Monday, September 20, 2010

Ask Dr. Gary Cohen: Why is it so important to have straight teeth?

Some people wonder why Hendersonville, White House, and Gallatin, TN orthodontist Dr. Gary Cohen 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 Smile Construction 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. Gary Cohen can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Invisalign® tips, from Dr. Gary Cohen

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Gary Cohen wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also simple: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Smile Construction, give us a call!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Your pal, fluoride!

There are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment at Smile Construction. You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment? Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement.

Fluoride used in the orthodontists’ office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Friday fun facts with Smile Construction

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Smile Construction thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Friday, August 27, 2010

The importance of retainers, from Dr. Gary

If you recently completed treatment at Smile Construction, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Gary will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They 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. Gary is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Gary, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Top ten tips for keeping your BRACES sparklin’ clean, from Dr. Gary

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

Hope this helps!

-Smile Construction

Thursday, August 12, 2010

A few patient reviews for Dr. Gary and team

Dr. Gary and his team love getting patient reviews. And lately, Smile Construction, serving Hendersonville, White House and Gallatin, TN and surrounding communities, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Thursday!

"Dr. Cohen is a wonderful orthodontist! :) He has answered all of my questions i have had, and i have full trust in him that my teeth will be beautiful!" ~Whitni

"Dr. Cohen's ofice is very comfortable both for patients and parents. Also, the added extras like the reader board and the tokens make it more fun for the kids. The "patient of the month" program looks like a real plus, as well. Dr. Cohen himself is very competent and friendly." ~Sissy

"Dr. Cohen is wonderful, the office is beautiful and the staff are wonderful!" ~Cheryl

"I love Dr. Cohen because he has really transformed my teeth. Even though they still have a while to go, I can tell they have improved a lot. He is so nice, and makes sure his staff treats all of his patients kindly." ~Debbie

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Our team had a blast at Dr. Gary's Back to School Bash!


Our team at Smile Construction would like to thank all of our patients who came out to our Back to School Bash last week! The event was a huge success! Patients and staff members were able to skate, eat pizza, and even jump on inflatables- what a great time.

For those of you who weren't able to make it, the event was held at the Sumner Skate Zone in Gallatin, TN. Be sure to check out our Facebook page to see all of the great photos!

Have a great week,

-Dr. Gary Cohen and team

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

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

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work, says Dr. Cohen. 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. Cohen is a certified Invisalign provider in Hendersonville, White House, and Gallatin, TN. 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.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

You're invited to party with Dr. Gary & his crew!


Dr. Gary would love to see you at our Back to School Bash on July 30, 2010 at Sumner Skate Zone. We will be skating, jumping on inflatables and eating pizza. Please bring a friend along for the fun! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Event Details:

Who: You & a friend!

What: Back to School Bash

Where: Summer Skate Zone - Gallatin, TN

When: Friday, July 30 from 10am-2pm

Why: To skate and have a great time with Dr. Gary and our team!

*Please RSVP by Monday, July 26th to 615-824-8929 or to smileconstruction@yahoo.com with the number of attendees*

Friday, July 16, 2010

What do you love about Smile Construction?

At Smile Construction, Dr. Gary Cohen and our team strive to provide you with superior treatment in a warm and caring atmosphere. From our cutting edge technology to our rewards program, our team wants you to have the very best orthodontic experience. Today, we would like to ask you: Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Cohen's work? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review here. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you,
The team at Smile Construction

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Invisalign Teen™ at Smile Construction

Dr. Gary Cohen knows that now, more than ever, image is very important to the teens of today. Merely the thought of metal brackets and wires constantly attached to teeth can intensify the already-delicate confidence of some teens. Don’t worry- there is a clear alternative to traditional braces! The team at Smile Construction thought we'd remind you that Invisalign Teen™ offers an alternative method for treatment- a “clear” solution for teens!

So, how does Invisalign Teen work? Much in the same fashion as Invisalign, but with a few added characteristics tailored specifically to teenagers’ lifestyles. For instance, Invisalign Teen is designed with “compliance indicators” that fade from dark to light during the two week period that particular tray is used and once it has faded teens know to change trays. Each aligner comes with up to six free individual replacement aligners in case the original aligner ends up lost or broken. This is a huge benefit for the patient!

The treatment period for Invisalign Teen varies from nine to 18 months. If your teen is considering orthodontic treatment, please contact our office and we’ll answer any questions you may have about Invisalign Teen.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Dr. Gary reminds patients of the annual Postcard Contest

At Smile Construction, we love summer! We know that even though we’re still in the office, that for many this season is a time to plan vacations and visit family and friends in other cities, states, and countries. That's why each year we conduct a Postcard Contest, which is open to all of our patients. Now through September 1st, send a postcard to one of our offices and you will be considered for one of the following categories: Most Distant Postcard from Hendersonville or Best Postcard Note. There is also a special contest category for all of you Facebook savvy travelers- post a picture of you in your Dr. Gary t-shirt on vacation, and you will be considered for the Most Interesting Photo prize.

We look forward to seeing all of your postcards and photos! If you have any questions or comments, we encourage you to give us a call or to leave us a comment on our Facebook page.

Safe travels,

Dr. Gary and team

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Meet Our Orthodontist

After graduation from the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Gary worked as a general dentist for five years before entering the orthodontic residency at St. Louis University. He completed his orthodontic residency training in 1983 graduating at the top of his class. His professional affiliations include the Nashville Dental Society, Tennessee Dental Association, American Dental Association, Tennessee Association of Orthodontists, Southern Association of Orthodontists and the American Association of Orthodontists.

Dr. Gary is past President of the international Orthodontic Education and Research Foundation and the 8th District Dental Society of the Tennessee Dental Association. He is the founder and director of the Summit Institute, an interdisciplinary dental continuing education organization dedicated to optimizing dental care in Sumner County. He continually upgrades his clinical skills through continuing education and research to maintain his practice on the cutting edge of orthodontics.

As part of his commitment to the youth of our community Dr. Gary sponsors local hockey, soccer and baseball teams and contributes to the school athletic programs in Sumner and Robertson County. He is past president of the board of the Cumberland Crisis Pregnancy Center and continues his support of it. He has been honored to serve as a Sunday school teacher and deacon at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville where he and his family have been members since 1988.

Dr. Gary and his wife Nancy live in Hendersonville and have three adult children. Their son Ben works as an orthodontic lab technician with Dr. Gary. Their daughter Grace, married to Adam Veenker, is a Registered Nurse at Sumner Regional Hospital and is the mother of Steven and Jonah. Kate, their younger daughter, is a Registered Pharmacist. In his free time Dr. Gary enjoys photography, aviation, boating, traveling, skiing and spending time with his family.