Make 2011 the year to improve your oral health

Many folks consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2011? Dr. Rojas, Dr. Baby and our team recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.
Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

What is your New Year’s Resolution?

The 2010 holiday season is upon us, and our team would like to wish all our patients and their families the merriest of holidays and best wishes for the New Year.

We thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Insignia Delivers Custom-Made Damon Braces

Ask us about this exciting new technology on your next visit to our office!

Video- Digital Braces

Check out this video on 3D technology in orthodontics. Pretty cool to see how far orthodontics has advanced over the years!

Help Us Reach Our Food Bank Goal This Holiday Season!

With Christmas just around the corner we want to do our part and support our community. For the 2nd year we are accepting donations for the London Food Bank. We have a goal of 150 non-perishable food items. Please help us reach our goal! We are accepting donations from now until December 20th. Thank you so much for your continued support! Items currently needed by the London Food Bank include:

-powdered or canned milk

-canned beans in tomato sauce

-canned tuna, salmon

-canned fruit

-canned vegetables

-canned juice

-rice, pasta (uncooked)

-macaroni & cheese dinner

-canned tomatoes / pasta sauce

-baby food (jars, cereals, cookies)

-baby formula

-individually packaged healthy snack foods

-canned stew

What puts you at ease at our office?

Dr. Baby, Dr. Rojas and team understand not everyone enjoys visiting their orthodontist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about our team that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly staff or doctors?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call!

Staying connected with Our Team

At our London, Wingham, and Goderich offices, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook fan page. As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our fan page. For social media to work, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While we take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Please post your thoughts or give us a call!

Ask Us: Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Our team will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the Canadian Association of Orthodontists, or CAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, as well as your life!

Give us a call today at 1-800-920-9798!

Age 7 is the magic number for an orthodontic check-up

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Drs. Baby & Rojas for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for our team to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at our London, Wingham, or Goderich orthodontic offices to schedule an appointment.

A few Halloween safety tips

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, Drs. Baby & Rojas would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family. Below are some tips for trick-or-treaters to ensure a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

We wish you all a happy, safe, and spooky Halloween!

A Great Braces Friendly Halloween Recipe

Our team know how tempting this time of the year can be on our sweet tooth. With all of the caramel, candy corn, and lollipops that are often passed around to trick-or-treaters, we realize that it can sometimes be hard to find hard, chewy, sticky, and crunchy candy alternatives.

However, there is good news! Today, we would like to share a great braces-friendly Halloween recipe with all of our patients, courtesy of “The Braces Cookbook” by Pamela Waterman. This Spider Bites recipe is delicious, and provided that you remember to brush and floss after indulging, this is a cookie that won’t bite back!

Spider Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 1 Tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa
• 1 Tsp. salt
• ½ Tsp. baking powder
• 1 package black rope licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces**
• 1 small tube of white (or color of choice) frosting
• Toothpicks

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine shortening, sugar, water, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add eggs into the mixture and blend. Slowly mix in flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder using low-medium speed. Drop tablespoon helpings of mixture onto ungreased cookie sheets and roll each helping into a ball.

Bake 9 minutes at 375 degrees. The batch should produce around three dozen cookies.

Let cookies cool for about 10 minutes. Then using a toothpick, create four small holes in either side of the cookie. Still using the toothpick, push one end of a piece of the cut licorice into each hole, creating the “legs” of the spider. Once all eight pieces are in place, create eyes or decorate at will using the white frosting. Then eat and enjoy!

**Licorice can sometimes stick to braces; parents should monitor

Keeping Up with the Latest in Sterlization Techniques

A safe environment for our patients and team members is a big part of our goal here at the orthodontic practice of Drs. Baby & Rojas. We strive to use the highest quality, safest materials and procedures with our patients, to ensure you have a healthy and pain free experience at our office. Another area of our efforts in safety revolves around sterilization. Our staff is up on the latest technologies in sterilization, and continue to take educational courses to ensure we are doing everything possible to keep our patients and ourselves safe.

Questions about our sterilization or safety procedures? Give us a call!

The importance of retainers

If you recently completed treatment, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, we will provide—or have provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers 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 is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

Orthodontic fun facts, from Drs. Baby & Rojas

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 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 yes, even Justin Bieber!

All the cool kids do it!

Braces today are “cool” and—many would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as Insignia, Damon System and Invisalign, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making 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, 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 with Drs. Baby & Rojas, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited our office for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Celebrities get braces, too!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? During this time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Drs. Baby & Rojas!

In fact, lots of stars on the silver screen have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces with braces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give us a call!

Corinne Gets Insignia Braces!

Corinne, one of our hygienists in our London office got braces. To put her braces on we used Insignia. Insiginia is a high tech treatment option that can give patients a truly customized smile. With Insignia, we are able to use special orthodontic software to give you precise results in less time!

This means we can facilitate better, faster treatment results, even in complicated cases!

Be sure to ask Corinne about her experience with braces on your next visit!

Ask Us: What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask us the next time you’re in for an appointment at our London, Wingham or Goderich offices! Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Your pal, fluoride

There are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment. 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 dentist/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. Depending on your oral health or doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

Regular checkups are essential in maintaining good oral health

Are you brushing your teeth twice a day during your orthodontic treatment? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your dentist every six months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting our office, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health.

Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam your dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in the greater London, Wingham and Goderich, ON areas!

Distinguishing the myths and facts about orthodontics, from Drs. Baby & Rojas

Trust us when we say Drs. Baby & Rojas and our staff know there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) floating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists set the record straight (no pun intended) and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here , feel free to give us a call.

The Insignia System in London, Wingham, & Goderich, ON

Recently we have been certified in the patient customized bracket technique called Insignia, from Ormco. Insiginia is a high tech treatment option that can give patients a truly customized smile. With Insignia, we are able to use special orthodontic software to give you precise results in less time!

This means we can facilitate better, faster treatment results, even in complicated cases!

We have had a staff member just go through the process, and will be sharing some photos soon! For more information, check out this video below! Ask about this exciting new technology next time you are in the office for an appointment!

Thanks to Invisalign®, mom and dad can have a perfect smile, too! From Drs. Baby & Rojas

Hey parents! You’ve taken your kids to our office to straighten their smiles, but what about yours? If you've been wanting to improve your smile , our team can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so that we can discuss the specifics of your treatment, and determine if Invisalign will work for you.

Oral Health and Overall Health, from Drs. Baby & Rojas

Our team knows that while in orthodontic treatment, it is important to maintain proper oral health. According to a recent study by the British Columbia Dental Hygienists' Association, periodontal disease is linked to not only your oral health, but also the health of other body functions.

It is commonly known that proper oral health is important for many everyday functions, such as eating, talking, and kissing. New correlations have now been found linking poor oral health and cardio-vascular disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, and other systemic diseases. "Patients who have had previous infections of the heart valve may need antibiotics before having dental work done," says Cardiologist Dr. Nisha D'Mello of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

Have you been brushing, flossing, and visiting us for your regularly scheduled appointments? If not, give us a call! Also, be sure to visit your general dentist every six months for an oral exam to check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue.

Have a great week!

-Drs. Baby & Rojas

Am I too old for braces?

Recently, our staff at Drs. Baby & Rojas orthodontic office read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with us can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation in our London, Wingham, or new Goderich office. Please give us a call to set one up!

What’s on your summer reading list?

With summer in full swing, some of us at Drs. Baby & Rojas office ave been thinking more and more about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading, but reading during the summer is a vital step in brain development—and it's fun!

What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You can also ask a local librarian!

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your summer picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

Invisalign® tips, from Drs. Baby & Rojas

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, we want 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, give us a call!

Happy Canada Day!

Meet Jill, New Team Member in Wingham & London, ON

Hi, I am Jill. I have been working in the dental field for over 15 years, 11 of those years in orthodontics. My family recently moved to London from Edmonton so now I have joined this great dental team. You will see me in both the London and Wingham offices working with the clinical staff. I have two children who are so much fun. When I am not at work I hate to exercise, I love to do way too many crafts (I can't seem to get them all done), and I am working on my cooking skills ~ which is why I need to exercise.

Meet Holly, Dental Assistant and New Team Member

My name is Holly and I am a certified level II dental assistant. Since completing the dental assistant program in 2005, I have worked in general and pediatric dentistry. I started with Dr. Baby and Dr. Rojas in the spring of 2010 and I am very excited to be a part of their orthodontic team. My role as a dental assistant is to obtain new patient records and assist the other members of the clinical team in any way possible. I look forward to helping you achieve a new, beautiful smile. When I am not at work, I enjoy quality family time with my boyfriend Jaime and our daughter, Ava.

Our New Soft Tissue Laser

We are excited to announce that our office has recently purchased a new soft tissue laser for use with our patients to speed up treatment time.

The laser enables us to remove tissue and place brackets to teeth sooner in order to speed up treatment. In the past, orthodontists would sometimes wait 6 months - 1 year for these teeth to fully erupt before placing brackets. Now we can drastically speed up treatment with laser tissue removal! The really great news about this laser is that it is one of the most high tech on the market, the ezlase 940. It runs at a very specific wavelength that is far more comfortable for patients. You can learn more about this process by giving us a call today!

Meet Lindsay, Team Member at our London, ON Office!

My name is Lindsay and I graduated from the dental assisting program at George Brown College in 2009. I have been working in the dental industry for the past year but have recently begun working in orthodontics, which I have come to love. I am one member of the team who greets you as you enter our London office, books your appointments and helps you to find the answers that you are looking for. I live in London and spend most of my free time with my wonderful husband and our friends. If I am not in the office, it is hard to say where I will be as my husband and I love to travel.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Hope these tips help!


--Drs. Baby & Rojas

Placing a Temporary Anchorage Device

Check out how simple and painless the placement of a Temporary Anchorage Device is. In the first video, Dr. Rojas prepares this patient for their TAD, and then places it in the second video! At the orthodontic practice of Drs. Paula Baby and Jaime Rojas, we use TADs to achieve precise control over how your teeth move into place during orthodontic treatment. TADs are an effective and painless technology that has made orthodontic treatment easier than ever! Give our London, Wingham, or Goderich offices a call to learn more, or visit our web site!

Second Annual Doctor and Staff Appreciation Bowling Night

At the orthodontic practice of Drs. Jaime Rojas and Paula Baby, we have so much to be thankful for when it comes to our wonderful doctors and talented staff. So we wanted to show our appreciation of the team, along with all the local referring doctors who send us patients in need of orthodontic treatment to our London, Wingham, or Goderich offices. We held our second annual appreciation night at the local bowling alley, and have posted a ton of fun photos on our Facebook page, check them out here.

Each office picked a costume theme, and competed for prizes. We hope everyone had a great time and we at Dr. Paula Baby and Dr. Jaime Rojas' office look forward to next year!

Temporary Anchorage Device Removal Video

One of the coolest new technologies that we offer at our London, Wingham, and new Goderich orthodontic offices are TADs (Temporary Anchorage Devices). These are so useful because they allow us to create individual adjustments of teeth during orthodontic treatment, which can greatly affect your overall result!

TADs are tiny screws made out of titanium alloy that are attached to the bone between the roots of the teeth and can be placed in the bone in the roof of the mouth as well. Since there are no nerve endings in this area, there is typically little or no discomfort for patients. Ask us about TADs during your next visit!

Meet Nancy, Appointment Coordinator at our new Goderich Location

This week, we wanted to introduce you to Nancy Plumsteel, our appointment coordinator at our Goderich orthodontic office. She wanted to share the following with everyone, check it out!

I have been working in the dental field for 19 years. I graduated from Fanshawe College dental assisting program in 1991. I am the person who will greet you at our Goderich office, book your appointments and answer your questions. I live in Goderich and am happily married with 3 children. My spare time is spent enjoying the outdoors which includes hiking, camping and going to the beach or just relaxing by the pool.

Welcome Nancy!

More About Orthodontics From Drs. Baby & Rojas

There are so many questions about orthodontics that we never ask, so Drs. Jaime Rojas and Paula Baby took some time to explain the most common concerns.

At what age should orthodontic treatment occur?

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age seven or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician.

What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander, Herbst, Facemask, headgear, or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment, because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.

Would an adult patient benefit from orthodontics?

Absolutely!! Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. Everyone wants a beautiful and healthy smile. Between 30-40% of our patients are adults.

How does orthodontic treatment work?

Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that are placed on your teeth and the arch wire that connects them are the main components. When the arch wire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As it does so, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more ideal positions.

How long does orthodontic treatment take?

Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time is from one to two years. Actual treatment time can be affected by rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent upon patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping your treatment time on schedule.

Do braces hurt?

The placement of bands and brackets on your teeth does not hurt. Once your braces are placed and connected with the arch wires, you may feel some soreness of your teeth for one to four days. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.

Will braces interfere with playing sports?

No. It is recommended, however, that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouth guard when participating in any sporting activity. Mouth guards are inexpensive, comfortable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns.

Will braces interfere with playing musical instruments?

No. However, there may be an initial period of adjustment. In addition, brace covers or wax can be provided to prevent discomfort.

Should I see my general dentist while I have braces?

Yes, you should continue to see your general dentist every six months for cleaning and dental checkups, or more frequently as recommended.

Got more questions? Give us a call at our office! We'd love to hear from you.

Photo of our new Goderich, ON orthododontic office

A few weeks ago we announced our new office, but several patients have been wanting to see a photo, so here it is! We are so excited to begin serving the Goderich community!

What is malocclusion? Drs. Baby & Rojas Explain!

Malocclusion, or what we calls “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and even your appearance.

Most people experience some degree of malocclusion, but it generally is not severe enough to require corrective measures. If your malocclusion is serious enough, however, treatment with Drs. Baby & Rojas may be necessary to correct the issue.

We will tell you that untreated malocclusion can lead undesirable mouth problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, chipped and cracked teeth. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of your malocclusion. The goal of your treatment is to move your teeth into the proper position and correct any misalignment in the jaw. If overcrowding is causing the problem, we may need to remove one or more teeth as part of treatment.

At our London and Wingham offices (and soon our new Goderich location), we use the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

Join us in Helping Brittnei and the Children of Haiti!

Earlier this year we introduced you to Brittnei Berrisford. As some of you know she is headed back to God's Littlest Angels orphanage in Haiti in less than a month. Brittnei would appreciate our help. She is looking for donations of the items listed below to bring with her to the orphanage. Starting March 30th there will be a box located at the London office for donations that you wish to bring in. Wingham and Goderich patients are welcome to bring their items to those locations as well. Thank you so much for your continued support. Brittnei and the children of Haiti are very grateful.

• infant Tylenol
• diapers
• bandages
• triple-antibiotic ointment
• crib sheets
• baby cereal and fruit puree
• baby lotion
• soap
• diaper cream
• toothpaste
• toothbrushes
• shoes and sandals
• candles
• rope
• work gloves

--Drs. Paula Baby & Jaime Rojas

Our New Goderich Office!

We are so excited to announce that Drs. Baby & Rojas will soon have a new office in Goderich, in addition to our existing London and Wingham offices. The new location is at 33 West St. Goderich, Ont. N7A 2K5, and is currently the practice of Dr. Beath. We are looking forward to working with the patients of Goderich and surrounding areas, and will be sharing photos as soon as we have them available!

Stay tuned!

Your turn! From Drs. Baby & Rojas

Week after week, we blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontic care and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic techniques we offer. This week, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our wonderful patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve been wanting to ask us for a while now? Let us know by posting here or on our interactive Facebook fan page!

So… take it away and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have!

Vancouver Olympians from London

While we are proud of all our Canadian Olympians, we wanted to specially congratulate the athletes from London and surrounding areas. If you've been following the Vancouver Olympics broadcast at all, then you are probably aware that Christine Nesbitt, who is from the London area, has won a gold medal for the 1000m long track speed skating event!

Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue also won the very first Canadian gold medal for the ice dancing event. Scott and Tessa are both London!

Have you been watching the Olympics? What is your favorite event?

--Drs. Baby & Rojas

Why the Damon™ System?

Something big is happening in the orthodontics world, and it’s no other than Damon braces, which allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than traditional braces. With the Damon System, achieving that perfect smile will be faster and easier than you ever thought possible.

Here’s what makes the Damon system different:

With the new Damon braces, we can achieve terrific results and finish your treatment faster. Depending on your case, this may mean saving many months of treatment! After analyzing your specific needs, we will be able to provide you with a treatment plan that will have you smiling soon! Because Damon braces are very precise and effective, we can reduce the need for many of the time-consuming and complicated procedures that are used with traditional braces. Because Damon braces work more efficiently, fewer adjustments are required. As a result, your appointments are typically faster and fewer in number. Due to the unique design of this new braces system, we can move your teeth into their correct positions with much less discomfort than traditional braces. Also, Damon braces are small, very comfortable, and easy to keep clean.
We are a certified Damon System provider. If you have any questions about the Damon System or your treatment, please give us a call!

--Drs. Paula Baby and Jaime Rojas

February is Heart Month

Since February is Heart Month, we wanted to let you know about the importance of oral health and its connection to your heart's health too!

Research is pointing to health effects of periodontal diseases that go well beyond your mouth. We want to let you know some interesting facts and ways to treat the disease.

What is Periodontal Disease?

"Perio" means around, and "dontal" refers to teeth. Periodontal disease is an infection of the structures around the teeth, including the gums and the bones that hold the teeth. The earliest stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis – an infection of the gums. In more severe forms of the disease, all of the tissues are involved, including the bone. Bacteria that live and reproduce on the teeth and gums cause periodontal disease.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Symptoms may include the following:
--redness or bleeding of gums while brushing teeth or using dental floss
--halitosis, or bad breath
--gum recession, resulting in apparent lengthening of teeth
--"pockets" between the teeth and gums indicating that the bone which holds the teeth in the mouth is dissolving
--loose teeth
Gum inflammation and bone destruction are largely painless, so people may wrongly assume that painless bleeding after teeth cleaning is insignificant, although this may be a symptom of progressing periodontitis.

Periodontal Disease Affects Your Health

Periodontal disease is a putrid, festering infection of the mouth. Bacteria and inflammatory particles can enter the bloodstream through ulcerated and bleeding gums and travel to the heart and other organs. In recent years, gum disease has been linked to a number of health problems. Researchers are studying possible connections between gum disease Heart disease. Gum disease may increase the risk of heart disease. Gum disease also is believed to worsen existing heart disease. If this wasn't enough, periodontal disease may also increase the risk of the type of stroke caused by blocked arteries. People with diabetes and periodontal disease may be more likely to have trouble controlling their blood sugar than diabetics with healthy gums. Finally, A woman who has gum diseases during pregnancy may be more likely deliver her baby too early and the infant may be more likely to be of low birth weight.

Combating Periodontal Disease

--See your dentist! See your dentist every six months for a checkup! Regular professional cleanings and checkups make you feel good, look good, and could be a lifesaver!
--Brush and floss daily. Take your time and do it right!
--Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Daily use of an anti-bacterial mouthwash helps to disinfect the teeth and gums, and reduces the number of bacteria.
--Straighten your teeth. Crowded teeth are nearly impossible to keep clean. Orthodontic treatment can greatly reduce inflammation and periodontal disease, so call us at 1-800-920-9798 to schedule your consultation appointment!

24/7 access to your account

At the orthodontic offices of Drs. Paula Baby and Jaime Rojas, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern offices conveniently located in London and Wingham, ON.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Just see what some of our patients have to say about this service!

I was wondering how much my teeth had moved from when i first had my braces placed on and instead of bugging my orthodontist at my next appt i was able to check online. it is very convenient. ~ Nicole G.

This office is our first healthcare professional to offer a service such as this to be able to view and print financial information as well as being able to chart progress by looking at the pictures! Very cool. ~ Wesley F.

With a fairly busy lifestyle it is much easier to be able to access this info when it is convenient for me. ~ Colleen P.

You can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at 1-800-920-9798 if you have any questions!

A Thank You Letter from the London Food Bank

We wanted to share with you a wonderful letter that was sent to our office from the London Food Bank. This good news is thanks to all of your contributions. As you can see, it really has made a difference!


Dear Dr. Baby, Dr. Rojas and staff,

Thank you for your recent food donation to the London Food Bank.

As we experience the cold winter months the number of client visits will rise as individuals may experience the other financial challenges of heating winter clothing costs. Often our clients will pay those bills first which leaves them with very little or no money to spend on food. This is an experience common to many of our clients.

The generous citizens of London and the surrounding area, through the efforts of the London Food Bank, have in the past fed on average, approximately 2500 families per month. Throughout 2009, we saw a significant increase in the number we are assisting. We have been helping on average over 3000 families each month with our highest month being 3377. The number of individuals helped in 2009 was approximately 85,000 and roughly 35,000 of them were children and youth under the age of 18. We anticipate that this increase will unfortunately be the new norm.

Individuals can use the services of the London Food Bank once a month. Most of our clients, in fact 75%, use the food bank four times or less in a year. It is this statistic that demonstrates to us that the individuals who use this food bank do so because they need to, not because they want to.

With sincere gratitude,

Donna Speller
Human Resources
London Food Bank

One Patient's Heartfelt Story

We received the most wonderful and heartfelt comment on our Facebook Fan Page, and we wanted to share it with all of you.

I wanted to thank Dr. Rojas the team especially the Wingham office for my braces "experience" and for giving me the smile I always wanted it made my wedding pictures and day perfect. I will never be able to thank you enough... you had become a family in those 2 years I was with you and an experience I will never forget. Thank you again ~Willeke

Congratulations on your wedding and thank you so much for your kind words Willeke. Your wedding picture is beautiful. We are glad we could make your day just a little more special! We love hearing stories like Willeke's, they make our job so worth it!

If you'd like to share a story about Dr. Baby, Dr. Rojas, or the rest of the orthodontic team, leave a review for us on our social networks, or on our Google Local profile!

Brittnei and her Travels to Haiti

As everyone knows we are following Brittnei Berrisford who's mission is to help others in need. She will be traveling to Haiti this spring and with the horrible tragedy that has happened in Haiti we want to show our support more than ever. Brittnei has started a blog and we encourage you to follow her amazing travels!

If you would like to donate to the relief efforts in Haiti, please head to the Canadian Red Cross web site. You can donate online, by phone, or by mail, and every little bit helps!