Parents ONLY contest

The summer months can be exhausting for parents!  That is why we are giving one lucky parent a $50 gift certificate to Massage Envy or Best Buy on September 1st as a back to school gift!  To enter, stop by our office and complete an entry form.  It's just that easy!

Summer Surf n' Swim Party

It's time again for our Summer Surf n' Swim patient appreciation party.  Albrechtsen Orthodontics is having a party at Surf n' Swim in Layton.  Come have fun with us and your family and friends.  It's our way of saying "Our patients are AWESOME!"  There's going to be snacks, prizes and free swimming to anyone who comes. 

Good Patient Contest April-June 2011

How about recording all of your awesome summer memories with this Flip Video Camera we’re giving away. Upload your videos easily onto your computer and YouTube.  

Here's a little bit about the Flip Camera:

• Shoot up to 2 hours of stunning HD video on the easy-to-use MinoHD
• Carry it anywhere with its sleek and slim design that fits in any pocket or purse
• Comes with 8 GB of built-in memory; no additional memory needed
• Keep your video steady on the go with MinoHD’s newest feature, image stabilization
• Power on, press record and start filming – it's that simple
• Charge the internal Lithium-ion battery through the built-in USB arm; also recharges quickly when connected to Flip Video Power Adapter sold separately
• Watch your videos on the large, 2" anti-glare color display
• Connect the flip-out USB arm directly into your PC or Mac to launch pre-loaded FlipShare software
• Use FlipShare software to organize and edit your videos, capture photos, send video greeting cards and create custom movies
• Watch your videos on your HDTV by connecting your MinoHD to your HDTV with the Flip Video Cables HDMI™ sold separately
• Features a flat-back panel with touch-sensitive, backlit buttons
• Records high-quality H.264 videos that are compatible with most video-playing applications, including Windows Media Player, QuickTime Player and iTunes
• Video: 16:9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720) at 60 frames per seconds (fps) progressive scan; recorded as MP4 files

Simple to Share

• Organize your videos by dragging and dropping into folders you've created, or use the automatic date-stamped folders
• Edit and trim your favorite videos clips or even add your own music, all using FlipShare's easy editing tools
• Create video greeting cards or use the Magic Movie feature to make movies with the click of a button
• Capture photos using the easy Snapshot feature. You can grab a still-image photo from any of the 60 frames that comprise each second of your video
• Share videos privately using FlipShare's attachment-free email or by creating Flip Channels; post publicly with direct video shares to Facebook™, Twitter™ and YouTube™

Follow our rules and you could be the next “Good Patient Contest” Winner.  Contest Ends June 30^th.

Our Good Patient Contest Winner for March 2011

We have exciting news, we have our winner of our iPod Touch, Cade!  Congratulations!  We've actually had some families ask us, "Do you REALLY give away that stuff, or is it just to get your patients to cooperate?"  The answer is, "YES!"  Cade was SO excited for his iPod touch, his dad said he hasn't stopped grinning since he heard the news.  We LOVE rewarding our patients for their hard work.  Keep it up everyone, your reward is coming!

A Month of Silly Holidays!

This month is going to be a lot of fun for us!  On our Facebook page we are posting different silly holidays every week.  So, I hope many of you will be keeping track of the fun holidays that we will be posting about.  We're also having an Easter Trivia contest that starts next week.  These are only for our Facebook fans, so if you know of someone who loves our contests, tell them to become a fan on our Facebook page.  Albrechtsen Orthodontics Facebook Page.

Famous Animated and Cartoon Couples Winners

Congratulations to our winners of our Famous Animated and Cartoon Couples Contest!  Sadie, Joshua and David all won a great M&Ms dispenser filled with plain M&Ms.  Look for our fun monthly contests that everyone can participate in. 

Lucky Charms Contest

Are You Feeling Lucky?  Be the lucky winner of our next in-office patient contest by telling us which items on our entry form are suppose to bring good luck.  Enter the next time you are in our office.  The winner will receive $25!

An iPod Touch for Our Valentines

We're giving away another iPod touch to our wonderful patients!  If you are a good patient, that means you're on time, you don't break appliances, you wear your elastics, headgear and retainers as instructed and you always have excellent brushing, then we put your name in for a drawing at the end of March.  If your name is drawn, you win an iPod touch.  We've already given away several and you could be next.  All we ask is that you do what we ask and take care of your teeth and your braces. 

Famous Animated and Cartoon Couples

Facebook Resolutions Contest

Tell us about your New Year’s Resolution!  Whether it is to work harder in school, practice more at a sport, be a better friend; we’re interested in what you have to say!  We’ll select our favorite resolutions in these three categories on 1/ 23:  Most Creative, Most Sentimental and Funniest Resolution.    We’ll announce our favorites on Facebook!

Do You Know Why Your Retainer is so Important?

Once we have removed your braces, it’s easy to think all the work is done and your teeth need little further attention. But don’t underestimate the importance of a retainer. Take this quick quiz to find out exactly why a retainer is important, and more:

1. A retainer is more of a formality than a necessity. 
1. True
2. False
   
2. When should I wear my retainer?
1. As often as my doctor tells me to
2. I should wear it all the time to speed up my treatment
   
3. How should I clean my retainer? 
1. Toothpaste and a brush
2. As long as I brush and floss my teeth, I won’t need to clean my retainer
3. A cleaner made specifically for retainers
   
4. Using my retainer properly will prevent the need to wear braces again
1. True
2. False

Answers:

1. The answer is B – False. Because a retainer is removable, it is easy to think of it as being less important that your permanent braces were. The truth is that all the work accomplished by your braces could be for nothing without a retainer. Your braces actively moved your teeth into their proper alignment, but a retainer holds your teeth in place and allows them to settle into position next to each other.
2. The answer is A – As often as my doctor tells me. We set up a treatment plan tailored to you and your teeth, and every set of retainer instructions is unique, just as each of our patients is unique. We will determine how often you must wear your retainer depending on the particulars of your situation.
3. The answer is A or C – Toothpaste and a brush OR a special-made retainer cleaner: it depends on the type of retainer you have. Make sure to clean your retainer at least twice every day. Don’t clean with soap and water – you don’t want soap in your mouth! If you use either a Hawley or a bonded retainer you should clean it the same way you clean your teeth, by brushing it thoroughly with toothpaste. If you use an Essix retainer we recommend you clean it with a product such as SoncBrite or Retainer Brite, both of which are made just for this purpose.
4. The answer is A – True. Your braces worked to move your teeth into place, and a retainer compliments them by keeping those teeth in order. If you do not use your retainer as prescribed, you risk letting your teeth once again shift out of place. And remember, using a retainer properly isn't limited to how you wear it. Keep your retainer clean, and be sure to handle it carefully and always keep it in a case when you do not have it in your mouth.

If you ever have questions or concerns about your braces or retainer, be sure to contact us. We are here to help you with your treatment.

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

It turns out there’s not much difference. WebMD.com cites “a review of nearly 30 studies” that was unable to determine a significant difference in plaque removal between electric and manual toothbrushes. (Some research did find that electric toothbrushes performed slightly better, but only if the electric toothbrush was of the “rotation-oscillation” variety, in which the bristles both rotate and move side-to-side.)

Regardless of what type of toothbrush you choose, it’s important to use it correctly. Brush twice a day, for two minutes each time. Cover the inner, outer and top surfaces of your teeth, and brush all the way down to the gum line. Don’t forget the hard-to-reach areas in the back of your mouth.

There’s a breed of person who drives a stick shift, uses a push mower and prefers sailboats to motorboats. When faced with the choice of a toothbrush, that purist will certainly choose the dependable, disposable, do-it-yourself toothbrush. But what about those of us who swear by Blackberries, iPods and TiVo? We want the latest, greatest gadget and we’re convinced that an electric toothbrush must be better than its manual counterpart… right?
So if electric and manual toothbrushes are so similar in plaque removal rates, how should you decide which is best for you?  Here are a few factors to consider:
Your budget. Electric toothbrushes are pricier. However, while high-end options can cost upwards of $100, you can find some in the $10 range. Remember that you may need to add the cost of batteries and replacement brushes to your toothbrush budget.
Your dexterity. 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.
Your patience. Many people are in too much of a hurry to brush for the full two minutes recommended (or they simply forget to watch the clock). Some electric brushes come with a timer that helps enforce the proper length of brushing.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking an electric toothbrush will do the work for you; you still need to guide it around every bit of enamel you possess in order to stave off plaque and bacteria.
And remember that while brushing and flossing daily will help you maintain good oral health, regular professional cleanings are vital to keeping your teeth in tip-top shape.

A New Year With Albrecthsen Orthodontics

Here we are again at the start of a new year.  We look forward to 2011 with new hopes and dreams for our practice and our families.  As patients and parents, here's what you can look forward to for this year.  


Quarterly Good Patient Contests:  Every quarter we give away a fun prize to those we feel have done their very best at being a Good Patient.  Of course, they must follow our rules; be on time, have excellent brushing, wear appliances as instructed, and never have any loose or broken brackets or appliances.  We do understand if a broken appliance is not the patients' fault.  We always take this into consideration.  


Annual Patient Appreciation Party:  Dr. Albrechtsen and his team always look forward to our fun summer party at Surf N' Swim.  Here, we can kick back, soak up the sun, hang out with friends and family, and not worry about your braces for a few hours.


Monthly Fun Contests:  Every month we have a contest that everyone is sure to participate in.  Whether it's answering silly questions, finding the celebrity smile or testing your social media knowledge, there's always a game for someone.  Whenever you come to our office, make sure you ask what the Fun Contest for the month is.  


$50 Club:  Any time you refer a friend to our office for treatment, you get rewarded.  If a friend that you've referred starts a full set of braces and they mention your name, you get $50.  It's that simple!  Not only does Dr. Albrechtsen give you the best smile anyone could ask for, but he rewards you for spreading the word about it.


Watch for our quarterly newsletters! If we have your e-mail address, you have given us permission to send you a newsletter.  If you don't want the newsletter, it's easy to opt out...just click on the link when you receive your newsletter.