How did you celebrate your 4th of July?

In Honor of America's birthday, we'd like to hear about how you spent The 4th of July. We'd love to see your fun photos and how you spent the day. Our team thought it would be fun to share some facts about the history of our Independence Day.
Fun Facts: • Betsy Ross, according to legend, sewed the first American flag in May or June 1776, as commissioned by the Congressional Committee. • The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation. The colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament. • The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’ • The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804.

Your pal, fluoride

There are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your treatment with Parker Orthodontics. You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment? Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement.

Fluoride used in the orthodontists’ office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your oral health or doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness.

Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, from Parker Orthodontics

Each February for the past 61years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored 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. Jeff Collins 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 us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

Ask Dr. Collins: Why is it so important to have straight teeth?

Some people wonder why Parker, Elizabeth and Castle Rock CO orthodontist Dr. Jeff Collins and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Parker Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Collins can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

At Parker Orthodontics, a pursuit of excellence

At Parker Orthodontics we make every effort to provide you with the best orthodontic treatment. For us that means achieving consistently great results. There are many things that help Dr. Collins do that. Some of them are:

1. Using the most up to date and proven technologies available

2. Spending time and resources on continuing education to stay current and relevant

3. Training our entire team on new techniques

4. Educating our patients about the pursuit of excellence

If you or a family member has been thinking about orthodontic treatment, please give us a call. We look forward to seeing you.

Happy New Year from Parker Orthodontics!

Many folks in Colorado consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2011? Dr. Collins and our team recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

-Your friends at Parker Orthodontics

Parker Orthodontics Wishes you Happy Holidays!!

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as the team at Parker Orthodontics reflects on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays? Being with your loved ones? Hitting the slopes? A clean slate for 2011? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food?

Please share your thoughts with us by either commenting on this post or on our Facebook Page. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

Parker Orthodontics want to know: How was your Halloween?

Happy November, everybody! Believe it or not, we’re almost in full holiday mode! But before we forget about the spooky month that was, we’d like to know how you celebrated Halloween! What did you wear? How much candy did you get? Did you have fun?

If you have any photos or videos from Halloween night that you would like to share with Dr. Collins and our staff, please send them our way or feel free to post them on our Facebook page! We hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween! Also, what are you up to this month? Anything exciting happening in your life? If so, we’d love to hear all about it.

Lastly, have you been in for a dental checkup lately? It’s important that you see your general dentist, as well as visiting Parker Orthodontics. If you have questions about your orthodontic treatment or just want some general information, give us a call or ask us during your next visit!

Have a great rest of the week!

Your turn! From Parker Orthodontics

Week after week, Dr. Collins and our creative team at Parker Orthodontics blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontic treatment care and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic techniques Dr. Collins offers at our offices in Parker, Castle Rock and Elizabeth.

Today, however, 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 Facebook page!

Take it away and our staff will try to answer any questions you may have! Have a wonderful weekend!

Ask Dr. Collins: Why the Damon System?

Dr. Jeffrey Collins and our dedicated team at Parker Orthodontics are pleased to offer The Damon® System for our patients in Parker, Castle Rock, Elizabeth and the greater Denver metro area. Damon braces allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than traditional braces. Thanks to these innovative new braces, achieving your perfect smile will be faster and easier than you ever thought possible.

Now, you're probably saying, "All right, Dr. Collins. Give me the specifics on how Damon braces are an advantage."

Time-Saving

Damon's innovative technology of self-ligating braces saves you time in orthodontic treatment. The Damon system allows for fewer trips to our office, as well as faster movement of your teeth than with traditional braces. The light forces applied by Damon braces are "biologically compatible" meaning that they work with your body for gentler and quicker tooth movement.

Comfortable

Damon System braces have a unique slide mechanism that allows Dr. Collins to use far lighter forces to move teeth to their correct positions. That makes your treatment not only shorter, but it is also far more comfortable.

Because of its unique sliding door, the Damon bracket allows us to use high-tech, light-force wires to achieve tooth movement. This means less pressure on your teeth for more comfortable treatment. Not every orthodontist uses Damon self-ligating braces. The reason Dr. Collins does is simple: it means your experience in uncovering your radiant new smile will be more comfortable and convenient than ever.

To learn more about the Damon System, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Collins, please give us a call at (303) 841-5500. Happy Wednesday and enjoy the rest of the week!

Pet Contest at Parker Orthodontics!

Our staff at Parker Orthodontics is proud to unveil our new patient contest. Errr, pet contest!

Here’s how it works: Now through November 30th, submit a photo of your pet on our Facebook page and your friends will have to "Like" us on Facebook and vote for cutest pet. The winners will be from both offices (who ever gets the most votes).

By posting, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win:

*$100.00 PetSmart gift card for the Grand Prize

*$50.00 to PetSmart for 2nd and 3rd-place winners

Please make sure to include the name of your pet and the office where you’re seen by Dr. Collins!

GOOD LUCK!

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

Many parents here in Parker, Castle Rock, Elizabeth and surrounding communities around Denver assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to come in for a consultation with Dr. Jeff Collins, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started sooner. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommend that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That's right - seven.

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, Dr. Collins will tell you, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from years of harmful teasing, crooked teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, we invite you to give us a call at Parker Orthodontics to schedule a complimentary initial consultation.

Have a GREAT rest of your weekend everyone!

Tell Dr. Collins and Parker Orthodontics: What should we blog about?

As summer rapidly approaches, our staff at Parker Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to braces and your treatment with Dr. Jeff Collins.

To help us continue blogging through the course of the long, hot summer, however, we'd like your opinion: What would you like us to focus on our blog over the summer? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Collins for a while and just haven't found the right opportunity? Give us your ideas by posting here or on our Facebook page!

We hope you have a great rest of the weekend! See you soon!

Talkin' retainers with Dr. Jeff Collins

If you recently completed treatment at Parker Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Jeff Collins will provide—or has provided you at this point—with your own set of retainers.

After braces are removed, your teeth may shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Our team at Parker Orthodontics, however, will always tell you that retainers help 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 Dr. Collins 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 with Dr. Collins, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth. You may also give us a call!

Have a fun and relaxing Memorial Day weekend everyone!!

With Dr. Collins and Parker Orthodontics, 24/7 access to your account

At Parker Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it's through the innovative orthodontic treatments Dr. Collins offers, our social networks, or our modern offices serving Parker, Castle Rock, Elizabeth and the Denver metro area.

Did you know that Dr. Collins' patients have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our web site? You may 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!

"I can view pictures and the financial parts to decide when I should get things done." ~ Cody O.

"I enjoy the visual reminder for appointments and love the ease of pay online." ~ Chris H.

"Dr. Collins seems to be aware of new proceedures when they are available and keeps his office and employees in a very professional way. He shows me that he opts to use the most current technical support equipment making his customers feel comfortable. He really gives one the impression he is interested in them and cares about them with his gifts and contests to make your visits more enjoyable and exciting. "A Comfortable Environment!" ~ Richard K.

"Appointment and account info readily available." ~ Calvin M.

"With the My photos piece it reminds us of the progress we are making and how although braces aren't fun - the end results are magnificent." ~ Anna J.

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started and enjoy your week!

More exciting patient contests at Parker Orthodontics!

Our staff at Parker Orthodontics would like to inform you of two exciting patient contests under way: The first is our “Teacher Appreciation” Contest. We ask our patients to write a paragraph on why they feel their teacher deserves an A+. The team gets together and picks a few of their favorites (5-6) and then the winning patients get a pizza party for their whole class. Team members make a fun event of the party, bringing pop (caffeine free), pizza, goodies and practice handouts, etc… The kids love it and of course the teachers think it is the best!

We're also running our annual “Where in the World” contest. We put up a huge World map in the clinic and ask our patients to send in postcards and/or email us photos of themselves on vacation or just in the neighborhood, and then we attach them to the map. Anyone who participates is entered into a drawing for gift certificates and the grand prize winner receives a 4 pack to the local water park. This contest is so much fun, because everyone gets to enjoy the cards and pictures!

Give us a call or stop by if you'd like to participate! We look forward to seeing you!

What sets Parker Orthodontics apart?

Here are just a few things that separate Parker Orthodontics from the rest in the Denver area:

*Our reception area includes a children's play area for the young children accompanying their parents or siblings to their appointments, plenty of reading material, digital music, television, and a coffee and snack bar.

*Our on-deck area includes a video arcade with hundreds of games on the touch screen computers. We offer incentive programs for our patients to help encourage the fullest possible cooperation with our treatment program.

*Our clinic offers both wide open areas and private treatment rooms for patient comfort and privacy. We have seating for parents who wish to accompany their children back to the clinic.

*We take all diagnostic records in our office using digital photographs and x-rays, and we have an in-house lab for fabrication of all appliances and retainers to maintain the highest quality throughout treatment.

*We offer several types of braces including traditional, self-ligating, clear, Invisalign and the Damon System.

*We use the most up-to-date procedures available during treatment including thermally activated wires and state-of-the-art sterilization.

*We have a well-trained team with several members having worked for Dr. Collins for over fifteen years. Our office is known for our high level of customer service. We receive so many compliments on how pleasant, comfortable and fun it is to be here.

*Dr. Collins has been recognized as the "Best of the Best" in Parker and has been recognized as one of the top orthodontists in the Denver area by 5280 Magazine. He is also a certified provider for Invisalign®, and Dr. Collins has been creating amazing smiles in Parker for over twenty years.

Dr. Collins, helping you save face this spring

April - which is National Facial Protection Month - is almost gone, but not before Dr. Collins and team remind all our young athletes in orthodontic treatment to play it safe when out on the field. After all, nearly 60,000 people injure their faces annually while participating in sports activities, and teenagers account for 80 percent of all sports-related trips to the emergency room.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope these tips help. Dr. Collins will tell you protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Parker Orthodontics. And remember to stay safe and have fun!

Ask Dr. Collins: Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Dr. Jeff Collins will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

With state-of-the-art technology in a comfortable, friendly environment, we look forward to helping you achieve the beautiful, confident smile you have always wanted. Dr. Collins and our team are committed to providing you with an outstanding orthodontic experience. If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! At Parker Orthodontics, you’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, as well as your life!

What are patients saying about Parker Orthodontics?

Dr. Jeffrey Collins and our staff love getting patient reviews. And lately, Parker Orthodontics, serving Castle Rock, Parker, Elizabeth and surrounding communities here in Colorado, has been getting some phenomenal testimonials from current and former patients. Today, we thought we’d share a few of those with you. If you’d like to share with us some thoughts about your experience with Dr. Collins and team, please feel free to do so!

“Dr. Collins was very personable and spent a great deal of time discussing the possibilities with me.” ~ Jennifer H.

“He's really nice and I know he cares about me. The whole team is amazing and I look forward to go to my appointments to see them.” ~ Amanda F.

“The office staff is very helpful and friendly as is Dr. Collins. His office is very inviting to both parent and child. My children all like to go there.” ~ Casey H.

“You feel welcome and at home from the first time you step in the door....” ~ Taylor S.

“All of the staff is very friendly and make the kids feel comfotable. I am very cofident in the doctor as well as all of the staff members.” ~ Roger G.