Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Music Video by Train- Spreading the Holiday Cheer from Your Orthodontist in Markham

The holidays are well underway in Markham and we just wanted to share a cute video with you all.  We may not all celebrate Christmas, but we can all appreciate the warmth and happiness of this video.



It's our last day in the clinic for 2010 this Thursday.  Your Markham orthodontist wishes everyone a very happy holiday season and a fantastic 2011!





Saturday, December 18, 2010

Markham and Toronto Orthodontist Discusses Recent Article about Damon Braces, Self-Ligating Braces, etc.

At MCO Markham and Stouffville Orthodontics, we want to present all of the relevant information to our patients so that they can make the most informed decision.  We get many inquiries about Damon braces or SL brackets.  We have not found these brackets to provide any superior results, comfort, or speed, and have been able to provide excellent, on-time care, with our current modern bracket system. We plan treatment well, so we can see our patients every 8 weeks and still often complete treatment ahead of schedule!




In the August 2010 issue of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthodpedics, an article was written about claims made by manufacturers of various self-ligating braces.  The American Association of Orthodontics' Council on Scientific Affairs looked at this topic from the stand point of what evidence there is about these claims.  They looked at:

1.  Does lateral expansion of the dental arch by SL brackets "grow" buccal alveolar bone? There is no peer reviewed material on this subject.

2.  Is lateral expansion of the dental arch by SL brackets comparable with the lateral expansion gained by rapid maxillary expansion followed by conventional brackets?  There is no peer reviewed material on this subject.

3.  Is lateral expansion of the dental arch gained by SL brackets stable in the long term?  There is no peer reviewed material on this subject.

4.  Are SL brackets more efficient and more effective than conventional bracket systems?  Current evidence DOES NOT support this assertion.

5.  So SL brackets provide less friction between the archwire and bracket?  Current evidence shows this under specific lab conditions, but does not represent real life situations.

6.  Do SL brackets produce lower clincial forces compared with traditional brackets?  No in-vivo studies ahve been shown to answer this question.

7.  Do patients treated with SL brackets experience less pain during treatment?  There is not a lot of data to compare, yet this is a study reporting that patients with SL brackets experienced greater pain than those with traditional brackets.

8.  Are conventional brackets less hygienic than SL brackets?  Evidence does not support this claim.

Most of the notable assertions made by SL bracket companies are not backed up by evidence in scientific studies.  Unfortunately, many orthodontists continue to make these claims.  Ultimately, it is not the type of brace that is going to determine the outcome of your treatment.  It is the skill of the orthodontist, his/her team, treatment plan, and diagnosis that will be the difference.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Your Toronto Invisalign Specialist Says. "Smile More! "

Your Markham - Stouffville Orthodontist suggests you smile more :). Our Toronto Invisalign and Unionville braces patients have a lot to be happy about, including patient contests, rewards programs, frozen yogurt, and Invisalign, to go along with their beautiful smiles!


According to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University, those with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t. Positive emotions have been linked to both physical and mental health for some time. Researchers looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity, ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile. They then compared this data to the longevity of the players, taking into account other factors, such as body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos lived an average of 72.9 years, players with partial smiles lived to be 75, and those with the biggest smiles lived to be 79.9 years old. The take home message is pretty clear!

If you're self-conscious about your smile, contact MCO Orthodontics to discover how we can help. We look forward to helping you achieve your best smile possible!