Ask Dr. Stevens: “I got my braces. Now what?

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before before orthodontic treatment began.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Lucas Stevens and our team recommend that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse as well; ask Dr. Stevens for a recommendation.

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.

Our team at Stevens Orthodontics will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our Tallahassee office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Lastly, in addition to visiting Dr. Stevens' office during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

Back to school with Dr. Stevens

Now that many of the schools here in Tallahassee are back in session, Dr. Stevens and our staff would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance in August and early September. With school, clubs and sports to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit our office this fall. In order to accommodate all of our patients' busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you.

As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you're unable to make your regularly-scheduled appointment. If we receive enough notice, we might be able to schedule another patient for that time. Feel free to give us a call at 850-385-2822 if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment.

We look forward to seeing you all, and hope you had a wonderful summer!

Does Dr. Stevens have your current contact info?

We hope you’re off to a great summer so far! If you are planning on traveling with family this summer or think you might not be able to make it to your scheduled adjustment appointment with Dr. Lucas Stevens, please let us know ahead of time so that we may be able to accommodate you, as well as schedule another patient at that appointment time.

Also, we ask that you give us a call and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed! Please call us with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so we may be able to reach you. Thank you! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Smile wide! June marks National Smile Month!

Now that June is here, our team at Stevens Orthodontics thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to our convenient Tallahassee office, as well as your general dentist.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment
* Visit your dentist regularly (every 6 months or as recommended by your dentist)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, ask Dr. Stevens during your next visit or ask us on Facebook!

How important is your smile? From Stevens Orthodontics

You work hard, you care about your health and you want to look your very best. Your teeth are an important part of your health, your appearance and your self-confidence. Why leave your oral health in the hands of anyone other than a skilled qualified specialist with years of experience? Dr. Stevens has been an orthodontist in the Tallahassee area since 1985. He knows and understands the needs and expectations of his patients and is dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile.

And speaking of smiling, in a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there are choosing teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Please contact Stevens Orthodontics at (850) 385-2822 for your complimentary consultation, and start smiling!

Win a trip to Disney World from Stevens Orthodontics!

Dr. Stevens will be sending one lucky patient and his/her family to Disney. Here is how it works…

- Referral of a non-family member for a new patient exam (25 points)
- Bonus points if the referral starts treatment (50 points)
- A staff member sees you outside of the office wearing your Stevens Orthodontics T-Shirt (10 points)
- A staff member sees your car around town with your Stevens Orthodontics magnet (10 points)
- Become a fan of Stevens Orthodontics on Facebook (5 points)
- Write a review of Stevens Orthodontics on Facebook (15 points)
- Bring a friend with you to your appointment (2 points)
- Bring your Kids Club Card with you to your recall appointment (15 points)
- “A” on hygiene at your appointments (1 point)
- Wearing elastics (1 point)
- Wearing Stevens Orthodontics T-Shirt to appointments (1 point)
- Arriving on time for your appointments (1 point)
- No broken brackets at your appointments (1 point)

The patient with the most points at the end wins a trip to Disney, which includes 2 nights at a Disney Value Resort, 2-day admission tickets for 4 people and a $500 Disney gift card to use on food and/or souvenirs inside the parks.

We will be announcing the winner on December 12, 2011.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out an entry form
at the front desk.

**Account must be current to be eligible to win

At Stevens Orthodontics, access to your account any day, any time

Did you know that patients at Stevens Orthodontics in Tallahassee enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Through our helpful website, you may look up your appointments with Dr. Stevens and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders via text messages!

You may sign up for this convenient service - Ortho Sesame - on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call at our convenient Tallahassee office if you have any questions about getting started!

Your turn! From Stevens Orthodontics

You probably know the drill: each week, Dr. Stevens and our staff blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontic care and your well-being.

This week, however, we thought we’d step back and ask: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve been wanting to ask Dr. Stevens for a while now? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

So… ask away and have a great week!

Stevens Orthodontics, supporting National Children's Dental Health Month

Each February for the past 61 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Lucas Stevens is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited our Tallahassee office lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

We also invite you to connect with us on Facebook!

What helps you or your child relax at Stevens Orthodontics?

We get it. Not everyone always enjoys visiting their orthodontist. But at Stevens Orthodontics, we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about Stevens Orthodontics that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment or our friendly staff? Dr. Stevens himself?

You may let us know by posting here or by letting us know on Facebook! We'd like to hear from you!

Here comes the Braces Brigade!

Last summer, you may remember, Dr. Stevens and staff blogged about the AAO's Braces Brigade. Well, now the blog is up-and-running, and boy do they have stories to tell!

If you'd like to learn more about what to expect during orthodontic treatment, from someone with firsthand experience, the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their orthodontic journeys, is a great place to start.

Dr. Stevens and team encourage you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call at our Tallahassee office if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment with Dr. Stevens!

Have a great rest of the week!

The importance of visiting your dentist during treatment, from Stevens Orthodontics

Are you brushing teeth twice a day and flossing during your orthodontic treatment? If the answer is yes, we think that’s fantastic! But, Dr. Stevens and our team at Stevens Orthodontics would like to remind you to visit your general dentist every six months (or as recommended) in addition to taking good care of your oral health during orthodontic treatment. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

•Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
•Detect cavities and early signs of decay
•Treat oral health problems early
•Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

Hope this helps. Give us a call if you have any questions. Happy New Year!

Ask Dr. Stevens: “I’m 51 – am I too old for braces?”

Of course not! No one is "too old" for orthodontic treatment!

Recently, our staff at Stevens Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic: adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 15 years ago! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great.

In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. Stevens can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

Because of a lifetime of wear, it is not uncommon for adult patients to require some cosmetic dentistry after orthodontics is completed in order to gain the maximum esthetic result. Dr. Stevens likes to work closely with your family dentist here in Tallahassee to give you the most esthetic and healthy smile possible.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Stevens would love to have you visit for a complimentary consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

Did you know that patients at Stevens Orthodontics in Tallahassee enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Through our helpful website, you may look up your appointments with Dr. Stevens and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders via text messages!

You may sign up for this convenient service - Ortho Sesame - on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call at our convenient Tallahassee office if you have any questions about getting started!

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend everyone!

Stevens Orthodontics, honoring our veterans

Happy Veteran's Day! We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the veterans and those currently on active duty who have put their lives on the line for the freedoms we all enjoy.

In celebration of Veteran’s Day, Dr. Lucas Stevens and our entire team at Stevens Orthodontics would like to share a few fun facts about our flag, our national holiday, and our country’s history!

-Veteran's Day, a day that was originally called Armistice Day, is a time to thank and honor the men and women who have served in our military.

- President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the official legislation for Veteran's Day on June 1, 1954, changing the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran's Day

-There are 23.2 million veterans in the U.S.

-The flag was first approved by Congress on June 14, 1777

-Each of the flag’s colors signify different American values - red is for valor and zeal, white is for hope, purity, and cleanliness of life, and blue is for heaven, loyalty, sincerity, justice, and truth

-Research by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) helped develop the CAT Scan, the cardiac pacemaker, and the “Seattle Foot” to give those hurt the ability to run and jump

-When the flag is displayed next to another flag against a wall, the U.S. flag should be on its own right (on the left side when facing the wall).

-Veteran's Day is often confused with Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a time for remembering and honoring the men and women who died while serving our country, or as a result of injuries that incurred in battle. Veteran's Day honors and gives thanks to all veterans who served in our military.

-There are five states with over 1 million veterans in their population – California, Florida, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania.

Thanks again to our veterans! We are so thankful for all who have and are currently serving in the U.S. and abroad.

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here at Stevens Orthodontics, a time when families begin to make plans for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. But before you go celebrating, we wanted to ask you, our wonderful patients, "How are you spending your time this fall?" Our team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment here in Tallahassee and across northern Florida. We are interested in learning about what makes our unique community “yours.”

Feel free to post your responses on our Facebook page, or give us a call! Have a wonderful weekend!

Featured patient review for Dr. Stevens!

Wow, more fantastic reviews have come in during the past month! Check out what Elaine had to say about our office!

"Thank you all very much for the thorough exam and detailed explanation that you provided me yesterday. Being "treated" at your office was really quite a treat - What a wonderful, creative environment - I think it says alot about the care & detail that obviously attends your work. Makes me wish I had a house full of kids who needed braces!!! Seriously, Thank You, Elaine P."

When should kids visit Stevens Orthodontics?

It's best for Dr. Stevens to see children by age 7 or 8. This allows him to monitor growth and development and determine the optimum time for treatment. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is begun early, Dr. Stevens can sometimes guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment in select cases.

Dr. Stevens is conservative, and recognizes that some early treatment that can be done is of little long-term value to your child. He will gladly give you an honest assessment of the relative value of early treatment so that you can make an informed decision. He will use his ‘gold standard’ – what he would recommend for his own children. With over 25 years of treating patients conservatively he has found that employing early treatment on every child as a general practice is unnecessary and, in some cases, harmful. He will be as strategic as possible in order to give your child the best possible result with the least cost, inconvenience and treatment time at our convenient Tallahassee office.

"What do you like best about Stevens Orthodontics?"

Check out what our current patients are saying about Dr. Stevens and our team lately! Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office!

"Everyone at Dr. Steven's office treats each patient as a special individual. Everyone is so easy to work with!!!" ~ Christine B.

"He's very, very good!!!" ~ Vickie S.

"The friendly atmosphere of the office along with the professional staff." ~ Sandra W.

"The office and Dr. Stevens are so much fun. I told everyone about it. I can't wait to go back." ~ Letricia M.

"I like the atmosphere, they are very kid friendly, I like the way they also allow my son to be seen by himself, it makes him feel more grown up and in charge of this part of his life. The staff is great." ~ Kelly R.

"My son is seven years old - when should I bring him in for a consultation?"

Thanks for asking! Dr. Lucas Stevens will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Stevens and our staff to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We hope this helps, and invite you to give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment and have yourself a wonderful weekend!!