*ORTHODONTIC FACTS*

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States.
• The American Association of Orthodontist is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States.
• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 9 to 35 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.
• Of the 16,00 dentist in the United States and Canada 8,000 are practicing Orthodontist.
• Braces aren't just for children. The percentage of adults seeking orthodontic treatment increased from 17 percent in 1979 to 23 percent in 1992. Today adult patients makeup almost 40 percent of most orthodontic cases. 
• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.
• If left untreated, orthodontic problems can lead to tooth decay, gum disease or bone destruction. 
• Famous Orthodontist patients include: Dr.Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes, Tom Cruise, Faith Hill, Gwen Stefani and Brandi. 

     

Before & After.....

Brace Friendly Christmas Cookie Recipes

While we all Love our Christmas cookies and treats but Kids & Adults who have braces should avoid hard cookies, nuts and other holiday foods that can damage/break braces or Orthodontic Appliances.


But just because you wear braces, it doesn’t mean you have to avoid Christmas cookies altogether this holiday season.

At Azizi Orthodontics we want our patients to enjoy the holidays and all the food and fun they offer. But we want to make sure your braces aren’t damaged, and you emerge from the holidays on course to the great smile you want

Here is a Brace Friendly recipe..... Ginger Bread Cookies

Here’s what you will need:

• One half cup of sugar.
• A half cup shortening.
• Half cup of molasses.
• One quarter cup of water.
• Three-quarter teaspoon of salt.
• One half teaspoon of baking soda.
• Three-quarter teaspoon of ginger.
• One quarter teaspoon of nutmeg.
• Two and half cups of all-purpose flour.
• An extra 1/4 cup of flour for cutting and rolling.
• A rolling pin and some cookie cutters.

Next, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. You will bake cookies for eight to 10 minutes.

In a big bowl, mix sugar, molasses, shortening and water. Use an electric mixer and beat until creamy.

Mix in salt, ginger, baking soda, nutmeg and flour. The dough will feel stiff.

Divide dough into two mounds and wrap each one in wax paper or in a sealed container. Chill them for a minimum of one hour.

Use your counter or cutting board, and dust them with flour. Place one of the chilled mounds of dough in the center. Sprinkle it with additional flour.

Use your rolling pin and roll out dough until it is about a quarter inch thick. Use the cookie cutters to cut out shapes.

Roll out and use scraps until dough has been shaped.

Place cookies on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake them for seven minutes, at 375 degrees.

Enjoy & Happy Holidays from Azizi Orthodontics! :) 

Can Orthodontic Treatment Treat Sleep Apnea??

A straight smile and properly aligned teeth really are keys to having great overall health. Correction of malocclusion an bite problems can lead to better overall wellness. You may have heard about braces having the potential to treat Sleep Apnea. When you meet with Dr.Azizi you could go over this is much greater detail but for now here is an overview of Sleep Apnea and its treatment so you know what to expect.

What is Sleep Apnea? 
Sleep Apnea is more then violent snoring. Its a sleep disorder that involves cessation or interruption of normal at rest breathing. The stoppage of breathing is known as "Apnea" and can last between a few seconds and a few minutes. The number of Apneas per hour can vary from patient to patient. 

Causes of Sleep Apnea?
The cause of a persons sleep Apnea really depends on the kind of sleep Apnea that they suffer from. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea- The most common form. It refers to physical or psychological causes of Sleep Apnea like obesity, low muscle tone or blockage in airways.

Central Sleep Apnea- CSA refers to problems with the brain and central nervous system that affect the body's ability to regulate breathing during sleep. 

Mixed Sleep Apnea- Combinations or OSA and CSA.

Can braces really help treat Sleep Apnea?
in some ways yes, Tooth alignment, Jaw Alignment, and spacing of the dental arch can all affect the breathing passages in subtle ways. Braces and orthodontic care are preventative methods to addressing Sleep Apnea, improving the airflow helping make the structure of the mouth more ideal. 

Its not common that use of braces alone can treat Sleep Apnea. Many Dentist and Orthodontist will usually help patients through the use of an appliance. These are custom mouth guards that are worn during sleep and help adjust the position of the lower jaw that will help open up a better breathing passage.

 We look forward to meeting you and look forward to helping you make the best decision regrading your dental health and total wellness. 
Call us to set up a consultation with  Dr. Azizi at Azizi Orthodontic care 215-646-9514 or 215-576-6414

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES!!!!

Braces Friendly Recipes for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a special day to celebrate a holiday with our family and friends to give thanks and enjoy turkey dinner with all the yummy sides.  However, if you are wearing braces, you may be a little limited to what you can and cannot eat at thanksgiving dinner. 
Even though Azizi Orthodontics gives you a guide line of all the foods to avoid while wearing braces, like hard, chewy and gooey foods. There are plenty of great recipes to try so you can still enjoy our thanksgiving. 

Here are a couple brace friendly recipes to try out fo you wont feel like your missing out on all the great food this year....

Mashed Potato Casserole: 

Ingredients: 
5 lbs of potatoes
1 Stick Of Butter
1 8 oz package of cream cheese at near room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1 clove minced garlic or clove roasted garlic
2 tsp salt
Pinch of pepper and paprika

Directions:

Peel and cut potatoes into large pieces. Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain, return to pan and add butter. Set aside.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese and garlic together. Add the sour cream, salt and a bit of pepper and mix. Stir the now-melted butter into the potatoes and add a portion of the buttery potatoes to the cream cheese/sour cream. Beat together. Continue adding more potatoes until you have beaten in about ¾ of the potatoes. Stir in the rest of the potatoes so you get a few soft lumps!

Transfer the potatoes to a large casserole dish, sprinkle with paprika. Cover and put into the refrigerator overnight. The following day, remove from fridge ½ hour before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 45 minutes

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

While everyone else is enjoying sticky pecan pie and all the other desserts that can damage your braces like hard cookies and chewy brownies, you can enjoy these sweet, soft pumpkin cookies without worrying about your braces.

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Grease two baking sheets. In a large bowl, add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Put sugar and butter in another bowl and beat. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix well. Drop teaspoon sized balls of dough onto baking sheets. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until firm.

ENJOY!!!!!

Azizi Orthodontics wishes all of our patients and their families a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your holiday. Call us at Azizi Orthodontics if you have any questions or concerns. 215-646-9514 or 215-576-6414

Causes and Prevention of Decalcification....

Getting your braces off is an exciting time, having that beautiful smile and straight teeth can build confidence that last a lifetime. Although at times it can be disappointing to find that your teeth are marked with chalky white patches after your braces are removed. If this has happened to you, dont worry there are several solutions that can help get your smile back to a normal white shade. Here are some helpful tips to keep your smile spotless!!

What Causes Decalcification?

Its common that people believe that braces can causes spots to appear, but in reality they are the result of plaque build up just like any other form of tooth decay. These chalky patches, or dental decalcification affect 24% of teenagers without braces. The number jumps to 50% of teenagers with braces. Even though braces are not directly responsible for causing the white spots to appear on your teeth, they can complicate the process of plaque removal.


How do you avoid Decalcification?

 The best way to prevent Decalcification is to keep your teeth clean of place. Keeping up with good Oral Hygiene during your orthodontic treatment is one of the best ways to prevent all of this. This can be done if you use a tooth brush specifically designed for orthodontic care and floss regularly. When plaque builds up on the surfaces and between your teeth it creates acids which deplete your tooth's enamel of minerals over time. When you brush, be sure to focus on the areas that are obstructed by your brackets and wires. Make sure to pay attention to Dr Azizi when he shows you how to brush and floss with braces. Its also important to stay away from sodas and other foods that are high in sugar and acids.

If you have any questions regarding how to brush and floss your teeth with braces, or notice any white spots that already formed on your teeth please call our office. 215-646-9514 or 215-576-6414