It’s National Teen self-esteem month in the month of May, so what better time to talk about the importance of teen self-esteem. Actually self-esteem in all ages is really important! National Teen Self-Esteem Month was established to create awareness about the negative effects poor self-esteem causes among the teen population. During this month, parents and guardians are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among adolescents.

What is self -esteem? The Webster’s dictionary says; Self-Esteem-The esteem or good opinion of oneself. Now lets look at what Esteem is- to set value on to regard with respect. So, for us to have self-esteem we need to have a good view of ourselves and be respectful to ourselves as well. Why is self-esteem so important? One, is that we make better decisions for ourselves when we aren’t lacking self-esteem. We want to value who we are, love who we are and make good decisions for our self to reinforce our self worth, thereby strengthening our self-esteem.

Treating ourselves with respect is totally in our hands, we have complete control over this one. If you have the choice to do something good for yourself or bad, you have the choice to do what’s good, and no one can stop you. We have to remember that our opinion of ourselves really comes from inside of ourselves, not from outside influences. Not people, not the media!

Here are a couple quick tips to strengthen and maintain our sense of self and building confidence:

• Learn to love yourself for who you are
• Respect yourself, make good decisions
• Know that your opinions of yourself, come from you, not the opinions of others
• Realize what make you shine is on the inside, not what you look like

So, go out in the world and know that you are good enough and you are perfect just the way you are. And remember, although it might sound cliche, but treat others the way you want to be treated!

My dentist does braces, why do I need an orthodontist?

Because we are specifically trained to serve you! After 4 years of dental school, an orthodontist completes another 2-3 years of specialized orthodontic training at an accredited university. An orthodontist does not do fillings, crowns, or cleanings. Instead, we are specially trained to deal with problems of tooth alignment and bite functioning. We work closely with pediatric dentists, family dentists, cosmetic dentists and other dental specialists on every case to create an efficient dental team. If you have questions about why you are seeing a licensed orthodontist for your treatment, please ask us or you can visit the American Association of Orthodontists website at http://www.braces.org.

Braces generally have two components: brackets and wires. Today’s brackets can be made of metal or of tooth-colored ceramic. They are usually attached to the front of your teeth, but some can be “hidden” behind your teeth. Wires, which do the work of moving your teeth, are threaded through slots in the brackets. You will need to see Kennell Orthodontics periodically to adjust your wires.

What age of people get braces?

Braces and other treatment options are available for ALL ages, from elementary school through retirement, people are enjoying the benefits of a beautiful, more comfortable smile. Kennell Orthodontics can work with you to give you a smile that fits your style, so why limit yourself to one treatment option, Kennell Orthodontics also offers treatments using new technology like braces with brackets that go behind your teeth and clear aligners, like Invisalign.

Food for thought.

Check out this website for recipes tailored for individuals with braces. Lots of ideas for healthy meals and snacks. What is your favorite food to eat while wearing braces? Let us know! Just because you have braces, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your favorite summer fruits and vegetables. Make sure to slice your apples very thin and simply cut the corn off the cob!

Bright, Beautiful, Healthy Smiles!

Check out our link to Brace Painter, you’ll have fun and can be creative to make your smile unique, bright and fun! Ask Dr. Kennell and his staff what fun colors are available to design your braces!  http://www.kennellortho.com/brace-painter.php

A Winter Weekend at NESTLENOOK FARM in Jackson NH

A Summer Weekend at ANCHORAGE INN in York ME

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you get in to see us…

The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:

Poking Wire: Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

Loose Bracket or Band: If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue.

Loose Wire: Using a tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax does not help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.

Loose Appliance: If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.

Headgear Does Not Fit: Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, headgear becomes more comfortable the more it’s worn, so be sure you’re getting in the prescribed hours.

General Soreness: When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.

Remember, after alleviating your discomfort, it is still very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem.

Don’t miss out on the chance to win 4 Red Sox tickets to see your favorite baseball team play at Fenway Park against the Diamondbacks Sunday, August 4, 2013. at 1:35PM EDT.

Design a photo collage for our Facebook page and you could win tickets to a Red Sox game this summer!

The Spring Contest kicks off Monday, April 15th through Friday, July 12, 2013.

The winner will be selected the week of July 15, 2013.

Be Creative!  Create a Photo Collage for our Facebook!

The following elements need to be incorporated into the collage:

Kennell Ortho, Lakes Region Living, Braces (or retainers), Smiles, Summer, Friends, Having Fun!

There are lots of free Facebook Cover Collage apps you can download!

Check out what we did using the Smilebox App on our facebook page!

Here are the details:

Specs for collage should be the following:

851 pixels wide and 315 pixels tall, less than 100 kilobytes

4 inches wide x 1.5 inches high

JPG format preferred

Entry Submission

You must be a patient of Kennell Orthodontics to enter.

Just submit your creative collage by using one of the following and be sure to include your name and contact information.

Email: contests@kennellortho.com

Bring in a hard copy to our office: 783 North Main Street Laconia

Post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennellOrtho

April is National Facial Protection Month and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), and the American Dental Association (ADA) are teaming up to remind parents, coaches and athletes to play it safe as they prepare to suit up for recreational and organized sports.

The mouth and face of a child or young adult can be easily injured if the proper precautions are not used while participating in sports or recreational activities. In fact, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of the 7 million sports- and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by children as young as 5 years old. Last year, the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF) forecasted that more than 3 million teeth would be knocked out in youth sporting events. They also reported that athletes who don’t wear mouth guards are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth.

An effective mouth guard holds teeth in place, resists tearing and allows for normal speech and breathing. It should cover the teeth and, depending on the patient’s bite, also the gums. Your dental professional can recommend the best mouth guard for every sports activity.  A properly fitted mouth guard can prevent many accidents and traumatic injuries.

The dental experts at the ASD, AAPD, AAOMS, AAO and ADA urge athletes, parents/caregivers and coaches to be proactive as they head out this spring and stay safe on the field.  The ASD, AAPD, AAOMS, AAO, and ADA dental experts offer these important tips:

• Wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports. Mouth guards can help prevent injury to a person’s jaw, mouth and teeth and they are significantly less expensive than the cost to repair an injury.  Dentists and dental specialists can make customized mouth guards, which provide the best fit. Other less-expensive options are the boil and bite mouthguards, which are softened in boiling water to fit the mouth, and stock mouth guards, which are ready-to-wear but often don’t fit well.
• Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact and help prevent damage to the head.
• Wear protective eyewear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable to damage, especially when playing sports.

·         Wear a face shield to avoid damage to the delicate bones around the eyes, nose and jaw. Hockey pucks, basketballs and racquetballs can cause severe facial damage at any age.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated in our Share the Love food drive.  We were able to collect over 200 items for people in need.

Can Braces Work for Adults?

People of all ages can benefit from orthodontic treatment with Dr. Kennell. The physical process for moving teeth is the same, young or old, which means it’s never too late to address issues such as an overbite or underbite, crooked or crowded teeth, or jaw disorders.

How Do I Get Started?

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, we’ll make a consultation appointment with you. During this meeting we will perform a general assessment of your oral health, discuss options for treatment, and answer any questions you may have. We will also discuss matters of cost and insurance. The next step is an orthodontic records appointment in which we take x-rays, photos, and an impression of your teeth. This information drives your unique treatment plan.

What Are the Benefits?

Straightening your teeth can improve your smile, your self-esteem, and your dental health. Technologically advanced new treatments make it easier to identify the option that best fits your lifestyle. Modern techniques and materials have made braces and aligners more effective, comfortable and unobtrusive than ever.

If you think you might benefit from orthodontic treatment, give Kennell Orthodontics a call, so we may set up a consultation to determine what type of treatment best meets your needs.

Thanks to all of our patients, parents and friends for making our Gunstock Tubing Event a huge success!!!  This was our very first large-scale patient appreciation event and we are so glad it went without a hitch.  Be sure to check out some photos on our Facebook album.  And congratulations to our lucky raffle winners – enjoy those prizes!

The orthodontic years can be a tough time for some of our patients and we certainly understand that.  Hey, I had braces myself – TWICE!  I hope that having office contests and events like these help to lighten the mood a bit and make the “braces years” a little more enjoyable.  I have to admit I am very fortunate to have an awesome office community of patients, parents and staff – it makes my job so much more rewarding.

Thanks again – and I’m already looking forward to planning our next event!  If you have some cool ideas of events that would interest you, please let us know.

Dr. Kennell