Dear Parents/Patients

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over  the past few months. We can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate your patience and understanding. Good news, under the Governors guidance we can start seeing our wonderful patients again on Monday, June 1st.

We have been preparing for the day getting our office in order. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same, our commitment to safety. Our office follows the infection control recommendations of the ADA, CDC, OSHA, and AAO. These agencies keep us up to date on new rulings and guidance that may be issued.

As staff will look different  with additional PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) so will the office. We have added acrylic panels around the front desk and between our operatory chairs. The office is deep cleaned and sanitized routinely.

New changes for your first appointments:

Please have your children brush their teeth at home ( our tooth brushing station is closed).

When you arrive, stay in your car. You may call or text us that you have arrived. Text our regular phone numbers : 248-528-3300 & 586-795-0300.

Staff will approach you at your car with a question survey. If you have your own pen, perfect, if you need a pen we will give you one to keep. We will flag you or your child in when the paperwork is completed. Your child  can bring the clipboard in with them. Please, no parents or siblings with your child. ( We understand very young patients may need to be accompanied in.)

 Your child’s temperature will be taken and recorded as well as their hands sanitized before entering the operatory and seated.

It is very important we have very few people in the lobby area. If you need to talk to the Dr. we will arrange this after he has seen your child.

If you are making a payment, please advise the staff member. If your child can make the next appointment before leaving, please let them, if not, please call us or text us to make that next appointment.

Talking about appointments

After reading this letter we understand that you may want to call us immediately to get in the schedule . It is fine to call the office, we will also be reaching out to you as well. Appointments need to be handled a little differently allowing more time between them. We appreciate your patience regarding scheduling as we need to prioritize your appointments while at the same time implementing new protocols to protect everyone. Please be assured we’ll make time for all of you.

We are getting a lot of questions about treatment and not being seen during shut down. Dr. Palmer wants to emphasize that the new wire and appliance are made to perform much longer than your regular interval of appointment. At times wires may not be advancing but treatment is minimally delayed.

We understand all this information seems overwhelming, but together we will continue to get through this and make beautiful smiles.

Thank you for being our patients,

Dr. Nick Palmer and staff.

Parents no longer take the back seat while their kids reap the benefits of orthodontic treatment. With one-in-three orthodontic patients over the age of 18, the number of adults seeing an orthodontist is at an all-time high.

Experts believe this upward trend is likely here to stay – why?  

It works.

Orthodontic treatment is just as effective for adults as children. Healthy teeth can be moved at any age because it’s the same physiological process.

Depending on the complexity of the case, as well as what the patient wants to achieve, a short-term touch up can take as little as several months while comprehensive treatment can take much longer. Orthodontic specialists will customize your smile according to your preferences, and they don’t require a referral from a dentist.

Treatment doesn’t have to be noticeable to others.

Advances in orthodontics have made treatment more comfortable and less noticeable than ever. Many of today’s treatment options are designed to minimize the appearance of the appliance to better fit any lifestyle.

Options include clear aligners, tooth-colored braces, tiny but more traditional metal braces, and braces that go behind the teeth.

Because not every appliance is suitable for every kind of orthodontic problem, an orthodontic specialist will be able to determine which type is right for the best result.

It’s more than a beautiful smile.

Yes, straight teeth are attractive and create confidence, but there’s more to it.

Leaving misaligned teeth untreated may lead to other dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, abnormal wearing of tooth enamel and difficulty chewing. We are living longer than ever before, and healthy teeth are therefore more important than ever.

Adults are taking note and prioritizing their dental health.

We’ve long understood the negative correlation between smoking and oral health, but it turns out vaping can cause similar, irreversible, damage. Damage that may lead to the death of gum tissue, gum disease and, in some cases, loss of teeth – making vaping a significant risk to your oral health.

Does vaping ruin your chances of successful orthodontic treatment?

It’s possible. E-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco like traditional cigarettes, but they do contain nicotine, which is a risk to your mouth.

Literature indicates nicotine reduces blood flow, which can lead to the death of gum tissues and gum recession. It also may cause gum inflammation and swelling, tooth sensitivity, increased risk of cavities and, in some cases, loss of teeth.

In addition to the damages noted above, the combination of the dry mouth, bacteria and tooth decay resulting from nicotine is a formula for gum disease.

So, why does this matter for successful orthodontic treatment?

The key factor in determining a good candidate for orthodontic treatment is the health of teeth and gums. It is imperative to have a periodontal (gum) check-up with either a periodontist or your general dentist to make sure that your mouth is a good candidate prior to beginning treatment.

The acceleration of gum damage caused by vaping reduces the ability of teeth and gums to respond to orthodontic treatment. In other words, your teeth do not move as fast if you are vaping.

There is also an added tendency for teeth to relapse into previous positions post-treatment, due to increased risk of gum disease.

The takeaway:

The harm vaping may cause is completely preventable. If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, you’re considering investing a lot of time and effort in creating a healthy smile. Don’t chance damaging it.

Trust an AAO orthodontist.

You can work with an American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Orthodontist to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile at any age. Orthodontists are experts in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics – properly aligned teeth and jaws – and possess the skills and experience to give you your best smile.