(Issued Winter 2016-17) – For adults and children, December may be the best month to start treatment if braces are in your future.

 

Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics notes several reasons:

• Flexible Spending Accounts —  Year-end is a good time to use your Health FSA dollars. Some flex plans allow roll over while others do not, so in a sense any funds put aside this year and unused will be lost. It’s often best to get in and save that money before December 31.
• Since the initial consultation with the Orthodontist, getting  x-rays and meeting about the treatment plan can take some time, it may be most convenient to have that appointment with an Orthodontist and Treatment Coordinator during winter  break.
• Sometimes the New Year brings price increases.

Dr. Chase says that age 7 is the ideal time for children to have their initial check-up with an Orthodontist: “For some children an early check-up will lead to significant treatment benefits by starting at the best time. For others, the great benefit is the parents’ peace of mind.”

He adds, “We don’t typically advocate comprehensive Orthodontic treatment at age 7, but in some cases, early interceptive treatment may be appropriate.” Where needed, comprehensive Orthodontic work for girls usually doesn’t begin until ages 10-12 and for boys, ages 11-13.  The Orthodontist will explain the most appropriate treatment plan for you (adults) or your child and share this information with the general/pediatric dentist ensuring awareness and cohesive care.  For young patients, decisions about a treatment plan involve the parents and Orthodontist.

“While some general dentists do recognize early issues and make appropriate referrals to the Orthodontist,” Dr. Chase notes, “many dentists may not focus on growth and development, and as such may delay a referral when treatment should actually be considered and rendered prior to eruption of all permanent teeth. Others prefer to wait for the patient to ask them about whether they would benefit from treatment, making them even less proactive about necessary care. Orthodontists are specialists in facial growth and dento-facial orthopedics. As such, it would be prudent to have an evaluation, even if not suggested by a general and/or pediatric dentist.”

In the past decade, people of all ages are opting for Orthodontic work. Dr. Chase says, “While numbers of people at the extremes are rare, as Specialists, our patents range from 4 to 84.” 30% of ARCH patients are over age 21.

ARCH, the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts and its Scholarship Foundation, offers free consultations (a $500 value) and no-interest financing. Courtesy discounts are available to members of the military and their families, as well as to veterans. ARCH has offices in Stoughton, Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Hyannis, Hyde Park, Orleans, Randolph and Westwood. For more info, call 1-800-28- SMILE, email smilemaker@archorthodontics.com , or visit www.archorthodontics.com.                                                                 

– By Stanley Hurwitz /   508-269-0570   / stanhurwitz@gmail.com

 

Healthy teeth and a great smile go well with a healthy body.                  

Continuing its partnership to meet these goals, for the second year, ARCH Orthodontics presented the Stoughton Branch of the Old Colony YMCA with a New Year supply of lanyards for new Y members, imprinted with the motto ‘Healthy Smiles’ and the Y and ARCH logos.

And to call attention to the ‘Healthy Smiles’ partnership campaign, ARCH is offering a courtesy discount of $500 off the cost of an Orthodontic treatment plan for new patients who are Y members and who start treatment at ARCH’s STOUGHTON office through January 31, 2017.

Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH said, “This is a natural partnership. Both the Y and our practice are committed to meeting the needs of the towns we serve with a common goal: to build stronger, healthier communities where people of all ages learn, grow and thrive.”

Ellen Greene, Executive Director of the Stoughton Y, said, “We are thrilled to join forces with our long-time friends at ARCH to help local families to be able to afford the best in Orthodontic care, whether for children or adults. This is a win-win for everyone.”

ARCH Orthodontics has a long history of local community and YMCA support including participation in and support of the annual ‘Healthy Kids Day’ and Stoughton Day, plus long-time sponsorship of Stoughton youth sports of all kinds. ARCH’s founder, Dr. Robert Chavez, was a founding member of the Stoughton Youth Commission and, along with his son, Dr. Chase, has been involved in the internationally-acclaimed Operation Smile – World Journey of Hope. In addition, Dr. Chavez was an early contributor to the Y and his name can be found on the donor wall.

The Old Colony Y (http://oldcolonyymca.org/) has 7 locations between Stoughton and Plymouth. ARCH, now in its 43^rd year, operates 7 offices between Canton and Bridgewater, plus two offices on Cape Cod.  (For details about ARCH’s Stoughton office new patient / YMCA member discount offer, visit www.archorthodontics.com).  For the past 6 years, ARCH has been the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts.

Treatment Plan Must Begin by January 31, 2017

By Stanley Hurwitz  (stanhurwitz@gmail.com)

It’s estimated that 60% of American kids – about 3.5 million — begin Orthodontic treatment each year.

Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics, with 9 offices from Boston to Cape Cod, knows why: “A healthy, beautiful smile is one of the building blocks of self-esteem and self-confidence. Whether a child needs braces because their teeth are crooked, crowded, or have too much space between them, or because they have an overbite, underbite, or another type of malocclusion, it’s best to treat issues during these formative years. “Sometimes school gets in the way,” he smiles. He understands his audience. Since the practice was founded 43 years ago by his father, Dr. Robert Chavez, ARCH has treated over 25,000 patients. Dr. Chase joined the practice in 1998.

Dr. Chase suggests items to keep in the backpack to help young braces patients ‘survive’ the school year:

• Wax –Keeps your cheeks and tongue scrape-free.
• Extra rubber bands — If you use them, carry extras for after lunch or snacks.
• Travel toothbrush and toothpaste (see ‘Rule of 5’s’ below)
• Proxobrushes — Helps get all the food out of your braces.
• Mouth guard: If you’re playing sports, this protects your hardware and teeth.

ARCH Orthodontics has devised the ‘Rule of 5’s’ to guide braces patients of any age:

1. There are 5 places to brush: (1) where the teeth meet the gum lines, in toward the gums; (2) under the wire; (3) on top of the wire; (4) on top of the teeth; (5) in back of the teeth.
2. There are 5 times during the day to brush: when you wake up, after breakfast, after lunch or after school, after dinner, and before bed.  (And if you snack, after that, too!)
3. Spend 5 minutes brushing each time you brush.
4. At the end of the day, spend an additional 5 minutes to floss and use fluoride rinse.

Dr. Chase also emphasizes the importance of wearing one’s retainer as prescribed, and avoiding hard, sticky and chewy foods. He says the most common ages for Orthodontic treatment to begin for girls is usually 10-14 and for boys, it’s ages 11-15. The first checkup is advised no later than age 7.

ARCH, the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts and its Scholarship Foundation, offers free consultations (a $500 value) and no-interest financing. Courtesy discounts are available to members of the military and their families, as well as to veterans. For more info, call 1-800-28- SMILE, email smilemaker@archorthodontics.com , or visit www.archorthodontics.com.

Miss Massachusetts 2016, Rehoboth, Mass., native Alissa Musto personifies and shares the values and philosophy of ARCH Orthodontics, the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts and its Scholarship Foundation.

 

“We were proud as we joined with 6.2 million other viewers on September 11  to root for Alissa  when the Miss America 2017 Pageant was broadcast live on ABC from Atlantic City,” Dr. Chase says. Alissa played the piano in the talent competition and ultimately placed in the top 15 contestants.
Dr. Andrew Chase says, “We are proud to support the foundation for the sixth consecutive year. ARCH has a 42-year history of improving both the quality of life in the communities we serve, and the smiles of hundreds of people in those communities from Boston to Cape Cod. Life is full of things to smile about and Orthodontic treatment is an investment in that smile which will reap benefits for a lifetime. A healthy and attractive smile always creates a better impression.”

 

Alissa has been working to improve the quality of life for kids in local communities through music. She founded Changing Keys, a non-profit that connects unused pianos with schools, community centers and students in at-risk communities to ensure that all students have the opportunity to make music part of their lives. She says, “I know that one piano can create 1,000 musicians. Changing Keys is a long term solution to the music education crisis.”

 

A 2015 cum laude graduate of Harvard University who majored in Government and graduated in three years, Alissa hopes to become an entertainment attorney lawyer. The musician /piano teacher volunteers with several arts-related projects, plays four instruments, and knows over 500 songs on the piano.
Alissa never had braces, but while studying abroad in Spain, she learned the hard way to appreciate her smile: She lost two front teeth and had to get caps. A great smile has given Alissa self-confidence as a Boston Symphony Orchestra Ambassador, as Chief of Staff  of the Harvard Government/Legal Studies Club, and in performances at House of Blues and Hard Rock Café to name a few.

 

ARCH offers free consultations (a $500 value) and no-interest financing. Courtesy discounts are available to members of the military and their families, as well as to veterans. For more info, call 1-800-28- SMILE, email smilemaker@archorthodontics.com , or visit www.archorthodontics.com.