Read This Before Ordering Orthodontic Treatment Online

These days you can do almost anything with the click of a button. Order school supplies. Get a ride across town. Watch your favorite movie.  Order food delivery. It seems like every day there’s a newer and easier way to do almost everything. We’ve been programmed to accept that anything can be ordered online and delivered right to your front door. However, at Lenz Orthodontics, there is one thing that we believe has no easy replacement: orthodontic treatment. There is no match for trained, experienced professionals when it comes to your dental health. 

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) agrees. They recently issued a Consumer Alert listing key questions to ask about direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies. You can download a print-friendly version here.

The issue is that many direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies do not involve the in-person evaluation and/or in-person supervision of your treatment we provide at Lenz Orthodontics. This type of supervision is important because there is more to creating a healthy, beautiful smile than moving the visible portions of your teeth. If not done correctly any dental work can lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changes to your facial profile, and other issues. An orthodontist like Dr. Mark & Dr. Mike have many tools in his or her arsenal to help create your beautiful smile - Invisalign, for example, is just one of them. It’s important to have a fully qualified and certified orthodontist involved when making any changes to your teeth.

The Top 10 Questions To Ask

The AAO advises that when researching orthodontic treatment (including treatment models from direct-to-consumer companies like SmileDirectClub, Candid Co., Smilelove, SnapCorrect, Orthly, etc), you should consider many key questions, some of which include:

1. As part of your treatment, are comprehensive diagnostic records like x-rays taken before your treatment?
   
2. As part of your treatment fee, do you receive any in-person visits to a dentist’s or orthodontist’s office during your treatment?
   
3. Is only one treatment type offered (such as invisible aligners or a certain appliance)?
   
4. What are the possible risks (financial, health, etc.) associated with your orthodontic treatment?
   
5. Who is responsible for detecting any issues that may occur during your orthodontic treatment? Is it you? If it is a doctor not associated with your treatment, who pays for those check-ups?
   
6. If an emergency arises, does the company have a dentist or orthodontist in your area that you can see in-person? If not, who would cover the costs associated with seeing a dentist or orthodontist in your area?
   
7. If you are injured or have another dispute involving your orthodontic treatment, how is it handled (litigation, arbitration, etc.) and what rights do you have?
   
8. Does the treatment model comply with the dental laws in your state? To check your state’s dental laws, click https://www.aaoinfo.org/state-laws-and-regulations. Information for your state dental board can be found at https://www.aaoinfo.org/aao/state-dental-board-info.
   

Where You Receive Your Health Care Is A Very Important Personal Decision

Remember that orthodontic treatment is not a product or device – it is a professional, medical service. Dr. Mark & Dr. Mike earned their dental degrees (DDS) at Marquette University and each went on to fulfil post-graduate residencies in Orthodontics. They have a commitment to regular continuing education and have years of experience providing high quality orthodontic treatment to their patients.

Before making any decision about orthodontic treatment, consider doing some research and having a complimentary in-person consultation at Lenz Orthodontics. Our friendly team is waiting to answer any of your questions and start you or your child on a path to a gorgeous smile. 

Lenz Orthodontics is offers flexible financing with lower down payments and lower monthly payments. Click below to schedule a complimentary consultation and be the first to have your smartphone help straighten your teen’s smile! 

Racine Office

1558 South Green Bay Road 

Racine, Wisconsin 53406

Waterford Office

725 Cornerstone Crossing 

Waterford, Wisconsin 53185

Thrilled to Join My Dad at Lenz Orthodontics

I’m thrilled to be joining my dad’s practice this summer to carry on the family tradition of dental and orthodontic care. One of the things I love most about my profession is the positive effect it has on our patients’ lives. Each day I am able to work together with our patients toward creating beautiful, healthy smiles. Most importantly, however, I thoroughly enjoy getting to know all of our patients and watching them grow throughout treatment!

I’ve always looked up to my dad, whose compassion for his patients inspired my own journey through orthodontic training. I wanted to be just like him, and still do! Like my dad, I was also very interested in art and science and learned that orthodontics is truly a way to combine both disciplines. The passion my dad has for the art in each smile he creates is truly what sets him apart, and I am excited to share in that enthusiasm.

For me, joining Lenz Orthodontics is a chance to uphold the reputation for excellence in orthodontic care that the Lenz family has built in the Racine community over three generations. My goal is to work at my Dad’s level of expertise while treating  patients with as much compassion as he does.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

Dr. Michael

Next Generation Joins Lenz Orthodontics

By Dr. Mark Lenz

I’m delighted and proud to announce that the next generation of my family will be joining Lenz Orthodontics. My son, Dr. Michael Lenz, will begin seeing patients this summer at our practice.  He continues the tradition of oral care in the Lenz family that started with my father, who was a dentist in the community, and extends to Michael’s wife and siblings, all of whom are dentists. You can imagine that I’m a very proud dad! And don’t you worry, I’m not going anywhere.

For those of you that know me well, family always comes first and I’m excited to work side-by-side with my son just as I did with my own father. It’s truly a wonderful feeling to have worked hard for 36 years and to know that my dedication to the community will continue on through my son’s work. At the same time I look forward to partnering with my son to offer patients the same caring service and state-of-the-art treatment that they have come to know from Lenz Orthodontics, all while taking the practice to the next level.

You can call him Dr. Mike.

Dr. Mike is a third generation dentist having graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry, where he also completed his orthodontic residency. When he’s not chairside, he enjoys outdoor activities including running, skiing and traveling with his wife, Mary. I look forward to introducing you to my son in the near future!

A Straight Smile Is the Best First Impression

We all know the saying, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”, but the reality is: we all do. First impressions are really important and your smile says a lot about you. That’s why at Lenz Orthodontics, we care about not only helping our teens, but about helping adults as well. A straight smile is crucial to making that first impression count...and metal braces as an adult isn’t necessarily the most desired look. Because of this we offer Invisalign Adult! The clear alternative to metal braces.

In a recent study* by Invisalign, confirms that “people with straight teeth are perceived more likely to be happy, successful and second date worthy.” Speaking of dating, 55% of respondents said that a straight smile had a better likelihood of attracting potential partners on a dating site by their picture alone.

Already found your partner but still think straighter teeth would have a strong impact on your life? You’re right! 58% of respondents said that they perceive people with straight teeth to be more successful in business and their professional lives. That means a straight smile can be a big component of your interview kit, rocking your next presentation or winning that next sale.

So how does Invisalign Adult work?

During a consultation at Lenz Orthodontics, Dr. Lenz determines the exact movements necessary to get your teeth into the correct position. Then the Lenz Orthodontics team has a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. As you replaces each Invisalign aligner with the next in the series, the teeth will gradually and gently shift-little by little, until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Lenz has prescribed.

Other than a great first impression once you’ve finished, Invisalign offers a great first impression while you’re working to achieve that great smile:

Clear: Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible. No hiding your smile in meetings, engagement photos or school pick-ups and no closed-lipped selfies here!

Comfortable: Invisalign aligners are extremely comfortable made out of smooth, sleek plastic.

Removable: Don’t want your date to know you’re working on your smile? Take them off for the evening...just remember to put them back in before you go to sleep! It may not seem like it, but they’re constantly working while you go throughout your day.

Convenient: Fewer visits to the orthodontist, meaning fewer interruptions of your busy schedule. You only need to visit us at Lenz Orthodontics about once every 2-3 months to ensure that your treatment progress is on track.

Cost Effective: At Lenz Orthodontics, Invisalign comes at the same price tag as traditional braces. No need to shell out extra cash to avoid metal mouth. Plus we can offer little to no down payment.

First Impressions are super important to us too - call us today for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Lenz to assess if you are a good candidate for Invisalign Adult.  We can’t wait to meet you!

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For Young Kids Orthodontics Isn’t Just About A Pretty Smile

Every parent wants their child to be able to smile with confidence but for many that's not the only reason to investigate orthodontics at an early age. While the average age for orthodontic treatment is around 12 years old, we at Lenz Orthodontics have a mission to focus on children 7 and up in order keep with the American Association of Orthodontics guidelines. Why 7 and up, you ask?

Early Orthodontic treatment has many benefits. An orthodontic consult at a young age can catch future issues and adjust for them before they become problems. Some of these issues include:

• Airway Obstruction: well developed airways allow normal breathing through the nose when the mouth is closed. While this may sound trivial, nasal breathing is important because it’s now known to be vital to good health. Airway obstruction has been linked to developmental delays, sleep disorders, behavioral disturbances, and later can lead to hypertension, stroke, heart disease and even premature death. These sound scary but the treatment is easy if we are able to catch it early on! Plus we all can relate to our little ones that struggle with allergies! 

• Crossbites: by age 7 most children’s permanent molars and incisors have come in. A trained eye, like Dr. Lenz’s, can see early on if crowding or crossbites will be an issue as the rest of your child’s permanent teeth come in. The earlier treatment begins, the easier it will be. This is because your child’s jaw is less developed at this early age and can be guided along the right path rather than working to reverse issues at a later age.
  
• Overcrowding: Traditionally, orthodontists would say wait until age 11 or 12 to treat a crowding problem, but the problem won’t get any better by waiting. Early treatment has been proven to correct narrow arch and create space for adult teeth as well as for the tongue so it may function correctly when swallowing. Plus, early treatment can avoid the need for future tooth extraction or jaw surgery. BIG PLUS!

The benefits to Early Orthodontic treatment are clear:

• Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct any habits that can cause bad bite later on, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment. Speaking of…

• Two Phase Treatment. Phase 1 works with your young child to make space for their permanent teeth. Phase 2 begins once they’ve arrived. Often children who undergo Phase 1 treatment have a much shorter Phase 2. This makes life easier for both them and you as their schedules get busier and busier.

Not every 7 year old will need Phase One treatment, but if they do, and if it is caught early by a trained orthodontist, it could make a big difference in the outcome of treatment later. That’s because Dr. Lenz can take advantage of growth and possibly avoid extractions when working with a younger child.

Knowing the importance of early orthodontics is only part of the battle. Dr. Mark Lenz has 35 years of experience in orthodontic practice and thousands of beautiful smiles credited to his name. We call it the Lenz Smile!
Please click below to schedule an appointment for a complimentary consultation at one of our conveniently located offices (in Racine and Waterford). We are members of Delta Premier Dental and offer easy installment options. Click below to schedule your appointment today.

Racine Office
1558 South Green Bay Road
Racine, Wisconsin 53406


Waterford Office
725 Cornerstone Crossing
Waterford, Wisconsin 53185