Baby Contest at Parker Orthodontics!

There’s a baby on the way!

Matt and Sarah, a Parker Orthodontics clinical assistant, are expecting their first baby this May! We thought this would be a great opportunity to have a contest.

Here’s how it will work: The next time you visit Parker Orthodontics, submit you guesses for the due date, the baby’s weight, and whether they'll have a boy or a girl. You could WIN a Best Buy Gift Card! Good luck everyone!

Foods to Avoid during your Orthodontic Treatment

There are a variety of foods Dr. Jeffrey Collins wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include:

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Also, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give Parker Orthodontics a call or ask our staff during your next visit.

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!

At Parker Orthodontics, what puts you at ease?

Dr. Jeffrey Collins and team understand not everyone enjoys visiting their orthodontist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know:

What is it about Parker Orthodontics that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly staff or Dr. Collins?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call!

Braces 101 with Parker Orthodontics

If you sustain any damage to your braces and need to call Parker Orthodontics, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.


Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Parker Orthodontics is helping Mountain View Elementary “Win a $100,000 Green School Makeover”

Robyn, a Parker Orthodontics patient, recently asked us if we were interested in helping Mountain View Elementary compete for a “$100,000 Green School Makeover.” Dr. Jeffrey Collins and the entire Parker Orthodontics team are proud to support Mountain View Elementary in this pursuit.

The school is trying to collect the most empty drinking containers and bottles with UPC codes. They must be non-alcoholic containers and please NO GLASS. Please help support Mountain View Elementary by bringing in your empty containers to our office, we will be collecting them until the end of March.

Here are some examples of what you can bring:
Monster cans, Rock Star cans, Red Bull cans, Starbucks cans, Gatorade bottles, water bottles, and anything else that fits the guidelines above.

Thank you for your participation in advance! Please visit the “Help Mountain View win a 100k Green School Makeover” Facebook Page and the Dream Machine Recycle Rally Website to learn more about this journey.

Getting braces, all the cool kids are doing it!

Braces today are “cool” and—many would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as In-Ovation and the Damon System, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with Dr. Jeff Collins, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited Parker Orthodontics for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!