Guard That Goal

Back to school means a lot of fun and exciting things…new friends, great teachers and…after school sports!  

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While we encourage everyone to play sports, we also want to encourage everyone to stay safe. Lenz Orthodontics hopes that if you are playing sports this year, that you guard your goal of a healthy straight smile by wearing a mouth guard. 

More than 2.6 million children are treated in the emergency room each year for sports and recreation-related injuries and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a majority of these visits involve injury or damage to the teeth and mouth. This fact alone should tell you just how important it is to protect your teeth and your orthodontic appliances with a mouth guard.

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Mouth guards help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue or jaw. You can purchase a stock mouth guard or get one custom made. A good fitting mouth guard will protect your mouth from hits and help prevent serious injury. 

We want all of our patient athletes to be equipped with the proper mouth guard to ensure they are protected and comfortable. Be sure to ask one of our team members what mouth guard is right for you. 

G-U-A-R-D...Guard your smile and prevent injury!

Roller Skating 101

Whether you’re looking to be a member of Team USA Roller Sports or you just want to have a little fun…Roller Skating is the perfect sport. 

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Roller Skating isn’t hard to do, but it does take some practice and getting used to. Once you learn the proper stance and how to glide and stop, you'll be sailing around the rink in no time. And when you have the basics down, it’s time to take your skills to the next level. 

Oh yeah…look out Sophia Stroud…we’re coming for ya. 

Taking it Back 

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Skating backwards can be challenging but it’s pretty easy to learn. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your weight equally distributed on both legs. Then slowly push your legs out to the side then back again in a sort of figure eight and then repeat. This will slowly propel you backwards. See…easy. Since you can't see behind you, you'll need to turn around and look from time to time. Start slowly and figure out how to turn your body to look behind you without falling down.

Shoot the Duck 

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Don’t worry...no animals are harmed in this trick. The shoot-the-duck is a classic roller skating move that is easier than it looks…but it does require balance and leg strength. Start by skating at a reasonable pace. Then extend your hands out in front of you. Begin to squat down and lift up one leg and put it out in front of you. Glide in this position until you begin to lose speed, or your skating leg becomes tired. Come out of it by standing up and placing your free leg back on the ground. 

 

Kris Cross Apple Sauce 

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Want to wow you friends as you round the corners of the skating rink? Try the Crossover Turn. This move is super impressive but super easy.  The trick is achieved by simply crossing your skates one over the other as you turn the corner. If you are turning right, you should lift your left skate over your right as you pump your skate. Turn your shoulders in the direction you want to go and lean into the turn to help keep your balance. Make sure to keep your knees bent so that you're more stable.

Now that you have the tricks mastered, the only question that remains is…

Where should we have your Amateur Roller Skating Membership Card mailed?

Yeah...But are They Certified?

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Did you know that Dr. Lenz is a Board Certified Orthodontist? After hearing that, are you now asking yourself…”What the heck is Board Certified and why do I even care”? Well, let’s think about that for a minute, shall we…

The transmission goes out on your car, and your neighbor down the street says…”I’m not a mechanic, but I have worked on cars in the past, I bet I could fix it for you.” Now, while this might save you some money now…in the long run is it really the best idea to have something that important fixed by the guy down the street? Probably not. And the same should be considered when looking for someone to take care of your orthodontic health concerns. 

An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed a post-doctoral graduate program accredited by the American Dental Association in the specialty of orthodontics. After a few years of experience, that orthodontist is eligible to become board certified through a voluntary examination process of The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). And according to the ABO…"involvement in the certification process is a demonstration of the orthodontist's pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence.” 

Orthodontists can’t practice without a license. However, they don’t have to seek certification from the ABO unless they want to show they are one of the top providers in the country. Board certification provides a gold standard against which any orthodontist can be measured. Ensuring that your orthodontist is board certified isn't just about making sure your treatment is effective, certification also signals something much more important than a beautiful smile…certification ensures your safety and peace of mind.

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Board Certified Orthodontists have had their cases reviewed by an expert panel of other Board Certified Orthodontists. 

Board Certified Orthodontists have passed all written, oral & clinical examinations to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. 
 
Board Certification is the highest level of academic achievement that can obtain by an Orthodontist.
 
The ABO is the only certifying board recognized by the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association. 

Don't trust your orthodontic health to anyone but the best of the best. When you're selecting an orthodontist for your orthodontic treatment, ask to see their certification credentials. Only then can you be sure that your treatment will be effective, affordable and, most importantly, safe.