A great braces-friendly winter recipe! From Red Deer Orthodontics

Spring may be just around the corner, but it's still winter. And it's still cold. Sometimes, nothing satisfies the staff here at Red Deer Orthodontics more than a hot meal. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) winter dish that is sure to delight. Remember, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment.

Best Baked Spaghetti
Ingredients
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped or 1 Tablespoon dried onion
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 3 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
• ½ cup Burgundy or merlot wine (Burgundy gives a deeper flavor)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup grated American cheese, 4 slices, or ½ cup grated mild cheddar cheese
• ½ lb. dry spaghetti, broken in half

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large no-stick frying pan or Dutch over, sauté meat, onion and garlic. Add tomato sauce, wine, oregano, sugar and salt. Simmer, cover, 1 hour, stirring occasionally. (It really makes a difference if you can take this amount of time! Otherwise 20 minutes will serve to heat everything.) Cook spaghetti and drain. Put half the spaghetti in a greased 3-quart casserole, and then add half the sauce and ¼ cup of the grated cheese. Add the remaining spaghetti and sauce, and stir everything with a large spoon. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Best if baked for 45 minutes at 350°. Makes about six to eight servings.

Enjoy this great winter dish and have a great week!

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 Canadian 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.

--Red Deer Orthodontics

The advantage of mouth guards, with Red Deer Orthodontics

It may not feel like it, but it’s almost springtime! The spring months, however, bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. If you play sports, it's important that you consult with Dr. Cram for special precautions. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball and soccer. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with Red Deer Orthodontics.

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Red Deer Orthodontics.

With Red Deer Orthodontics, access to your account at any time

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Patients at Red Deer Orthodontics have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 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! Just see what some of our patients are saying about this service:

"We have been able to look up our apointment times, print off receipts, look at all our financial statements, the ortho sesame service has given us control of when we want to view all of our information. Fast and simple." ~ Carey H.

"Email reminders are very convenient." ~ Grant P.

"I was able to view my X-rays and pictures taken in your office with just a few clicks. I was also able to find my appointment times and dates very easily." ~ Randy G.

"Love that I can check my account and appointments." ~ Wes D.

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at Red Deer Orthodontics if you have any questions!