Mastroianni Orthodontics School Spirit Video Contest - We Have a WINNER!

The results are in! We have a winner from our school spirit video contest!

Weeks ago, we challenged students around the area to create their very own school spirit video that would show just how much spirit they have for their schools. Contestants were then told to upload their videos to YouTube and also on our Facebook fan page wall. The entrant’s video with the most “likes” by October 24 at 8 a.m. would then be declared the winner.

What was the prize, you ask? We awarded $500 to be dedicated to the school department of the winner’s choice!

This year, we are proud to announce that Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, Illinois, is the winner of our school spirit video contest! Congratulations to all of you, and job well done!

You can watch their video here:

We also had an entry from Maryville Elementary School that featured the school’s 1^st graders! You can see their video right here!

Thank you to everyone who entered our contest, and congratulations once more to Marquette Catholic High School! You are a great example of school pride and dedication! We are excited for next year’s contest, so be sure to keep an eye out for further details after the start of the 2013-2014 school year!

Keep Your Teeth From Getting Scary This Halloween!

To the excitement of children and children at heart everywhere, Halloween is finally upon us! You have your costume all ready and together for the big day, and you are ready to traverse through your neighborhood for some Trick-or-Treat goodies!

Before you get ready to step out the door, though, you might want to inform yourself which treats you should and should not consume, especially if you are currently receiving orthodontic treatment! Check out Mastroianni Orthodontics’ Official No-Eat List below!

Gum:

*bubble gum

*Bubble Yum

*Trident

*Freedent

*sugarless gum

Taffy:

*Laffy Taffy

*Airheads

*Starburst

*JuJu Bees

*Gummy Bears

*Now & Laters

*jelly beans

*licorice

*Gummy Savers

Caramels:

*caramels

*caramel apples

*Tootsie Rolls

*raisins

*Sugar Daddies

*Marathon Bars

*Snickers

*Milk Duds

Hard things:

*ice cubes

*pens and pencils

*whole apples

*whole carrots

*celery stalks

*popcorn seeds

*hard pretzels

*hard taco shells

*hard corn chips

*nuts of any kind

*hard bagels

In addition to all of the above is the infamous group called SWEETS. Sweets can be eaten but it is very important that you brush or rinse your mouth immediately after eating them! The sweets will not cause damage to your braces but they will cause damage to your teeth. This is how you get those white spots on your teeth while wearing braces.

What is the absolute worst offender of all the sweets? Why, soft drinks, of course! It does not matter if the soft drink is a diet soda or not - it will have the same effect on your teeth! We ask that you please try to stay away from soda during your treatment.

Let’s say you are enjoying some Halloween treats and one of your braces becomes loose. What should you do? Well, should one of your braces come loose before an appointment, please call the same day that you find out that it is broken. We are not going to be upset with you but we do want to make sure that we have enough time to fix it during your regular scheduled appointment. Some broken brackets can wait to be fixed while others need to be repaired as soon as possible.

The last thing that we would like you to know is that if one of your braces comes loose you run the risk of making your treatment take longer because that tooth is no longer moving in the right direction and may in fact be moving back toward its original position. If you cheat and eat everything you are currently eating, you will only be cheating yourself in the end. Just remember these things from the start and your treatment will run more smoothly.

We all want this to be a positive experience for you and we want to get the job done as quickly as we possibly can. This will only happen with your cooperation. Let’s work together to give you the best possible smile in the shortest period of time. Call us at (618) 288-0600 in Glen Carbon or (618) 622-3377 in Swansea if you have any questions or are interested in receiving orthodontic treatment from us. You can also check us out online at www.amazingsmiles.com! Have a safe and fun Halloween for both you and your teeth!

It's National Orthodontic Health Month - Celebrate Having and Maintaining a Healthy, Happy Smile!

Happy October, blog readers! It is hard to believe that we are already just 2 months away from the end of the year. Time has really flown by this year!

With the beautiful month of October comes wonderful fall weather, apple cider, pumpkin patches, lots of Halloween fun, and, of course, lots of Halloween candy and sweets. But did you know that October is also National Orthodontic Health Month?

Every year the American Association of Orthodontists focuses on promoting good oral hygiene and taking the time to recognize the outstanding work of orthodontists around the country. It is a time to remind people not only how important it is to have a healthy smile, but also to keep in mind how to care for braces, retainers, and any other orthodontic appliances they may have.

When it comes to treating yourself to sweets, no one is more enthusiastic than Dr. Jeff! After all, that is why we have our very own Otis Spunkmeyer cookie-making machine in our office. We would like to remind you, though, that not every sweet treat, snack, and piece of candy is ideal for consumption. Be wary of anything crunchy such as tortilla chips, nuts, or popcorn, as these can potentially cause damage to your braces. The same goes for sticky candies such as caramels, licorice, and taffy.

We hope you all will have a safe and fun October and Halloween, but if you find yourself suffering from fright of a more orthodontic nature, feel free to call us at (618) 288-0600 if you are in the Glen Carbon area or (618) 622-3377 if you are in the Swansea area. We are always ready to help if you have any orthodontic emergencies!

For more information on the American Association of Orthodontists, please visit their website at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Setting Aside Money for Medical and Dental Procedures in 2013? Plan NOW For Invisalign Treatments and SAVE!

Have you wanted to straighten your teeth lately but fear that you will not have the funds necessary to put toward your treatment?

Well, if you happen to have any extra dollars from your flex spending account(cafeteria plan), what are you going to do with all the extra money before the end of the year? After all, those funds will not roll over; you have to use it or you will lose it!

It hardly seems possible, but the holidays are approaching rather quickly.  With that in mind, we would like to remind you to take advantage of the “flex plans” that many businesses offer their employees for medical and dental procedures.

Whether you have money that needs to be spent before the year’s end or if you are planning ahead for the procedures you would like in 2013, we urge you to make sure that you are utilizing your flex plan to your best advantage!

When considering procedures for 2013, please be aware that orthodontic treatment is considered an acceptable expense for flex spending accounts. Plan now to get the smile you have always wanted with Invisalign, the gold standard in invisible orthodontics.

This method of straightening teeth without bands or wires has helped millions of patients achieve a beautiful smile in a discreet, comfortable manner – as an Elite provider we can do the same for you!

Our office offers free Invisalign consultations and has financing options that makes starting treatment comfortable for you. Now that should give you something to smile about!

If you are interested in this or would like to know more about Invisalign or braces, feel free to call us at Mastroianni Orthodontics! You can call at (618) 288-0600 in Glen Carbon or at (618) 622-3377 in Swansea! Be sure to check us out online at www.amazingsmiles.com for more information!

What are you waiting for? Don’t put off giving yourself a beautiful smile another year! Give yourself something to smile about when you visit the experts at Mastroianni Orthodontics!

Retainers - Take Care of Them and They Will Take Care of YOU!

As school begins, students of all ages are excited to see their friends again and get back into the routine of learning. Sometimes the excitement can make students forget about their homework, their pens or pencils, and - if they recently finished orthodontic treatment- their retainers.

Well, guess what? Dr. Jeff is here to give you an exclusive checklist to all of you students out there who wear retainers to keep your retainers nice and safe and your teeth beautiful!

Use Your Case – Your case is there for a reason, so use it! Be sure to place your retainer back in your case when you eat lunch in the cafeteria (or anywhere else, for that matter). Not only will you keep your retainers safe and sound, but you will also be much more likely to remember your retainer after you eat your lunch!

Avoid Using Napkins – I know that the idea of simply placing your retainer on your napkin for temporary safe-keeping while you eat is tempting, but I beg you, resist the temptation! Placing retainers on napkins while eating is the #1 reason that retainers go missing. Think about it – if you are late to lunch and need to scarf down your sandwich, you might be more worried about being late to class and may forget all about your retainer! Do yourself a favor – put your retainer in your case!

Handle With Care – Your retainers are not toys; they are very valuable (and breakable), so be sure to treat them with care! Clean them thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste and warm water. This will help remove the plaque on them and eliminate any odors that maybe be lingering. Be sure to rinse your retainer under warm water after you eat and place it back into your mouth right away. If you take good care of your retainers, they will last you for years to come!

Your Retainer is NOT a Treat for Fido – You know who wants to chew on your retainer? Your pets do! If you do not have your retainer in, please do not leave them in the reach of pets; they will destroy your retainers if given the chance.

Always Be Aware of Your Retainer’s Location – I know that there is a lot of information to remember in school, but please remember to be aware of where your retainer is at all times! Be sure to keep your retainer away from hot water, hot car dashboards, your pockets, napkins, and, of course, the washing machine.

Follow Dr. Jeff’s Instructions – Want to have an amazing smile? Just follow our instructions! Wear your retainers full-time until we instruct otherwise, always bring your retainer to your appointments, and never try to adjust your retainer on your own.

If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, be sure to call us at Mastroianni Orthodontics at (618) 288-0600 for our Glen Carbon office or at (618) 622-3377 for our Swansea location! Check out our website at www.amazingsmiles.com to see what we can do for you!

Get Rewarded for Great Oral Hygiene with the Mastro Bucks Program!

We all have to take care of our teeth; there is no doubt about that. While the benefits of getting your teeth cared for by professionals should be a great reward in itself, it is always nice to get rewarded for following your orthodontist’s instructions, taking care of your teeth, or simply showing up to appointments on time.

Well, guess what? At Mastroianni Orthodontics, you can earn money while you are in treatment! We have an incentive program called “The Mastro Bucks Program” to help encourage our patients to be active participants in creating their amazing smiles.

At Mastroianni Orthodontics, we feel it is super important to celebrate our patients’ achievements and to let them know how proud we are of their successes, so we are giving our patients the chance to earn wooden nickels for being great patients!

Every time you come into our office, we will rate your hygiene as “Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor.” You must be given either an “Excellent” or “Good” rating for the day to earn wooden nickels, which are small wooden tokens that can be collected throughout your treatment and turned in after your braces are removed for a prepaid Mastroianni Orthodontics American Express credit card!

The number of wooden nickels you collect throughout your treatment will determine dollar amount on your card. Here is how the amounts are broken down:

Wooden Nickels                                                         Dollar amount

25                                                                               $10

50                                                                               $20

75                                                                               $30

100                                                                             $40

Want to know how to earn your wooden nickels? Here is how you can do it!

1.     Keep your teeth clean – When you come in for a visit, your brushing will be evaluated. If you are given an A or B grade, then you will earn 1 nickel, and, more importantly, you will qualify to earn more. Your teeth must be clean to qualify to earn coins in this and in other categories.

2.     Come to your appointments on time - Our computer tracks what time you arrive for your appointments, so we will use it to determine if you are on time or not. (1 nickel)

3.     No broken or “loose” brackets – Help keep your braces attached to your teeth by avoiding foods on your “do not eat” list! (1 nickel)

4.     Be compliant – If we ask you to wear rubber bands or headgear, then please do so for the proper amount of time each day. (1 nickel)

Here are some special ways that you can earn more nickels:

*Refer a Friend – When you refer and friend and that friend starts treatment with us, you will receive 20 nickels!

*Good Grades – Get A’s and B’s on your report cards (NO C’s or below!) for nickels! You can bring in your report cards twice each year and earn 5 nickels each time!

*Get Your Teeth Cleaned Twice a Year – Simply bring a note in from your general dentist that your teeth have been cleaned, and you will receive 5 nickels.

*Appear in the Newspaper – When you appear in the newspaper or win a special award (such as trophies, medals, ribbons, etc.), show us, and you will earn 5 nickels!

*Send a Postcard on Vacation – Going on a vacation? Be sure to send us a postcard! We will post it to our bulletin board at the office and will give you 5 nickels in return!

You can collect up to 5 wooden nickels at each of your regularly scheduled visits. Keep the nickels in the cup we will provide you and turn them in at the end of your treatment. It is that simple!

We believe that by rewarding your good behavior you will take pride in your treatment – we want to give you the credit that you deserve!

If you are ready to receive orthodontic treatment, give us a call at our Glen Carbon office at (618) 288-0600 or at our Swansea office at (618) 622-3377 or make an appointment online at www.amazingsmiles.com! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

We've Got School Spirit! How 'Bout You? Then Show Us and Win $500!

Summer is ending soon (to the dismay of many students), and the new school year is beginning in full force locally and nationally.  Some students may be, well, less than thrilled when it comes to returning to school, but the patients whom we see in our office are often talking about how excited they are for school to begin once more, and we have to say, we’re excited FOR them!

That is why we plan on holding a fun School Spirit video contest for them this year!

What is this video contest all about, anyway? Well, it is quite simple! All you have to do if you want to enter is create a brand new school spirit video! Make a video about how much school spirit you and your friends have for the upcoming school year, and then upload it to YouTube. 

After you have done that, email us the link of your school spirit video on YouTube at marcia@amazingsmiles.com to officially be entered into our contest! You have until October 1 to enter your video into our contest. By the way, our contest began August 1st, so start making your video now!

After all the videos have been submitted, we will then post all entrants’ videos to our Facebook fan page on October 1 (if you haven’t liked our Facebook page yet, then you totally should, especially since you can see your video there!).

Now here is the important part – the entrant’s video with the most “likes” by October 24 at 8 a.m. will be the winner! He or she will then receive $500 to be dedicated to the school department of his or her choice!

So if you want to give an extra 500 bucks to your music department, athletic department, language arts department, science department, or whatever, then put on your thinking cap and start devising this year’s winning School Spirit video!

Oh, and we almost forgot! We need to give you guidelines! Follow these guidelines below to make sure that your video still has a chance to win $500:

*Your video must be less than 5 minutes in length.
*Your video must be “ family-friendly.”
*Your video must also be submitted on time – no later than Mon., October 1!

So what are you waiting for? Get those creative juices flowing and show us how much school spirit YOU have in your School Spirit video! You never know – you might just win money for your school!