It's Never Too Late For The Perfect Smile - Dr. Cram, Alberta

They turn you away at the kiddy roller coasters once you've surpassed the three-foot height limit. You have to leave school and start punching the career clock at some point. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy other privileges we usually associate with youth: nobody's stopping you from drawing a chalk dinosaur on the sidewalk - and it's never too late to straighten your teeth!

Many people think that if they didn't have braces in junior high, they've missed the only chance to straighten their teeth. But more and more, we see a strong trend in orthodontics: adults who realize the time is still ripe.

Chicago resident Sally Borla, retired and in her 50s, didn't dream she'd ever wear braces. After treatment, she couldn't imagine why she hadn't started earlier. "I'd always related braces to young people, but I guess I'm living proof that it doesn't matter how old a person is," Borla said. "When I look in the mirror, I can hardly believe that the smile looking back at me is mine."

And because orthodontics closes up spaces between teeth or eliminates crowding, patients have found it's easier to keep them clean. Michael Smith of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, said he noticed fewer problems with tartar buildup since braces had realigned his teeth and jaws when he was in his late 20s. "I do believe my teeth will last a lot longer," said Smith, now in his 30s.

Maria Castro of Brandon, Florida, was 91 ("and a half," she'd add) when her braces came off. Castro said her smile was a source of pride until one of her teeth began to slip behind its neighbors when she was in her late 80s. When her family dentist told her that her teeth, gums and supporting bone were in good shape – and her son, an oral surgeon, concurred – she said, "Why not?"

Why not, indeed? One out of every five people in orthodontic treatment is over the age of eighteen. So if your teeth aren't as straight as you'd like, and you find yourself jealously eyeing your pre-teen's braces, give us a call at Red Deer Orthodontics. There's no age limit on the perfect smile!

Red Deer Orthodontics Patient Reviews

At Red Deer Orthodontics, we pride ourselves on providing Alberta with the latest orthodontic technology with a personal touch. But don’t take our word for it, see what our patients have to say!My orthodontist is very cool and funny. I like that he explains exactly what he is going to do. He is very conversational and I like to talk.
-Juanita F.

He is very thorough, explains what he sees and what his plans are, and he has a wonderful bedside manner with the kids. Also, the staff is always smiling and friendly, which makes the kids and the parents feel comfortable.
-Anita W.

He is very friendly and I liked all his stuffed animals.
-Casey B.

I have just started my treatment, and Dr. Cram is honest and very knowledgeable. I'm very excited to have straight teeth and my service so far has been very fast and friendly! Thanks so much!
-Teresa S.

He is funny and very nice. He answers the questions I have. He explains what he is doing to me. And I just plain like him. :)
-Kennady G.

I love the atmosphere in his office. It is obvious that the leadership he provides to his staff is strong by the way people do their jobs, get along with each other, and care for their patients.
-Wayne C.

Dr. Cram and the staff are very kind and caring.
-Jeff B.

I like the way Dr. Cram gets on my daughters level and explains things so that she can understand as well. All the staff are warm and friendly and we also like Dr. Cram's cartoon voices!!!
-Taralee M.

He's friendly, up to date with technology and easy to deal with.
-Paul L.

A Nifty "Eggs"periment from Red Deer Orthodontics

As the winter months drag on you may be running out of ideas to keep your little ones occupied. Why not use a fun and simple science experiment to focus their attention for a while? This one includes a lesson about why it’s important to brush teeth to make plaque go away.

Gather the items you will need for this experiment:

* 1 hard-boiled egg with the shell on
* 12 ounces of Coke, Pepsi or other dark-colored cola
* 1 container large enough to hold the cola and egg
* 1 plastic bowl
* 1 toothbrush
* 1 drop of fluoride toothpaste
* Clean-up supplies

Explain to your child that plaque is a sticky layer of germs that collects on her teeth. If she doesn’t brush, plaque can cause serious problems for her teeth, for example holes in the teeth (cavities) or swollen gums (gingivitis). Tell her that you are going to do an experiment to see how plaque coats her teeth, and why brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth and gums.

Conduct the experiment:

1. Make the comparison between the white color of the egg and the white color of your child's teeth.

2. Place the egg into the container and pour the cola over it, so that it completely covers the egg.

3. Let the egg sit in the cola for 24 hours.

4. Remove the egg from the cola. The egg will be stained and yellowish.
5. Explain to your child that the colored layer that has appeared on top of the eggshell is just like the layer of plaque that occurs on her teeth.

6. Place the egg in the plastic bowl and give your child the toothbrush with the drop of toothpaste on it.

7. Let her brush the "plaque" off of the egg. The yellowish film will disappear, exposing the white eggshell. Explain that the same thing happens when she brushes her teeth.

Smoke Screen

Everybody knows that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you also know that smokers and tobacco are susceptible to a variety of oral health problems at a faster rate than non-smokers?

It’s true! Smoking is responsible for almost 75% of gum disease in adults; and, similar to smokers, adults who smoke pipes and cigars, as well as those using smokeless tobacco, are just as susceptible to gum disease and other tobacco related health problems.

As soon as you use tobacco products, you become more likely to experience any of these oral-health problems:

• Oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Loss of bone in the jaw
• Gum recession
• Delayed/impaired healing process after oral surgery or any other treatment
• Decreased success rate of dental implant (tooth replacement) procedures
• Mouth sores
• Loss of your sense of taste and smell
• Bad breath
• Tooth and tongue stains

If you are interested in protecting your oral health we strongly recommend you quit using tobacco products! The following steps are recommended by the Surgeon General to help you quit smoking and using tobacco:

• Get ready – set a quitting date and remove all materials from your home, car and office
• Get support
• Learn new skills and behaviors
• Get medication and use it correctly
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations