“Helping young women realize their potential”

ARCH Orthodontics is the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts and a long-time supporter of the Miss Mass. Scholarship Foundation.

Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics said, “We share common values and a philosophy with the Miss Massachusetts program: We believe life is full of things to smile about and that Orthodontic treatment is an investment in that smile which will reap benefits for a lifetime. We support the Scholarship Foundation because of its dedication to helping young women realize their potential.”  Miss America is the world’s largest provider of scholarships exclusively for women in the world. ARCH was the first Miss Massachusetts Orthodontic sponsor in the organization’s history.  In photo: ARCH’s Dr. Andrew Chase presents donation to Miss Massachusetts 2016 Alissa Musto and MMSFI Executive Director Dolores ‘Buffy’ Rabuffo.

Alissa, who represented the Bay State on the nationally broadcast 2016 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City and was a Top 15 Finalist, has been working to improve the quality of life for kids 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. A 2015 cum laude graduate of Harvard University, 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.

ARCH is offering free consultations for all ages – a $500 value – and no-interest financing. ARCH also offers a courtesy discount to those currently serving in the military, veterans and members of their immediate families. A similar offer is extended to municipal employees in the towns where ARCH has offices and their immediate families. For more info or to schedule a free consultation:  email smilemaker@archorthodontics.com / 1-800-28-SMILE.  Visit  www.archorthodontics.com. ARCH has seven offices south of Boston and two on Cape Cod.

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

ARCH Orthodontics presented the Stoughton Branch of the Old Colony YMCA with a New Year supply of special lanyards for new members 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.”

Shown (left to right) are Ellen Greene, YMCA Stoughton Executive Director; Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH; and Erica Remy, YMCA Stoughton Membership Services Director. The Old Colony has 7 locations between Stoughton and Plymouth. ARCH Orthodontics, which has a long history of YMCA support including the annual ‘Healthy Kids Day,’ operates 7 offices between Canton and Bridgewater plus two offices on Cape Cod. For Old Colony Y membership, find information here.

by Stanley Hurwitz (stanhurwitz@gmail.com)              

Orthodontists’ Orthotic Appliance May Be the Simple Solution for A Better Night’s Sleep

Take This Snore Score™ Sleep Test

Do you wake up tired even though you feel like you slept through the night? Are you cranky or moody for no apparent reason? Do others complain that your snoring kept them up all night?

You might be one of the estimated 20 million Americans with sleep apnea, a disorder in which a person stops breathing periodically throughout the night due to physical obstructions of the airway. Most people with sleep apnea aren’t aware of it.

Dr. Andrew Chase and his team at ARCH Orthodontics (www.archorthodontics.com) regularly do assessments to help people determine if they are candidates for professional evaluation.  Questions Dr. Chase uses to make these assessments include: In the past two weeks, have you unintentionally fallen asleep during the day two or more times? Have you unintentionally fallen asleep in a public place in the past two weeks two or more times?  Have you nodded off or fallen asleep while behind the wheel of a car?

Different treatment options exist, and the appropriate treatment choice depends on the severity of your apnea and other aspects of the disorder. Talk to your doctor about choices. There is a fee to examine and treat for sleep apnea which is generally not covered by insurance.

Although the most common treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP (pronounced see-pap) therapy, Dr. Chase says, “Some patients may benefit from a simpler, less expensive, more comfortable treatment: a dental orthotic appliance.”

The custom mouth guard has two parts: One connecting to the upper teeth functions as the stabilizer for the second part that connects to the lower teeth, which advances the jaw and holds the jaw in a more forward position. This increases the volume for the tongue to have a more relaxed, forward positioning during sleep. This decreases the likelihood of the tongue ‘falling up and back,’ blocking the airway.

A family doctor, cardiologist or pulmonologist usually prescribes a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis. Since 25-50% of patients do not use the treatment on a regular basis because they can’t tolerate CPAP pressure, in order to increase compliance and effectiveness of CPAP, some doctors prescribe combining it with oral appliance therapy. Medical insurance may cover dental orthotic appliance therapy if prescribed by the doctor.

Left untreated, sleep apnea does a lot more damage than ruin a night’s sleep. Resulting fatigue can lead to  workplace or motor vehicle accidents, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, increased risk of diabetes — even death. The American Thoracic Society reports, “People with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, left untreated, have a more than five times greater chance of having cardiac disease and the possibility of a heart attack or stroke.”

Dr. Chase says that even if you think you don’t snore, it’s quite possible that you are having sleep issues. Take the Your Snore Score™ test. If you answer ‘yes’ to any two of these six questions, you should be evaluated by your physician or a sleep specialist: 

• Are you a loud and/or regular snorer?
• Have you ever been observed to gasp or stop breathing during sleep?
• Do you feel tired or groggy upon awakening, or do you awaken with a headache?
• Are you often tired or fatigued during waking hours?
• Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving?
• Do you often have problems with memory or concentration?

ARCH, the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts, has seven offices south of Boston and two on Cape Cod.  For more info contact:  smilemaker@archorthodontics.com /  1-800-28-SMILE.  Visit  www.archorthodontics.com. Interest-free financing is available.                                                                                

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

Chai Jewish Center’s Menorah-Lighting Ceremony & Holiday Celebration to be hosted by ARCH Orthodontics

Again this year, the front lawn of ARCH Orthodontics’ Canton office will be the site of a community menorah-lighting to mark the joyous holiday of Chanukah and the entire holiday season. The ceremony – free and open to all — will be held on Monday, December 26, at 6 p.m. (rain, snow or shine), at 800 Washington Street opposite Canton Town Hall. 

The celebration is organized by Rabbi Mendy and Rivka Horowitz of the Chai Center of Canton whose mission is to reach out and create a warm atmosphere for Jews of all ages to explore and experience their heritage in a welcoming environment.

The program will feature a traditional giant menorah-lighting ceremony and blessings, festive music, and hot latkes (potato pancakes) and donuts. There will be singing, dancing and a raffle. It’s expected that several local dignitaries will attend. (For more information:  781-956-2507  http://www.jewishcanton.com/december-2016.html  or cantonchaicenter@yahoo.com.  (RSVP’s are appreciated.)

The 8-day holiday of Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the surprise victory by the Maccabees over the much larger Seleucid Empire army in the year 166 CE.

Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH said, “We are pleased to once again host this holiday display and have always offered the opportunity to have multiple denominations represented during the holiday season for all to enjoy.”

ARCH Orthodontics, the ‘Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts’,  has 8 offices in addition to the Canton location. For more info: www.archorthodontics.com /  1-800-28-SMILE.                      

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