7 year-olds and EXTRA teeth; how seeing your orthodontist early can save the day! Or at least, save the smile.

If you haven't done it yet, and your child is at least 7, take them to the orthodontist.  Do it today.  You don't need to wait until the dentist says it's time.  Go now and rule out any unforeseen issues.  Chances are good that your child won't be ready for braces until age 12, but going to the orthodontist early, just might make a big difference in their dental future.

Recently we had a patient come in for a complimentary new patient exam. Her family had no issues with esthetics and her dentist didn't have any concerns.  Her parents were aware of some crowding and a slight overbite but they made the appointment because they had read somewhere that the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a child's first exam at age 7. Thank goodness they came.

Upon taking a set of photos and xrays, we identified a large growth between the roots of her upper front teeth.  It was an amorphous extra tooth, which if given enough time could have continued to grow and damage her front teeth potentially ruining her smile.  This would have never been caught had the family not come in early.

Over 80% of kids visiting the orthodontist at age 7 do not need any early orthodontic treatment. Those kids go into a complimentary observation program called our "Kids Cub Club" where they return annually for quick checks to make sure the teeth are erupting properly and jaws are growing appropriately. 

The other 20% of kids who could benefit from early intervention, usually require limited treatment (at a fraction of the cost) with long term benefits that lessen the complexity and cost of treatment later. Often through the use of expanders, retainers or temporary front braces, problems can be corrected early (usually in 6-12 months).

  

Take your kid to the orthodontist. It might make a big difference in their dental future and you have nothing to lose.

What's the difference? Dentist vs. orthodontist?

Click here for an article posted on globalnews.com-see Dr. Barnett's Blog below:

We get questions a lot from patients about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist.  Well, to put it simply, most dentists are not orthodontists but all orthodontists are dentists.  There are almost 200,000 dental graduates practicing some form of dentistry in the United States and only about 10,000 of them are orthodontists.  While dentists can do orthodontic work, they cannot call themselves "orthodontists" as they have not completed a 2-3 year residency beyond dental school. This specialized training teaches an orthodontist the art and science of tooth movement beyond what they learn in a basic 4-year dental school. 

While some dentists may perform adequate orthodontic work, there is no doubt that in the medical/dental world, specialized training is highly valued.  Dr. Barnett completed his residency at Boston Univeristy from 2003-2005.  He trained under world renowned orthodontists as he developed his skills before returning to the Akron, Ohio area to a limited practice of Orthodontics.  We treat both adults and children and are proud of our work and exceptional customer service. 

Unfortunately, the linked article shows an extreme example of someone who did not understand the person doing her braces was not an orthodontist and had a bad experience.  Make sure you do your research on the person potentially doing your orthodontic treatment. 

Have a little "Faith", you won't be the only adult in braces

If you're an adult considering orthodontic treatment, you're not alone. From superstar Faith Hill to the everyday super-moms and super-dads, adults make up 25% of today's orthodontic population.

At the 2013 Grammys this year, Faith Hill proudly displayed her dental accessories and created quite a buzz with the mainstream media. The Today Show on NBC ran a segment this week discussing the growing popularity and social acceptability of adult orthodontic treatment. At Barnett orthodontics, we're proud to provide Akron's adult population with numerous esthetic treatment options from clear braces to Invisalign removable clear aligners. Often the objectives of adult orthodontic treatment are different from adolescent treatment and the overall amount of time one needs to spend in braces can be less. 



Our team at Barnett Ortho would be happy to discuss if orthodontics could be beneficial for you. Call our Barberton office today at 330-745-4497. We proudly serve numerous Akron OH communities, are conveniently located, and provide complimentary consultations. 

Here's a link to a blog post we wrote in 2009 about celebrities and braces.  

Getting Wiser about Wisdom Teeth

In the dental profession, there is a changing wave of thinking regarding the removal of wisdom teeth—and it’s making for some rough waters between the different disciplines of dentistry.  For years, oral surgeons and dentists have been prophylactically removing wisdom teeth under the assumption that if left intact, major problems will occur.  While it is true that wisdom teeth can cause major problems, it’s only in a small percentage of individuals that problems arise.  A recent article on Yahoo news highlighted a dentist who’s made it his mission to educate the public and the profession on the removal of wisdom teeth.  He published an article in the American Journal of Public Health, claiming two-thirds of the wisdom teeth removed each year were done for “no good reason”.  As well, the total cost for the extractions was in the billions!  Click here for a link to the article. 

The decision to extract wisdom teeth should be looked at closely by your dentist, oral surgeon and orthodontist.  The risks versus the rewards of extracting or keeping wisdom teeth need to be evaluated on an individual basis.  There are no absolutes.  The dental profession in Akron Ohio and the surrounding areas stays at the forefront when it comes to continuing education.  Know with confidence, your dental community is aware of the updates.

When it comes to orthodontic treatment, our practice has long been advising patients that the early removal of wisdom teeth does not prevent the other teeth from shifting later in life.  The teeth can shift with or without the wisdom teeth.  The most important variable to keeping your teeth straight after braces is wearing your retainer at night. 

Please call our office in Barberton, OH should you have any questions.  330-745-4497

Akron Organization Donates $160,000 Annually for Braces...

Akron's Barnett Orthodontics is proud to partner with The Beacon Journal Charity Fund to provide braces to area families whom otherwise could not afford orthodontic treatment. 

Accepting a significantly reduced fee, Barnett Orthodontics (along with other area practitioners) provide the orthodontic treatment funded by the Charity Fund.  This partnership has allowed over 500 children in the past 10 years to get an amazing smile and healthy bite--thus increasing their self-esteem and self-worth by giving them a smile they can be proud of.   

The Beacon Journal Charity Fund was set up to make orthodontic services available to families with teens age 13 to 18 who reside in the five-county circulation area of the Akron Beacon Journal. These families don’t earn enough to pay for braces, but earn too much to be eligible for government aid. The fund fills the gap to provide orthodontics to a population which would otherwise have to go without. 

 Please let us know if you'd like more information on eligibility and or making donations to this great fund.

What's an impacted tooth? Akron's own, Dr. Barnett Answers the Question.

In my interaction with new patients, I often (almost weekly) have to explain to a family why one of their teeth will NEVER come in without orthodontic help. This "stuck" tooth, called an impacted tooth, cannot erupt into the mouth because there is not enough room or something blocks the natural tooth eruption.

Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth and the usual approach is to remove (extract) them! When it comes to dealing with other impactions though, pulling the tooth is always a LAST resort. Upper canine teeth (eye teeth) are the second most commonly impacted teeth and the most common impacted-tooth-problem an orthodontist has to face. To correct the impaction, it requires a gum tissue surgery and a coordinated approach between an orthodontist and other specialists.  The x-ray above and photos below show the hidded nature of an impacted tooth and the progession from the initial surgery to the tooth almost aligned in the arch.  As you can see on the x-ray, the upper right side reveals a tooth on an angle crossing behind one of the front teeth.  When looking at the photo below, you cannot see the tooth as it is covered with bone and gum tissue--unitl, it's uncovered as shown in the photos at the bottom. 

The surgical procedure, called an uncovering, is done during the orthodontic treatment to remove the gum tissue and bone blocking the impacted tooth. Then, the orthodontist can place a bracket on the impacted tooth and slowly move it to the correct position. The total time in braces is usually no longer than an average orthodontic case.

 

Mouthguards...Football, Basketball and ROLLER DERBY!?!

Our first annual Mouthguard Day was a terrific success. We met a lot of new people, saw some of our old patients, and most importantly made affordable custom mouthguards to protect a lot of smiles.
While we had a lot of high school athletes come in for a mouthguard, some of the more interesting mouthguards we made were for two of the members of the Rubber City Rollergirls, an all female Roller Derby Team. While their roller derby names may be silly, "MC HamHer" and "Dead Eye HuntHer", the sport is very serious and growing in popularity.

If your not familiar with them, be sure to check them out though the link provided.

A big thank you to the entire Team at Barnett Orthodontics for an amazing job organizing and planning this event specifically Ruth and Robin.

The proceeds from the event will be donated to the Summa Dental Health Clinic.

Congrats Miss Ohio Teen USA-- Barnett Orthodontics Patient

Becoming Miss Ohio Teen USA takes more than a beautiful smile, but straight teeth are certainly an important part of the package!

We were excited to learn recently that our past patient, Bridget Linton was crowned Miss Teen Ohio 2010. Bridget is an amazing person both inside and out and has used her position this year to work with different organizations such as the American Heart Association, Girl Talk and D.A.R.E. She has visited Ohio schools to encourage children to become aware of their inner beauty and promote a positive self image.

Congratulations Bridget and keep up the amazing work as Miss Ohio Teen USA!

Follow bridget on Facebook or on her blog by clicking on the links.

Barnett Orthodontics provides braces and invisalign to adults and children in the Akron Ohio area and surrounding communities including Barberton, Norton, Manchester, Canal Fulton, Copley, Uniontown, Green, Wadsworth, North Canton, Portage Lakes, Doylestown, Coventry, and Fairlawn.

Braces in Barberton—The Under Appreciated History of the Magic City

Barberton, Ohio, has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s. Despite our practice being located here for almost 30 years, many of our Team Members were unfamiliar with the great history of the city of Barberton. To better educate ourselves, recently, some of us attended the annual Barberton Historical Society Anna Dean Farm Walking Tour. Here are some of the highlights…

Founded by O.C. Barber, Barberton was constructed as an industrial city close to Akron and on the Ohio and Erie Canal. Diamond Match, owned and operated by O.C. Barber was located in the city and was the largest producer of matches in the United States producing 250 million matches a day. On the heels of the success of Diamond Match, O.C. Barber constructed one of the largest and most successful “super-farms” of its time. He mastered the principals of mass production, mechanization, innovation, and long-term planning. The 3,500 acre estate, with a daily operating expense of nearly $1,000, consisted of 12 acres of greenhouses, herds of top-quality livestock, several large barns, a piggery, poultry house, flour mill, concrete factory, brick works, creamery and a 40 acre park. On the highest part of the farm overlooking Barberton laid the 52 room, 50,000 square foot French Renaissance Revival mansion, reportedly described by the New York Times as the “finest mansion between New York and Chicago.” Fully completed in 1910, the mansion alone cost over $400,000 and required 18 months to finish.

Unfortunately the Barber Mansion was torn down in 1965 but many of the Barber Farm buildings have been restored and some are being used by local businesses. There is a wonderful historical society working hard to preserve the history of Barberton and Barnett Orthodontics is proud to be a business in the Barberton community.

WIN $2,500-- American Association of Orthodontists announces "How Orthodontics Changed My Life" scholarship contest...

Check out this great contest sponsored by the American Association of Orthodontists...Win $2500.00!!!

The American Association of Orthodontists is sponsoring the “How Orthodontics Changed My Life” video contest. There will be two winners; each winner will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

The “How Orthodontics Changed My Life” video contest is open to students who are age 18 or under as of July 15, 2010 and who are legal residents of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and Canada. Contest participants must have completed active orthodontic treatment (braces must have been removed) and be in the active retention phase of treatment or have completed active retention. Contest entrants must have received orthodontic treatment from a member of the American Association of Orthodontists.

All entries must be postmarked by July 15, 2010. Videos submitted should be two minutes in length or less. Entries are limited to one per person. There is no fee to enter. Contest entrants should tell their stories on video, answering questions such as:

• - What were you like before you had orthodontic treatment?
• - How have you changed?
• - How proud are you of your new smile?
• - When did you notice changes in yourself?
• - What kinds of changes have you noticed?
• - What does your new smile mean to you?
• - What would you say to others whose smiles make them self-conscious?

Before beginning work on your video, carefully review the Terms and Conditions. To submit an entry:

• - Burn your video file onto a DVD or save it onto a USB flash drive

• - Complete the “How Orthodontics Changed My Life” Video Scholarship - Contest Submission Agreement including all contact information and the signature requested at the end of the agreement form.

• - Sign the form if you are 18. If you are under 18, the form must be signed by your parent or guardian

• - Mail your DVD or USB drive and your signed submission agreement form, postmarked by July 15, 2010 to:
  
  Linda Gladden
  Director of Communications and Marketing
  American Association of Orthodontists
  401 N. Lindbergh Blvd.

  St. Louis, MO 63141

  
  You will receive a confirmation email message indicating that your submission has been received. Judging The 10 finalists and two scholarship winners will be selected by AAO communications staff and a team of AAO members serving on the Association’s Council on Communications.

  
  The judges will evaluate entries based on:

  • - Clarity of the entrant’s personal story
  • - Creativity in the approach of conveying the story
  • - Use of attractive and interesting visual elements
  • - Clear and comprehensible audio
  • - Effective and tasteful use of humor, if applicable
  • - Enthusiasm and positive perspective on orthodontic treatment

  
  Reporting of Results

  By August 15, 2010 all 10 finalist videos will be posted on the American Association of Orthodontists Web site, Braces.org, and on the AAO members’ site, AAOinfo.org. By August 15, 2010 the two winners will be announced. Finalists will be notified by phone or email before August 1 and winners will be notified by phone or email before August 15.
  
  Terms and Conditions

  • All videos submitted become the property of the American Association of Orthodontists and may be posted in multiple online outlets by the AAO, shown at orthodontic specialty meetings or used in advertising materials related to orthodontic treatment without compensation of the entrant
  • Winners agree to participate in public relations announcements by the AAO, including their names, contest video link information and photographs.
    
    
  • Each of the two winners will receive a $2,500 scholarship to be used toward their post-high school educational expenses at a college, university, vocational training or technical school.
    
    
  • All federal, state, and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the contest winners.
    
    
  • Decisions of the judges are final.
    
    
  • Submissions will be voided if discovered to have been obtained through fraud, or if they contain inappropriate content such as vulgarity, obscenity, lewd comments, pornographic images or violent images; or if they promote violence or disparage any person or entity; or if they contain trademarked or copyrighted material.
    
    
  • Submissions may not include video or audio content of any individuals other than the entrant.
    
    
  • Children of members of the American Association of Orthodontists, children of employees of AAO member offices and children of AAO employees are not eligible to enter the contest.
    
    
  • Patients and former patients of members of the panel of orthodontists designated to select the two winners are not eligible to enter the contest.

Distinguished Recognition: Invisalign 2010 Preferred Provider at Barnett Orthodontics

At Barnett Orthodontics, we are known for exceptional results. To achieve the ideal result, a certain level of expertise is necessary. One such product that demands a high level of expertise is Invisalign (invisible braces). Invisalign is a series of clear, removable aligners that are changed every two weeks to straighten your teeth without braces.

This year, Invisalign is honoring orthodontists who have completed a high number of cases with recognition, so the public can choose an orthodontist with proper training. According to Invisalign, "Invisalign Preferred Providers have the experience and training that you can rely on."

Barnett Orthodontics is one of only two orthodontists in the area with Preferred Provider Status. It's important to note, that general dentists can perform Invisalign, however they do not have 2-3 years of advanced training beyond dental school like an orthodontist.

Trust your smile to an orthodontist.

Trust your Invisalign, to a Preferred Invisalign Orthodontist Provider.

Candy Cane Contest Winner--$50.00 to Summit Mall

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Grant won our most recent contest. He guessed the correct number of candy canes in our jar--303!

Grant won $50.00 to spend on whatever he wants at Summit Mall.

Thanks for the 300 people who entered our contest.

Ask your Akron Area Orthodontist: Do Celebrities Wear Braces? Am I too old for Braces?

Tom Cruise

The secret behind many smiles in Hollywood started with braces. Some had braces at an early age while others sported their braces on the red carpet or while in the limelight. Whether you're in your teens, or beyond, it is not too late to think about straight teeth, at any age. Barnett Orthodontics should be your choice to find your own celebrity smile in the Akron area!

Lyndsy Fonseca from Desperate Housewives.


NBA's Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic


Sean-a-Paul sports a different kind of bling...


Danny Glover from Lethal Weapon


Love Actually star Thomas Sangster


Dakota Fanning

Here's a list of some of more famous people who have had braces: Cameron Diaz, Alyssa Milano, Angie Harmon, Tom Cruise, Carol Burnett, Anna Kournikova, Brett Favre, Brittney Spears, Barbara Walters, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ashley Judd, Christina Applegate, Clare Daines, Cindy Crawford, Daisy Fuentes, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Diana Ross, Gwen Stefani, Heather Locklear, Jody Foster, Kelly Clarkson, Lee Ann Womack, Lil' Bow Wow, Linda Evans, Marquis Daniels, Martina Hingis, Mary Stuart Masterson, Nicholas Cage, Melissa Gilbert, Monica Seles, Oprah, Pink, Sean Paul, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Terrell Davis, Tyra Banks, Warren Beatty, Tia and Tamara Mowry.

Contact us to discover how braces or Invisalign can improve your smile! 330-745-4497.

Serving Akron, Canton, Norton, Barberton, Green, Uniontown, Coventry, Canal Fulton, Manchester, Copley, Fairlawn, and more!