SMILEHEALTH

for Patients of Burleson Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry / Jan. 2015

WHATS
GOING ON
THIS
MONTH

Ask One of
the Specialists

New Natural
Home Care
Product Samples

Q. What percent of

See us for some fun and

healthy toothpaste and
mouthwash samples without
any harsh chemicals or
artificial flavors or colors.

A. Although only 1-2% of

New Insurance
Benefits in 2015
Many patients have new
insurance benefits that
begin this month. We can
help you maximize your
benefits in the new year.
See inside for tips on how to
get the most out of your
dental insurance plan.

Win a Caribbean
Family Vacation
You can win a Caribbean
vacation for four just in time
for spring break. Ask us at
your next appointment how to
get entered into the contest.

orthodontic patients
have impacted teeth?
people in the U.S. have
impacted teeth, in our
practice (because these

What to Do About Sensitive Teeth

What does it mean to have sensitive teeth? If you
experience pain or discomfort when consuming foods or beverages
that are hot, cold, sweet, or sour; when brushing or flossing; or
even when breathing sharp, cold air, you may have sensitive teeth.
What is the reason for sensitive teeth? Common causes
of tooth sensitivity include: Over-brushing brushing your teeth
too hard may wear down enamel or irritate the gum line, causing it
to recede and expose the tooths sensitive roots. Cracked teeth a
crack or chip in your tooth may expose the underlying dentin or
may fill with bacteria from plaque, causing the nerve to inflame.
Teeth grinding over time, grinding or clenching your teeth can
erode enamel and expose dentin. Gum disease gum disease
leads to infection which may attack the tooths roots or cause the
gum line to recede. Tooth whitening using products with
peroxide or baking soda can make exposed roots or dentin more
sensitive. Age studies have shown that tooth sensitivity occurs
most often in people between the ages of 25 and 30.
It is possible to experience tooth sensitivity after routine
dental procedures such as the placement of a filling or crown,
tooth restoration, or even teeth cleaning. Such sensitivity is
temporary; if it does not cease after four to six weeks please
consult with your dentist or one of our dental specialists.

patients are frequently

referred to us) we see
impacted teeth in 15-20% of
our patients
Tips for dealing with
impacted teeth If your
child is is 10 years old and we
cannot see or feel the
erupting canine tooth in its
proper position, there is a
chance the tooth might be
stuck or impacted. When
considering treatment options
for canine impaction, a
thorough assessment of the
facial profile, growth
predictions, dental arch
development, dentition stage
and malocclusion are
required. If in doubt,
schedule your child with one
of our specialists prior to any
other recommended
treatment, like pulling baby
teeth, by your general dentist.
For more resources on
impacted teeth, visit
BurlesonOrtho.com

SMILEHEALTH

BRACES & INVISALIGN

Hygiene Tips When Youre On the Go

From the
Doctors Desk
What can I eat and drink with
my clear aligners in place?
Your clear aligners can build
up plaque if not treated
properly. These aligners are
removable and should be
taken out when you eat.
Though it's not necessary for
you to take out your aligners
while you drink water,
any other liquid can cause
problems like tooth decay or
staining. If you take out your
aligners when drinking a
soda, coffee or tea, you have
a better chance of keeping
your aligners clean and avoid
these unwanted problems.

Out with friends or on the road? Sometimes, carrying around a

toothbrush to keep your pearly whites pearly white isnt so easy. When
brushing and flossing isnt a convenient option, you can still keep your
teeth and mouth clean and feeling fresh, simply by eating delicious,
healthy food.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away and tooth decay, too! This goes
for most crunchy fruits and vegetables as well. Apples, carrots, and celery
are just a few examples of foods that require extra chewing which
produces saliva, neutralizing bacteria that can cause cavities.
The xylitol in sugarless gum helps to prevent plaque, aids in producing
saliva, and can help remove food stuck to your teeth after a mealPlus,
chewing sugar-free gum keeps your breath smelling great!
Be green with tea. Green tea contains substances called catechins that kill the bacteria in your mouth that
turn sugar into plaque. So, instead of reaching for that can of soda, steep some green tea instead!
Cheese, which is low in carbohydrates and high in calcium, provides several benefits to your teeth. It helps to
balance your mouths acidity level, preserves and rebuilds tooth enamel, prevents plaque, and produces saliva,
which kills the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
Drinking water keeps your gums hydrated and is the best way to stimulate saliva, your body's greatest defense
against the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities. If you cant brush after eating, the most important thing
you can do to prevent cavities is rinse your mouth with water.

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

What Causes a Bad Bite to Develop?

A bad bite, or malocclusion leads to future problems
in the health of your mouth. Mal (Latin: bad)
occlusion (Latin: bite).

Home Care Tips

for Healthy Smiles

But what is malocclusion, and what causes it?

Commonly referred to as overbite or underbite,
malocclusion is the condition of having poorly aligned
teeth, in which the upper and lower teeth dont fit
together properly. There are a number of risk factors
that can lead to malocclusion, and fortunately, some of
them are preventable. Read on to find out what causes
this condition:

Two excellent reasons to consider

an electric toothbrush:
Your dexterity

Family History Most often malocclusion is

hereditary problem. Jaw and tooth size are inherited
traits that can produce a mismatched proportion, such as teeth too large for a small jaw or small
teeth that dont fill the space available in a larger jaw.
Oral Habits In children, habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting (placing the tongue
against or between the teeth while swallowing), or the prolonged use of a pacifier or bottle may
cause malocclusion.
Dental Health Poor dental hygiene can lead to gum disease and tooth decay, which in turn can
lead to tooth loss or require extraction (removal by a dentist). The loss of a tooth may cause
bordering teeth to drift out of place.

SMILEHEALTH

People who have limited manual

dexterity including the very
young, the elderly, or those
suffering from injury or arthritis
may find that an electric
toothbrush allows them to reach
spots that would otherwise be
difficult or impossible.
Your habits
If you have a hard time brushing
regularly, and you find you enjoy
the sensation of brushing with an
electric toothbrush, then by all
means use the brush that will
encourage you to brush most
often and most effectively.

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

#SmileShare and Hello Product Samples

Questions from

Actual Patients
Q. My kids are so busy with
school and sports, do you offer
early or late hours?

Burleson Orthodontics & Pediatric

Dentistry recently purchased some
Hello brand oral care products for
patients and parents to sample. The
Hello brand toothpastes and
mouthwashes have fun flavors like
Mojito Mint and Pink Grapefruit Mint
that have been a lot of fun for our
patients to try.
We love the Hello brand products
because they contain no alcohol, no

artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners,

no triclosan and no little plastic coloring
beads that youve heard about in the
news with some other large-brand
toothpastes.
Our patients will excited to tell us what
makes them smile with our mostpopular answers counted as: family,
friends, the holidays and great food (I
think the holiday break and lots of tasty
treats were on everyones mind).

A. If you are holding out on

starting orthodontic treatment
because you dont want to miss
school or work, we have the
perfect solution. Did you know
that our office often is open for
extended evening and weekend
hours to better serve our
patients? We are committed to
providing the best care for our
patients and we know that means
being able to provide convenient
appointment times. Most of our
locations are open until 7pm or
8pm and on Saturdays.
Over the course of two years in
orthodontic treatment, the
average patient will miss nearly a
month of school when you
consider the time spent driving
from work, to school to pick up
the kids, then to our office and
then back to school. We enjoy
making our patients lives easier
and extending our hours is one
simple way were listening to the
individual needs of our patients
and their parents.

Our Favorite Books &

Patient Resources

Thank you to all of our patients who participated in the Hello

products #SMILESHARE at Burleson Orthodontics & Pediatric
Dentistry. More photos can be seen on our Facebook Fan Page.

SMILEHEALTH

Stop Hiding Your Smile! A Parents

Guide to Confidently Choosing an
Orthodontist by our founder, Dr.
Dustin Burleson, is the smart
parents guide to choosing the
right time for braces and the right
specialist for your family.
An
Amazon best-seller, this book is
available for you to share with a
f r i e n d o r f a m i l y m e m b e r.
Available where fine books are
sold and at AskDrBurleson.com

INSURANCE & FLEX SPENDING

Parenting Tips
for Dental Health
What types of oral health
problems are common in
children with diabetes?
Uncontrolled diabetes
results in a higher risk for
tooth decay, taste
impairment, gum
disease, fungal infections
such as thrush, dry mouth
(a condition of reduced
saliva), and slow or poor
recovery of gum tissues
after dental procedures.
Those whose diabetes is
well controlled are at the
same risk level as people
who dont have diabetes.
Thus taking control of
your childs diabetes is a
key factor in maintaining
good oral health.
As with any overall health
concern, let us know
about the situation so we
may take it into
consideration as we plan
your childs dental care.
We need to be aware of
how your child is
controlling the disease,
what medications he or
she is taking, and the
contact information for
your pediatrician.
Depending on the state
of your childs oral health
and what treatments we
are planning, we may
need more detailed
information about your
childs diabetes.

Maximizing Your Benefits in the New Year

Many patients have new dental insurance
benefits that start this year. To help you
maximize your benefits and reduce your stress,
here are some helpful tips for you and your
family.
Know Your Benefits and Options most
patients are unaware of their dental plans
specific benefits and limitations. Knowing
these important areas of your plan can help
prevent unwanted insurance hassles after your
treatment is started. It sounds simple, but when
you take some time to read through your
member benefit handbook, you can quickly
discover your co-insurance amount, your annual
deductible amount, the number of cleanings
covered per year, how often X-rays are allowed and the annual maximum benefit. Other
areas of importance are whether or not your dependents are covered and when their
benefits begin.
Circle any areas that are confusing to you and
write down specific questions you have then call
your dental benefits manager and get answers to
your questions. When you take time on the front
end, you wont be surprised with a large dental
insurance bill after your treatment.
Be clear on your expectations before starting
dental treatment for yourself or your child. Most
dental plans cover diagnostic and preventive care
at 80-100%. As treatments increase in cost and
complexity, your plan will typically pay a lower
percentage of the total cost.
Work with Your Dentist or Orthodontic Specialist when you have major dental work
or orthodontic treatment planned, ask your doctor for a pre-treatment estimate. Many
doctors are willing to work out a payment plan or oer third-party financing so that you
can split the total cost into convenient monthly payments.
The Annual Maximum most plans have an annual maximum that refreshes at the
beginning of the new year. The new year might be an excellent time to schedule a dental
procedure that youve been putting o or has been causing you problems with pain,
sensitivity, discomfort or chewing function. Remember to avoid delaying any
recommended treatment by your dentist or orthodontic specialist as the condition will
likely worsen and become more expensive to treat later.

SMILEHEALTH

TIPS FROM THE DOCTORS

Delicious Braces-Friendly Recipes

Pappardelle with Beef & Mushroom Rag
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces
kosher salt and black pepper
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 pound assorted mushrooms, sliced
12 ounces pappardelle or fettuccine
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces), plus more for serving

Directions: Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season
the beef with teaspoon salt and teaspoon pepper and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all
sides, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in the saucepan over mediumhigh heat. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, rosemary, and teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring
occasionally, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until slightly darkened,
about 1 minute more. Return the beef to the saucepan and add the chicken broth and tomatoes. Simmer,
covered, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fork-tender, 60 to 75 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the
saucepan and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes more. If the sauce is too thin,
simmer, uncovered, until thickened to the desired consistency. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the
package directions; drain and return it to the pot. Add the beef rag and Parmesan and toss. Serve with

Practice Events
and Raes Photos
When you attend one of the
Burleson Orthodontics &
Pediatric Dentistry patient
appreciation events, you
might notice one of our
professional photographers
or news stations covering
the activities. If you want to
download one of the photos
from our events, simply visit
our Facebook page at
www.Facebook.com/
BurlesonOrthodotics and be
sure to tag yourself in our
photos for a chance to win
more fun prizes!

additional Parmesan.

PATIENT OF THE MONTH

Simply Spectacular Smiles Simply Amazing Patients!

Travis Geier Travis is a ninth grader who stays busy doing the things he loves. He is
a member of both the Jazz band playing alto saxophone. He takes lessons once a week
at UMKC. He additionally performs with the 5-Star Jazz Band, which recently
showcased their talents at the Briarcli Lighting Ceremony.
Travis also spends time working on his baseball skills. He is a pitcher for the Regal
Bandits and takes lessons on pitching and for core training on a weekly basis. When
Travis is not practicing for jazz band or baseball, he spends some time helping others
in need, and has volunteered for the Harvesters Organization. Travis also loves
biology and is currently taking an Honors Biology class. He plans on using this
knowledge to someday pursue a career as a physician.

Do You Know Someone Accomplishing Amazing Things?

Send Your Story to the Burleson Orthodontics Newsletter at: smile@burlesonortho.com or visit our website at BurlesonOrtho.com
and click on Providers That Care to see what local charities and non-profit organizations are looking for volunteers in the Kansas
City area. When you choose Burleson youre choosing an oce that makes a dierence in our community.

SMILEHEALTH

Your Pediatric Dental Specialists in Kansas City

Are you looking for a pediatric dental specialist for your family? The specialists at Burleson Orthodontics
& Pediatric Dentistry are trained to help your child feel at ease during dental appointments. With more
early morning and after-school appointments than any other dental office in Kansas City, our time is not
more important than your time. Guaranteed.

(816) 929-6916

www.BurlesonOrtho.com