Dr. Joiner always recommends that an adult is “cleared” with their general dentist prior to starting orthodontic treatment – sometimes there are periodontal or gum concerns as well as restorative needs to consider.  Dr. Joiner recommends seeing him BEFORE you get a lot of crown, bridge or other restorations, since often these are best done when orthodontic treatment is completed.  He will work closely with your general dentist and periodontist to ensure that the timing is ideal for your orthodontic, restorative and periodontal needs.  In addition, we feel we have a very special team and approach that sets us apart and provides an extra special measure of "care" and treatment.   If in doubt, CHECK IT OUT!  Exam appointments are complimentary (free) and you will learn a lot about your oral health when you take the time for yourself and make an appointment.  We even take a complimentary digital (low radiation) panographic Xray (and send it to your general dentist) as well as photos to enable the most comprehensive results possible during this appointment.  You do not need a referral from your dentist or anybody else – if YOU want an exam, you just call and we’ll schedule it!  Your first appointment can be the start of a new path toward a new smile!  We look forward to meeting you and helping you create the smile of your dreams!

We have long suspected that people who smile a lot are happier, with better relationships, better “people” skills and they seem to feel better about themselves as well.  Researchers at Michigan’s Wayne State University determined in a March 2010 study that those people with big smiles actually live longer as well!  They looked at photos of 230 pro baseball players, analyzed and categorized their “smile intensity” and compared them with data related to longevity and determined that those who “smiled bigger” also lived longer (about 7  years longer)!  Here in Santa Cruz, CA, we can’t help but smile as we work with great patients and create fabulous smiles every day.  We like to think that, by helping our patients be more comfortable smiling more broadly and more often, we are also helping them live longer and happier lives.  And 7 more years is definitely something to smile about!

Check out our Smile Gallery and our Team Photos page to see LOTS of smiling faces, and give us a call if you would like Santa Cruz Orthodontist Dr. Mark Joiner and Team to help you improve your smile – we’re here for you!

The first flossing aid is called Platypus flossers www.platypusco.com.  Similar to a regular pre-strung floss threader, it differs in that it has one very small “finger” that goes under the wire of the braces, and another regular, thicker one that goes behind the teeth.  You can go here to see a description of how to use it: http://www.platypusco.com/how_to.html.   Dr Joiner likes this product because it is pre-loaded with floss and easy to use. Since it is pre-loaded, you have to use a new one each time.  However, there is another product that might be even easier and more versatile . . .

Enter FlossFish, the newest flossing aid invention!   http://www.flossfish.com/ Flossfish looks like a plastic needle threader, which is the end that you thread a piece of floss through.  Then you hold the threaded floss and use the tip as an extra “finger” – guiding it under the bracket quickly and flossing each tooth as you move along.  Dr. Joiner likes the design of this one because it can be used over and over again, since you load it with your own floss, its smaller and seems easy to use.

Dr. Mark Joiner and Team want to find out from YOU, those who wear braces and are our patients, which aid you prefer.  So we have samples of BOTH TYPES of flossing aids in our office; stop by and pick up a sample of each to try them out.  Then, send an email to fun@joinerortho.com, and give us your opinion about which one is better for your situation. Be sure and give us your name and phone # in your email so we can confirm you as a patient. Each patient who shares their opinion with us via email will get a Jamba Juice gift card!  Sweeeeeet!

Murphy and Bailey won the "Take your dog to work" Contest!

We celebrated “Take Your Dog to Work Day” (http://www.takeyourdog.com/About/) on June 24^th this year by having our patients vote on which dog(s) should come to work with their owners.  We had 9 employees enter the contest with their pooches – we put up a poster with all of the photos on it and had the patients vote.  And the winner was Murphy and Bailey, owned by Jim and Karen Hall!  Runners-up were Berkeley, a yellow Labrador retriever owned by Kerry Feuerhaken, and Tily, a pug, owned by Carol Hart.  We actively talked with patients about adopting a pet from the SPCA and also gave a monetary donation to the  Santa Cruz SPCA in honor of the day!  Check out http://www.santacruzspca.org/ if you think you can help either by donating time, money or adopting a dog in need.

Bailey helped Karen by answering the phone!

Sydney, Ruby, Rosie Mae, Bullet, Power Ranger and Princess got high numbers but not enough to spend a day at the office doing orthodontics!  As you can see, the dogs got to answer the phone, listen to music, and even get their teeth cleaned (just kidding).  A good time was had by all and, for the most part, Bailey stayed on Karen’s lap behind the front desk most of the day while she worked, greeting those who wanted to give or receive a dog hug.  We believe a good time was had by all!

Murphy enjoyed watching TV with headphones!

Murphy gets ready to join dad for an Orthodontic visit!

Dr. Joiner models old and new uniform fashions

Dr. Joiner models again . . .

Watch this video created by the AAO about the importance of wearing mouth guards and protective gear when playing contact sports.

The damage caused by a ball, puck or elbow to the face can be devastating for a child – often resulting in serious injury and a lifetime of dental health issues. In fact, sports-related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits in 12- to 17-year-olds according to the Centers for Disease Control. By teaming up with the National Alliance of Youth Sports (NAYS) to promote facial protection and sport safety, the AAO hopes that "Play It Safe" will become a mantra for youth sports.

Unfortunately, many parents, kids and coaches don´t realize the damage a ball or on-field collision can do until it´s too late. As professionals in the field of dentistry, our goal is helping patients achieve a healthy, beautiful smile, the last thing we want to see is a smile ruined by a preventable injury. Extensive dental care is then required to repair the injury and many patients will experience needless discomfort, aggravation, loss of time, and incur an unnecessary financial investment throughout their lives to maintain the dental work required to repair the injury. So please “Play It Safe” and wear a mouth guard.

During orthodontic treatment, it is especially important for patients to wear a mouth guard to prevent injury from braces that can easily cut lips and cheeks when hit. If you need one, contact our office. The time to start wearing one is now!!

How do you feel about the importance of wearing mouth guards? Do you make it mandatory for your children? Please comment below.

At Joiner Orthodontics we are concerned when a child sucks their thumb or finger for more than 4 hours a day. It can cause serious problems with tooth and jaw development as kids are growing. The most noticeable effect of constant thumb-sucking is to push the upper front teeth outward and the lower front teeth inward. It can also stop front teeth from coming in completely, which results in an openbite or stops the lower jaw from developing the way it should. If thumb sucking goes on long enough, it can cause cheek muscles to press the top molars inward and cause them to bite inside the lower molars, a malocclusion (bad bite) known as a crossbite. If sucking continues past ages 5 to 7, the permanent front teeth will most likely not come in properly.

Thumb sucking can be difficult to stop, especially since it helps some children to deal with anxiety. Watch this excellent video on thumb sucking with helpful hints for parents on what to do.

Listed below are six helpful hints that might help break your child’s habit:

*Praise kids for not sucking, instead of scolding them when they do.

*Work on preventing the cause of a child’s anxiety and providing them comfort in other ways, so they don’t feel the need to suck.

*Distract the child from their habit with a fun activity.

*If a child has older brothers or sister, have them encourage him or her not to suck their thumbs. This may be more effective than if it came from Mom or Dad.

*Have the dentist explain to the child what they are doing to their teeth.

*As a last resort, having a child wear a bandage or glove at night on the finger they usually suck can sometimes do the trick.

We are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you have a child who was a thumb sucker or has a current finger habit, the American Association of Orthodontics recommendations all children be evaluated by age seven to determine if an orthodontic problem is present.

Contact our office today for a free new patient exam to determine if your child would benefit from orthodontic treatment to counteract the effects of their finger habit.

In order to fight the common sugar addiction, keeping track of the foods you eat every day would be enlightening. You may be surprised at how many foods commonly considered “healthy” are dangerously loaded with sugar. Here are examples of 7 foods to avoid, as well as some suggestions to keep your sweet tooth happy and all your teeth well to preserve your beautiful smile.

*Smoothies

The idea of blended fruit and ice is considered a healthy drink, but in many situations may not be the case. Menus at popular national smoothie bar chains often contain over double the recommended daily sugar intake. As you watch them make the drinks, notice few only use fresh or frozen fruit. Most use sugar flavored fruit syrups from a bottle that contain high amounts of sugar.

Tip: Request nutrition information about menu items at your local smoothie bar and opt for the lower carb selections. Making a fresh fruit smoothie at home is usually the better choice.

*Fancy Coffee Drinks

When visiting your barista, don’t order the more decadent selections. Many contain high amounts of sugar and cream.

Tip: Stick to basic coffee or green tea and limit your sweeteners. Both of these options have health benefits in addition to being lower in sugar.

*Beverages masquerading as juice

Just because a drink on your grocer’s shelf has the name of a fruit in its title does not necessarily make it a healthy choice. All too often processed “juices” contain small quantities of actual juice and large amounts of processed sugar.

Tip: Only purchase products containing 100% juice, and definitely stay away from anything containing high fructose corn syrup that causes tooth decay. “Mother Nature” knows best.

*Pre-packaged children’s lunches

Products such as “Lunchables” certainly have much to offer as far as convenience is concerned, but they can be a real dietary nightmare. The varieties that include both a dessert and a drink are double trouble.

Tip: Pack your child’s lunch yourself; the extra time will be worth the peace of mind knowing their sugar consumption is within reasonable limits to promote long term physical and dental health.

*Sugary glazes or sauces

Chinese restaurants often offer healthy foods that become not so healthy when the meat is coated in glaze or sauce made almost entirely of sugar.

Tip: Avoid dishes drenched in sugary sauces, and consider choosing mixed vegetables instead of rice when eating Chinese as a means of further cutting calories.

*Granola and granola cereals

Granola is another prime example of a food that is usually thought of as a healthy choice, when in fact the very opposite is closer to the truth. Although granola does offer useful fiber, any benefit is offset by the overwhelming amount of sugar coating the granola.

Tip: Limit your granola to a small amount mixed with yogurt and choose wheat-based cereals over their granola-sugar laden brother. Read the labels to determine sugar content before you buy.

*Fruit packaged in syrup

Eating plenty of fruit is certainly a desirable method to get your daily allowance of carbohydrates, but take care not to defeat the purpose by choosing canned fruit saturated in sugary syrup.

Tip: Choose fresh or frozen fruits instead, which are healthy choices without all that unwanted syrup.

What do you think about all the sugar in our diets today? Leave a comment below to share with others.

Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay to keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical applied directly on the teeth or as part of your diet in a supplement. The most commonly used is the topical form found in toothpaste or in a fluoride rinse. The Team at Joiner Orthodontics recommends fluoride to help maintain healthy teeth for children, teens, and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Fluoride used in an orthodontic or dental office is a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash you can buy over the counter at your local grocery or drug store. If your general dentist prescribes a fluoride product, it usually only takes just a few minutes to apply after your regular cleaning. Once applied, it is suggested patients not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.

Your general dentist will determine how often to repeat the fluoride process; every 6 months – once a year, especially for kids who poor brushing habits. Additional in house fluoride products such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses are often prescribed by orthodontists for additional protect ion of your teeth during treatment to prevent decalcification or white marks around the braces due to poor brushing habits. So obviously, when all is said an done… fluoride is your friend during orthodontic treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness when using a dental product.

At Joiner Orthodontics, we are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you or someone in your family is interested more information about how we can help achieve the smile you deserve, contact our office for a free new patient exam.

The brackets of the braces are the equivalent of the cars of a train, and the track that they follow is the archwire. Once the brackets are placed on the teeth and the archwire is properly adjusted to create a path to great teeth, all that remains for our train is fuel to move in the right direction.

This orthodontic energy is often provided by elastics, the locomotive often commonly referred to as rubber bands. Elastics can be different sizes and strengths according the specific needs of each patient’s orthodontic journey. They are also available in a variety of different colored packets or creatively named animals to make it fun and easy to remember what size you are wearing.

It is important to wear the elastics, as prescribed by your orthodontist, in order to arrive at your final destination. If the elastics are not worn, the braces won’t move and you will not have your braces removed on time or worse yet… achieve a good result. The force exerted by the elastics may cause a bit of soreness at first, but the soreness goes away within a few days, if worn on a regular basis. Fresh elastics provide the most pull, so it is recommended you replace elastics daily to keep everything moving at the same speed for best results.

Traveling the tracks to a healthy smile can be intimidating at first, but understanding how it all works and with the guidance of your orthodontist, you can sit back, enjoy the ride, and be rest assured that you’ll arrive safely in no time at all!

At Joiner Orthodontics, we are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you or someone in your family is interested more information about how we can help achieve the smile you deserve, contact our office for a free new patient exam.