Dr. Beth wants to know: Will you join the Braces Brigade?

Calling all Dr. Beth's current and former patients: How would you like to share your experience in braces in writing with the world .... and come away with a $100 American Express gift card?!

Thanks to our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, here's your chance! The AAO is proud to offer the Braces Brigade campaign, where you can blog about your experience in braces at Faber Orthodontics with millions of other kids and adults going through treatment.

To complete your Braces Brigade application, you'll need to provide the AAO with your:

* Name
* Age – Must be 14 years of age or older
* E-mail
* Phone number
* Stage of orthodontic treatment
* A photo of your braces/smile
* A sample blog post – picture yourself as a member of Braces Brigade and show off those blogging skills! (100-word minimum)

All applicants must either be an orthodontic patient at Dr. Beth's office or the parent of a patient. If you happen to be under 18, your parents must fill out a consent form along with your official entry, giving you permission to enter the contest.

Dr. Beth and our entire staff encourage you to apply for the Braces Brigade today! GOOD LUCK!

Talking retainers with Dr. Beth Faber

Have you recently completed treatment at Faber Orthodontics? If so, our entire staff would like to congratulate you again! Job well done! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Beth Faber will provide retainers for you, which you'll wear every day, right? After braces are removed, Dr. Beth will you teeth may shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, provide that stabilization, and are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Beth is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

Remember to:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
* Take your retainers out when eating… and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but do not take the place of brushing.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
* Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to them faster.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately.
* If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
* Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
* Retainer replacement is expensive… with proper care they will last for years!
* Remove retainers when swimming.
* Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.

To learn more more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth. Happy Monday everyone!!

What sets Faber Orthodontics apart?

Quality care, advanced technology and convenience: that's how we'd describe our practice. At Faber Orthodontics, we understand the importance of choosing an orthodontist that is right for you and your family. Dr. Beth Faber and her friendly staff treat each patient with individualized attention and personalized care plans to achieve beautiful, bright smiles that exceed expectations.

Quality Care

* Dr. Faber knows that each patient she sees is an individual with unique orthodontic goals and needs. Utilizing her years of education and training, she creates customized treatment plans for each patient she sees. We guarantee you'll never feel like you're just a number receiving “cookie-cutter” care.
* The clinical staff at Faber Orthodontics is dedicated to ensuring that your orthodontic experience is a positive one. Your comfort is our priority!
* We are proud to be serving the Tappahannock and Kilmarnock communities because you aren't just a patient; you are our family, friends, and neighbors.

Advanced Technology

* The field of orthodontic technology is constantly changing. We provide only the highest grade materials and advanced treatments to give you the smile you've always wanted with less discomfort and in a shorter amount of time.
* We are proud to offer SureSmile® which provides advanced 3-D imaging and precise archwire bending to reduce treatment time by 40%! You'll spend less time in our office and more time enjoying your new, beautiful smile.
* Dr. Faber is a Certified Invisalign® Provider, giving her patients a convenient alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners, resulting in a great smile without sacrificing aesthetics along the way.

Convenience

* Dr. Faber offers two conveniently located, high-tech offices in Tappahannock and Kilmarnock, because receiving orthodontic treatment shouldn't be a hassle.
* Orthodontics is an investment in your smile and overall oral health, and we are committed to making your treatment as affordable as possible. We offer flexible financing and our office staff is more than willing to assist you in maximizing your insurance benefits.
* Your time is important, and we do our very best to make sure you are seen promptly at your appointment.

For more ways on what sets our offices apart from others in Tappahannock and Kilmarnock, we invite you to give us a call at (804) 445-2045. If you're considering orthodontic treatment, please contact us for a complimentary orthodontic consultation with Dr. Faber.

Patriotic fun facts with Dr. Beth!

On Sunday, Dr. Beth and our staff at Faber Orthodontics will be busy celebrating America's 234th birthday. And because we know our patients love fun facts, we thought we'd provide you with some fun facts about Independence Day!

- Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

- An estimated 2.5 million people lived in America in July 1776. Today, an estimated 309 million people reside in the United States.

- The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation, which meant that people didn't want to be taxed by a government that did not represent them.

- In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

- The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal.

- America's mascot, the bald eagle, can achieve speeds of up to 200 miles per hour when making a predatory dive. During a normal flight, bald eagles can travel up to 30 miles per hour.

- The American flag patch is backwards on U.S. Army uniforms. The reason? The blue field on the flag (the part with the stars) faces forward to symbolize carrying the American flag into battle.

- Someone who specializes in the history of flags is called a vexillologist.

- The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’

- According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans consume over 150 million hot dogs during their Independence Day festivities.

- Speaking of food, there's a 1-in-6 chance the beef on your backyard this Independence Day weekend grill came from Texas. The Lone Star State is America's leader in the production of cattle and calves.

Have a great Fourth of July weekend everyone, and we'll see you next week!!