Back to school with Drs. Baby & Rojas

Now that many of the schools in London, Wingham and Goderich are back in session, Drs. Baby & Rojas would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance. With school, clubs, sports and family duties to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit our office this fall. In order to accommodate all of our patients’ busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you.

As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you’re unable to make your regularly-scheduled appointment. If we receive enough notice, we might be able to schedule another patient for that time. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment.

We’ll see you soon and hope summer is winding down nicely for all our patients!

Breaking bad habits, from Drs. Baby and Rojas

At the office of Drs. Baby and Rojas, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your visits with Drs. Baby and Rojas.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health, as well as preventing gum disease. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Drs. Baby and Rojas if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our convenient Wingham, Goderich and London offices or ask us on Facebook!

Love your smile? Tell the world about it!

At the office of Dr. Paula Baby and Dr. Jaime Rojas we understand that deciding to undertake orthodontic treatment is an important decision and investment, and choosing the right specialist is a crucial part of that decision.

Whether you've visited our office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office has fared during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice, but we encourage you to head to our Google Places page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Drs. Baby & Rojas create more beautiful smiles in London, Wingham, Goderich and surrounding communities. Thanks in advance, and we hope you have a great week!

You may write your review here.

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

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!

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 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.

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!