Summer reading with Dr. Hodgkins

As summer approaches us here in Austin and Cedar Park, Texas at Hodgkins Orthodontics, we know that many of our patients are planning family vacations, picnics, and days at the beach. While lounging in the sunshine, why not pick up a classic novel or best seller? Immersing yourself in a summer read is a great way to enjoy those beautiful days. Reading can help improve your vocabulary and critical thinking skills, which is ideal for keeping kids’ minds sharp while they're on a summer break from class.

Our team here at Hodgkins Orthodontics loves to read! In fact, within the office, we have many all time favorite reads. For all of you book worms, Dr. Hodgkins would like to share some of his recommendations for summer reading:

• Any book by Jonathan Livingston Seagull
• Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein
• The Red Pyramid, The Last Olympian, and The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Dr. Hodgkins and team would like to know about some of your favorite summer reads. Do you have an all-time favorite summer read? What are you reading right now? Let us know by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Happy reading!

--Your friends at Hodgkins Orthodontics

Smile, and you might just live longer!

Folks with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. We have known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.
The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Hodgkins Orthodontics? If not, give us a call!

Ask Hodgkins Orthodontics: Why is it so important to have straight teeth?

Some people wonder why Dr. Hodkins and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Hodgkins Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Hodgkins can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Smile for National Smile Month!

It's June already! Where does the time go?

Dr. Hodgkins and team are excited to tell you June marks National Smile Month, a great time to remind our patients to brush, floss, practice good nutrition at home (and over the summer) to avoid cavities and gum disease, among other dental health issues.

After all, there's more and more evidence that suggests folks with gum disease are more at risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Here are a few easy steps you can improve your oral health at home:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during orthodontic treatment.
* Visit your general dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of the tips here, we encourage you to give us a call!

Ask Dr. Hodgkins: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Hodgkins is an Elite Premier Invisalign provider, making him one of the top orthodontist in the country for Invisalign. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.