What's going on at Graber Orthodontics? By Dr. Katie Graber

We've been staying busy! We just attended the Damon conference - Dad (Dr. Lee Graber) was just lobbying for better children's dental heathcare on the hill in DC (national lobby) in January.

I am the Midwest representative to the national orthodontic AAO leadership conference that is this week, which is followed by the winter AAO scientific meeting. Next week we are attending the national annual SureSmile conference for which I am presenting two lectures (the youngest SureSmile doctor on the program two years running!)

Be sure to "Like" us on Facebook for all our updates and announcements!

Braces tips on the Braces Brigade blog!

At Graber Orthodontics, we know our patients want to get as much out of their treatment as possible. That includes asking a lot of questions and making sure they take care of both their appliances and oral health.

Dr. Graber and our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently developed the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. (Dr. Graber is one of the blog contributors).

In the latest installment of the Braces Brigade blog, Mary K. shares a few tips for those getting ready to undergo orthodontic treatment. We strongly encourage you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call or ask us on Facebook if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment with Drs. Lee and Katie Graber!

Have a great holiday weekend!

Complimentary Consultations at Graber Orthodontics

At Graber Orthodontics, we provide exceptional orthodontic care and cutting edge technologies - it's why Graber Orthodontics has been the trusted choice of thousands of patients, including many area medical and dental professionals and their family members.

One of our commitments is meeting with you to help you explore all or the options available to you or your child. We offer complimentary consultations for those interested in orthodontic treatment. During this time, you'll have time reserved with Drs. Lee and Katie Graber, who will assess your particular needs as well as discuss treatment options available and answer any questions you may have. We place a high value on making sure you have complete information before beginning treatment.

If you have been thinking about obtaining the dazzling smile you’ve always wanted, we invite you to give us a call at one of our office in Vernon Hills.

See you soon!

At Graber Orthodontics, February marks National Children's Dental Health Month

At Graber Orthodontics, February is National Children's Dental Health Month, as well as National Dental Health Month, and Drs. Lee and Katie Graber and team thought we’d promote good oral hygiene among our patients with a few tips and tricks, courtesy of the American Dental Association.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.

• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.

• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.

• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you’re going to drink one of these beverages, don’t sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.

• Regular dental visits: in addition to seeing our team at Graber Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Dental Health Month aims to increase awareness about the importance of our patients' oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Graber Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

What are patients saying about Graber Orthodontics?

If you know us, you know we LOVE hearing from our patients – check out what a few of our patients are saying about Drs. Lee and Katie and our staff at Graber Orthodontics lately! Thanks for writing in, everyone! By the way, Facebook is a great place to tell us how we’re doing, but we also encourage you to head to our Google Places page and leave a short review there. Your generous reviews help us build more beautiful smiles!

"I like the professionalism and courtesy shown to my daughter and myself on each visit. We have never had a bad experience at Graber Orthodontics!" ~ Kevin M.

"This is my second time around using Graber Orthodontics. I was very pleased when we came with my oldest son. The best reason to use your office is that you keep your appointments on time!!!! As a working mother, I can always count on getting to work at a certain time if we have an appointment at your office. It's the reason I came back with my second child (and of course we like your work!)"

"Good orthodontist producing good result ... Good orthodontist producing good result. Appreciate him taking his tim to take care of my son. Totally trust him."‎ ‎

"Their service is impeccable. Everyone knows my name, they are genuinely interested in my progress, and they take the time to explain what happens throughout the process. If I have a problem with the braces themselves, I know I can reach either doctor and they will call me back – even on the weekends. Finding caring service providers is rare these days – but not at Graber Orthodontics." ~ Amy B.

SureSmile featured on the Science Channel!

How cool is this? Here is SureSmile treatment featured on the Science Channel. At Graber Orthodontics, we love working with SureSmile technology, as it is faster and produces superior results. With SureSmile, patients spend less time in treatment and make fewer visits to our Vernon Hills office.

Instead of the doctor bending an archwire by hand, a SureSmile wire is custom-shaped by a robot. When the wire is inserted, each tooth moves directly to the prescribed position. It's this precise movement that enables such great results with a shorter treatment time.

The custom SureSmile archwire provides smoother movement for a more comfortable experience than traditional braces. And, by quickly returning to a normal oral hygiene routine, maintaining healthy teeth and gums is easier. Take a look at the video, and be sure to let us know what you think.

If you're looking to get yourself or your child started on a lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles, look to the orthodontic practice that's been setting the standard for exceptional care for generations: Graber Orthodontics. We welcome you to our practice!

2011: A year worth smiling about, from Dr. Graber

As each New Year begins, many people, myself included, take time to reflect on the year gone by. Some make resolutions to change or improve themselves; others make a list of things they hope to achieve in the coming 12 months. For many people who aren’t happy with their smiles, a new year can also bring new hope as they consider tuning up their smile with orthodontic treatment.

Reading Braces Brigade member Whitney’s post in December reminded me of countless patients who hid their smiles for years because they were embarrassed by their teeth. By the end of treatment, instead of hiding their smiles behind closed mouths as Whitney did, my patients are confident and ready to share their healthy, beautiful smiles with the world.

In the coming year, the American Association of Orthodontists will be sharing a number of tips and tools to help orthodontic patients and potential patients explore treatment in fun new ways. We look forward to the year ahead and hope that for all of our patients, 2011 is a year worth smiling about.