is a member of, is offering a $2,500 academic scholarship to two lucky winners of their "How Orthodontics Changed My Life" video contest.

All patients at Papandreas Orthodontics 18 years of age or younger are eligible to enter, and entries are due by June 1st! You can learn more about the contest on the AAO's web site, but here are a few subjects to think about while making your video:

• What were you like before you had orthodontic treatment? How have you changed?
• How proud are you of your new smile?
• When did you notice changes in yourself? What kinds of changes have you noticed?
• What does your new smile mean to you?
• What would you say to others whose smiles make them self-conscious?


This is a great opportunity and we encourage you to enter. GOOD LUCK!

Ask Papandreas Orthodontics: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Papandreas is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.

Win a free iPad from Papandreas Orthodontics

Share a Smile with family and friends and Win an iPad from Papandreas Orthodontics!

How to enter you ask?
- Refer a friend (2 entries)
- Post a Facebook video testimonial on Papandreas Orthodontics Wall (2 entries)
- Write a Facebook testimonial at Papandeas Orthodontics (1 entry)
-Update your Facebook status at Papandreas Orthodontics (1 entry)
- Follow our blog at PapandreasOrthodontics.blogspot.com (1 entry)
- Follow our Tweets at PapandreasOrtho (1 entry)
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel PapandreasOrtho (1 entry)
- Write a review on Google, Yahoo, Bing, and/or Yelp (1 entry each)

Have fun and hopefully you are the winner! Let your friends know too!

With Papandreas Orthodontics, 24/7 access to your account

At Papandreas Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in North Royalton, OH.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through 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, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

OAIDT has started a Staff Constituent following the same format of improved patient care through shared learning. Mrs. Betsy Klos has spearheaded OAIDTS which is off to a running start!

Father-daughter ski outing!

Vising Theroux Orthodontics in Denver, CO included a father-daughter outing with Dr. Papandreas' newly minted 13 year old dauhter...she earned double black diamond honors for the first time!

Freddy's big day...braces are off!!!

Dr. Papandreas and OAIDT

OAIDT founded by Dr. Papandreas completes another successful continuing ed event for northeast Ohio dentists featuring world renown speaker Dr. Gerard Chiche. Thanks to all who attended...remember ortho treatment lasts 12 months!