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!

A great braces-friendly spring recipe! From Dr. Hilliard & team

Winter is over, and the weather is finally starting to get warmer. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) spring 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.

Soy Simmered Chicken Wraps

Ingredients:

• 3 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 large onions, chunked
• Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
• (optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better, but you don’t have to do anything to it while it cooks. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. In a small saucepan, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, then let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. Makes about six to eight servings.

Enjoy this great spring dish and have a great week!

--From Dr. Hilliard and staff

Dr. Hilliard & team, dispelling the myths about orthodontics

Our team at Hilliard Orthodontics are aware there are quite a few myths about orthodontists circulating around. Before you buy into those myths, you should get the facts! We came across a great site that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontists, check them out today!

Ask Dr. Hilliard: “I’m 34 – am I too old for braces?”

Thanks for the question – Drs. Hilliard & Dietrich will both tell you that NOBODY is “too old” for braces!

In fact, our staff at Hilliard Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic recently: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! 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 and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Hilliard and Dietrich can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Drs. Hilliard, Dietrich and our team would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Ask Dr. Hilliard: What's the deal with retainers?

If you've recently completed treatment at Hilliard Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you, again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Hilliard will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, you see, provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by our staff at Hilliard Orthodontics is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment here at Hilliard Orthodontics, please read this helpful article about retainers or give us a call!

Play it safe this spring, from Dr. Hilliard

Let’s face it: sports-related injuries are common among children, let alone teens with braces. In a recent survey, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, discovered that 70 percent of parents said their biggest fear is that their child will get hurt while playing organized sports. But 67 percent admitted that their child doesn’t wear a mouth guard during organized sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer. That’s why the office of Dr. Hilliard is helping spread the word that many facial sports injuries can be prevented simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards.

Dr. Hilliard can recommend the best mouth guard for you, and, in addition, the AAO has four quick tips for keeping kids safe during sport activities.

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Wear protective eyewear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Be observant even as a spectator
• Use good judgment

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment with Dr. Hilliard.