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.

Countdown to the Classroom

The 2015-2016 school year is almost here! Are you prepared?

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Getting ready for a new school year can be daunting. To make the process a little easier, here are some tips to help ensure your child is prepared for the new year. 

Get Talking: Begin talking about school well before the first day back. Talk about the new friends they will meet, the new things they will learn, etc. Plan back to school shopping trips and discuss your child’s “signature style” for the new year. What was cool last year is probably not cool this year. You might be thinking skinny jeans when in reality tie-die and neon are back in style (but let’s hope not, for everyone’s sake).

Get Organized: There are tons of things to organize before the first day of school, from purchasing school supplies, clothes and school shoes to arranging after-school sports practices, signing forms and planning car pools. Start organizing these things now…don’t wait till the last minute. Get the kids involved in the organization process… have them prepare shopping lists, make calendars, etc. Organization is fun people! Show us a person who doesn’t love a label maker and we’ll show you a person who is sad 99% of the time. 

Get Back Into the Routine: If your child had specific routines during the last school year, it’s a good idea to reintroduce those before the first week of school. This will help ease them back into their normal schedule while also ensuring that their first week back isn’t too overwhelming. Remember that bed time that magically didn’t exist over the summer? Well, guess what kids…its back. Get used to it, because sleep is important. 

In the days and weeks immediately preceding the first day of school, make an effort to find out some basic information about what awaits your child. For example: 

• What will their daily schedule be like?  
• What time does school be­gin and when does it end each day?  
• If riding the bus, when does it pick up and where?  
• Are certain clothes required for P.E. class?  

If possible, visit your school's website to get the low down on what's in store for the new school year.  

And now you're ready. So move over summer…cause the new school year is here and we are excited about it!