Ask Team SR: "What's so cool about getting braces?"

Braces, are in fact, “cool,” "hip" and, dare we say say “fun” these days. These were among the findings of a nationwide survey this year of moms whose kids are going through or have had orthodontic treatment recently. New technologies such as SureSmile and iBraces, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces make orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child visited Team SR Orthodontics for a consultation? If not, please give us call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile this summer!

Team SR present: Fourth of July fun facts!

Tomorrow night, Drs. Sellke & Reily, as well as our entire staff, will be busy celebrating America's 234th birthday. And because we know most of our patients love fun facts, we thought we'd provide you with some patriotic fun facts about Independence Day! Enjoy!!

- Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

- An estimated 2.5 million people lived in America in July 1776. Today, an estimated 309 million people reside in the United States.

- The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation, which meant that people didn't want to be taxed by a government that did not represent them.

- In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

- The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal.

- America's mascot, the bald eagle, can achieve speeds of up to 200 miles per hour when making a predatory dive. During a normal flight, bald eagles can travel up to 30 miles per hour.

- The American flag patch is backwards on U.S. Army uniforms. The reason? The blue field on the flag (the part with the stars) faces forward to symbolize carrying the American flag into battle.

- Someone who specializes in the history of flags is called a vexillologist.

- According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans consume over 150 million hot dogs during their Independence Day festivities.

- Speaking of food, there's a 1-in-6 chance the beef on your backyard this Independence Day weekend grill came from Texas. The Lone Star State is America's leader in the production of cattle and calves.

Have a great Fourth of July weekend everyone! Have fun and careful with those fireworks!!

The importance of dental checkups, from Drs. Sellke & Reily

If you're brushing your teeth twice a day (and flossing) as recommended during your treatment, we think that's phenomenal! But, it’s also important to visit the dentist every six months in addition to brushing your teeth a couple times a day (and visiting Team SR regularly during your treatment). After all, regular checkups are key for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and signs of tooth decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show your child how to properly brush and floss your teeth during your treatment at Team SR

During an oral exam, your dentist will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups also typically include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not been to the dentist in the past six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

If you don't have a general dentist in Antioch, Grayslake, Wonder Lake or nearby communities, please ask and Drs. Sellke or Reily will be happy to provide a few names for you to consider!

Share your summer plans with SR Orthodontics!

As the school year comes to an end for a lot of our patients at SR Orthodontics, the days get longer and the temperatures begin to climb a bit, there’s no better way to beat the heat than jump into a pool and cool off under the shade. For a lot of people here in our area, summer brings a chance to get away from it all and escape every-day life, if only for a week or two - or three. For others, it means a season of relaxation and relief from homework and other duties.

What about you?

What are your plans for summer? Do you have any interesting plans for a summer vacation? Does your family have a vacation or family reunion planned? Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us on our Facebook page as summer 2010 rolls along!

Enjoy your weekend!

SR Orthodontics, wishing you a safe, relaxing and memorable Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend, a time for Americans everywhere to stop and remember our fallen troops, is also the unofficial start of summer. For a lot of folks in Grayslake, Antioch and surround areas, that spells sweet, sweet relief.

At SR Orthodontics, we know Memorial Day weekend is ripe for travel. After all, it’s unofficially the start of summer 2010 and time for a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories with parents or friends.

What about you? What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend?

Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or just hanging out in the backyard this weekend, we’d like to hear all about it! Enjoy the long weekend and be safe!

SureSmile finds its way to CNN, from Drs. Sellke and Reily

Our staff at SR Orthodontics has blogged about SureSmile treatment in the past, and today thought we'd post a video of SureSmile being demonstrated on CNN this week!

In the video, Dr. Gupta profiles Jessica Thompson, a teenager from Maryland who wasn't really thrilled about having traditional braces, and opted for SureSmile as her treatment method. We at SR Orthodontics will tell you Jessica's not alone - more and more people are choosing SureSmile over regular braces!

With SureSmile treatment at SR Orthodontics, getting braces isn’t at all what it used to be - our patients get GREAT results in less time with this remarkable technology, and usually spend less time in braces, need fewer office visits or experience less discomfort.

To learn more about SureSmile treatment at SR Orthodontics, we invite you to give us a call.

Share your experience at SR Orthodontics with the world!

With Drs. Sellke and Reily, you can expect to receive complete orthodontic treatment that is tailored to meet your individual needs and desired results.

Our staff is always ready to help and stays dedicated to making each office visit a pleasant, comfortable experience. We offer convenient appointment times and strive to run on time – not occasionally, but every moment of every day. Our goal is to create for you or your child a "Simply Spectacular Smile” – that will last a lifetime!

Whether you have visited SR Orthodontics for a week or for years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how we're doing! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us on our Google Local page. It only takes a moment!

You may write your review here.

Thank you in advance and have a great weekend everybody!