Halloween contest at Scott Orthodontic Associates!

BOO! Our Halloween contest is underway! Here's how it works: Post a photo of yourself in your Halloween costume on our Facebook wall, and you could be the winner of a free iPod Touch or a gift card for the best costume!

We're looking forward to seeing those creative costumes!

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

Great question! Dr. Gregory Scott 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. Scott and our staff to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

Tell Dr. Scott what’s on your mind!

Week after week, Dr. Gregory Scott and our creative team at Scott Orthodontic Associates blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontic treatment care and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic techniques we offer.

This week, though, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our wonderful patients and readers: 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 in the coming months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask us for a while now? Let us know by posting here or on our interactive Facebook fan page!

So… take it away and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have!

September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month

Fall is almost upon us, which means it's a great time for Dr. Gregory Scott and our staff to remind our patients (especially you athletes) to take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports, as well as leisure sports this fall. Let's face it: this is a busy time of year sports-wise, whether you're playing soccer in the local park or preparing for high school football.

With September being National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, our entire staff at Scott Orthodontic Associates want you to know that only by using a mouth guard can athletes with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. So, the next time you're in for a visit at our convenient Lakeland office, we encourage you to ask Dr. Scott for a mouth guard, and we will provide one! For more info on sports injuries and how to avoid them, check out this article.

We hope you've had a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!

Invisalign and your oral health, from Dr. Gregory Scott

When considering treatment options here in Lakeland, patients often ask Dr. Gregory Scott how Invisalign treatment is so different than wearing traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health.

Here's how:

*Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

*Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

*Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, please give us a call at (863) 709-1941. We look forward to hearing from you - have a great weekend.

Connect with us on Facebook!

At Scott Orthodontic Associates, we value the relationships we have developed with our patients in Lakeland and surrounding communities. Well, hey, we also enjoy connecting with them online. Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with Dr. Scott and staff on our Facebook page?

We invite you to “like” us at Facebook.com/LakelandOrthodontics. We share office news and updates on our Fan Page, so be sure to check it out! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend!

National Smile Week at Scott Orthodontic Associates

It’s National Smile Week, and a GREAT time to remind our patients at Scott Orthodontic Associates to practice good oral hygiene to keep those teeth shining during your orthodontic treatment! This includes brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding foods that can stain your teeth such as tea and coffee and visiting your general dentist as recommended.

There are two main reasons to maintain good oral hygiene during your treatment:

• To keep the teeth and gums clean so the teeth won't rot and the gums won't recede away (you'd want to keep your teeth clean for this reason whether or not you are having orthodontic treatment).

• Clean teeth and healthy gums will promote better tooth movement with a healthier result. It may sound absurd, but your body has only so much energy to spend on your mouth so when it is busy fighting decay and periodontal disease, tooth movement slows down considerably.

Another great reason to smile is this: smiling can actually help you live longer according to a new study! So keep smiling and have a great rest of the summer!