Honoring our veterans and heroes this Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend is a time Americans remember all those who bravely gave their lives for our country. It’s also the unofficial start of summer, and for many kids, getting out of town for three days with parents after being in school all these months is sure to be sweet, sweet relief.

At Hilliard Orthodontics, we know Memorial Day weekend is ripe for travel. After all, it’s unofficially the start of summer and time for a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories with parents or friends. What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? What will you be doing on your day off from school or work?

Whether you are headed to a barbeque, a camping trip, or just having fun in the Florida sun this weekend, we’d like to hear all about it! Enjoy the holiday!

Ask Dr. Hilliard: When should my child come in for a consultation?

Great question! Many parents think they must wait until their child has all permanent teeth to start treatment, only to find that treatment would have been much simpler if started earlier. So, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

What’s so special about age seven? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for an orthodontist to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what Drs. Hilliard and Dietrich call “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites, and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age 7, give us a call at Hilliard Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

Hilliard Orthodontics at the 111th AAO Annual Session in Chicago

Patients at Hilliard Orthodontics can feel confident they are receiving the best in orthodontic health care. Our goal is to provide the most up-to-date technology and techniques using the best equipment possible. Dr. Hilliard is devoted to continuing education and furthers his learning through reading, attending conferences and continuing education courses. One of those conferences includes the 2011 AAO Annual Session in Chicago, where our entire team will head later this week.

Dr. Hilliard will also be lecturing at the AAO in the doctor's scientific program. Only one other orthodontist in the state of Florida was asked to do a scientific lecture! Dr. Hilliard will be showing many cases he has treated and instructing others on how to maximize the use of aligners in orthodontic treatment. This is his third time Dr. Hilliard has been asked to present a clinical teaching lecture to this international meeting, and we think that’s pretty darn impressive, as he has great credentials and an international reputation for excellence in orthodontic treatment!

The AAO Annual Session is an always-educational event that is also one of the largest orthodontic conventions in the world. It's also a time for Drs. Hilliard and Dietrich to consult with dental experts and orthodontists from around the country and stay up-to-date on all the latest technologies and orthodontic treatment options available. This, of course, allows our team at Hilliard Orthodontics to give you, our wonderful patients, the very best treatment experience possible.

Dr. Hilliard and Dr. Dietrich are committed to lifelong learning and continuing education, not only for themselves but also for the staff. The entire team will be attending the AAO this weekend and will be seeing patients again on Tuesday.

If you've got an appointment for an adjustment or consultation scheduled with us soon, we invite you to ask us about our Chicago trip, including what we learned and how continuing education and acquisition of new technology helps us treat you more effectively at Hilliard Orthodontics!

Flossing with Braces 101

Dr. Hilliard & Dr. Dietrich will tell you that keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and could possibly reduce your treatment time.

Here is a very concise video explaining the proper way to floss your teeth with braces. Give our team a call if you have more questions about flossing. Enjoy!