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!