Make 2011 the year to improve your oral health

Many folks in Springfield, South Hadley, and Enfield consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2011? Dr. R. Scott Smith, Dr. Raney and our team recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

-Your friends at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

Safety first this winter! From R. Scott Smith Orthodontics

Winter is officially here, and with it comes not only the holiday season, but also sometimes unpredictable and inclement weather. This week, Dr. Smith, Dr. Raney and our team would like to share a few winter safety tips that we found on the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry website. These tips include everything from what to wear outdoors to tips for winter snow sports. Enjoy!

• Older babies and young children should generally be dressed in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions
• Several thin clothing layers will keep an infant or child dry and warm. Warm boots, gloves, mittens, and a hat are necessities!
• A cold air humidifier, saline nose drops, and petrolatum will help a child that suffers from winter nosebleeds.
• It is important for children to wash their hands frequently, and to use the bend of their elbow if they need to sneeze or cough to prevent the spread of colds and flu.
• Never ski or snowboard alone. Adults should supervise young children participating in winter sports.
• When sledding, it is preferable to separate young children from older children, and to avoid crowded areas.
• The AAP recommends that children under age 16 not operate snowmobiles and that children under age 6 never ride on snowmobiles.

We hope that these tips help keep you and your loved ones stay safe and sound this winter season. Please give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your next appointment at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics.

More smiling patients at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics!

Dr. Scott Smith and Dr. Jason Raney and team love getting patient reviews. And lately, R. Scott Smith Orthodontics, serving Springfield and South Hadley, MA, and Enfield, CT, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Tuesday!

"Very friendly atmosphere, my son feels very at ease with the practice." ~William

"EVERYONE is so friendly and immediately made us feel welcome. Besides, my son LOVED Dr. Smith and his tricks!" ~Vanessa

"Very friendly service, professional atmosphere, high quality outcome." ~John

"Very accommodating... goes above & beyond! Wonderful staff!" ~Kerry

R. Scott Smith Orthodontics supports Operation Elf and Operation Tribute this holiday season

Our Springfield, South Hadley, and Enfield orthodontic offices always try to give back to the community in some way, especially during the holiday season.

This year, Dr. Smith, Dr. Raney, and team are collecting coins for military families who have a parent deployed. Our staff and patients have been really generous and our jars are filling up in each of our three offices. We have a family at our Enfield office who has combined all of their "change" and plans to deposit it soon into our Enfield jar.

The funds will be donated to "Operation Elf" (Embracing Lonley Families), an organization that is collecting contributions to pay for a fleet of buses to ship our troops home and then back to their training camps during their break. Operation Home for the Holidays will allow for our troops to see their loved ones at no expense to the family.

R. Scott Smith Orthodontics also plans to make a donation to their partner organization, Operation Tribute, which was founded in Maine and offers services throughout New England and New York. The organization will be providing gifts to military children this holiday season.

Thank you for helping us support these great organizations this holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

Patient Question: Can I benefit from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Dr. Smith and Dr. Raney will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how orthodontics will transform your smile, as well as your life!