Making the world a better place . . .

                                                       one SMILE at a time!

The Orthodontic Practice

of Dr. Richard E. Crowder

7015 E. Central

Wichita, KS  67206

316-683-SMILES (7645)

smiles@smilesortho.com

 

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You may need more than a degree to get the job of your dreams!

- 74% perceive an attractive smile as important for getting the job of their dreams.

- Over 1/3 agree that a person with bad teeth gets fewer job promotions

- 3 out of 4 adults (75%) think an attraective smile is important for succeeding in the workplace.

- 87% think one's smile is very important to their self-esteem

- An overwhelming majority of adults (85%) consider a person's smile to be very important at an initial meeting.

 

The information below comes from the American Association of Orthodontists public web site: Braces.org

Myths and Facts

MYTH: Orthodontists are appropriate only for the most challenging and complex orthodontic cases.
 FACT: Orthodontists recognize the difference between a simple case and a complex one. And when a case is challenging, orthodontists know what to do.

MYTH: My family dentist says he can straighten my teeth.
 FACT: An orthodontist has 2-3 years of specialized training beyond dental school and is a specialist at straightening teeth and insuring proper form and function. A dentist may see a handful of cases a year amid drilling and filling. An orthodontist only practices orthodontics and treats hundreds of patients.

MYTH: Braces are for kids.
FACT: One in five orthodontic patients is an adult.

MYTH: If there was a giant, overhead magnet and someone flipped a switch, people wearing braces would fly out of their chairs and stick to the ceiling.
 FACT: Unlikely, as braces are made from non-magnetic materials.
 
MYTH: Orthodontists charge more than general dentists for orthodontic treatment.
 
FACT: It's not the same work. The value in seeing an orthodontist for treatment is that the orthodontist is an expert, highly experienced and understands form, function and a wonderful smile.
 

Questions For Your Dentist

  1. When did you start practicing dentistry?
  2. Are you also an orthodontist?
  3. What is the role of the orthodontist?
  4. Have you had orthodontic training beyond dental school? Weekend workshop? Manufacturers certificate training? Three-year, advanced degree in orthodontics?
  5. Has your staff had orthodontic training?
  6. How many orthodontics cases do you see each week? Lifetime?
  7. Do you treat all orthodontics cases, even the most complex?
  8. Which cases do you refer to orthodontists?
  9. Have orthodontists finished work you have started?
  10. Are you a member of the American Association of Orthodontists?
Early Warning Signs Indicating it is Time for an Orthodontic Exam
  1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
  2. Difficulty in chewing or biting
  3. Mouth breathing
  4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
  5. Crowding, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
  6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
  7. Speech difficulty
  8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
  9. Protruding teeth
  10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don't meet at all
  11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
  12. Grinding or clenching of teeth