Gorczyca Orthodontics

LIVING WITH CANCER TAKES a special kind of strength; every day, you’re faced with a new set of challenges that can include anxiety, body pain, and stress, and it’s not always easy to deal with those mental and physical issues in a healthy way. You may be worried about what the future will bring, about financial concerns, or about taking care of all your responsibilities while making sure your health is still a priority. It can easily become overwhelming, so it’s important to do what you can for your mind, body, and soul every day.

Self-care can mean any number of things. It can range from eating healthy foods to taking a timeout when you’re feeling stressed. It can be something as small as sitting with a good book to something as big as taking a vacation to another state or country. The things that help you feel good, boost your mental health, and allow you to feel strong are the ones you need to focus on. Fortunately, there are things you can do to ensure that your overall health is in good shape.

Eat Well

Living with cancer often means looking for the best ways to help your body fight off illness, which means boosting your immune system as much as possible. One of the easiest ways to do this is to eat the right foods, which will help boost your strength and energy at the same time. Berries, nuts, fruit, and lean protein like turkey and fish will go a long way toward helping you feel good every day. Talk to your doctor about the best foods for your specific needs and look for ways to incorporate them into your daily diet.

Look for Exercise Alternatives

You may not be able to get as active as you want every day. Many individuals who are living with cancer have body pain or mobility issues. However, there are some ways you can exercise without sacrificing your comfort, such as stretching. Stretching exercises can help relieve tension, promote good circulation, and enhance your mood. If you need a little extra motivation to get moving, a cancer service dog can provide physical and emotional support you need. As an added bonus, the friendship of a dog is a well-known mood booster that can help fight the anxiety and depression that often accompanies an illness like cancer.

When you do work out, however, you might notice that your body hurts more afterward than it once did. As such, it’s important to incorporate rest days into your routine, regardless of your activity level. Also, many people have turned to products like CBD oil to help alleviate muscle soreness and inflammation. CBD can also help with stress and anxiety, as it often gives people a sense of euphoria not unlike a “runner’s high.” However, always talk to your doctor before adding any supplements, and search around online to learn more about all the best brands.

Meditate

Meditation can help improve your mood and ease stress, especially when it’s combined with a physical exercise like yoga. Meditation is a great way to focus on the present, which means it can help you reduce feelings of anxiety or worry, and it’s a wonderful way to be still and enjoy the moment. When you find that you need a few moments of peace and quiet, meditation can help you put all the noise aside and focus on your own needs. Look for a space in your home that will allow you to meditate without distraction.

Look For Support

Whether it’s from friends, family, a support group, or a church, look for a community who will be there to help get you through the difficult days. It can be extremely overwhelming to deal with the effects of cancer on your body, mind, and feelings, especially if you feel like you’re alone. With a little help from people who care, you can get through those difficult days with a little more comfort, and it will help boost your self-esteem at the same time.

Living with a disease like cancer can be stressful, but there are many things you can do to offset those feelings of stress. Think of the best ways to feel better that you can incorporate into your daily life, and talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise regimen. This can help you avoid injury and keep your health in focus.

Written by Scott Sanders

From all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, your smile is our inspiration. (925) 757-9000

RECENTLY, ANTIOCH ORTHODONTIST Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca was a guest speaker at the Western Regional Dental Experience 2019 conference in Glendale, Arizona. During that conference, Dr. Gorczyca once again realized something she had forgotten, which is that some people are not sure how to pronounce her name!

Dr. Gorczyca’s Pronunciation Tips

To make it simple for everyone, Dr. Gorczyca likes to say, “It’s Gor-si-ca, like the island of Corsica.” Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, just to the southeast of France. Most people have heard of it and it is easy to spell and pronounce. Corsica is most famous for being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.

In the past, Dr. Gorczyca has also said, “It’s Gorsica, like the Chevy Corsica” if you remember that model of car. In any case, with Gorczyca, just replace the “czy” with “si” and you’ve got it!

We Look Forward To Seeing You At Gorczcya Orthodontics

We are thankful that our patients, family, and friends in the Antioch, California area have heard orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca’s name so many times that they just know how to say it. Dr. Gorczyca has been offering orthodontic services, braces, Invisalign, retainers, and all orthodontics services in East Contra Costa County at Gorczyca Orthodontics since 1996.

Find us at 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A in the Deer Valley Dental Professional Building, right behind Deer Valley High School. Reach us at 925-757-9000.

You don’t need to speak Polish to say Gorczyca. And by the way, Gorczyca means “mustard seed” in Polish!

Thank you for choosing Gorczyca Orthodontics. Your smile is our inspiration.

MANY ADULTS MISTAKENLY believe that they missed their chance to get braces because they didn’t have them as teenagers. However, the number of adult orthodontic patients has risen dramatically over the last few decades, and today we’re going to debunk all of your excuses for not getting braces and show you why orthodontic treatment is still a wonderful option for adults with dental alignment issues.

“It’s Too Late; My Teeth Won’t Move”

It may be preferable to start young for orthodontic treatment, but there is no age limit to getting a straighter smile. We can help determine the best treatment for your circumstances. One advantage adult orthodontic patients have over teens is the self-discipline that comes with maturity; adults will often be better at following instructions for their treatment, which means it will go much smoother.

“I’ll Be Fine If I Keep My Crooked Teeth”

If you’ve been living with crooked teeth your whole life, you might think there’s no point in getting orthodontic treatment. But having straight teeth isn’t just about appearances — it’s also about improved oral and overall health. Straight teeth are easier to clean and make it easier to speak, chew, and even breathe effectively, whereas crooked teeth cause difficulties in all of these areas and can grow more crooked over time.

“Having Braces Will Make Me Look Unprofessional”

Some adults who would like straighter teeth may still hesitate to seek orthodontic treatment because they worry that spending a year or longer in braces could impact their personal lives or careers by making them look immature or unprofessional. Luckily, there are several low-profile orthodontic treatment options for patients who don’t want to broadcast their treatment to the world, such as invisible aligners, clear ceramic braces, and lingual (tongue-side) braces. With these, you can straighten your teeth without anyone noticing your hardware!

“Orthodontic Treatment Is Expensive”

Orthodontic treatment can certainly cost more than a regular dental appointment, but it’s also an investment in your future, saving you from the expenses of problems that come with crooked teeth or a bad bite. If you aren’t sure you can fit braces into your budget, schedule a consultation with us. Together, we can find the best and most affordable option for you.

Leave Your Braces Excuses Behind

Leave crooked teeth behind.  Call us today start your orthodontic treatment.  No more excuses!  You will love your new smile!  Your smile is our inspiration. Please call Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California at 925-757-9000 to schedule your complimentary orthodontic exam. Find us at www.clubbraces.com. Together, we can make braces affordable for you. We also offer CareCredit long term financing with no down-payment and OrthoCalc sliding scale 0% financing.

Don’t let excuses keep you from your dream smile!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

IF YOU ARE presently sleeping with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or wearing a custom oral appliance for sleep apnea, a permanent double jaw advancement may cure you of your sleep symptoms.

Jaw Advancement Can Cure Sleep Apnea

A double jaw advancement, called bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, can cure sleep apnea. This treatment will be done by an oral surgeon working with your orthodontist and your sleep team. The cost of this procedure is covered by medical insurance.

The expanded airway no longer collapses during sleep, and because it is no longer obstructed, breathing can continue without interruption. This patient can now get a good night’s sleep without additional machines or devices. Snoring is eliminated and sleep is normal.

This patient was treated by orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, CA. Find us at www.clubbraces.com. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

“I never dreamed I would sleep so well. Thank you Dr. Gorczyca and team!”
–Mario

This patient was cured of all severe sleep apnea symptoms. You can be too. Wishing you a good night’s sleep.

VALENTINE’S DAY IS THE PERFECT time to look and feel your very best. Nothing will make you feel happier and more confident than a gorgeous new smile!

If you are an adult, your Valentine’s smile makeover may require comprehensive dental care. Here is your smile makeover action plan!

Love Your Gums, Love Your Smile

First, see a periodontist for a thorough soft tissue evaluation of your gums and bones around your teeth. Your periodontist will get your teeth ready for orthodontic treatment. To find a periodontist near you, visit the American Academy of Perodontology at www.perio.org.

Love Your Face, Love Your Bite

An orthodontist will put your teeth in the correct position for the best smile makeover possible. Teeth will need to be spaced correctly for a cosmetic result and your bite will need to be correct for dental health and tooth stability. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Love Your Teeth, Love Your Smile

Finally, a cosmetic or general dentist will need to complete your final tooth treatment of either crowns or veneers as desired. To find a dentist with interest in dental cosmetics visit the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry at www.aacd.com.

This case was treated by orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 to begin your Valentine's Day smile makeover.

Love is in the air. Happiness is your beautiful new smile!

BE NICE TO YOUR braces this holiday season. Be sure to eat holiday treats that are soft and braces-friendly.

Hard candies are on the braces naughty list. These include candy canes and all hard candies. Gum and chewy, sticky candy are also on the braces naughty list and could lead to an orthodontic emergency.

The Braces Nice List

Soft candies, including chocolates, and easy to chew candies like Almond Joys or Mounds bars, are much safer to eat.

Be sure Holiday gift box chocolates are soft. Stay away from the sticky chewy ones. To ensure braces safety when eating mystery chocolates, you may need to cut your gift box candy in half to see what lies inside before you take a bite.

Small, soft M&Ms that can be chewed with the back teeth are on the nice list. Most desserts, including ice cream, cakes, and brownies and can be easily enjoyed with braces. If you really want to impress Santa with your braces niceness, eat the Holiday Jello! This will put you at the top of the braces nice list!

Keep Taking Care Of Those Teeth!

Be sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly and frequently during the holiday season. This will put you on the nice list not only with Santa but also with your orthodontist. We wish you a joyful holiday season without any orthodontic emergencies.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California (925)-757-9000.

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WE VALUE EVERY FUTURE patient who comes to Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California for a complimentary orthodontic exam. Once you’re on our list, you are never forgotten.

If you’re on our list, you’ll be happy to know that unlike Santa, we’re checking it more than twice! You will be receiving personal phone calls and other communication from our office to check in and see how you are doing and how you are feeling about getting started on your beautiful smile.

It’s Never Too Late For A Beautiful Smile!

Recently, Dr. Gorczyca reconnected with an initial exam patient who came for his orthodontic exam nine years ago and finally started Invisalign treatment!

We understand that it takes some people longer than others to make the important decision to start orthodontic treatment. That’s why we stay in touch and continue to give you attention, encouragement, and information regarding the process of orthodontic care.

One thing’s for sure: once you make that life-changing decision to straighten your teeth, align your bite, and improve your facial profile, you will not regret it!

Smiles Change Lives

We at Gorczyca Orthodontics continue to be inspired every day by the transformations that we see and the happiness and confidence that a new smile brings to our patients’ lives. We are honored to be part of your new smile journey.

We hope that you will consider giving yourself the gift of a beautiful smile this Christmas or in the year ahead. Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California at (925) 757-9000 if you have questions about braces, Invisalign, retainers, or your smile. Find us at www.clubbraces.com.

Santa can’t give you a beautiful smile for Christmas, but we can! If you have procrastinated regarding your orthodontic care, we hope that you will start it soon. Happy Holidays from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Your smile is our inspiration.

Top image by Flickr user Keith Allison used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

POUTING, OR “thrusting out the lip, as in sadness” appears as an expression of displeasure. The lower lip sticks out farther than the upper lip. The chin often has a “golf ball” appearance and the lips strain to close over the teeth.

Jaw And Tooth Structure May Be Causing A Pouting Appearance

Bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion produces the appearance of pouting. The jaws and teeth cause the lips to be more prominent than ideal. The lips may be separated at rest, producing a lip opening. In some cases, the appearance of the teeth may not be a problem, but moving the teeth back has a dramatic and desirable effect on the facial profile.

Our Lineage Affects Our Appearance

Lips are influenced by ethnic norms. Northern Europeans have thin lips. Asians and Africans have thicker lips and more tooth prominence. The patient’s desires, nose and chin size, and culture will all influence the orthodontic decision to move teeth back to improved facial appearance.

Have Questions? We Have Answers!

If you have questions about your facial profile, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California (925) 757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org.

If you pout, it may be an indication that your teeth stick out too far. An orthodontist can fix this. So, there’s no need to pout. You’re better off not to pout at any time of the year, and especially when Santa Claus is coming to town.

SOMETIMES UPPER FRONT TEETH don’t come in on time. If more than one year passes since the expected time of arrival of an upper front tooth, usually at age 7, and the front tooth is still delayed, it’s time to take action and visit an orthodontist.

There Are Many Possible Causes...

There are many possible causes of delayed permanent front teeth.

1. A baby tooth may be lost too early due to a cavity or an accident. When this happens, bone and tissue fills the tooth path and the permanent tooth may not be able to push its way out.

2. A baby tooth can be maintained too long. A baby not loose and firmly in place too long may not allow a permanent tooth to come in or may cause the permanent tooth to come in out of place.

3. An extra front tooth in the middle of both front teeth can prevent these front teeth from coming in. This extra middle tooth is called a mesiodens. Sometimes this tooth comes into the roof of the mouth or it may stay stuck in the bone.

4. Front teeth may be deformed, turned sideways, or even upside down. This situation will require a surgical procedure and attachment of a metal chain to pull the tooth into position with braces.

Get An Orthodontic Evaluation By Age 7!

In all of these situations, orthodontic space preparation is important. In some cases, a surgical incision may be all that is necessary to release a front tooth and allow it to come into position.

The esthetic and social consequences of a missing front tooth for a child are significant. This is why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7.

So please bring your child to Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California for a complimentary consultation if you hear them say “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.”

WHEN UPPER AND LOWER DENTAL MIDLINES do not line up and the lower jaw moves to the side on closing, these are signs of a bite functional shift.

When The Upper Arch Is Too Small For The Lower...

When the upper arch is too narrow or too small for the lower jaw, the lower jaw is forced to move to the side when closing. The unwanted movement, called a functional shift, temporarily relieves discomfort by creating a maximum tooth biting surface for chewing. The unnecessary jaw movement can be eliminated by upper arch expansion and comprehensive orthodontic treatment.

The Imbalance Can Be Fixed

The upper jaw may also be too small for the face and the lower jaw. This is called maxillary deficiency. The backward position of the upper jaw can be corrected with Class III rubber bands, reverse pull headgear, or an upper jaw surgical advancement procedure.

This case was treated by board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California.

If you have questions about midlines that don’t line up or a jaw functional shift, call us at 925-757-9000. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Straight dental midlines are important. Eliminate your bite functional shift to get your smile into high gear.

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN; the time of black cats and carved pumpkins, the time of ghouls and goblins, the time of costumes, parades, and parties. It’s time for all of those things, and it’s also a great time for healthy Halloween snacks!

It’s No Trick! Treat Yourself To These Healthy Snacks

Here are a few Healthy Halloween snack ideas that are also good for oral health and braces.

1. Finger sandwiches. Freeze your bread and then cut it with a cookie cutter into Halloween figures. Use soft and healthy spreads like peanut butter and jelly, hummus, or guacamole. Guacamole makes a great green Frankenstein on an open faced sandwich.
2. Cheese cut-outs. Those Halloween cookie cutters work great on cheese slices too!
3. Banana ghosts. Banana ghosts on a stick are so easy to make. Simply peel a banana, cut it in half, and add chocolate chips for a mouth and eyes!
4. Tangerine pumpkins. Clementine tangerines are so easy to peel. Then add a snap pea pumpkin stem for a bit of color.
5. Watermelon monster. Why carve a pumpkin when you can carve a watermelon? Your watermelon monster will make a great centerpiece for a spooky fruit platter.
6. Apple slice mouths. Tiny marshmallows make great teeth between apple lips. Use peanut butter to hold the marshmallow teeth in place.
7. Strawberry faces. Dip strawberries in either yogurt or white chocolate to make funny faces. Chocolate chips, sprinkles, and grape bits can be used to accessorize.
8. Frozen pops. Why eat candy corn when you can have a giant frozen pop with white yogurt, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Yum!
9. Scary deviled eggs. Hummus can be used to make a brown center for spiders. Black olives can be used to make spider legs. Or you can make egg eyeballs with an olive center. Add a little red pepper for a scary bloodshot look.

Have A Healthy Halloween!

Halloween is a time of creativity and fun. So get creative and bring on the healthy treats!

It’s time for oral health and a great time for wishing you a Happy Halloween!

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California 925-757-9000.

Top image by Flickr user Scott McLeod used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

DENTAL PRACTICE SOCIAL MEDIA is here to stay, and for us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, it all started with Facebook. Since our Gorczyca Orthodontics Business Facebook started over ten years ago, it has been all about YOU, our valued patient!

Our Facebook Page

Find your favorite Gorczyca Orthodontics photo of you, your family, friends, or members of the greater Antioch, California community on our Gorczyca Orthodontics Facebook page.

Other things you will find on our Gorczyca Orthodontics Business Facebook include:

1. Our Gorczyca Orthodontics Blog

Our Gorczyca Orthodontics Blog provides concise bits of information about our practice, team members, dental health, and facts and tips that will help you on your orthodontic journey. We hope that you find this content interesting.

2. Offers and Invitations

Our Gorczyca Orthodontics Facebook page will list special practice days and offers and include contest, events, and offers related to braces, Invisalign, retainers, and teeth whitening. Patient appreciation events will also be listed.

3. Our Practice Culture

The coolest thing about connecting with us on our Gorczyca Orthodontics Facebook page is that through its honest, transparent, and spontaneous communication, you will get to know us better!

4. A Reliable Form of Communication

You can always contact Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca here or on her personal Facebook page, and you will receive almost an immediate reply. Social media is a great way to get in touch with your doctor! Social media and the iPhone have replaced the pager!

Add Us On Facebook Today!

So, take a moment to be our Gorczyca Orthodontics business Facebook friend. Thank you also for your 5 star reviews. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon, in person, at Gorczyca Orthodontics at 5201 Deer Valley Road in Antioch, California. Call us at 925-757-9000.

Thank you for being our Facebook friend.

Your smile is our inspiration!

IT’S THAT TIME OF year again. October is the season of decorations and surprises as children pick out their costumes and look forward to trick or treating on Halloween.

Are Halloween Color Ties A Good Idea?

It’s also the season of orange and black braces color ties in orthodontic offices worldwide. You can be sure that orthodontists everywhere are restocking their supply of these two colors for the Halloween season and the increased demand for orange and black elastics. But could you regret choosing these festive colors for your teeth and braces after the Halloween season?

Choose Your Braces Tie Colors With Care

Remember, you may be wearing your Halloween color ties for up to eight weeks. So, if you have a school dance in November and you’re planning to wear blue, you may want to rethink your braces color tie selection for the future and plan ahead.

Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California states that if you want a braces color tie that will always look great, choose the color pearl. “Pearl is a shimmering white braces color tie that blends in well with tooth color and rarely stains. It always looks good, no matter what you wear.”

We Look Forward To Seeing You Again!

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, no matter who you are or what your fashion situation is on Halloween or afterwards, we are available Monday through Friday to change your braces color ties in case of need or emergency.

We want all of our patients to be happy. And we certainly don’t want your Halloween color tie selection to be your biggest life regret! THAT’S SCARY!

Happy Halloween from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, CA 925-757-9000.

HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME our patient? Most of our patients find us through referrals from trusted friends, extended family members, neighbors, and coworkers. When it comes to something as important as orthodontic treatment, honest personal endorsements are usually the best guide.

Thanks So Much For Your Referrals

You know what’s really cool when a new patient comes to our office based on a referral? We know that referral originated from one of YOU — a valued patient we’re connected to and already serving. It’s the ultimate compliment for us and it makes US smile.

During the early days of the internet, people searched online for an orthodontist by typing in their city name and the word “orthodontist.” But times have changed. Today, people look to trusted, permission-based social networks like Facebook and others to ask for their families’ and friends’ recommendations. That’s one of the reasons why we love social media so much... It makes it easy for our patients to share. Then, social media makes it easy for those potential new patients to really get to know us — even before they walk through our door for the first time.

Thanks For Your Reviews Too

Life is super busy. We understand, and we know we’re asking a lot. But when you DO have a minute, it’s always greatly appreciated. Our review page is a great place to share your impressions. And you can always go to our Facebook page to leave a comment, a recommendation, or to direct message us. You could also leave us a review on Yelp!

So, what brought YOU to our practice for the first time?

We’d love to hear! And ANYTIME we can do something to help make your visits even better, please let us know. Your feedback helps us continually improve and give the best service possible to our patients.

Once you become a patient at Gorczyca Orthodontics, we consider you a patient for life. Thank you for joining our Gorczyca Orthodontics family. We look forward to seeing you again soon at Gorczyca Orthodontics. Your smile is our inspiration.

Thanks,

Dr. Gorczyca

IT’S PART OF GROWING UP: back to school, losing baby teeth, back to the orthodontist. From age 7 to age 18, your orthodontist will be an important part of your childhood.

What To Expect At Your Back-To-School Visit

Here are things you can expect at your back-to-school orthodontic visit:

1. The question “What could we do to get you to love your teeth?”
2. Review of dental and medical history and oral habits
3. Evaluation of baby teeth and eruption of permanent teeth
4. A panoramic X-ray
5. Evaluation of oral health habits including brushing, plaque, and gingivitis
6. Examination of jaw function
7. Discussion of facial appearance
8. An in-depth functional look at your bite
9. Discussion about dental crowding, spacing, and rotations
10. Careful evaluation of your gums and smile
11. Evaluation of tooth shape
12. Referral to an excellent general or pediatric dentist if you need one
13. Proposed diagnosis and orthodontic treatment plan
14. Customized payment plan
15. Scheduling of your orthodontic records appointment

What’s The Next Step?

Your orthodontist will either see you periodically to evaluate your growth or start orthodontic treatment with orthodontic records. These include:

1. Orthodontic study models
2. Lateral cephalometric X-ray and panoramic X-ray
3. Orthodontic photos

After orthodontic records, your orthodontic treatment will be started. The sooner you start, the sooner you finish!

Keep Your Beautiful Smile For A Lifetime!

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com. To find an orthodontist in your area, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.com.

Start the school year right! Here’s to your beautiful smile.

NO MATTER WHAT sport you play, custom mouthguards keep your teeth protected.

Custom Mouthguards Are Made Just For You

Custom mouthguards are made just for you and precisely fit to your teeth, arch, and bite. This mouthguard will feel comfortable and not fall out during sports play or at the time of a sports injury.

Custom Mouthguards Reduce Risk of Concussion

Studies say that custom-made mouthguards can also reduce an athlete’s risk of concussion. Multiple layers of absorbent material lessen the traumatic blow to teeth so that there is minimal chance of tooth fracture or a tooth being knocked-out during injury.

Sports which recommend a sports guard or mouthguard include: football, baseball, basketball, boxing, hockey, karate, lacrosse, martial arts, motocross, soccer, rugby, softball, tae kwon do, and wrestling.

Custom fit mouthguards are thicker and more form fitting than boil-n-bite mouthguards. Your sports mouthguard can be designed with your school logo or your team logo, team colors, or cool graphic. Your name or helmet strap can be added.

We Offer Custom Mouthguards at Gorczyca Orthodontics

Recently, Patti and Gwen from Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California visited the dental office of the Oakland Raider's Football team to learn how to make professional grade sports mouth guards. They are available at our office. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-7000.

Protect your teeth or your child’s teeth with a custom fit mouthguard today. No matter what sport you play, your custom mouthguard will fit your need, and your parents need, to protect your teeth.

ONCE YOUR BRACES are off, a tooth positioner is an excellent finishing device which you may want to add to your orthodontic treatment.

What Is A Tooth Positioner?

A tooth positioner can be used as a removable retainer under special circumstances. It has the advantages of being able to relate the upper teeth to the lower teeth in the ideal bite position, something that two separate retainers cannot do. A positioner also has the ability to close small spaces between the back teeth left by orthodontic bands. These spaces usually close up over a few months after braces are removed, but a tooth positioner can speed up this process.

How Do Tooth Positioners Work?

Tooth positioners are usually worn 4 hours per day when awake and during sleep. Actively biting into your tooth positioner when you wear it will help the tooth positioner work at moving your teeth. The force of your jaw will help move your teeth to their final position.

A tooth positioner may be used to improve your bite, but they do not make good long term retainers. Positioners do not retain front teeth straightness long term as well as standard removable Hawley retainers. Tooth positioners are also bulking and take away your ability to speak. They are flexible and soft, similar to a mouth guard. If worn over a long period of time, the positioner will tend to tear and wear out. So once your positioner work is done, it’s good to receive and wear your final retainers.

Who Should Use A Tooth Positioner?

Overbite tends to increase with the wear of a tooth positioner. Tooth positioner use is desirable with mild open bites. A tooth positioner may be beneficial at the end of Invisalign treatment where upper and lower teeth have been slightly separated by aligner wear and a slight open bite may exist at the end of treatment.

Tooth positioners are usually not included in standard orthodontic treatment but may be beneficial to further perfect your bite after the braces come off. Like mouthguards, tooth positioners come in a variety of colors. There are even flavored tooth positioners.

A short amount of time in a tooth positioner can make a big difference in your bite. Ask your orthodontist if a tooth positioner may be right for you. If your orthodontist recommends a tooth positioner, go for it. It will be well worth the short time and extra effort for a beautiful and more perfect bite.

Bring Us Your Tooth Positioner Questions!

If you have questions about tooth positioners, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. Call us at 925-757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Your smile is our inspiration.

NOW THAT YOUR BRACES are off, you’re ready to celebrate! Once again you get to eat those foods that you’ve missed so much! It’s easier to brush! And most of all, you get to show off your gorgeous smile to everyone who congratulates you for completing treatment!

Now What?

There are a few things that you need to remember about caring for your teeth after braces. For the most part, post-braces care is the same as pre-braces and during-braces care. That’s why we talk about so many general dental care and oral health topics here on our blog in addition to information about orthodontic treatment. HOWEVER, here are a few things specific to those of you who just had your braces removed.

Some Instructions, Including “Wear Your Retainer!”

1. Schedule an appointment with your dentist. Now that your teeth are aligned and clear of hardware, your dentist can do a more thorough examination and cleaning. If you had crowded teeth before, this may be the most thorough check-up and cleaning you’ve ever had!
2. Take special care of your gums. Sometimes during orthodontic treatment gums are neglected because flossing takes so much longer. Put in some extra effort to get your periodontal health on track by flossing faithfully every day. You may want to gently massage your gums with your toothbrush if they feel a little tender.
3. Give your teeth some time. Your mouth may feel strange for a few days. Some people report that their teeth even feel a little loose. Just take it easy for a few days.
4. Take care of your retainer! Your retainer is your new best friend. We often see patients who need a second round of treatment because they neglected their retainer the first time. You’ve already put in all that effort, so make sure that you keep the dazzling effects for your lifetime!

Celebrate!

To really celebrate, take some fun “after” pictures showing off your new smile. Post them on Facebook! You may even want to think about some teeth whitening to make the most of your beautiful, straight smile.

From everyone here at our practice, congratulations on finishing treatment! We’re so grateful that you chose us to see you through this process, and we’re so excited about your amazing new smile.

Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California

Your smile is our inspiration.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT TEETH, but not a lot about your tongue. Your tongue plays a vital role in your overall oral health! Did you know that your tongue is the fastest-healing part of your body? And without our tongues, we couldn’t speak, taste, or even swallow.

Six Facts About The Human Tongue:

1. The tongue is a special kind of muscle called a muscular hydrostatic. This means that it operates without any help from your skeletal structure, like an elephant trunk or octopus tentacle.
2. Your tongue is a natural cleaner—it starts clearing out food on your teeth after eating.
3. Not all of your taste buds are located on your tongue. About 10 percent of them are found on your cheeks and the roof of your mouth.
4. Almost 50 percent of the bacteria in your mouth is on your tongue. That's why it’s important to brush your tongue for fresher breath!
5. Taste buds are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Those little bumps on your tongue aren’t taste buds — they’re called papillae.
6. Some people have pierced their tongues since ancient times, but there are serious oral health dangers associated with doing so, including chipped teeth and nerve damage.

Time For A Little Fun

Most of time, talking about your teeth, dentistry and oral health is pretty serious. But once in a while, we need to have a little fun...

How many licks to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?

Since 1970, Tootsie Roll Industries has received over 20,000 responses from kids around the world answering that question. Answers range from 100 to 5,000, but the average is about 700. Purdue University actually enlisted the aid of a “licking machine” to determine the answer. While the machines averaged at 364 licks, the human control group averaged 252 licks.

Now, challenge yourself with some “tongue twisters”:

Did you know that tongue twisters can help you overcome any lisping that might accompany wearing a retainer? Practice makes perfect, so give it a try!

• “The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.”
• “The skunk sat on a stump. The skunk thunk that the stump stunk, but the stump thunk that the skunk stunk.”
• “Theophilus Thistle, the thistle sifter, sifted a sieve of unsifted thistles.”

Do you have a fun tongue twister of your own to share? Comment below! Our team would love to hear it!

Visit us on Facebook for more fun and office photos!

Thank you for choosing Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. 
925-757-9000. www.clubbraces.com

TIME FLIES WHEN you're having fun. It’s hard to believe that Jolene has already spent 20 years with us at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

A Pillar Of Our Practice

It seems like just yesterday we were interviewing Jolene in our first office back on Lone Tree Way, Antioch, California. Jolene has been a backbone of Gorczyca Orthodontics for 20 years. Jolene is also a 38-year RDA veteran, having worked in pediatric dentistry before coming to orthodontics full-time.

Jolene’s excellence and experience as well as her outstanding customer service and love of her patients has made her a valuable asset to Gorczyca Orthodontics. We are thankful to Jolene for her loyalty and professionalism.
We appreciate all that she does.

Over the past 20 years, Jolene has personally trained more than 38 dental assistants who have gone on to become registered dental assistants (RDAs) in orthodontic practices all over Northern California. For her excellence and commitment to continuing education, Jolene was placed on the advisory board of Diablo Valley College, the college she once attended.

Dr. Gorczyca says “It has been a privilege to work with Jolene all of these years. Jolene is both humble and confident. She has been my right hand person for many years. She is loved by all of her patients. She is always the first to help me, a patient, or another dental assistant. She truly loves what she does, and it shows. She continues to grow and advance in her profession. She always does the right thing at Gorcyzca Orthodontics and she always follows through on every task which she undertakes. She is a true leader. We have been so fortunate to have Jolene with us 20 years at Gorczyca Orthodontics.”

Looking Forward To More Years Together!

Jolene has no intention of retiring. Neither does Dr. Gorczyca. Both plan to keep on creating beautiful smiles for as long as they can.

Thank you Jolene for all you have done for your patients and for all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics. You are the best person we ever could ever have had for our organization. We are all so fortunate to be able to work with you for 20 years.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California 925-757-9000 www.clubbraces.com

WHETHER IT’S DONE consciously or unconsciously, nail biting habits affect people of all ages. On the surface, nail biting may not seem like a big deal. However, fairly severe consequences can result in both oral and overall health problems. And as if that wasn’t enough, it can also cause complications during your orthodontic treatment.

Nail Biting’s Effects On Your Teeth

1. Nail biting can crack, chip and wear down teeth. Your front teeth are lot different from your back teeth in terms of functionality. They aren’t designed for gnawing or chewing.
2. Nail biting can shift tooth alignment and damage existing orthodontic treatment.
3. Nail biting risks gum tissue damage. Bitten nail pieces can easily tear into your gum tissue increasing the risk of gum disease and eventual tooth loss.
4. Nail biting can be expensive. The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that nail biters incur an additional $4,000 in future dental repairs.
5. Nail biting can break your braces. The hard nail on your finger when pressed up against your orthodontic bracket with biting force could cause your orthodontic bracket to break and come loose.

Did you know that teenagers are actually the most common nail biters? While 25 percent of young adults bite their nails and only 5 percent of older adults bite their nails, as many as 45 percent of teenagers have this habit. And for teenagers with braces, it can cause problems.

Nail Biting’s Effects On Your Health

Think about the most germ-concentrated areas of your body — your mouth and hands. You can imagine what happens when those two areas are in constant contact. And when there are even tiny, tiny breaks in the skin, germs get a free hall pass to your bloodstream. Yuck.

Tips For Quitting 

Maybe you’ve always wanted to quit, but it hasn’t worked yet. Here are a few tips:

• Keep your nails looking nice. It will help motivate you to leave them alone.
• Enlist friends. Sometimes it helps to have someone remind you when you’re biting.
• Notice your trigger(s).  Anxious? Bored? Learn to deal with these emotions in other ways.
• Carry a nail file and clippers. If you crack a nail or snag it, you can make repairs without biting.
• Treat your nails. There are many awful tasting products — designed for this purpose — that you can put on your nails to really deter you.

Do You Have Any Helpful Quitting Ideas To Add?

Do you struggle with biting your nails? Does someone you love bite his or her nails? We hope the content of this post has helped. Let us know if there is anything else our team can do to help, or if you have other questions. If you have any tips for quitting, share them below or connect with us on our Facebook page. We’re always excited to hear from you!

Your smile and health are our inspiration.

GORCZYCA ORTHODONTICS IS located in the Deer Valley Dental Professionals Building, at 5201 Deer Valley Road, in Antioch, California, right next to Deer Valley High School.

Where To Find Us

From Highway 4, take the Hillcrest Exit and continue right until you cross Lone Tree Way. After crossing Lone Tree Way, take the second entrance on the left at the Miranda stop light. Turn left and proceed right to the square, three-story building nextdoor to the Antioch Veterinary Hospital. Gorczyca Orthodontics is located on the first floor, right at the main entrance.

Our centralized location and easy Highway 4 access makes us easily accessible to serving all of East Contra Costa County including Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood, Pittsburg, Discovery Bay, Concord, and Rio Vista. We are a one-doctor, one-location orthodontic practice, so you will always find us here, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

About Gorczcya Orthodontics

We offer all orthodontic services, including all types of braces, Phase I, Phase II, Comprehensive, and Invisalgin treatment, clear aligners, Inman retainers, short term braces, retainers, splints, night guards, mouth guards, as well as orthognathic surgery (jaw surgery) and TMD (TMJ) and sleep apnea treatment.

We have patients throughout the Bay area. Because we offer exceptional specialty services in the area of orthognathic surgery, many patients drive several hours to receive treatment in our office. We also work very closely with other dental specialists in providing Interdisciplinary Adult Orthodontic Treatment, which may need implants, periodontal therapy, or crowns, veneers, or bridges. We provide diagnostic wax-ups of comprehensive cases and help coordinate your overall treatment with other dental providers.

Dr. Gorczyca

Our orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, is a board certified orthodontist with 30 years of experience. She has personally treated over 10,000 successful cases. She is a frequent orthodontic lecturer at both the University of the Pacific Dental School, UCSF and the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Sessions, and is a member of the Angle Society, Delta Study Club (Seattle Study Club), and Contra Costa Dental Society.

Come See Us For Your Free Consultation!

We welcome you to visit our office for a free orthodontic consultation. Call us at 925-757-9000. It would be our pleasure to serve you. Learn more about us at www.clubbraces.com.

Thank you for choosing Gorczyca Orthodontics. Your smile is our inspiration.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

WE LOVE BEING your orthodontic health care providers and having you as part of our orthodontic team. Thank you for choosing Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Whether it’s Roberta taking your initial office phone call, Veronica welcoming you for your initial orthodontic exam, Katie doing your initial orthodontic records, Gwen or Jolene putting on your new braces, or planning and delivering your Invisalign treatment with Dr. Gorczyca, we feel privileged to have you as a patient at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

We Have The Best Patients

We appreciate you and cannot wait to see you back at your next orthodontic visit. We consider having you as a patient for life fun, and we look forward to hearing about you and your family and your activities. We care about you and want your orthodontic journey to be a great experience. We feel honored to also serve your family and friends.

Than you for trusting us with your new smile. We look forward to giving you the smile of your dreams and delivering orthodontic excellence. You make Gorczyca Orthodontics fun and bring a smile to our faces.

Thank You For Your Reviews And Referrals

We cannot thank you enough for your referrals to Gorczyca Orthodontics. Your friends are our friends. Thank you for being part of our orthodontic family and team.

Thank you for recommending us to your family and friends. Thank you for your 5 star reviews on Yelp and Google. You have truly touched our lives and we hope that we have touched yours.

How Could We Do Better?

We invite you to let us know what we could do to make our orthodontic office even better in giving you the personalized attention you deserve. Please take a moment at our front desk to fill out our customer survey and let us know how we can serve you even better.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California 925-757-9000. www.clubbraces.com

Your smile truly is our inspiration.

Images used under CC0 Public Domain license. Images cropped and modified from originals.

THE TEAM AT GORCZYCA ORTHODONTICS has been preparing for its Annual Advance, a one-day team day devoted to self-improvement and brainstorming about the wonderful year that lies ahead.

Knowing that each of us would be presenting our thoughts before the group, we needed to get prepared, and that included whitening our teeth with Opalescence GO Supreme by Ultradent.

Opalescence GO Can Help Your Smile Shine

Many small businesses, large corporations, and government agencies will be holding similar meetings at the start of the new year. Whether you will be presenting to a group or presenting to patients, when you present, you need to feel your best, look your best, and be your best. This can be accomplished by having straight white teeth.

Brightening Your Smile Can Take As Little As 20 Minutes

On the morning of your presentation, simply take 20 minutes to put in a whitening tray. This can be done in the shower, as you get dressed, or even as you drive in your car to the presentation.

Public speaking isn’t easy. It will take time, thought, and preparation. Whitening your teeth can be part of this preparation and is well worth the confidence and the smile it will give you. It’s easy to whiten your teeth. It’s easy with Opalescence GO by Ultradent.

Ask us about teeth whitening and teeth straightening at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA www.clubbraces.com (925) 757-9000.

Here’s to your beautiful smile!

IT TAKES A FEW SPECIAL qualities to make a great father — strength, kindness, patience, understanding, and love.

Dads are so generous about bringing and sending their children to the orthodontist for orthodontic treatment.

But What About Dad?

Dad is usually the last family member to straighten his teeth. It’s true, most men are brought to the orthodontist by their wives or girlfriends for tooth straightening.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to give Dad a beautiful smile, too?

With Invisalign it’s easy. Invisalign clear removable aligners are comfortable, look great, and still allow Dad to eat whatever he would like.

Call Us To Learn More

If you would like to give Dad the gift of a beautiful smile, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary consultation. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Let your dad know how much you love him and that he is a great dad! Give Dad a beautiful smile!

FATHERS HAVE A KNACK FOR making us smile—even when we’d prefer to be grouchy! Amazingly, they can usually pressure us into smiling through a simple act or gesture—a grin, a proud look, a really dumb joke.

This week, as much of the world celebrates Father’s Day, let’s return the favor!

Help Make The Fathers In YOUR Life Smile!

Take a moment to think about the fathers (and/or “father figures”) in your life. These could include your own dad, an admired teacher, a grandfather, a neighbor or mentor...

Now, think of one thing you can do for each of them this week that would make their lives brighter, make them smile, or lighten their loads. Remember, it could be something really simple like a unexpected visit or unhurried phone conversation to just say “thanks”. Whatever you come up with, make sure he knows how grateful you are for the role he’s played in your life.

It isn’t every day that we get an opportunity to celebrate those fathers who have contributed to our success and happiness. Take advantage of the day. By helping these fathers smile, you’ll find yourself smiling as well.

Think Of The Fathers In Your Life As You Watch This

Oral-B did a great job in this video capturing the Power of Dad!

Now Share Something With Us!

Did you decide on some things you can do this week? Please share your ideas with us below!

Do you have a memorable experience where a father in your life made you smile? Perhaps a great Father’s Day tradition? Share it with us in the comments section below or on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you.

From all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Happy Father's Day.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California 925-757-9000 www.clubbraces.com.

IN RECOGNITION OF ALL you do, thanks to the team at Gorczyca Orthodontics in celebration of Orthodontic Staff Appreciation Week!

Together, you make it possible for us to deliver the life-changing orthodontic treatment we give to our patients. You are a team of caring professionals working together to serve valued patients. You have worked with thousands of patients, giving them the smiles of their dreams. Your contributions deserve thanks and recognition.

Our Great Team

So whether it’s Jolene celebrating her 20 year anniversary at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Veronica checking insurance for an new exam, Katie taking initial records, Gwen placing braces, or Roberta preparing a financial contract, all of you are important to our team and your contributions count. Dr. Gorczyca and our patients appreciate all that you do for them and we are thankful for our time together!

We are blessed to be able to work in the profession of orthodontics. We work together to deliver orthodontic clinical excellence and outstanding customer service so that our patients can have a great orthodontic experience. Smiles change lives and you have changed a lot of lives. Over 10,000 in fact! Smiles truly are your inspiration!

Thanks For All You Do

So here’s to celebrating you! Way to go! Great job! Brava! Thanks for your devotion and for being the team at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA 925-757-9000. www.clubbraces.com

CLEAR ALIGNERS HAVE been a popular means of correcting crooked teeth for the last 20 years. But did you know that clear aligners can also correct your occlusion, front to back tooth relationship, and bite just like braces can?

Simply attach your rubber bands to your aligners. With Class II cutouts or Class III cutouts and front to back rubber bands, your clear aligners can correct you bite just like braces.

Additional tooth movements prescribed by your orthodontist into the aligner setup will also help you acheive your ideal bite.

Every bite correction needs an orthodontist's diagnosis and treatment plan. You will need to see your orthodontist to receive this personalized sequence of tooth movement care.

Here at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California, we have been using clear aligners since 1999 and have created hundreds of beautiful smiles. Call us at 925-757-9000 is you have questions about clear aligners and would like to schedule a free exam. Find us at www.clubbraces.com.

Whether Clear Correct or Invisalign, you can correct your smile today quickly, easily, and comfortably with clear aligners.

Here’s to your beautiful smile.

WE’VE ALL SEEN IT: that little piece of spinach that gets stuck between the upper front tooth and lateral incisor. Real friends tell friends when they have spinach teeth. Here’s why it happens and what we can do to prevent it.

Spinach contains oxalic acid. This substance, when combined with saliva, produces calcium oxalate crystals that stick to your teeth.

Make Sure You Have The Right Tools

To prevent spinach teeth, drink water vigorously to flush away spinach after eating. If necessary, floss your teeth after eating spinach. If you are a spinach lover, you may want to carry floss in your purse or pocket to avoid that spinach tooth moment, especially if you are on a date or at an important dinner event.

Avoid picking at spinach teeth with a toothpick in public. This can damage your gums and can be impolite. Excuse yourself from the dinner table and visit the rest room to use floss to remove spinach. This is safer, more effective, healthier, and better etiquette.

Overcrowding Helps Spinach Stick

Straightening your front teeth will also help you avoid spinach teeth.

Eliminating crooked front teeth will give spinach fewer nooks and crannies in the dental arch in which it can get stuck. Straight teeth can be accomplished quickly by an orthodontist using either braces, Invisalign, aligners, or spring clip aligners (Inman retainer).

Gorczyca Orthodontics Can Help!

If you have questions about how to avoid spinach teeth with orthodontic treatment, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California for a free orthodontic exam. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or find us at www.clubbraces.com.

There’s no reason for your teeth to go green. Let us help you avoid spinach teeth.

Your smile is our inspiration.

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

AS VALENTINE’S DAY approaches, we are once again surrounded by one of America’s most popular candies, the conversation heart.

A Legacy Of Candy Messages

First developed by a Boston apothecary in 1847, Oliver Chase joined the lozenge craze spreading through Boston. Innovating from mortar and pestle, kneading, rolling and cutting to make lozenges, Chase invented the first candy machine. Inspired by the Valentine card market in Boston, Oliver’s brother Daniel started putting food dye letters on to the lozenges in 1866. It is legend that the Chase brothers’ wafers with love greetings were sent to soldiers during the Civil War.

In 1902 the heart shape lozenge machine was invented and the CRAZY4U conversation heart phenomenon was born. Daniel Chase went on to found the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) which today makes 100,000 pounds of the hearts year round, each day.

Through the years, conversation heart sayings have reflected how culture has changed. Sayings range from KISS ME, HUG ME, BE MINE, and CUTIE PIE to popular sayings likek TE AMO and GIRL POWER. For the digital age, we even have TEXT ME and TWEET ME messages.

The Wrong Treat For Braces

Conversation hearts might make great Valentines, but they are too hard to eat with braces. Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorcyzca says “Conversation hearts are not your braces’ BFF!”

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we would LOVE YOU to show your braces some SWEET LOVE by not eating conversation hearts. This will make Valentine's Day for YOU+ME the BEST DAY ever. Give out your conservation hearts and be TOO CUTE, TOO COOL, and find TRUE LOVE.

Love From Gorczyca Orthodontics

We XOXO braces at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California and want your Valentine’s Day to be extra special. We hope your conversation heart Valentine’s Day dreams come true. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at 925-757-9000 for a free orthodontic exam.

YOU ROCK for not eating conversation hearts with braces. Spread the conversation heart love and see you soon at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Your SMILE is our inspiration.

DURING YOUR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, you probably don’t think very often about your spit (and frankly, we’d be a little worried about you if you did). And yes, both baby drool and the occasional drooling you may experience from having braces are a nuisance!

But did you know that saliva is a critical component for healthy teeth and great oral health — regardless of your age? Here at our practice, we’re not only concerned with your orthodontic treatment, but also with your teeth and complete oral health. We thought you may find it interesting to learn how saliva helps keep your mouth protected and healthy, even when your teeth are partially covered by braces.

Four Reasons Your Saliva Is Awesome

1. Your saliva slowly and continually builds your teeth into tiny fortresses. It carries minerals like calcium and phosphate ions which reinforce your enamel.
2. Saliva is an important part of your immune system. It contains immunoproteins that police your mouth, fighting bacteria and coating teeth in a protective layer.
3. It’s a lubricant. Thanks to saliva, your mouth and tongue are flexible. Talking and eating would be seriously difficult without it.
4. Saliva keeps your mouth clean. It washes away food particles and rebalances the pH level in your mouth every time you eat.

Xerostomia (a.k.a. Dry Mouth) Can Be A Problem

Now that you understand how much your saliva does for you, you probably see what a problem it could be if it weren’t there. When your body isn’t producing enough saliva, it’s called dry mouth, or xerostomia (pronounced “zeer-uh-stoh-mee-uh”). It’s often caused by common medications like antihistamines or antidepressants. It can also be a side effect of dehydration or diseases like Parkinson’s and cystic fibrosis. Sometimes it’s simply a result of aging.

Here Are A Few Suggestions That May Help You

If you’re having trouble with xerostomia, ask us about it! We’ll be sure it’s not part of a bigger problem. In addition to the simple suggestions below, there may be other things our team can suggest that will help:

• Rinse your mouth regularly with water.
• Chew ortho-approved sugarless gum or suck on a sugarless candy to help stimulate saliva flow.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco, which can both be dry mouth contributing factors.

Remember that if you ever have questions, you can call us or send us a direct message on our Facebook page. Visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics for a free orthodontic evaluation. Visit our website at www.clubbraces.com and call us at 925-757-9000 to schedule your appointment.

Your smile is our inspiration.

HOW MUCH SUGAR ARE YOU CONSUMING EACH DAY? Do you know? In many countries, the average can be well over 20 teaspoons per day! Sugar can be a major contributor to tooth decay. And, while we’re in the middle of your orthodontic treatment, it’s especially important to keep your teeth as healthy as possible. That way, when your braces come off, you won’t have a bunch of dental repair work that has to be done! Here at our practice, we’re interested in talking about every topic that affects your oral, your orthodontic treatment, and your overall health.

It’s Not Just About Avoiding “Sweets”

Here are 5 easy ways to get a better handle on your sugar intake:

1. Read Labels

There’s added sugar lurking in places you would have never guessed. “Healthy” cereals, ketchup, chips, and even spaghetti sauces can have tons of sugar. Be sure to watch the video below to learn how to equate grams of sugar into teaspoons. Also, watch for words like dextrose, sucrose, malted barley extract, and corn syrup when reading the ingredients list.

2. Beware Of Pseudo-Healthy Traps

You may assume that you’re eating healthier with that energy bar, smoothie, or yogurt. That may not be true. Take a careful look at the nutritional facts and sugar content before you make such things a routine staple.

3. Watch What You’re Drinking

Half of your sugar intake may be in the things you drink. A major offender is soda pop, but be careful of fruit juices too.

4. Find Easy Alternatives

Everyone’s tastes and lifestyles are different, so experiment until you find YOUR OWN solution. Sweet tooth in the evening? For you, it may work best to satisfy the craving with a tiny piece of dark chocolate (eaten without guilt), and then promising yourself to brush your teeth immediately afterwards and not eat anything else before bedtime.

Afternoon munchies? Cut up a bunch of easy-to-eat raw vegetables at the beginning of the week and keep them handy in the fridge for snacking. Also, drink more water! Sometimes (believe it or not) you think you’re hungry, but in reality, you’re thirsty. A tall glass of water can get you past a craving.

5. Cut Back On Starches, Snack Foods And Bread

Both sugar and starch are carbohydrates. Starches break down into sugars, so they can promote tooth decay.

We hope you find these ideas helpful!

Remember that by cutting back on sugar, you can better stave off obesity, diabetes, and of course, cavities when your orthodontic work is complete! What’s good for your body is good for your teeth too!

Do you have any tips of your own for minimizing sugar? We’d love to hear them. Share them below in the comments section or on our Facebook page. Thank you for being our valued patient!

We look forward to seeing you!  Your smile truly is our inspiration.

ADD SOMETHING A LITTLE extra special to make you smile while you wear braces: designer ties!

Express yourself and make a fashion statement at the same time. Whether it’s the smiley face, flower, star, or heart design, your designer choice and colors will show your personality every time you smile.

Make your design pattern, color and style as unique as you are and smile in style! Designer ties make braces fun.

Is It Time For Braces?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child receive an orthodontic examination by age 7. Should your 7-year-old need braces, they are sure to have a bit more fun with braces designer ties.

Call us today for the free orthodontic exam for braces at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California (925) 757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com and visit us at Suite 1A in the Deer Valley Dental Professional Building, 5201 Deer Valley Road, right behind Deer Valley High School.

Come check out our designer ties. You and your child will love braces from Gorczyca Orthodontics.

We make braces fun!

OUR TEAM WANTS TO MAKE SURE that you have healthy teeth for life. That means that whether you’re in braces or you’re finished with treatment, there are some things that you should know about your oral health — including the way that asthma can impact it.

Were you a little surprised by the headline of this blog post? If so, you’re not alone. Many people are unaware of the link between asthma and tooth decay.

What Does Asthma Have To Do With Cavities?

When drawing breath doesn’t come easily, most people compensate by breathing through their mouths. This leads to dry mouth. When there’s not enough saliva to protect and clean your teeth, you’re left more vulnerable to decay-causing bacteria. In addition, some people compound the problem by sipping on sugary drinks all day trying to quench the dryness!

As if that weren’t enough, asthma and allergy medications themselves can cause even more dryness on top of the mouth breathing. Not a good combination.

Some Evidence — But It’s Not Just About Kids

A Swedish study of children and young adults with similar backgrounds and habits evaluated the links between asthma and caries. In the group of asthma-free kids, only 7 out of 20 developed tooth decay. Within the group with asthma, however, 19 out of 20 kids developed tooth decay. Although the study above centered around kids with asthma, the risks also apply to adults.

What You Can Do About It

Asthma may not have a simple fix, but tooth decay does. First and foremost, stick faithfully to the basics. Brush especially carefully while you’re in braces — at least twice a day. Floss to clean the places in your mouth where brushing misses. Keep your scheduled cleaning and checkup appointments. Avoid foods and drinks that are most harmful to your teeth.

And specific to the issue of dry mouth, here are some tips for increased, healthy saliva flow:

• Chew sugar-free gum.
• Occasionally suck on sugar-free mints.
• Drink plenty of water.

One More Special Note About Asthma

If you have asthma, please let our team know! The more we know about your health the better. It helps us advise and serve you better. If you have any questions about how asthma can impact your oral health, please ask us! We’re honored to be your resource.

If you have questions about your teeth, bite, or cavities, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California for a free orthodontic examination. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

Thanks for being a fantastic part of our practice! We appreciate our relationship with you.

WE’VE LONG HAD a New Year’s Eve tradition in my family. In a small book, my family and I write down our top ten list of favorite memories from the past year for which we are most thankful. These are the events, things, and times that brought us the most individual joy and were truly the most memorable and special events of the year for each one of us.

Next, we write our ten personal goals for the coming year, our New Year’s Resolutions. These top ten wish lists of what we would like to personally experience in the coming year are our personal hopes and dreams for the future.

We read these resolutions, past and future, out loud to each other and share our favorite memories from the past year one more time. We imagine and dream with hope and anticipation the new events we will be able to create by our actions in the coming year. It is so much fun to remember the special times we’ve had together and to look back on how far we’ve come. Our New Year’s resolutions will guide us through the new year, motivate us, and one by one, become a reality.

At this time, I would like to personally thank everyone — readers, patients, family, and friends — for being part of this past year and making 2017 a year to remember. We look forward with excitement and anticipation to seeing you again in 2018. We join you in our plans to make 2018 the best year ever.

Happy New Year from my family to yours and from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California.

Here's to 2018!

-Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SEASON brings about a most important need for excellent dental hygiene, brushing and flossing, and dental health: kissing under the mistletoe! You may be wondering how this holiday oral hygiene tradition got started.

Ancient Mistletoe Beliefs

Dating back to ancient times, mistletoe has been revered for its perceived health properties. The ancient Greeks believed mistletoe cured ailments while the Romans used mistletoe as a balm against ulcers.

The Celtic Druids admired mistletoe’s ability to blossom even during the frozen winter. In the 1st century, Druids considered mistletoe a symbol of vivacity and administered mistletoe berries to restore fertility.

However, it was Frigg from Norse mythology who first declared mistletoe a symbol of love. Frigg vowed to plant a kiss on all who deigned to pass beneath the mistletoe. This tradition of mistletoe kissing made mistletoe a symbol of vitality and fertility. This tradition continued to live on through the middle ages.

The Tradition As We Know It

In the 18th Century, mistletoe became incorporated into Christmas celebrations. The tradition of mistletoe as a Christmas kissing station became popular among servants in England. From there, the popularity of this Christmas decoration spread among people throughout the world. The tradition of mistletoe kissing allows a man to steal a kiss from a woman standing under the mistletoe. Refusing this kiss is a sign of bad luck.

Today in Northern California, Contra Costa County, and Mt. Diablo State Park, mistletoe grows as a hemiparasitic plant on the boughs of the barren winter oaks. It appears as giant green balls, like a giant Christmas tree ornament growing on the giant California Oaks, and waits there as a beckon of eternal fertility for special visitors on an afternoon stroll. The mistletoe can be picked and brought home for a special holiday celebration.

Have A Merry Christmas!

This Christmas holiday season, brush and floss your teeth twice a day, maintain excellent oral hygiene and dental health, smile big, and if your heart gives you the opportunity, take a moment to kiss someone special under the mistletoe.

We wish you good luck under the mistletoe this holiday season. Thank you for your support of Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, in Antioch, California now and through the year. From all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

RECENTLY, MY ORTHODONTIC team members and I invited some referring lady dentist friends to join us in beginning our Christmas Holiday celebration together by attending the Ladies Holiday Dinner at the Holy Rosary Church in Antioch, California.

Being a busy orthodontist, wife, and mom, I have very little time to prepare for social events. In the final moments, I realized I needed to bring a door prize for our table. What could be better than a box of Opalescence GO by Ultradent for someone “Dreaming of a White Christmas?”

After The Beautiful Dinner...

After the beautiful dinner, which included being served by husbands and Christmas Carols sung by the Deer Valley High School Choir, the door prizes were given out. I visited the table of the happy Opalescence GO tooth whitening winner to introduce myself and explain how simple it is to whiten your teeth with Opalescence GO trays by Ultradent. Simply place the preloaded whitening trays over the upper and lower teeth. After 20 minutes, remove trays, wipe teeth, rinse. Repeat each day until you’ve achieved the desired degree of tooth whiteness.

All The Ladies Were Amazed!

All the ladies at the winners table were amazed! They all wanted Opalescence GO whitening trays by Ultradent, available at Gorczyca Orthodontics or your local dental office. It’s that easy to whiten your teeth. So go whiten your teeth with Opalescence GO by Ultradent.

AT GORCZYCA ORTHODONTICS, you and your patient experience are our highest priority. We want you and your children to look forward to coming to your next orthodontic appointment and to leave happier than you came.

In addition to clinical excellence and outstanding customer service, we strive to make your orthodontic appointments a great experience and just plain FUN! We know it’s the little things that make you and your kids happy. That’s why we have upgraded our three reception area play stations.

Check Out Our Arcade!

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we now have 267 Sega Genesis and Atari games in the reception play area. So, pull up a bean bag and have some fun! Some games are classics that even Dad will enjoy playing. Some games will be new to you and your whole family.

Come early to your next appointment and allow time to take the Atari Sega challenge. Have some fun with your kids. Or, have your child bring a friend for a few game matches.

New Patient? We Can Answer Your Questions!

If you are new to Gorczyca Orthodontics, welcome! Find us at 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, in Antioch, CA (right behind Deer Valley High School). Visit us for a free orthodontic exam. Find us at www.clubbraces.com to learn more about board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, the excellent quality of our care, the history of Gorczyca Orthodontics, our outstanding customer service, and our amazing team of orthodontic professionals. We can’t wait to see you!

There’s something for everyone at Gorczyca Orthodontics. Come a little early and make yourself at home. We love seeing you, your family, and your smiles. Be our guest, have your teeth straightened and bite corrected, and have some fun at the same time.

We’re looking forward to seeing you. See you soon at Gorczyca Orthodontics! (925) 757-9000

IT’S EASY TO REMEMBER the character Count Dracula, a vampire, seen as a popular costume for both children and adults at Halloween. Dracula’s appearance is unforgettable as a thin, pale, tall man with a long nose, pointed ears, dressed in black, wearing a black cape.

But the most unforgettable feature of Count Dracula's appearance is his teeth. Sharp and pointy, they were described in Bram Stoker's original 1897 Gothic novel Dracula as “a smile of which the Count could not be proud.”

Although the novel Dracula is a work of fiction, it does contain historical references to Transylvanian-born Voivode Vlad III Dracula of Wallachia who reigned as ruler from 1456-1462. “Dracula” means “Son of Dracul,” Order of the Dragon knights, founded by Sigismund of Luxembourg (then King of Hungary).

As An Orthodontist, I’ve Wondered...

As an orthodontist, I’ve often wondered, did the historical figure Vlad Dracula have hypererupted maxillary canines?

Upper side teeth (maxillary canines) that stick out too far (hypererupt) are common and affect 1-2 percent of the population. Because these upper canine teeth are the last teeth to come in at the front of the dental arch, they are the teeth that most often stick out. 

This is a serious orthodontic problem not only for the sake of appearance, but also because it may lead to these teeth getting stuck in the bone (dental impaction) or making the roots of surrounding teeth dissolve (root resorption), which could lead to tooth loss. This occurs when not enough space is available in the dental arch for the canine teeth. There also appears to be a genetic basis for this eruption phenomenon.

Early Orthodontic Treatment Could Have Prevented It... 

The prevention of this “Dracula tooth” problem is to orthodontically create enough space early. This can be done by orthodontic dental arch expansion or tooth extraction, which is what we do at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. For this reason, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child receive an orthodontic examination by age 7, and so does Orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca.

Count Dracula’s life could have been changed by early orthodontic treatment. Perhaps he could have grown garlic in the sunlight, lit more candles, smiled more often, married, had children, and lived happily ever after in his Carpathian Mountain castle!

APPLE SEASON IS HERE and every orthodontist knows what you're thinking: can I eat apples slices with caramel with my braces?

The answer is: YES!

Take Care When Eating Apples With Braces

A favorite treat in September and all year round, apples can be eaten with braces as long as they are cut into thin slices. Remember to slice your apples with braces and enjoy this healthy treat.

What you need to AVOID with braces is biting directly into an UNSLICED APPLE with braces. Biting directly into an unsliced apple with your front teeth while wearing braces is very likely to break off your orthodontic brackets. This will create an orthodontic emergency which will need attention and rework for you and your orthodontic office.

The most dangerous apple of all for braces is the candied apple. Biting into a candied apple with braces is orthodontic bracket suicide! DON'T DO IT! Even slicing a candied apple is not good. Stay away from candied apples with braces.

You're The Apple Of Our Eye!

Thank you from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics for taking care of your braces during apple season. If you have questions about braces, call us at (925) 757-9000 for a free orthodonic exam. Visit us at 5201 Deer Valley Road in Antioch, California right behind Deer Valley High School.

A sliced apple a day keeps the orthodontist away! Remember to slice your apples with braces.

Top image by Flickr user rumpleteaser used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

YOUR TEETH DON’T NEED TO GET IN THE WAY when you’re jamming with the band. Playing an instrument like flute, saxophone, or trumpet for hours with braces can quickly make your lips raw. You can try using wax, but this is neither easy nor ideal for the embouchure of the serious musician.

Invisalign is the perfect way to straighten your teeth when you are either a professional or aspiring horn player.

Invisalign Retainers Won’t Get In The Way Of Your Music!

Invisalign clear aligners can be worn when performing or practicing your instrument so that continuous orthodontic tooth movement can be made. When needed, your aligners can be removed for a gig, audition, or an important concert. Whether on or off the stage, your smooth aligners will always be comfortable.

We Have Extensive Experience With Invisalign

We have treated hundreds of patients successfully with Invisalign and Invisalign teen. You can find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925)757-9000 for a complimentary Invisalign or Invisalign teen consultation with our board certified orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorcyzca.

Invisalign aligners will help you look, feel, and sound great. We’d love to hear your music. Let Invisalign keep your licks and riffs simply amazing.

“WHEN I AM ASKED what I love most about my work, my answer is always the patients. They are what keeps me coming to work each day. I love calling each of them by name, and knowing each one of them individually, their likes and dislikes, their children, spouses, and their activities and vacations, are all of interest to me.”

I Love Going The Extra Mile For Our Patients

“I love going out of my way to do nice things for our patients. Whether it's sending a thank you note, decorating the office, calling to ask how they are, or scheduling an appointment for them in another dental or specialty office, it is always my pleasure to serve the patient and their family in any way that I can. I am thankful that I am able to do this at Gorczyca Orthodontics.”

“I also love training new dental assistants. Several of these young assistants have kept in touch with me when no they were longer at our office. Some of them even call me their second mother! I never planned that things would be this way but being part of dental education has been an important part of my life and career in dentistry. I presently serve on the board of the dental assisting department at the local college, which I attended for my own dental assistant training over 38 years ago!”

I Am At Your Service!

“This has been my personal journey of service to my patients, my teammates, Dr. Gorczyca, our community and the dental profession. It has been a fun trip and I am very thankful for my career in dentistry.”

-Jolene at Gorczyca Orthodontics

Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

MEN: AFTER YOU GET ENGAGED, prepare to say "I Do" to a beautiful new smile.

Get Your Smile Ready For The Big Day

Most men seeking orthodontic treatment, are brought to the orthodontist by a woman. Usually, it is their fiancee wanting to get her future bride groom's smile ready for the big day.

In other cases, it could be a wife, who, after marriage decides that she would like her husband to have a functional bite and beautiful smile. This is what a wife would love to look at across the dinner table each night.

Otherwise, it is a mother who wants her son to look his very best for when he meets the right girl, dates, gets engaged, and for his wedding day.

Beautiful Smiles Help In Many Areas Of Life

Men: no matter which woman brings you to the orthodontist, having straight teeth, a beautiful smile, and great self-esteem, affects how you feel, who you date, getting engaged, your professional success, self-confidence, and getting married.

We Can Help Bring Out Your Best Smile!

If you are a man and you would like to have the beneftis of beautiful straight teeth, call us for a complimentary consultation for braces, Invisalign, or retainers at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 or www.clubbraces.com.

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Men: thinking of getting engaged or married? Get ready with a beautiful new smile for life and the big day ahead.

YOU’RE IN A RUSH, AT THE airport, hosting a conference, giving presentations, and meeting with very important clients. All through your busy day, you, the business professional, need to look and feel your best. You want straight, white teeth. Your every word counts. Clients need to listen to you, not stare at your teeth.

Invisalign Is Perfect For Your Lifestyle

That’s why, for the professional on the go, Invisalign is the orthodontic treatment of choice. Invisalign is comfortable, clear, and removable. 3-D computer generated and high tech, these trays are precision generated for the fastest, most effective orthodontic treatment result possible. To further cut your treatment time in half, add Acceledent. With Invisalign, you can see your virtual treatment result from the start and even bleach your teeth while you wear your trays.

Call For A Free Consultation

There’s nothing to hold you back. It’s time for Invisalign.

Call Gorczyca Orthodontics at 925-757-9000 for a free consultation.

WE’RE NOT ALL BORN WITH beautiful teeth. When teeth need a beauty makeover, your orthodontist will prepare you for veneers.

Some teeth are too narrow...

Some teeth are too short...

Some teeth do not match the opposite side.

Like magic, all of these conditions can be fixed.

At your initial orthodontic exam, your orthodontist will measure the width and height of your upper front teeth and plan the most beautiful smile makeover possible. Your orthodontist will work closely with your general dentist to give you the best result.

Ready To Get Started? Give Us A Call

If your teeth are in need of a beauty makeover, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com for a complimentary tooth size and shade assessment and orthodontic treatment plan for veneers.

Abracadabra! Like magic, you have a beautiful smile.

IT’S A BUSY TIME of year. There are end of year school programs, eight grade graduations, and families making plans for their long awaited summer break.

Get Ahead On Getting Braces This Summer!

In the midst of all the planning, don’t forget to get your braces before summer vacation. Enjoy your summer vacation family time and use it also to straighten your teeth, while not sitting in the dental chair! Get your orthodontic treatment started before the start of your summer vacation.

The excellent team at Gorczyca Orthodontics is working hard, expanding our office hours, and working overtime to get your braces placed and Invisalign started before June 16th when school gets out for summer.

Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation Today!

Call Gorczyca Orthodontics today at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary consultation. Find us at www.clubbraces.com. We are located at 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A in Antioch, California, right behind Deer Valley High School.

Whether it’s braces, Invisalign, or retainers, take time now to get your orthodontic treatment started so you can truly enjoy your vacation when school gets out for summer.

IF YOU WANTED TO STRAIGHTEN your teeth back in the day, you really only had one option–traditional metal braces. The science of orthodontics has evolved significantly in recent years, allowing our patients to have a variety of different options when it comes to how they would like to have their teeth straightened and what is most convenient for them. Today, we want to talk about Invisalign®!

Invisalign Treatment Provides Many Benefits

Not everyone is a good candidate for Invisalign, but if you are, it may be a great option to achieve your dream smile!

As the name implies, Invisalign trays are nearly invisible, allowing you to go throughout your daily activities with most people being unaware that you are undergoing orthodontic treatment! The aligners are custom-made for you, ensuring a perfect, comfortable fit.

Of course one of the best perks of choosing Invisalign is being able to eat whatever you want! Because you can take your aligners off while eating and drinking, you don’t have to worry about staying away from the foods that you love. Invisalign trays also don’t affect your oral hygiene routine like traditional braces do. You can brush and floss as you normally would! With Invisalign, you don’t have to sacrifice comfort to get the smile you’ve always wanted.

And even though we love to see you, patients with Invisalign generally need to come in less frequently than our other orthodontic patients. If you have a busy schedule but still want to improve your smile, Invisalign might be just the thing for you!

Many Invisalign patients at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California are parents of braces patients. After completing Invisalign, most of our adult patients state that they wish they had straightened their teeth sooner.

Keep your teeth straight with Invisalign Vivera retainers. Should you choose Invisalign Vivera retainers you will receive four sets.

Talk To Us About Invisalign

Gorczyca Orthodontics has been providing Invisalign treatment since 1999. We are a Preferred Provider for Invisalign and a top Invisalign provider in East Contra Costa County serving the communities of Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakley, Brentwood, and Discovery Bay California.

Invisalign costs the same as braces and the orthodontic consultations at Gorczyca Orthodontics are free. Give us a call today to find out more about Invisalign. Call us at (925) 757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com.

Thank you for choosing our practice. We absolutely love our patients!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

LIFE CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE. When times get tough, it can be tempting to postpone or maybe even neglect your orthodontic treatment. Resist that temptation! Doing so can compromise the health of your teeth and the end result of your treatment. There’s a better way to save money and stay healthy: A Preventative Care Plan.

Part 1: Do Your Part At Home

All you need is a toothbrush, some dental floss, and five minutes of your day. Thorough daily brushing and flossing helps to prevent tooth decay as well as decalcification that can be caused by plaque buildup around your appliance. This is the most important part of your new preventative care plan and only you can do it!

Part 2: Don’t Skip Your Dental Visits

Deep cleanings from your dentist can reach those areas you can’t—such as below the gums—and can help fight plaque and other dental demons. Regular maintenance appointments are less expensive than restorative work.

Part 3: Fix Problems Early

If something is wrong or doesn’t feel right with your appliance, contact us immediately. To stay on track with your treatment, it’s important that we catch and fix any problems while they’re still minor.

One thing is for sure, crowded teeth will continue to get worse over time. Crowded teeth can compromise dental and periodontal health. An unhealthy bite can also lead to excessive tooth wear, tooth sensitivity, and jaw discomfort. The sooner you can receive an orthodontic examination and treatment with either braces, Invisalign, or retainers to correct your orthodontic problem the better. Your oral health goal is to keep your teeth healthy for life.

Your Preventative Plan May Be A Life Saver

By following this plan you can better protect yourself from major issues down the road. Some studies even indicate that neglecting your oral health may lead to other health issues including cardiovascular problems and diabetes. Faithfully following your “Preventative Dental Care Plan” helps keep you healthy.

Questions?

Let us know if you have any questions about your at-home oral care techniques. 

Call us today at Gorczyca Orthodontics for a complimentary orthodontic consultation at (925) 757-9000 or find us at www.clubbraces.com.

We see children as early at seven years of age. There are many orthodontic problems that can be prevented by early orthodontic treatment with braces, expansion appliances, or retainers.

Thank you for being our patients and friends!

THEY ANSWER THE PHONE ON the first ring with a smile. They are kind and courteous, committed and empathic. They are always there to serve you, our valued patient, make your appointments, and tell you "We're looking forward to seeing you again soon." These are the administrative professionals who keep the world, our schedules, and Gorczyca Orthodontics moving forward.

So today we on Administrative Professionals Day, we stop and take a moment to say "Thank You" to those great people who answer the phone when you need help most.

We're Grateful For Our Administrative Professionals

At Gorczyca Orthodontics we'd like to take a moment to thank Receptionist Roberta, Patient Coordinator Pam, and Treatment Coordinator Veronica for keeping the Gorczyca Orthodontics phone lines going. We want them to know, we think they are terrific!

We appreciate our administrative professionals' commitment to striving to be the very best in patient service and care. Recently, Roberta, Pam, and Veronica completed additional professional development with Front Office Rocks with Laura Hatch. Their dedication and commitment to serving our customers at Gorczyca Orthodontics, our valued patients, is appreciated.

From Pam, welcoming our new patients, to Veronica, conducting the new patient exam and experience, to Roberta scheduling treatment appointments, we want each of our customer service leaders to know we notice what they do, appreciate their service, and give them thanks and gratitude.

So,

Thanks for all the time you spare,
Thanks for showing that you care.

Thanks for being kind and smart.
Thanks for having tons of heart.

Thanks for everything you do-
Thanks so much for being you!

Happy Administrative Professionals Day from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics!

If you would like to speak to any of these fine ladies and find out more about orthodontics, straight teeth, and Gorczyca Orthodontics, call us at 925-757-9000. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

OVER ONE THIRD OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION has undergone orthodontic treatment at some point in their life. That’s a lot of people!

In the past, orthodontic treatment was typically a luxury reserved for the wealthy or those with extreme cases of orthodontic deformations. Today, getting braces is a routine procedure that can beautify your smile and improve your oral health. But how did braces become what they are today?

Braces Are Older Than You Think

Having a perfect smile isn’t a modern idea; early forms of braces in Egypt have been discovered by archaeologists in mummified remains. Cords made from animal intestines were wrapped around or run along the teeth in an attempt to close gaps.

More evidence of primitive orthodontic procedures from as early as 1000 B.C. has been found in ancient Greece and Rome. When preparing the body for the afterlife, these ancient civilizations would put a type of mouthguard onto the body to protect the deceased wearer’s teeth from collapsing inwards after time and make sure they looked good in the afterlife.

French Dentists Made Progress In The 18th Century

During the 18th century, two books were written that made significant strides in the field of dentistry and orthodontics.

In 1728, “The Surgeon’s Dentist” was written by Pierre Fauchard, in which he discusses the idea of a device he called a “bandeau.” It was similar to a mouthguard and was thought to help teeth stay in their intended position.

Pierre Bourdet, dentist to the King of France, wrote “The Dentist’s Art” 30 years later and made the discovery that wisdom teeth could be removed to avoid dental crowding, a common cause of misaligned teeth.

The 19th And 20th Centuries Show Us The Braces We Know Today

In 1819, Christophe-Francois Delabarre was the first to use a wire “crib” placed over each set of two teeth. This was the earliest version of braces that most closely resembles the one we see today.

The actual term “braces” wasn’t used until the 1900s. Braces of the 20th century, however, were very different from the ones we think of today. Bands were wrapped around each tooth and connected between teeth by a wire. Dentists used various materials for braces including ivory, silver, gold, copper, zinc, and even wood!

Everything changed in the 1970s with the advent of stainless steel, used for wiring, and dental adhesive, which allowed brackets to stick onto the face of each tooth. These advances made braces significantly less painful and allowed for shorter treatment times!

Invisible Aligners Take Braces Technology To The Next Level

Invisible aligners, popularized in 1997, advanced the technology of braces further still. 3D computer technology combined with the idea of translucent plastic retainers now allows people to obtain a beautiful smile without having metal brackets attached to the teeth.

We’ve Come A Long Way!

From the ancient Egyptians to the dentist of King Louis XV and all the way to the present, we’ve learned a lot about straightening teeth. Orthodontic dentistry has advanced tremendously over the last 3,000 years and we’re proud to say that obtaining a straighter smile has never been easier or more rewarding!

If you have questions, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA www.clubbraces.com. Call us at (925) 757-9000.

Thank you for being a valued patient and trusting us with your smile!

Top image by Flickr user East Midtown used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Pam, Patient Coordinator, Front Desk Concierge at Gorczyca Orthodontics

"As patient concierge at the front desk, I am thrilled to welcome you as a new patient to Gorczyca Orthodontics. When you visit our office, I will be the first person you see. You will find a comfortable, positive and energy-filled office culture. We love our patients and it shows."

We're Happy To Welcome You To Our Office!

"When you enter our office, you will be greeted by me and our happy and devoted team members. Our professional portraits are displayed by name on the front wall. Included here is our Mission Statement: 'Caring Professionals Serving Valued Patients.' This is what each of our team members aims to be. Service is what we aim to deliver."

Our Core Values

"We have three core values at Gorczyca Orthodontics: 'Clinical Excellence, Outstanding Customer Service, and a Great Patient Experience.' Every patient has my promise that I will make their orthodontic care as enjoyable and easy as possible. I am happy to be part of every patient experience and devoted to making it great."

"Lastly, as I schedule your next appointment, you have my appreciation for choosing our office for your orthodontics needs. Thank you also for referring your family and friends. Your smile is our inspiration. I look forward to seeing you and your friends and family again soon."

Have Questions? Give Us A Call!

"If you have any questions about Gorczyca Orthodontics, orthodontic treatment, braces, Invisalign, retainers, or Dr. Gorczyca, please call me at (925) 757-9000 to get your questions answered. Visit us at 5201 Deer Valley Road in Antioch right behind Deer Valley High School. Find us at www.clubbraces.com."

"Welcome to Gorczyca Orthodontics. We're happy you're here!"- Pam

INVISALIGN ISN’T THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR EVERYONE, BUT if you’re a good candidate, there are LOTS of reasons for choosing Invisalign—and they’re not all simply about going metal-free!

Clear, removable Invisalign trays are a less invasive orthodontic treatment method. With Invisalign technology, your teeth can be straightened without causing inconveniences to your daily life.

Benefits You Probably Didn’t Expect

The most obvious difference between Invisalign treatment and braces is their appearance, but there’s more to it than that. For example...

• Less office visits. We’ll see you only once every 8 - 10 weeks.
• Invisalign trays can sometimes double as whitening trays or protective mouth gear for sports.
• The removable trays allow you to brush and floss normally, which results in better oral health during treatment.
• You can enjoy the foods you choose, without the dietary restrictions of braces.
• The smooth plastic trays are more comfortable, so you won’t deal with the irritation metal brackets sometimes cause.

Straight Teeth Provide More Than A Great Look

Aesthetics aside, having straight teeth is important for a number of reasons. Straight teeth are easier to clean and floss. They also guard against uneven wear, and painful TMD problems. Straighter teeth allow for more efficient chewing and enhance food digestion. Straight teeth can even cause better pronunciation and speech!

Your Treatment Plan Is Personalized To YOUR Smile

Invisalign time and cost are comparable to traditional braces. Every case is unique. Some treatments may be more cost and time effective than traditional braces, some less. Orthodontic treatment is dependent upon the diagnosis, treatment plan and skill of the orthodontist regardless of what treatment modality is used, braces, aligners, or removable active appliances.

To find an orthodontist in your area, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org. To find a Board Certified orthodontist in your area visit the American Board of Orthodontists at americanboardortho.com.

Is Invisalign Right For You?

Schedule an appointment with us! We’d love to see what we can do to improve and preserve your beautiful smile. Thanks in advance for your trust. We hope to see you soon!

Board certified orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics has been providing Invisalign treatment since 1999. We have treated hundred of cases successfully. Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary Invisalign or Invisalignteen consultation.

Find out if Invisalign is right for you. Here’s to your Invisalign smile!

Top image by Flickr user Will used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

MARCH IS THE SEASON OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL, and at Gorczyca Orthodontics, it is the season of Duke's basketball Coach K.

We Love Coach K!

We just love Coach K! At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we're a team. Just like at basketball team, 5 on the court working together to accomplish a goal, we work together closely and seamlessly at Gorczyca Orthodontics to deliver orthodontic clinical excellence, outstanding customer service, and a great patient experience.

There is no one who knows and describes teamwork better than Coach K. As a team at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Dr. G, Jolene, Veronica, Pam, Roberta, Dana, Gwen, and Patti have followed many of Coach K's leadership and team building principles in the selection and development of their own leadership team.

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we practice that "Always the truth shall be spoken." We keep our "heads in the game" and believe in occasionally using Coach K's F word: "FOCUS!"

At huddles and in team meetings, Dr. Gorczyca will often think "What would Coach K say?" Coach K is also Polish just like her and has a name "Kryzewski" with many of the same consonants and just as hard to spell.

It's All About Teamwork

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we spell teamwork TOCARE: Trust, Ownership, Communication, Accountability, Results, and Excellence. This is what Gorczyca Orthodontics strives for as a team every day. These are the characteristics we select for and develop in each of our team members.

To give rival UNC a little attention, Gorczyca Orthodontics also likes legendary basketball coach Roy Williams. Like Coach Williams, Dr. Gorczyca requires "If you want to be part of the team, do something. Be part of the team." Just like Coach Williams, Dr. Gorczyca doesn't allow her team members to "just go through the motions."

There's a lot we can all learn from college basketball. One thing you can be sure of is that you will find an engaged, winning orthodontic team at Gorczyca Orthodontics. Come get your "head in the game" at Gorczyca Orthodontics. Join us for a beautiful smile, straight teeth, teamwork, March Madness, and little Coach K.

Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Orthodontist

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Antioch, CA 925-757-9000, http://www.clubbraces.com/

WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND when you think about YouTube?

If you’re like most people, the first thing you probably think is, “The place for funny, viral videos.” But did you know that YouTube is now the #2 search engine on the web? That’s right. People love watching videos—not just for entertainment, but also to better digest the information they’re looking for.

On our practice’s YouTube channel, we try to create, and/or aggregate, some of the very best thinking in orthodontics today. We do that so you can reference a hub of useful, relevant information about your oral health, your dental comfort, and your appearance.

And sometimes, we just like to have a little fun too.

So take a moment to browse the videos on our YouTube channel. We go out and collect a lot of the best thinking on the web so you don’t have to spend hours searching, or wondering about the credibility of what you’re watching.

You can see our channel by clicking on the link below:

And as always, THANKS for the trust you place in our practice, and for being our valued patient.

EVERYONE LOVES A DREAM TEAM: people working together with joy for a common purpose. So it is at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

We Love Our Amazing Team!

In recognition of National Dental Assistant's Appreciation Week, March 1-7, we would like to recognize the excellent team at Gorczyca Orthodontics: Jolene, Gwen, Patti, Dana, Pam, Roberta, and Veronica.

Together you deliver orthodontic clinical excellence, outstanding customer service, and a great patient experience. You make each day fun and every orthodontic appointment enjoyable. You live the mission: Caring Professionals Serving Valued Patients. You are the Gorczyca Orthodontics dream team.

Your achievements deserve recognition. Whether it's Jolene, a 38 year dental assistant veteran and dental assisting board member at Diablo Valley College training yet another office intern, or Veronica achieving insurance billing excellence. Whether it's Patti making our office sparkle and the cleanest orthodontic office in the world, or Gwen submitting yet another Invisalign Clin-check. Whether it's Dana being completely caught up on her initial records lateral ceph digitization or placing braces at 5:30 p.m., Roberta cheerfully answering the phone within 3 rings, or Pam making one last patient phone call to schedule a new exam. You all go the extra mile to provide outstanding patient care. Gorczyca Orthodontics could not do all that we do without you.

Thank You For All You Do

We appreciate each one of you individually and as a team this special week and every week of the year. Thank you for being part of our team and for all that you do for Gorczyca Orthodontics.

So High Five! Ta-Dah!! Well done!!! GO TEAM! Here's to celebrating YOU!

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California 925-757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Orthodontist

"EVERY FAMILY IS SPECIAL, and every patient is unique. To me, that's what customer service is all about, individualized attention.

I love working with new patients and their families here at Gorczyca Orthodontics, answering questions about orthodontics, and delivering the desired smile that patients deserve.

Customer service is noble selflessness. I am here to serve the patient and assure them what I CAN DO for them, to serve their needs. We want to make orthodontic treatment possible for everyone."

"It is my job to give prompt responses to new patient questions to help them get started with treatment. 'What questions do you have for me?' is something I say dozens of times each day. I listen and take time to answer all patient questions until every question is answered.

My communication comes in many forms: text messaging, e-mailing, calling, as well as personal mail. There can never be too much follow-up communication with patients. In today's busy world, patients need help prioritizing time and activities. That's what I'm here to do: prioritize orthodontic treatment."

"When a patient tells me 'I can't afford treatment' I consider they are telling me 'Show me how I can afford this treatment which I desire, need and deserve.' I tell the patient what I CAN DO for them, not what I can't. Sooner or later, we come to a workable solution and a financial arrangement to start treatment.

Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing our patient's beautiful smiles. Once you are our patient, we want to maintain our relationship with you even after the orthodontic treatment is completed. We want to be your family's orthodontic office for life.

To me, customer care means working at our best and treating each new patient like family. Customer service is what I love most about my job as a treatment coordinator at Gorczyca Orthodontics."

Thank You, Veronica

Veronica has been both a patient and intern at Gorczyca Orthodontics. She has been an employee and proud member of the service team for over 15 years. She was the winner of the 2016 Gorczyca Orthodontics Customer Service Award.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California (925) 757-9000 www.clubbraces.com Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Diplomate American Board of Orthodontics.

DO YOU HAVE a teenager not excited about braces? Here's some great news: teenagers can straighten teeth with Invisalign Teen and get great results.

Invisalign Teen Provides More Confidence In Your Smile

Invisalign Teen and your orthodontist will give your teenager a great smile without metal braces. Straight teeth will also give your teenager more confidence with their smile and make them feel terrific.

The Invisalign Teen system is a series of customized, clear trays which gradually move teeth. Orthodontic tooth movement is done by the trays and orthodontic elastics attached to teeth and aligners which help move teeth to an ideal position.

Invisalign Treatment Is Quick And Easy

Average treatment with Invisalign Teen is one to two years. Aligners are comfortable and help maintain good oral hygiene. Invisalign Teen can be removed so teenagers can eat whatever they want. Lastly, the blue dot indicator let's parents and the orthodontist know when trays have been worn the prescribed number of hours.

Your teenager will love Invisalign Teen. Ask us about Invisalign Teen at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary Invisalign consultation.

Give your teenager the gift of Invisalign Teen. Enjoy straight teeth, a beautiful smile, and your time together.

Top image by Flickr user Carrie A. used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

ARE YOU ON INSTAGRAM? We are too. We know it might seem crazy to follow a healthcare provider on Instagram, but we honestly treasure our relationships with you. We consider you friends, and we care about what’s going on in your lives!

The Advantage To YOU, Our Valued Patient

• No obnoxious self-promotion; every post is considered from your point of view.
• You’re the first to know about cool news and deals at our office.
• Get those regular reminders and tidbits about how to have the best personal daily care.

We love getting to know all of our patients at Gorczyca Orthodontics and we hope that you would enjoy getting to know us. Instagram gives us the opportunity to show you our practice culture and what makes us unique as your orthodontic healthcare providers.

Our Instagram posts feature our patients, our team, treatments, and visits our personal lives. You will see us feature events from our office, Antioch, and Northern California community.

Keep In Touch, Stay Healthier!

A better relationship with your healthcare team means better health for you. Reminders and information about daily care is what makes a big difference in a healthy lifestyle.

Thank you for being counted among our Gorczyca Orthodontics Instagram friends and family. We look forward to seeing you on Instagram!

Gorcyzca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California 94531 www.clubbraces.com (925) 757-9000.

AT GORCZYCA ORTHODONTICS, we personally care about each and every one of our patients.

We Provide Personalized Care

We are not a huge chain. We have only one excellent doctor, six assistants and six treatment chairs. Five chairs are scheduled with patients. Each patient has their own assigned dental assistant serving them throughout their appointment. We have one over flow chair so we are never without a chair or in a rush for your appointment to end.

After you are seated, Dr. Gorcyzca will be briefed before she examines you. She will make a recommendation for your adjustment and your next appointment. We will always ask if there is anything more we can do for you before you are dismissed.

We Love Getting To Know Our Patients!

It's great to know you! At your initial exam we ask "Tell Us About Yourself." We start our treatment by getting to know you and addressing your orthodontic concerns. We aim to treat each patient, one at a time, with tender loving care.

There is only one orthodontist at Gorczyca Orthodontics. Dr. Gorczyca diagnoses and plans treatment for each and every case personally. She is Board Certified, in the Angle Society, a university professor, and has over 25 years experience and has treated over 10,000 orthodontic patients successfully.

Each Patient Is Unique

Every bite is unique and every person is special. This is one of the things that makes our work at Gorczyca Orthodontics so rewarding.

Dr. Gorczyca will communicate closely with your general dentist about your orthodontic care. It is important for you to have regular dental cleanings during treatment. Restorative and cosmetic treatment procedures and oral surgery and periodontal care will be coordinated with your orthodontic treatment.

We honor our relationship with you, the customer. We will work hard to give you personalized care and a beautiful smile. We look forward to seeing you soon. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925)757-9000.

You're just a phone call away from a beautiful smile.

WHEN I THINK OF THANKSGIVING, I have fond memories of growing up in the cranberry capitol of the world, Southeastern Massachusetts in the small town of East Freetown. On nearby corners were cranberry bogs which, in the fall, would be flooded to produce a red froth of cranberries floating on the water, which would be vacuumed up and carried away. In the winter, these bogs made excellent ice skating rinks.

Dad's Cranberry Sauce

Every Thanksgiving, Professor Tinkham would give my Dad bags of cranberries grown in his bogs in Acushnet, Massachusetts. Although my Dad hardly cooked, he would take special time to make his one recipe, homemade cranberry sauce. In a giant pot, he would stir his secret ingredients including sugar, orange zest, cinnamon and spices. On Thanksgiving day he would proudly serve his special cranberry sauce made with love.

Cranberries And The Pilgrims

After Thanksgiving dinner, my family and I would often visit Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth Plantation) to see where the pilgrims landed the Mayflower in 1620. Located on a hillside over looking the Atlantic, this settlement could be so cold in late November that our hands would freeze and our faces burn from the wind blowing up the coast. As we sought refuge in a one room Pilgrim house with a small fire and dirt floor I would often think "How did this these people survive?"

Perhaps the cranberry helped. Rich in vitamin C and fiber, the cranberry was a new food to the Pilgrims introduced to them by the Wampanoag Indians. Today we know the many health benefits of cranberries as an anti-oxidant, anti-cancer food as well as an anti-inflammtory agent. In addition, cranberry sauce simply looks good and tastes great at Thanksgiving.

There's a lot of history in a tiny cranberry. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics and please pass the cranberry sauce.

Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca
Gorczyca Orthodontics
Antioch, California www.clubbraces.com

THANKSGIVING IS just around the corner! Not only is it a time to share good company, it’s a time to share good food!

It’s Time To Share Our Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes!

Each family has their own signature dish they serve this time of year. Today, we’d like to share some of our team member’s favorites!

Dana: My favorite dish is scalloped potatoes. We slice potatoes thin and bake them with cheese and milk. They're delicious!

Jolene: I love Pecan Pie. It's my favorite!

Pam: The stuffing is fantastic. We make homemade stuffing with turkey giblets and add the turkey gravy. It is my favorite thing to eat.

Dr. Gorczyca: I just love the mashed potatoes with gravy. If that were the only think I ate at Thanksgiving I would be happy. I get hungry just thinking about it! Let's not forget the cranberry sauce as well. It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce.

Veronica and Roberta: Turkey, plain and simple. This by far was our most popular answer of all team members and even our patients. The turkey is what makes Thanksgiving special. "It also puts me to sleep so I need to take a nap after I eat Thanksgiving turkey!"

Special patient: Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes make me say "Yum!"

Very special patient: Ham with pineapples. I love it so much I even eat it at Thanksgiving!

Do you have a favorite holiday recipe? Feel free to share it with us on our Facebook page or in the comments below!

Do you need help picking the perfect turkey? Maybe Marta Stewart can help!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7eMosK54Sc

Have A Happy Thanksgiving!

There you have it, our Thanksgiving favorites. Wishing you a very special Thanksgiving from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California www.clubbraces.com

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Top image by Flickr user jeffreyw used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

ON JULY 4, 1851, William. W. Smith held a picnic for the town residents of what was called Smith's Landing, at Smith's Point. In memory of his deceased brother, Rev. Joseph Horton Smith, William named the town which he and his brother had settled one year earlier, Antioch, California.

The History of Antioch's Pilgrims

Born in New Hampshire, the Smith brothers were itinerant ministers. Following the call of gold and intrigued by California, "The Paradise of America, where summer reigns perpetually," they sailed from Boston, Massachusetts to the San Francisco Bay. They landed on July 6, 1849 and on December 24, 1849, acquired a portion of land for $500 from Dr. John Marsh of Brentwood in return for starting a settlement. They never paid Marsh but settled the area just east of what is now downtown Antioch.

On February 5, 1850 Rev. Joseph H. Smith died of malaria. W. W. Smith moved to higher ground overlooking the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, to the area which is now First Street.

W. W. Smith chose the name Antioch since it was where "the disciples were first called Christians according to Acts 11:25-26." The ancient city of Antioch is featured prominently in the Bible and was the third largest city in the Roman Empire following Alexandria and Rome. Previously in Syria, ancient Antioch is now modern day Antakya, Turkey.

A stone monument marks the place where W. W. Smith welcomed a ship of the early settlers to Antioch on September 16, 1850. this monument sits at the foot of Kimball (F) Street. W. W. Smith was the true founder of Antioch. He died in October, 1899.

Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Antioch, California www.clubbraces.com

THE UPPER CANINE TOOTH, cuspid tooth, or pointed "eye tooth" is the last front tooth to come into the front upper dental arch. When space runs out, this gets pushed out of position. This tooth may become impacted in bone, stuck, and not come in at all. Or, it may push its way out and over the other teeth making its way into the dental arch. It is now hypererupted. It appears as a "Snaggletooth."

Dental Arch Expansion Can Prevent A Snaggletooth

If orthodontic treatment is started early, dental arches can be expanded to prevent the creation of a snaggletooth. This is why the American Association of Orthodontists and all orthodontists recommend an orthodontic examination by age 7.

In Some Cases, Tooth Extraction Is Necessary

In adults, depending on bone, soft tissue or gums, tooth position and facial appearance, snaggletooth treatment may require tooth extraction. The snaggletooth is a very important tooth with a long root. It is usually the tooth behind it which need removal.

We Love Helping Our Patients Make The Most Of Their Smiles!

To find out how orthodontics can help you prevent snaggletooth in the first place, visit Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. Please schedule your child's examination by age 7. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary exam.

See your orthodontist if you need help with a Snaggletooth. Here's to your happiness and living snaggle free.

Top image by Flickr user Mark Anderson used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

WHO DOESN’T WANT straight teeth and a beautiful smile? We all do! For those of you who have put off orthodontic treatment in the past due to lengthy treatment time, we have the solution for you. We offer the PROPEL® system at our practice to give you your dream smile in half the time!

What Is The Propel System?

Orthodontics works by changing and remodeling the bones that surround your teeth. Using the Propel system, we can accelerate the process of bone remodeling, causing your teeth to move more quickly.

The FDA approved Propel system uses a medical device to stimulate the bone surrounding teeth. Used in conjunction with orthodontic systems like invisible aligners and traditional braces, straightening teeth becomes quicker and more efficient.

The minimally invasive Propel procedure is performed in minutes here at our practice. Patients can return to their daily schedule and activities with no needed recovery time!

Here’s Why You Should Consider Propel

Because it works! If you’ve put off straightening your teeth, now is the time to do it. With Propel orthodontics, getting the smile you’ve always wanted is faster and more efficient than ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqECorIo2Sg

Propel is especially effective in the treatment of impacted canine teeth. An impacted tooth makes a long journey through thick bone. This journey can sometimes take up to a year for your tooth to come into it's ideal position. Working with your oral surgeon at the time of canine exposure, your bone can be softened by Propel, like making tiny cracks in ice, so that your tooth can move it's way through the bone more easily, quickly, and comfortably while shortening your orthodontic treatment time.

Propel can also be effectively used with Invisalign. Using Propel will allow you to change your trays every week rather than every two weeks, cutting your treatment time in half.

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we like to offer Propel at the time of wisdom tooth extraction. We work with your oral surgeon to complete the Propel procedure while under anesthesia so you don't even feel that you have had it done!

With Propel, You Don’t Have To Waste Any Time

Our goal is to provide the best orthodontic care to our patients. That’s why we offer Propel in our practice. With the Propel system, you can straighten your teeth in half the time! Don’t let drawn-out treatment times keep you from getting your dream smile.

If you have questions about Propel or accelerated orthodontics, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

Here's to your beautiful Propel smile!

Talk to us about Propel today!

Our patients are our priority!

Top image by Propel Orthodontics. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

A SPACE BETWEEN front teeth is very common. It called a diastema. Diastemas are often caused by thick tissue between the front teeth. This skin keeps your teeth apart and is called a maxillary frenum. Thick frenums are often hereditary and can be common in families.

How Do You Correct A Diastema?

A diastema is easy to close with orthodontic treatment. Short-term treatment may be braces, Invisalign, aligners, or removal appliances. Additional therapies may be required for ideal cosmetic results after closing a diastema. These may include veneers, lumineers, composites, or crowns. Periodontal therapy for removal of tissue, a frenectomy or gingivectomy, is often needed to help the space stay closed permanently after closing a diastema.

We Ensure The Gap Stays Closed

Your orthodontist may place a wire behind your front teeth to insure that your diastema stays closed. This bonded lingual wire is a permanent retainer. Care must be given not to bite hard foods with your permanent retainer to prevent it from breaking.

If you have questions about tooth gap closure call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary consultation. Find us at www.clubbraces.com. To find an orthodontist in your area visit the American Associaton of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Don't let a tooth gap keep you from smiling. Gap problem, no problem! Here's to your beautiful smile.

Top image by Flickr user Very Quiet used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

EVERYTHING'S PUMPKIN SPICE this time of year at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California.

Once the colder weather arrives, morning patients visit our refreshment center for a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Pumpkin spice coffee is part of our menu. Add a little whipped cream, sprinkles, and a side cinnamon roll and Viola! You're in pumpkin spice heaven!

Enjoy A Refreshment In Our Office

On Fridays, for your convenience, Gorczyca Orthodontics opens at 8:00 a.m. If you need a little relaxation, come early or stay late for your appointment and enjoy a refreshment. We love seeing you, taking care of you, and talking with you. We consider you part of our orthodontic family.

Hospitality is a core value at Gorczyca Orthodontics. We strive for clinical excellence, outstanding customer service, and a great patient experience. We are committed to making your orthodontic visits the best possible.

Take time to let us know how we can make your stay and treatment at Gorczyca Orthodontics even more enjoyable. Give us your customer feedback and let us know how we may serve you best.

Come Visit Us Today!

Gorczyca Orthodontics is located at 5201 Deer Valley Road in Antioch, California. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or find us at www.clubbraces.com for your orthodontic needs.

We appreciate you and your referrals of family and friends to our practice. We look forward to seeing you soon and sharing some pumpkin spice and everything nice.

Top image by Flickr user hirotomo t used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WHEN UPPER TEETH are behind lower teeth with front tooth crossbite, often there is small upper jaw. A true upper jaw deficiency can be detected early in growing children. As soon as the permanent six year molars come into the mouth, a small upper jaw can be treated by a reverse pull headgear. This type of growth modification treatment with a headgear is best completed by age 15.

Reverse Pull Headgear Can Help A Growing Child's Bite

A reverse pull headgear, also known as a Delaire-type facemask, offers growth stimulation at the maxillary (upper jaw) sutures allowing the upper jaw to be moved forward in a growing child. Headgear treatment is often accompanied with palatal upper jaw expansion, widening the palate to produce a more ideal bite.

Most children with maxillary deficiency, small upper jaw, also have a short face height as well. The slightly downward pull of the elastics of the reverse pull headgear will also help the lower jaw grow downward and backward improving the jaw relationship from a ClassIII bite to a ClassI bite as well as improve facial appearance.

Reverse pull headgears are worn only at home. Twelve to fourteen hours of wear per day is ideal for getting results as quickly as possible.

We'd Love To Answer Your Questions

If you have questions about the need for a reverse pull headgear, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California (925) 757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Don't lose the opportunity to modify growth with a reverse pull headgear. Here's to your beautiful face and smile.

I REMEMBER it like it were yesterday. Finishing my lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant, I decided to freshen my breath and have a little sweet after lunch by chewing on a gum ball from the gum ball machine. So, I put the money in, took the gum ball, and bit down.

Within seconds of biting down, I had cracked a tooth.

Even Tough Teeth Can Be Cracked

Although tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, teeth can still be cracked. It is best to avoid foods and activities that are known to crack teeth. These include:

• Chewing on ice
• Biting down on unpopped popcorn kernels
• Using teeth as tools
• Chewing on hard sweets

Hard candy including gum balls, jawbreakers, and frozen candy bars can easily crack your teeth. The sugar also can lead to increased cavites.

Don't Worry, It Can Be Fixed!

My tooth was fix by Antioch dentist Dr. Ken Dupree who gave me a gold crown on an upper second molar.

If you have a cracked tooth, let us help you at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or find us at www.clubbraces.com. We will help you get the dental care you need so your tooth will be good as new.

Avoid cracked teeth by avoiding gum balls. Here's to your dental health.

CLOTHES, SHOES, PURSE, sunglasses, or jewelry, no matter what your favorite fashion, straight white teeth are your best and most powerful accessory.

Straight White Teeth Light Up A Room

Straight white teeth light up a room or a fashion runway to give you the style and confidence you need with everyone you meet. Wearing red shade lipstick with blue tones will emphasize your teeth even more. When you've had orthodontic treatment, make way for a dazzling designer smile.

If you would like to shop for a new smile style, an orthodontist can help you visualize your new look. Call Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch for a free consultation (925) 757-9000 or find us at www.clubbraces.com To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Your smile is your best fashion accessory. Let your smile be your signature fashion statement.

AS YOU KNOW, HERE at Gorczyca Orthodontics, we’re honored to have you as our valued patient! Our goal is ALWAYS remarkable, one-to-one patient care... Thanks to our amazing team members!

Gorczyca Orthodontics Is Growing!

Gorczyca Orthodontics is thrilled to welcome our newest Registered Dental Assistant, Dana.

A Little About Dana, In Her Own Words

I am originally from Victoria British Columbia, Canada. I came to California when I was 27 years old and went to school at Huntington Dental College in Huntington Beach, California. I got married and started working in my first dental office where I met my husband who was a patient.

I left that office to and started working as an orthodontic assistant in the office of orthodontist Dr. Gary Devian in Yorba Linda, California. I just loved it! After that, I always wanted to be an orthodontic assistant.

We recently put Dana in the hot seat and asked her some questions so you can get to know her better...

When you’re not here working, what are your favorite things to do?

On my day off, we like to go boating and camping. I live in Discovery Bay with my husband and son who will soon be 10. We like to wake board and ride dirt bikes. We live on the water so we get out on the water almost every day in the summer time.

When you first started working here, what were your first impressions of the office and the team? Have those impressions changed?

I think everyone at Gorczyca Orthodontics is very nice, helpful, and welcoming. We have a very happy team and working with the orthodontic patients is a lot of fun.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I love seeing the patients start treatment from the beginning of orthodontics and make the step by step progress which truly tranforms their life. Not only are the teeth straight but their overall personally shows more confidence an happiness. It is a wonderful feeling to be a part of this and be able to give this gift to our patients.

I will be doing the initial orthodontic records and final orthodontic records at Gorczyca Orthodontics. I will be working Tuesday through Thursday as well as Fridays. After the examination with Dr. Gorczyca, this will be the first step toward starting your orthodontic treatment. If you need to schedule your orthodontic records, please give me a call!

We’re So Happy To Have Dana As A Member Of Our Team!

At Gorczyca Orthodontics we have three goals:

• Clinical excellence,
• Outstanding customer service,
• and a Great patient experience.

Thank you Dana for being part of our Gorczyca Orthodontics team!

As one of our valued patients, if you have your own question for Dana, please ask in the comments section below! Also, you can always send us a message on Facebook anytime.

We look forward to seeing you at your next visit! Thanks for the trust you place in our practice.

ANKYLOGLOSSIA, an excessive attachment of muscle or fascia to the undersurface and tip of the tongue can create speech problems in children as young and 1-2 years old. Later in life, it can also make eating an ice cream cone very difficult.

If you notice that your young child has a notch at the top of their tongue, or has difficulty sticking out their tongue or touching the tip of their tongue to their top lip, your child may have tongue-tie.

A Tongue-tie Can Be Easily Removed

A frenum or band of tissue causes tongue-tie. The tip of the tongue is held down to the floor of the mouth in tongue-tie and cannot protrude. This attachment can be easily removed by most pediatricians or a periodontist.

The earlier a pathologic frenum or tongue-tie can be treated, the less speech damage will be done or speech therapy will be required. It will also make eating easier, especially eating an ice cream cone.

The actual surgical procedure in frenectomy to cure tongue-tie is extremely simple. Often it is done with a laser with little pain and quick recovery. Tongue-tie is also rare and affects less than 1% of the population.

Let Us Know If You Have Any Questions!

If you have questions about tongue-tie, your orthodontist can help. In Antioch, California, contact orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca at www.clubbraces.com or call (925) 757-9000 for a tongue-tie evaluation if you have questions about tongue-tie.

Eating an ice cream cone should not be difficult. Be sure it is easy and remains one of the simple pleasures of life.

WHEN PRESENT, they lead to excessive tooth wear and dark smiles. They cause you to bite your lips and cheeks. They even limit your jaw function. Any way you look at it, crossbites are not good for your dental health.

Crossbites Can Lead To Excessive Tooth Wear

When a front crossbite is present, the upper tooth appears "behind" the lower teeth. If untreated, front tooth crossbite leads to excessive tooth wear.

When a back crossbite is present, the upper tooth is "inside" the lower teeth. Back upper teeth are trapped or tipped towards the tongue. This abnormal tooth position causes your lower jaw to shift. Back crossbites lead to cheek biting, jaw shifting, and the appearance of black space in the corners of your smile.

There Are Different Options To Correct A Crossbite

Braces, Invisalign, or removable expansion appliances can fix crossbites by upper arch expansion.

Visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California (925) 757-9000 to find out how dental arch expansion can eliminate your crossbites. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Sky's the limit with orthodontic possibilities. Eliminate your crossbites today for ideal dental function, comfort, happiness, and life.

AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED your Invisalign treatment or orthodontic treatment with braces, it's time to choose a retainer to protect and maintain your beautiful new smile.

Vivera retainers by Invisalign offer many benefits for your busy lifestyle.

7 Benefits of Vivera Retainers

1. Vivera retainers are clear just like Invisalign so they always look great no matter where your travels may take you.
2. Vivera retainers don't affect your speech so you can be comfortable wearing them throughout the day or night.
3. Vivera retainers are strong and do not rip or break easily.
4. Vivera retainers are smooth and comfortable and will not irritate your lips and mouth.
5. Vivera retainers fit precisely and are not loose. They are made by the same 3-D digital imaging as Invisalign for a tight fit.
6. Vivera retainers can be changed when necessary or replaced with a new retainer when lost. In the Vivera retainer program, you will receive four sets of Vivera retainer aligners.
7. Your Vivera retainer digital tooth image will be stored digitally so you can receive additional trays without additional impressions, scans, or office visits.

We Can Help Find The Retainers That Are Best For You!

If you have questions about Vivera retainers ask us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

It took time and effort to create your beautiful new smile. Whether you are in the classroom or the board room, preserve your smile with Vivera retainers.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN your first time away from home. It may have been the first time you did your own laundry. For those who do it, summer music camp is something you will never forget.

Playing A Wind Instrument With Braces Can Be Uncomfortable

Playing a wind or brass instrument like flute or trumpet with braces for several hours per day at camp gave us all "hamburger lip." This was quite uncomfortable! Even though we would put wax on our braces 5 millimeters thick, we would still ended up with raw, wounded, and uncomfortable lips after playing a wind or brass instrument for several hours per day.

Today, the problem of "hamburger lip" is solved by orthodontic treatment with Invisalign Teen. A clear, smooth alternative to braces, Invisalign Teen aligners can be either worn or not worn while playing your wind or brass musical instrument at summer music camp making the experience comfortable and even more fun.

Additional benefits of Invisalign Teen include being able to eat what you want, having nothing break while you are away, and having nothing get lose and poke while you are playing your musical instrument. This makes life at summer music camp easy, letting you focus on your music, friends, activities, and fun.

We Can Help You With Your Invisalign

If you are a wind or brass player and planning to play a lot of music this summer, consider Invisalign Teen. Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Consider Invisalign Teen today. Your lips and your embouchure will thank you.

Top image by Flickr user H. Michael Miley used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WE'VE ALL HEARD the proverb "Like father, like son" to describe the likelihood that a son will have traits like his father in adulthood. This is especially true when it comes to the genetics of jaw growth and need for orthognathic surgery.

Many young men ages 21 and older pursue correction of jaw imbalances during college or shortly after their college years. What frequently happens is Dad then follows with his own orthoganthic surgery. Now, it is "like son, like father."

Orthoganthic Surgery Can Improve Your Bite

When fathers see the beautiful results of their son's orthodontic/orthognathic surgery treatment, they start to think how nice it would be to have their own bite corrected.

Often, a jaw is advanced by orthognathic surgery. This not only corrects the bite, such as a crossbite, but also opens the airway helping to improve breathing and reduce sleep apnea.

A Corrected Bite Opens A Variety Of Options

Once a crossbite is corrected, it is now possible to have crowns and veneers done on the front teeth. Eating will be easier, and you will look gorgeous and feel great.

Orthognathic surgery is usually covered 100% by medical insurance with the exception of a small co-payment. Patients may stay overnight in the hospital and one to three weeks of work medical leave is taken. Patients are usually able to move their jaws after surgery and wear upper jaw lower jaw rubber bands while eating a soft diet for a few weeks of recovery.

If your apple hasn't fallen far from your tree and you would also benefit from orthognathic jaw surgery, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California 925-757-9000. Find us at www.clubbbraces.com.

Board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca and team have completed hundreds of successful orthognathic surgery cases with comfort. We will complete your orthodontic/orthognathic surgery treatment as gently and quickly as possible.

We know your child was a "chip of the old block." It's never too late to do a little "old block" reshaping.

FROM THE MOMENT you say "Yes" to the day you say "I Do," Invisalign will give you a radiate and confident smile.

Get Your Smile Ready For Your Big Day!

Your bridal smile will needs to be camera ready. From the engagement day, to the engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, to your wedding day, you will be smiling ear to ear until it hurts. Make that beautiful smile sparkle by straightening your teeth with Invisalign. You can also whiten your teeth at the same time with Opalescence gel using your Invisalign aligner.

Invisalign Is An Easy Way To Give You An Amazing Smile

Invisalign clear aligners will begin straightening your teeth with the first clear aligner. To straighten your teeth as quickly as possible, add Acceledent or Propel accelerated orthodontics to be able to change your trays every week. Observable tooth straightening will be seen within a few months.

If you have questions about Invisalign, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925)757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Smile with confidence as you prepare for your wedding day. Let your natural beauty and happiness shine through with your camera ready smile.

WHETHER YOU'RE IN BRACES or wearing Invisalign, the addition of Propel technology can make your teeth move faster and your orthodontic treatment time less.

Propel technology uses a system of micro-osteoperforations to recruit more osteoblasts and osteoclasts, bone remodeling cells, to the areas in your bone around your teeth. This in turn allows bone to remodel faster and your teeth to move more quickly giving you the smile you'd like as soon as possible.

Propel Is A Helpful Orthodontic Tool

Propel technology is extremely helpful in tough orthodontic situations such as moving an impacted canine, uprighting molar teeth, or moving a molar tooth through bone to close space.

The micro-osteoperforations of Propel require no recovery time. The Propel technology can be used with topical anesthetic. It could also be done at the time of impacted tooth exposure, extraction, or wisdom tooth removal. Propel is clinically proven safe and effective.

Propel Can Reduce Your Treatment Time!

Consider Propel if you would like to reduce your orthodontic treatment time and minimize your number of office visits. To find a Propel orthdontist near you, visit the Propel website at www.propelorthodontics.com.

Board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Antioch, California is a Propel provider. Call us at (925)757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com for your accelerated orthodontic care.

Let your smile be delivered ahead of schedule. Propel yourself to a fantastic new smile.

WEARING ORTHODONTIC ELASTICS is like rolling a ball uphill. Constant pushing force, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week gets the ball to the top of the hill as quickly as possible.

So it is with orthodontic elastics. If you wear your orthodontic elastics full time, your orthodontic treatment will be fast and completed as quickly as possible.

Neglecting To Wear Elastics Can Slow Treatment

If you let go of a ball on a hill, it will roll back down. If you wear your orthodontic elastics only part time, your teeth will move back towards there original position and your treatment time will take longer.

The light force of your orthodontic elastics has been scientifically proven to be the most physiological and healthy movement of your teeth. This force level is usually 6 1/2 ounces.

Doubling Elastics Can Harm Your Oral Health

DO NOT double your orthodontic elastics! This will cause damage to your teeth, gums, and bone and may even cause you to lose a tooth!

Your orthodontist cannot control how much you will wear your orthodontic elastics. Progress can only be made by you and evaluated from one appointment to the next. This is why treatment time with an orthodontist varies from patient to patient.

If you have questions about orthodontic elastics or orthodontic treatment, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics for a complimentary consultation 925-757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

Get your teeth to their final destination fast! With orthodontic elastic wear, consistency is queen! Follow your orthodontist's instructions and wear your orthodontic elastics 24/7 for the best orthodontic result in the shortest treatment time possible.

Top image by Flickr user Fuzzy Gerdes used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

OPEN BITES can be seen in children as early as four years old. When an open bite is first seen with the baby teeth, parents often ask "How early can I close my child's open bite?"

Open bites can be either:

1. A normal transition from baby to permanent teeth
2. Due to an oral habit or thumbsucking
3. Due to a skeletal growth problem

Age 7 Is The Perfect Time To Correct An Open Bite

When an open bite is present with baby teeth, orthodontists usually want to wait until age 7 to correct the open bite.

Correcting an open bite at age 7 usually includes a habit appliance which is cemented to the permanent 6 year molars and braces. This treatment is called Phase I orthodontic treatment and usually takes 18 to 24 months. After Phase I treatment, there is usually a second Phase II orthodontic treatment when all permanent teeth erupt at age 12.

Open bite affects less than four percent of children. Should the open bite persist into teenage years and the opening involve more than just the front teeth, there could be a more complex vertical skeletal growth problem.

We Can Help Your Child's Open Bite!

If you are seeing an open bite in your child, please call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 in Antioch, California for a complimentary consultation. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org.

Age 7 is the ideal time to start closing an open bite. Close your child's open bite at age 7 before it becomes more complex.

Top image by Flickr user Lucas Possiede used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

MOMS ARE BUSY. On the go, preparing breakfast, driving to and from school, taking the kids to their orthodontist appointments and after school events, Moms are usually the last people to take take of themselves or straighten their own teeth.

Invisalign Is Perfect For Moms On The Go!

Now, it's Mom's turn for a beautiful smile. And with Mom's busy lifestyle, Invisalign is the perfect solution for tooth straightening.

Invisalign clear aligners are removable and comfortable to wear. The Invisalign aligners allow Mom to eat whatever she wants. They are easy to live with and will not add additional stress to Mom's life.

Invisalign Makes Everyday Oral Care Easy

Because the Invisalign aligners are removable, brushing and flossing will also be normally done to keep Mom's teeth and gums healthy. Mom can come in for Invisalign appointments every 8 to 10 weeks and speed up her treatment with Acceledent to keep the time in the office and time in treatment to a minimum.

If you are interested in getting Invisalign treatment for yourself or the mother in your life, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics for a free orthodontic Invisalign consultation. Call us at (925)757-9000 or find us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

We love Moms!

Here's to Mom's new Invisalign smile!

A BROAD DENTAL ARCH FORM is crucial to your beautiful smile.

6 Ways Broadening You Arch Can Improve Your Smile

Here are 6 ways broadening your pear shaped dental arch will give you a dazzling new smile.

1. Arch expansion help to correct overjet and overbite making your bite functional.

2. Expansion of dental arches eliminates crossbites which cause cheek biting.

3. Expansion of dental arches helps correct the front to back relationship of your bite.

4. Expansion of dental arches creates space for tooth alignment.

5. Expansion of dental arches makes the canine teeth look beautiful.

6. Expansion of dental arches eliminates black corridors from the corners of your mouth giving you a full and beautiful smile.

Comprehensive orthodontic treatment by an orthodontist with braces or Invisalign expands dental arches.

We'd Love To Answer Your Questions!

If you have questions about expansion of your pear shaped dental arches, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925)757-9000 for a complimentary consultation. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

Your broad dental arches are sure to light up the room. Here's to your dazzling new smile.

PARENTS OFTEN ASK orthodontists what to do if their child is missing one upper lateral incisor.

There Are Two Options For Restoring Your Smile

Missing one lateral incisor makes your smile asymmetrical. There are two options for restoring a symmetrical smile when missing one incisor:

Option 1: Extract the other lateral incisor and close the space

This options is often the treatment of choice for young children. Lateral incisor extraction prevents and need for a future implant, and minimizes time, money, and discomfort.

Option 2: Placement of one implant

A single tooth lateral incisor implant can be placed at adulthood, usually at age 19. The teenager may spend time in a Maryland bridge tooth replacement or a tooth replacement retainer until the time the implant is placed.

It is difficult to match the color, luster, size, and gum contour of a single lateral implant. This option will take more time, money, and additional procedures. It will however eliminate tooth extraction and in some cases give a broader smile.

We Can Help You Compare Choices

Your orthodontist will help you compare and contrast these two treatment choices to decide which is best for you and your family.

Extraction vs. Implant

These cases were treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation if you have questions regarding missing one lateral incisor.

Most parents, patients, and orthodontists prefer Option 1. Here's to recovering your missing tooth and your symmetrical smile.

Top image by Flickr user PROromana klee used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WHEN IT COMES TO OPEN BITE, which came first, the tongue thrust or the open bite?

An Open Bite Can Make Swallowing More Difficult

With an anterior open bite, it is more difficult to seal off the front of the mouth during swallowing. There is "lip incompetence", the lips often do not come together easily, and the tongue must compensate by coming forward to make swallowing possible.

To illustrate this point, try this simple exercise:

1. Place your two fingers between your upper and lower front teeth
2. Try to swallow

Viola! You have a tongue thrust!

"A tongue thrust swallow therefore is more likely to be the result of displaced incisors, not the cause."
- Dr. William R. Profitt

The tongue pressure during swallowing simply has too short a duration to have an impact on tooth position. Pressure by the tongue on the teeth during a typical swallow lasts for 1 second. An individual swallows 800 times per day and fewer times during sleep. One thousand seconds of pressure equals only a few minutes and is not nearly enough time or pressure to affect tooth position equilibrium.

Orthodontic Treatment Can Help Tongue Thrust

The good news is, orthodontic treatment for open bite can make your tongue thrust go away. If you are an adult, orthodontic treatment of your open bite often requires tooth extraction, tissue anchorage devices (TADS), or orthognathic surgery.

This case was treated by Board Certified orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Find us at www.clubbbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 if you have questions about tongue thrust and open bite.

Open bite came first and then tongue thrust. Eliminate your open bite today and make your tongue thrust a thing of the past.

SUMMER IS THE PERFECT TIME of year for all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics to say “Thank you for choosing our office for your orthodontic care. It is a pleasure and privilege for all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics to serve you. We appreciate you very much.”

We love being your orthodontist and your orthodontic team and having you as a patient in our office. We love spending time with you, talking with you, and seeing you, your family, and your friends.

You Are Special To Us!

We’d like to show our appreciation to you by spending a special evening together, just for fun, at the Gorczyca Orthodontics Patient Appreciation Summer Splash Party.

Our Summer Splash Party will be on Saturday, July 23rd, 6:30 p.m. at the Antioch Water Park. This evening the park will have a special opening just for our Gorczyca Orthodontics private party. Please invite everyone in your family including grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins, too! Feel free to invite friends and neighbors. We would love to meet and see them all! The more, the merrier!

Come Be A Part Of The Tradition

Gorczyca Orthodontics has been hosting the Summer Splash Party at the Antioch Water Park since the park opened in 1998. The Antioch Water Park is a landmark in our East Contra Costa County Community and the Gorczyca Orthodontics Annual Summer Splash Party has become and anticipated local summer event and part of our practice culture.

So get on your suit, kick off your shoes, and take a splash or stroll with us under the stars!

It is going to be a great evening! See you there!

WE DON’T THINK OF baseball as a contact sport. Yet, baseball is the sports leader in facial injuries to children and teenagers.

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than a quarter million children ages 5 to 14 are injured playing baseball each year.

Stray Baseballs Can Do A Lot Of Damage

Along with basketball, baseball accounts for nearly half of all sports-related injuries. An estimated 50,000+ baseball facial injuries occur each year to players ages 5 to 15 which required emergency room treatment.

Catastrophic injuries also occur when baseball players are struck in the head with the ball or bat. As small as this number is, baseball still has the highest fatality rate among all sports.

If your child plays baseball, please have your child wear safety gear including a facemask helmet and a sports mouth guard.

Proper Sports Protection Is Key To Avoiding Injury

Orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca has seen many children lose teeth due to baseball related injuries when mouth guards are not worn. These accidents include teeth being hit by a foul ball or a ball bouncing up and hitting the player in the mouth. She recommends that every baseball or softball player wear a mouth guard at all times when playing the sport.

We Can Help Your Athlete With Their Home Run Smile!

If you have questions about custom made sports mouth guards or tooth straightening with or witout a facial injury, please call Dr. Gorczyca at (925) 757-9000 in Antioch, California for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation. Find us at www.clubbraces.com.

Let your child play and be safe at the next baseball or softball game. Provide a helmet and mouth guard. Give your child the benefit of facial protection.

MOLARS COME INTO OUR MOUTHS EARLY in life, at age six. Called "Six Year Molars", first molars have deep grooves which, without sealants, are susceptible to cavities. If decay is left untreated for years, first molars can be lost.

Orthodontics Can Close The Gap

If you or your child has been told they have a "bombed out tooth", "severely decayed tooth", or "hopeless tooth" which needs extraction, consider orthodontic treatment to close the extraction space.

Your Own Teeth Can Be The Solution!

Orthodontists can move second molars into first molar spaces. Forward movement of a second molar will create room for third molars to come into the mouth. Your teeth will be saved from needing a dental bridge or implant by orthodontic closure of the tooth loss space.

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA (925)757-9000. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.com.

We Can Help Restore Your Natural Bite

Don't go toothless. Learn what an orthodontist can do to close your missing tooth space. Rearrange your natural teeth with orthodontic treatment for a healthy bite.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE CHILDREN OF YOUR OWN. Either way, we all have children we care about in our lives—nieces, nephews, grandchildren, neighbor’s and coworker’s children, etc. That’s why we’re taking a quick step away from orthodontics this week, to help everyone be aware of this severe health issue affecting kids.

It’s Easy To Protect Against Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Did you know that the most common childhood disease today is tooth decay? Tooth decay results when bacteria in one’s mouth interacts with the sugar and starches in foods and beverages, creating acid which erodes tooth enamel. And although baby teeth are temporary, they’re critical to a child’s health, comfort, and long term oral health development. Without proper care those baby teeth are subject to painful, unnecessary caries.

Don’t Let Babies Fall Asleep With Their Bottles

Here’s what typically happens... The baby is put to bed with a bottle. Seems harmless enough. But if the bottle is full of milk or juice it’s also full of sugars that combine with bacteria to produce acids. Babies drift off with the bottles still in their mouths. The fluid pools around their teeth and the enamel on those new little teeth is slowly eroded away throughout the night.

The result can be painful caries, and/or the need for stainless steel crowns. In addition, since children’s teeth are still coming in they’re more susceptible to decay underneath the gum line. This decay can become so severe that delicate surgery under a general anesthetic may be required to remedy the problem.

Take A Moment To Be Informed

If you start early, you may be able to train your child to drink water in his or her bottle at nap time. Here are some other tips:

• use gauze or a wet cloth to wipe children’s gums and teeth after feedings
• work toward using “sippy” cups by his or her first birthday
• don’t nurse continuously during the night
• never dip pacifiers in honey or any sugary liquid

The video below offers other suggestions:

If You Have Questions, Please Ask

Think about the children you know and kindly help every parent understand this important topic. If you have any questions about dental health for your child, or for a child close to you, ask our team at Gorczyca Orthodontics about it. You can leave a comment below, or on our Facebook page.

You can also learn more about baby bottle tooth decay from this ADA webpage.

Thanks for your trust in our practice. We appreciate having you as our valued patient!

DID YOU KNOW almost 40 percent of all dental injuries are sports related? And if you wear braces, contact sports don’t only put your teeth at risk, metal in an athlete’s mouth can introduce a host of new risks as well.

Mouthguards Are SO Important

Most contact sports require athletes to wear mouthguards. Properly fitting mouthguards help protect both an athlete’s teeth and the other athletes on the field. But once your braces are fitted, that mouthguard may not fit properly. An ill-fitting mouthguard is not only uncomfortable, it’s also less effective at protecting you from impact, injury, and damage.

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we recommend adjustable mouth guards that can fit over your braces during orthodontic treatment. After orthodontic treatment is completed, we can create a custom mouth guard for you just like professional football players wear. Call us at (925)757-9000 for a complementary examination if you are in need to a sports mouth guard.

Braces Are An Investment Worth Protecting

Even if you don’t always wear a mouthguard while playing sports, you’ll want to reconsider while wearing braces. Stray balls and other athletes coming in contact with your orthodontic equipment can a painful experience. Not only that, excessive contact can damage brackets and cause delays in orthodontic treatment.

If you ever take a big hit during a game, let us know! We can help assess the damage to your braces and get your orthodontic treatment back on track.

We Want To Help Protect Your Smile

Investing in a mouthguard can make all of the difference for you and your family’s oral health. While participating in sports and other activities is fun, it’s important that you protect your beautiful smile while doing so! Let’s talk about your unique and individual oral safety needs. If you or someone you know are in need of a mouthguard during orthodontic treatment or have questions about mouthguards, please contact us.

Thank you for being our valued patient and friend!

Top image by Flickr user M I K E M O R R I S used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

AS CHILDREN GROW OLDER, some parents begin to worry about their child’s thumb sucking or pacifier habits. This is a normal behavior for an infant, but the older a child gets, the more harm it can do to their oral and orthodontic development.

The Pros And Cons Of Pacifiers

Pacifiers have many benefits for infants, including reducing a child’s chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), or simply helping them drift off to sleep at night! However, if pacifier use or thumb sucking is prolonged, it can negatively impact your child’s growing teeth and mouth.
Some side effects of prolonged pacifier use and thumbsucking include:

• protrusive upper front teeth,
• tipped back lower front teeth,
• open bite,
• and crossbite.

Psychologists and Orthodontists have found that thumbsucking prior to the eruption of the permanent teeth does not have a long term effect. Psychologically, thumb sucking my have some psychological benefits at a very early age.

There’s More Than One Way To Help Your Child Quit

When is the right time to help your child kick the habit of using a pacifier or sucking their thumb? To allow the body to correct any oral health issues that may have been caused by persistent sucking, the Academy of General Dentistry suggests that an infant quit using a pacifier before the age of 2. If your child enjoys sucking their thumb, it is best to help them stop no later than age 4.

Once permanent incisors start to erupt around age six, finger habits need to stop. Parents can try these tips:

Tips for helping your child quit thumb sucking:

• Praise your child for not sucking her thumb, instead of getting mad when she does.
• Consider rewards when your child abstains for a certain period of time.
• Put a bandage on the thumb to act as a reminder to not suck their thumb.
• Put a smelly sock on the finger hand during sleep. This will encourage your child to put their hand down while they sleep.

Tips to help your baby quit using a pacifier:

• Dip the pacifier in vinegar.
• Pierce or cut the top of the pacifier to decrease the amount of sucking possible.

You may want to have a "Bye Bye Binkie Party!" Make a special party for the binkie and tie it to a special balloon. Let go of the balloon and wave bye bye and the balloon and binkie fly away.

Let’s Visit About Your Questions Or Concerns

If all of these attempts fail, your orthodontist can place a habit appliance during Phase I orthodontic treatment at age 7. Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, (925) 757-9000, or find us at clubbraces.com if you have questions about pacifiers or finger habits.

Thanks for being a valued part of our practice family!

Top image by Flickr user David Goehring used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

IN HONOR OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY, the Team at Gorczyca Orthodontics would like to wish you and your family excellent dental health. It is an honor and a privilege for us to treat you and take care of you and your family's orthodontic needs. Thank you for choosing Gorczya Orthodontics.

So as the rains fall softly upon our Northern California hills and fields until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Irish Dental Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
and may your teeth be free of plaque.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, Caifornia 94531, (925) 757-9000, www.clubbraces.com.

FEELING A BIT TIRED at times during the day is completely normal, even with a good night’s sleep. Some people, however, struggle every night for a restful sleep, especially those with sleep apnea.

Did you know that one in five adults has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with 80 percent of cases going undiagnosed? This condition can disrupt your sleep and increase your risk of severe health problems.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. This can cause a person to stop breathing hundreds of times per night, immensely disrupting their sleep. Here are some indications of a problem:

• Morning headaches
• Excessive daytime drowsiness
• Irritability
• Impaired mental or emotional functioning
• Insomnia
• Excessive snoring, choking or gasping during sleep
• Awakening with dry mouth or sore throat

We Can Help

Dentists and orthodontists are often the first professionals to become aware of a potential case of OSA and many are specially trained for the treatment of sleep apnea. We are just such a practice!

Our office will refer you to a sleep center for a polysomnogram which is the only diagnostic test for sleep apnea.

Should you be found have a severe sleep apnea problem, this can often be cured by double jaw advancement. Dr. Gorczyca and the team at Gorczyca Orthodontics will work with your sleep center and orthognathic surgeons from Oakland Kaiser, Stanford, or UCSF Maxillofacial Oral Surgery departments to find the sleep apnea cure is right for you.

Oral Appliance Therapy

While the most common treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliance therapy that dental professionals provide is the increasingly preferred form of treatment. This is due to the high rejection rate of CPAP therapy and the fact that oral appliances are much more convenient, portable, and easy to care for.

Oral appliance therapy uses a mouth guard-like device to maintain an open, unobstructed airway while you sleep. They are typically as easy to wear as most retainers. There are two ways the oral appliance works to open up your airway:

1. By repositioning your lower jaw, it keeps your throat muscles engaged as you sleep, preventing them from collapsing.
2. Oral appliances can also move your tongue forward, keeping it from falling back and blocking the throat.

Don’t Ignore Sleep Apnea

Never underestimate the power of a good night’s rest! The quality of your sleep is extremely important to your overall health and well-being. Ask us today how you can better your life by treating sleep apnea through oral appliance therapy!

Call us at (925)757-9000 if you need more information about methods to reduce you sleep apnea.

Top image by Flickr user Marcelo Braga used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

PARKING ON THE LINE is off course. A missing tooth creates a similar tooth parking problem. A missing tooth causes your remaining teeth fill the extra space. Teeth drift and lean into the space over time. Slowly your bite collapses.

A Missing Tooth Can Cause Misalignment

Midlines are off when there is a missing tooth. The upper and lower arch midlines no longer match up. The entire bite becomes asymmetrical. Tooth tips (cusps) meet tip to tip causing them to wear down. Tooth wear creates tooth sensitivity.

If you have a missing tooth, get your bite fixed with orthodontic treatment as soon as possible.

Your Orthodontist Can Help

Your orthodontist will either rearrange your remaining teeth or prepare you for future tooth replacement with an implant or a bridge to create a healthy and functional bite.

We Care About Your Smile

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorcyzca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA. Call us at (925) 757-9000. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Don't let a missing tooth make your teeth park on the line. Line up your teeth for a healthy bite.

Top image by Flickr user Stephen Yeargin used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a princess named Veronica. She did not look like a real princess because her face made her look sad. Quiet and thoughtful, the smile of her eyes, gums, and teeth did not express the happiness in her heart.

One Day There Was A Terrible Storm...

One day there was a terrible storm. There was thunder and lightning, and rain poured down in torrents. To come in from the cold, the princess knocked on the door of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California.

An Old Queen came to the door and looked at the princess. “Good gracious!” said the Queen. “You are under the spell of vertical maxillary excess giving you ‘Adenoid Facies’. This makes you look sad by:

1. Showing the whites of your eyes under your pupils
2. Pulling down the smile muscles of your cheeks
3. Separating your lips at rest
4. Allowing your teeth to protrude
5. Giving your chin a puckered ‘golf ball’ appearance”

Orthodontic Treatment Is A Fast And Permanent Solution

A Wizard had told the princess she could be saved by a lifetime of Botox needle shots to her upper lip. “Hogwash!” said the Queen. “This will not help you! We need a fast and permanent solution by an orthodontist. Let us be happy and fix this forever. Your prince will be here soon!”

A Young Prince Arrived...

Soon the Princess’s teeth were straight, and she was smiling ear to ear. A young prince arrived to Antioch, California from Ciudad Guzman, Jalisco, Mexico. He looked at Veronica and said “You are dear to me. By the smile on your happy face, I can see that you have the best heart and that you are a real princess. I will marry you!”

So the prince and princess were married. Nothing made the Queen happier than to see the prince and princess happy and thriving. They soon had four children. And, they all lived happily ever after.

This Is A True Story!

This is a true story. Veronica is now Treatment Coordinator at Gorczyca Orthodontics and her orthodontic treatment was done by Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, in Antioch, California.

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

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ONE OUT OF EIGHT PEOPLE in the United States are living with pain related to TMD every day. Thankfully, if diagnosed and treated correctly, relief is just around the corner.

Common Symptoms of TMD

TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, is pain and discomfort caused by problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw.

Common TMD symptoms include:

• Jaw muscle stiffness; limited movement or locking of the jaw
• Painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint
• Chronic headaches/migraines
• Pain in the neck and shoulders
• Earaches or ringing ears

TMD Has Multiple Causes

Adding to TMD’s complexity, there can be multiple causes. While an autoimmune disease or various forms of arthritis can affect your temporomandibular joint, some lesser known causes of TMD include bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching), bad bite, and stress.

Depending on your symptoms, various treatments and orthodontic solutions are available such as:

• Muscle relaxation techniques/stress management
• Physical therapy
• Medication
• Surgery

Dr. Gorczyca has additional training in the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we are frequently able to reduce TMD pain by use of the TMD splint adjusted especially for you. Pain levels are usually able to be reduced in a few weeks from levels described as 4 or higher down to a 1 or often 0 or no pain at all.

Once your TMD pain symptoms have been resolved, often your bite may need improved through orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign.

Don’t Suffer Needlessly!

If you are experiencing symptoms of TMD or have any questions, make an appointment to come visit us. We’re here to help relieve your pain and regain your quality of life!

Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation if you have questions about temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) or your bite. At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we can help you make TMD pain a thing of the past.

Thank you for your continued trust in our practice!

Top image by Flickr user web4camguy used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WHEN THE COLD AND FLU SEASON STRIKES your teeth and braces are probably the last things you’re thinking about as you reach for another tissue! But there ARE some things related to that cold or flu that can affect your oral health.

Since tooth decay and gum disease can be especially risky during orthodontic treatment, we want you to be conscious of these three things:

Tip 1: Avoid Dry Mouth By Staying Hydrated

Dry mouth increases cavity risk. Most colds come with a giant side order of stuffy nose. We respond by breathing through our mouths! Doing so, combined with decreased saliva production during sleep, makes our mouths more vulnerable to harmful bacteria.

Tip 2: Keep The Bad Stuff Off Your Teeth

• Are you sucking on cough drops all day? Most are loaded with sugar. Opt for sugar-free cough drops if possible. AND, be sure not to bite down on those super-hard drops.
• Cough syrup is loaded with sugar too. If you take cough syrup, rinse your mouth out before going back to bed.
• Stomach acid is hard on teeth. Sorry to bring this up, but if you’re throwing up, keep your teeth rinsed and clean.

Tip 3: No Matter How Tired...

We know it’s tough when you’re sick, but don’t skip your normal brushing/flossing routine just because you’re feeling really tired. Your oral health while you’re in braces is just too important to neglect. (By the way, did you notice the kitty in the photo above? We think she’s smelling his breath because he hasn’t brushed in days.)

We Want To Help You Stay Healthy This Season

Stay healthy this flu season! Remember to sneeze into your elbow and wash your hands often to keep viruses from spreading.

We at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California hope that you will not be getting a cold or the flu this season. Stay well and please call us at (925) 757-9000 for your orthodontic needs. We look forward to seeing a healthy you!

If you’re sick, get feeling better soon! And thanks for your trust in our orthodontic practice.

THE CDC REPORTS THAT 1 in 5 children (between ages 5 and 11) in the US have untreated tooth decay. Not only should tooth decay be treated in regular dental appointments, it should be prevented! Tooth decay is 100 percent preventable with effective personal care and regular dental cleanings.

In honor of Children’s Dental Health Month, we’re spreading the word about children’s dental health.

YOU Can Help Little Ones Have Healthier Smiles!

1. Encourage them to brush for two full minutes: Pick a song about two minutes long and sing it to them during brushing time.
2. Set reminders to brush twice a day: Brushing after breakfast and just before bed are the best times for preventing bacteria growth from food.
3. Show them flossing is fun, not harmful: Be gentle at first when doing it for them. A bad experience can stop them from flossing on their own.
4. Be persistent: Don’t let fussy children off the hook. Be motivating! Kids may gladly brush for a sticker or star if you make it an activity.
5. Set their first dental appointment before age 1: Having positive dental experiences early will make dental visits easier and less frightening when older.

We Can Help Too!

If you have a child under the age of seven who has not yet had a dental examination, we are happy to see him or her for a fun welcome to the dental office examination at Gorczyca Orthodontics. Dr. Gorczyca will introduce your child to the dentistry, review brushing and flossing, make your child's first dental visit fun, and refer your child to a pediatric dentist for future specialty dental care.

To find a pediatric dentist in your area, visit the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry at www.mouthmonsters.mychildrensteeth.org.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic examination by age seven. To find an orthodontist in your area, visit the AAO at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Help Us Spread The Word!

Share this message with your friends and family, and especially with the children in your life. If you have any questions about children’s dental health, don’t hesitate to ask us!

Thanks for being our valued patients and friends!

Top image by Flickr user Edu Alpendre used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

NO MATTER YOUR AGE, fixing your overbite will help you save your teeth and eliminate pain.

Severe Overbite Is An Orthodontic Emergency

Severe overbite (deep bite) causes gum recession by front teeth biting gums. This trauma produces gum loss (recession). Left untreated, gum and bone loss lead to tooth loss.

With severe overbite, upper front teeth eventually contact the front of the lower gums. This bite trauma causes gum loss.

With severe overbite, lower front teeth contact the roof of the mouth (impinging bite). Teeth bite the gum off the back of the upper front teeth causing pain.

Severe Overbite Can Lead To Tooth Loss

Left untreated, severe overbite leads to tooth loss. This is an orthodontic (bite), periodontic (gums), and dental (tooth) emergency.

Orthodontic treatment with Invisalign can immediately stop overbite traumatic gum recession. With the Invisalign treatment of your overbite, you can keep your teeth for life.

Not only that, you will have a beautiful new smile. You wil look years younger and feel fabulous!

For your overbite correction with Invisalign, find an orthodontist at the the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.com.

This Invisalign case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California www.clubbraces.com (925) 757-9000.

Call us today to schedule your complementary Invisalign examination.

Love your gums. Save your gums. Fix your impinging deep bite today with Invisalign.

TOGETHER, WE’RE WORKING HARD ON THOSE PEARLY WHITES OF YOURS... Regardless of whether you’re 12 years old or 52 years old! As you know, here at our practice, we obsess over our patients’ smiles. We know that a confident smile through ortho treatment can be life changing. But what does your smile have to do with aging?

1. People Who Smile More Are Perceived As Younger

Last year, in an American Psychological Association study, researchers showed thousands of photos of people wearing different expressions to test subjects, who were then asked to guess the ages of the people in the photos. The guesses on neutral expressions were quite accurate, but smiling faces were generally assumed to be years younger than their actual age.

2. Sharing Your Smile (and a laugh) Makes You FEEL Younger—Regardless Of Your Age

We know that sometimes it’s a little hard to smile while you’re wearing braces. Remember, they’ll come off soon and you’re going to look awesome. Remember too, regardless of your age, it’s really not about the number of miles on your smile. It’s about how comfortable you are sharing it!

3. Smiling May Even Help You Live Longer

Living longer—now THERE’S a serious smiling benefit. Could this really be true? A 2010 Wayne State University study examined the relationship between smile intensity and longevity among 230 pro baseball players from a ’52 baseball registry. They found that players with big smiles lived an average of five years longer that those who didn’t (or barely) smiled. Even players with small smiles lived longer than those who didn’t smile.

Facial expression and smiles have long been shown to be a good indicator of people’s emotions—and those with positive emotions are even shown to have better interpersonal skills and more stable marriages. Smiling can have a great impact on your health—it can boost your immune system and reduces stress.

So Here Are Some Tips For Helping Your Smile Keep You Young

1. Care for your teeth, relentlessly, by doing the basics—brushing, flossing, regular checkups with your regular dentist, etc. You already know HOW IMPORTANT this is during your orthodontic treatment.
2. Ask us any time you have questions about your oral health.
3. Smile big, and smile often—even while you have braces!

When you take good care of your teeth, chances are they’ll last a lifetime. And a great smile will make that lifetime longer, healthier, and happier.

We’re Always Available And Always Listening

If you have questions, Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca and Gorczyca Orthodontics can help. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

You know how to contact us! And, we love hearing from you on our Facebook page!

And thanks, as always, for being our valued orthodontic patients and friends!

WE KNOW YOU'RE IN A RUSH to complete your orthodontic treatment as soon as possible. You want an appliance which is comfortable and looks great. Invisalign with Acceledent is your orthodontic win-win.

AcceleDent Can Speed Up Your Invisalign Treatment

With Invisalign, or Invisalignteen, the addition of AcceleDent will help you cut your treatment time in half. You can change your trays every week instead of every two weeks. Small vibrations-micropulses-help increase blood flow and bone cell recruitment, so your teeth move faster and feel comfortable.

Acceledent Provides An Easy Treatment Process

The Acceledent mouthpiece is easy to wear. Worn daily for 20 minutes, it's hands-free so you can continue to text, read, clean house, or do whatever you would like as you move your teeth.

Faster treatment means fewer appointments, fewer dental hygiene challenges, shorter treatment time, and a faster result giving you the smile you've always wanted as soon as possible. It's a win-win any way you look at it.

Ask us about Invisalign with Acceledent at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California. Call us at (925)757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbbraces.com.

Get the smile you've always wanted with speed and comfort. Try Invisalign with AcceleDent. It's a win-win.

Top image by AcceleDent. Image cropped and modified from original.

THE REPLACEMENT OF MISSING TEETH by dental implants often requires orthodontic treatment with either braces or Invisalign prior to implant placement.

Orthodontic Treatment In Necessary Before Dental Implants

Orthodontic treatment prior to dental implant placement is necessary for:

• Closing tooth spaces near implant sites
• Preparing the width of the implant site
• Moving adjacent tooth roots away from implant sites
• Correcting midlines for facial esthetics
• Producing maximum dental esthetics
• Correcting tooth bite relationships for an ideal bite

Dental Implants Can't Move Like Natural Teeth

If you need dental implants, it is important to have an orthodontic consultation prior to implant placement to find out if orthodontics would benefit you.

Implants are not movable like natural teeth. Once placed, the implant will not be able to have future orthodontic tooth movement. It's now or never, with orthodontic tooth movement prior to implant placement.

This case was treated by orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

If you would like to have straight teeth now or in the near future, remember orthodontics then implants, for an ideal smile.

Here's to your beautiful smile.

AS 2015 DRAWS TO A CLOSE, we thank you our valued patients, family, and friends for another wonderful year at Gorczyca Orthodontics. We would like to take this opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you for being part of Gorczyca Orthodontics. We appreciate you and are glad that you are part of our Gorczyca Orthodontics Family.

Here Are Some Of Our Resolutions

We wish you the very best for the New Year 2016. To get us thinking about the new year ahead, here are some of our New Year's resolutions:

Jolene- To travel more.

Monica- To enjoy life!

Veronica- To maintain good health for the entire family

Pam- To go to Hawaii with my family.

Gwen- To enjoy more travel.

Patti- To spend more time with my daughters.

Dr. Gorczyca- To create new things, make the dental world a better place, lose weight, and clean off my desk!

Share your New Year's resolution thoughts with us below.

From all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Happy New Year! Here's to making 2016 the best year ever!

Gorczyca Orthodontics, www.clubbraces.com (925) 757-9000

Top image by Flickr user bayasaa used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

During this Holiday Season
more than ever,
our thoughts turn gratefully,
with much appreciation,
to all those who have made
our year at Gorczyca Orthodontics
wonderful.

In this spirit we say,
simply and sincerely,
THANK YOU.

As we find ourselves
reflecting on the year,
and on those who have helped us
shape Gorczyca Orthodontics,
we look forward to the coming year
and to working with you.

We wish you a
Merry Christmas
and
a Happy New Year.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Gorczyca Orthodontnics, www.clubbraces.com (925) 757-9000 in Antioch, California.

COOKIES, CANDY CANES, AND TOFFEE APPLES. Enjoy this holiday season and straighten your teeth at the same time with Invisalign® or Invisalign Teen®.

We Develop A Unique Invisalign Treatment Plan For You

Invisalign is a series of clear, removable trays which move your teeth gradually and gently to their final position. Your orthodontist will develop your diagnosis and treatment plan to give you the best Invisalign orthodontic result possible. Aligners are usually worn 22+ hours per day but can be removed for that special Christmas gingerbread cookie.

Invisalign Is A Comfortable Orthodontic Solution

Invisalign clear aligners are comfortable to wear and easy to live with. They will also let you look great for that special Yuletide gathering. Because the aligners are removable, you can continue to eat your favorite holiday foods. In addition, the removable trays allow you to brush and floss your teeth normally to keep your smile healthy and attractive during this holiday season.

This case was treated by orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary examination.

Enjoy your favorite festive treats while giving yourself a beautiful new smile this Christmas. Have a Happy Holiday with Invisalign.

Deck your teeth with strands of braces,
fa la la la la, la la la la
'Tis the season to close spaces
fa la la la la, la la la la

Invisalign your bite unravels,
fa la la, la la la, la la la
Smiling for the Yuletide carols,
fa la la la la, la la la la.

See amazing smiles before us,
fa la la la la, la la la la
Retainers worn while in the chorus,
fa la la la la, la la la la

Soon we see the tooth retraction,
fa la la, la la la, la la la
While the rubber bands take action,
fa la la la la, la la la la

Fast away the treatment passes,
fa la la la la, la la la la
Love your smile, ye lads and lasses,
fa la la la la, la la la la

You'll look great with teeth together,
fa la la, la la la, la la la
Smiling now in Chrismas weather,
fa la la la la, la la la la

Happy Holidays from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California!

www.clubbraces.com.

Top image by Flickr user Ruth Hartnup used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

AS WE BEGIN THE HOLIDAY SEASON, the team at Gorczyca Orthodontics would like to take a moment to thank you, our patients, friends, and family for being part of our Gorczyca Orthodontics Family. It is a pleasure and privilege for us to serve your orthodontics needs and we look forward to seeing you.

Thank You For Being A Part Of Our Practice Family!

We are grateful for you and everything that we have in our lives. Thank you for our relationship. We hope that you will take a moment today to be grateful. Here are some things that we are grateful for during this holiday season and everyday.

Jolene: “I am grateful that I am still able to work. I have been an orthodontic assistant for 32 years and at Gorczyca Orthodontics for nearly 20 years. I am grateful for my health.”

Monica: “I am grateful for my loving husband and my healthy, active kids. Occasionally, I am grateful for a glass of wine.”

Veronica: “I am grateful for my new home and my loving family. I am grateful that we are all healthy and happy.”

Pam: “I am grateful for my family and the time that we get to spend together. I am grateful to be part of the dynamic team at Gorczyca Orthodontics.”

Gwen: “I am grateful to have a feeling of joy and fulfillment in my life. I love the work that I do and enjoy spending time with my family and friends.”

Patti: “I am grateful for my family and our health and happiness.”

Dr. Gorczyca: “I am grateful for all the people in my life, for our health and happiness. I am grateful to live in the United States and to have the opportunity to be an orthodontist at Gorczyca Orthodontics and pursue many of my interests and passions. I am grateful for all of my friends and family, especially my husband and my son.”

All of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics wish you and your family hope, joy, and abundance. We thank you for our relationship. With gratitude, we wish you a happy holiday season.

Top image by Flickr user Caitlin Regan used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

THERE IS NO NEED to be embarrassed about your smile. Orthodontic treatment and Lumineers® are a fast and easy way to give you the smile you always wanted.

Lumineers Can Do Wonders For Your Smile

Prior to Lumineers, your orthodontist will correct spacing and placement of your teeth to give you the best Lumineers smile makeover possible.

Chipped teeth can be fixed and instantly whitened with Lumineers. Small teeth can also be made the ideal size and shape. Stained teeth can be make to look young again.

Lumineers are strong. They are made from porcelain which maintains its radiance for over 20 years. Lumineers preserve your natural tooth structure and are relatively easy to get after your orthodontic treatment is completed.

We Can Help You Achieve A Beautiful Smile

Your orthodontist will work closely with your cosmetic dentist prepare your teeth for Lumineers. This case was prepared by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California. Find us at www.clubbraces.com.

Ask your orthodontist today which dentists in your community offer Lumineers. To find an orthodontist in your area visit www.mylifemysmile.org.

Change your smile and change your life!

CANDY APPLES, also know as toffee apples, are whole apples on a stick covered in a sugar candy coating or hard toffee. They are a common treat throughout the world.

The Origin of The Candy Apple

Invented in 1908 by a candy shop owner William Kolb in Newark, New Jersey, candy apples have been popular worldwide for over one hundred years. They are found at amusement parks, circuses, along the Jersey Shore, and on New York's Coney Island. Kids love candy apples.

Candy apples are a tradition in many countries. They are called pommes d'amour (apples of love) in Brazil and France. They are called Tanghulu in China and are popular at Japanese festivals. In Germany, they are associated with the Christmas season. In Israel, they are sold at Yom Ha'atzmaut eve (Israel Independence Day). In the U.K., they are associated with Bonfire Night. In the U.S., Canada, and Australia, candy apples continue to be associated with fairs and carnivals and may also be served at Halloween.

They may also be the world's #1 orthodontic hazard.

Candy Apples Can Do Serious Damage To Braces

Eating a candy apple is one sure way to break off all of your orthodontics brackets. Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Orthodontist at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California learned about the orthodontic hazard of candy apples orthodontic the hard way. While in braces during the seventh grade, she bit into a candy apple at the Lincoln Park Amusement Park in Westport, Massachusetts.

“All my friends bought candy apples. Though in braces, I bought one, too. Tempted by this childhood delicacy, I took a bite. I still remember, vividly, the feeling and sound of my beloved braces crackling and breaking off my teeth! My dear orthodontist, Dr. Lawrence Oliveira of New Bedford, Massachuetts, was so upset with me! When I returned to his office for my bracket repair and replacement, he was so troubled, he could barely speak! I hope I can save other orthodontic patients from this unfortunate occurrence!”

Be Sure To Look Out For Your Braces!

Take care of your braces at amusement parks and during Halloween. Save the candy apple for the braces removal celebration on debond day when your braces are removed at your orthodontist's office.

To find an orthodontist in your area or near an amusement park you may visit, go to the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

BOBBING FOR APPLES is a game often played on Halloween. Fill a large tub with water and less dense apples will float. Catch the apples with your teeth with your hands behind your back. What fun!

Bobbing for Apples Around the World

Bobbing is called "dooking" (i.e. ducking) in Scotland. In Northern England, bobbing for apples is called apple ducking or duck-apple. In Ireland, mainly in Kerry County, apple bobbing is known as Snap Apple. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Snap Apple Night is Halloween.

The tradition of bobbing for apples dates back to the Roman invasion of Britain. Young unmarried people would try to bite into the apple by either bobbing for or eating an apple hanging on the string. Those who were successful were thought to be the next to marry.

Bobbing For Apples? Braces Beware!

If you have braces, DON'T play bobbing for apples! Your braces will break off. This is no fun at all! You will need to go back to your orthodontic office for an emergency appointment. This may produce upset parents and teachers. There may even be an orthodontic charge to replace your carelessly broken braces. YIKES!

Look On The Bright Side

Although you cannot bob for apples with braces, look on the bright side. By not bobbing for apples, you will be avoiding an unsanitary game where a number of individuals have placed their entire heads, mouths, and saliva into the same bowl of water. In addition, you will avoiding the Roman belief that you will be marrying soon, in addition to not breaking your orthodontic brackets.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Antioch, California 929-757-9000 www.clubbraces.com

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

AS YOU KNOW, HERE at Gorczyca Orthodontics, we’re honored to have you as our valued patient! Our goal is ALWAYS remarkable, one-to-one patient care... Thanks to our amazing team members!

Gorczyca Orthodontics Is Growing!

Gorczyca Orthodontics is thrilled to welcome our newest orthodontic assistant, Gwen.

A Little About Gwen

Gwen is originally from Concord, California. She is a graduate of Mt. Diablo High School where she was in the Culinary Academy. She is a resident of Bay Point, California.

Gwen got into dental assisting through her friends who were first dental assistants. They told Gwen she should try it out because she would LOVE IT!

Gwen graduated from dental assisting school this May and completed her internship at the office of Dr. Janis in Concord. She then joined Gorczyca Orthodontics.

We recently put Gwen in the hot seat and asked her some questions so you can get to know her better...

When you’re not here working, what are your favorite things to do?

When Gwen has a day off she likes to hang out with her friends and do volunteer work. She is very involved with her church. She loves to travel and throw parties!

Gwen's favorite place to travel to is New York City. Gwen was there this summer. She really enjoyed the fast pace of New York City.

When you first started working here, what were your first impressions of the office and the team? Have those impressions changed?

When Gwen started working at Gorczyca Orthodontics, her first impressions were that the team was very close. Every team member helps each other out and we always put the patient first. Everyone is very welcoming to both the patients and their family. Gwen enjoys getting to know each and every patient and their families. She considers this the best part of her job.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Like every assistant at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Gwen has her own chair and her own schedule. She loves this ownership of her patient care and working with Dr. Gorczyca. Orthodontics is fascinating and can really change people's lives. Our patients smiles truly are our inspiration.

We’re So Happy To Have Gwen As A Member Of Our Team!

At Gorczyca Orthodontics we have three goals:

• Clinical excellence,
• Outstanding customer service,
• and a Great patient experience.

Thank you Gwen for being part of our Gorczyca Orthodontics team!

As one of our valued patients, if you have your own question for Gwen, please ask in the comments section below! Also, you can always send us a message on Facebook anytime.

We look forward to seeing you at your next visit! Thanks for the trust you place in our practice.

AS YOU KNOW, HERE at Gorczyca Orthodontics, we’re honored to have you as our valued patient! Our goal is ALWAYS remarkable, one-to-one patient care... Thanks to our amazing team members!

Gorczyca Orthodontics Is Growing!

We are thrilled to welcome our new Patient Coordinator, Pam, to our front desk! Welcome, Pam! We're glad you're here to welcome all of our wonderful patients at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

A Little About Pam

Pam is originally from San Francisco, California. She has worked in dentistry for three years, is married, and the mother of five children. She not only works at Gorczyca Orhtodontics but she is also currently an orthodontic patient herself!

We recently put Pam in the hot seat and asked her some questions so you can get to know her better...

When you’re not here working, what are your favorite things to do?

Pam loves to spend time with her children. They go to the park, play football, go shopping, and love all waterfront activities.

When you first started working here, what were your first impressions of the office and the team? Have those impressions changed?

When Pam first started working here she found Gorczyca Orthodontics to be such a bright, positive, and energy filled environment. She loves it here! Everyday is a new adventure at Gorczyca Orthodontics. We love our patients and it shows.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Pam loves greeting the patients, serving them coffee, getting to know them and their families, and helping them with their orthodontic treatment and in anyway that she can.

Pam herself is presently an orthodontic patient at Gorczyca Orthodontics. She has a very complex orthodontic case and she is very happy that Dr. Gorczyca is Board Certified and vastly experienced in interdisciplinary dental treatment with combines all of the the dental procedures with the specialists that Pam needs to give her an amazing new smile.

We’re So Happy To Have Pam As A Member Of Our Team!

At Gorczyca Orthodontics we have three goals:

• Clinical excellence,
• Outstanding customer service,
• and a Great patient experience.

Thank you Pam for being part of our Gorczyca Orthodontics team!

As one of our valued patients, if you have your own question for Pam, please ask in the comments section below! Also, you can always send us a message on Facebook anytime.

We look forward to seeing you at your next visit! Thanks for the trust you place in our practice.

AS YOU KNOW, HERE at Gorczyca Orthodontics, we’re honored to have you as our valued patient! Our goal is ALWAYS remarkable, one-to-one patient care... Thanks to our amazing team members!

Today, we’d like to tell you a little bit about one of the awesome people who helps make this possible: Patti!

A Little About Patti

Patti was born in Mexico City. It was very crowded there. She and her family decided to move to California when she was 19 years old. She and her family moved to East Contra Costa County ten years ago.

Patti always wanted to be a dental assistant. Recently, her dream came true when she joined Gorczyca Orthodontics. Dr. Gorczyca interviewed her smiling face, felt her tender heart, and enthusiasm for orthodontics and hired her on the spot!

We recently put Patti in the hot seat and asked her some questions so you can get to know her better...

When you’re not here working, what are your favorite things to do?

Patti is very involved with her church. She also has four grown children and a husband. She has also been running her own housecleaning business for seven years.

Patti also loves to dance. Her favorite dance is Salsa! She and her husband go dancing once a month!

When you first started working here, what were your first impressions of the office and the team? Have those impressions changed?

Patti's first impression of Gorczyca Orthodontics was F-U-N! with a capitol F! She loves how we treat our patients. We are all so excited about orthodontic treatment.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Patti's favorite thing about her job at Gorczyca Orthodontics is that we have the opportunity to learn something new everyday, whether it is a new orthodontic procedure or technology, something new from the patient, or something new about our community or referring offices. There is never a dull moment at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Why We Love Having Patti On Our Team

Patti is the office's cleanliness expert. Clean is her middle name. Gorczyca Orthodontics has never been so clean as it is now with Patti. We have shiny windows and window paynes, shiny mirror, shiny sinks, and uncluttered counter-tops.

Patti is also Gorczyca Orthodontics Lab Diva! Her overlay retainers are superb and her impression and study models are beautiful. There's nothing like a job well done. Thank you Patti for joining our team at Gorczyca Orthodontics!

We’re So Happy To Have Patti As A Member Of Our Team!

As one of our valued patients, if you have your own question for Patti, please ask in the comments section below! Also, you can always send us a message on Facebook anytime.

We look forward to seeing you at your next visit! Thanks for the trust you place in our practice.

IF YOU HAVE BRACES, you still need to floss. Flossing is important in the prevention of cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease—especially while wearing braces.

Tips For Flossing With Braces

To help you floss with braces, here are some helpful tips:

1. Use enough floss! The amount of floss should be equal to the length from your fingers to you elbow.
2. Thread floss between your wire and the contact of two teeth with your fingers or use a floss threader.
3. Wind floss around one finger of one hand and one finger of your other hand.
4. Waxed floss is less likely to tear. Oral B Glide floss is our favorite.

Help Youngsters Out!

If you or the little ones in your life who don’t wear braces are having trouble flossing, consider Crest Glide Floss Picks.

We Want To Help Keep Your Smile Bright

We at Gorczyca Orthodontics hope that these flossing tips were helpful and keep you excited about flossing and maintaining excellent oral hygiene. If you have questions about your teeth or oral hygiene, visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

Thanks for flossing and letting us be part of your beautiful smile.

Top image by Flickr user Alan Light used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

SEVEN IS THE PERFECT AGE for a child’s first orthodontic examination. Screening at age seven assures that your child’s smile will be healthy and look it’s best for the longest time possible.

Early Detection Can Help Long-term Orthodontic Health

Orthodontic treatment at age seven can minimize the need for more extensive procedures such as extraction of permanent teeth in the future. Straight teeth at age seven will also help with your child's self-esteem— a fragile asset that’s so important when growing up.

What to Expect at the Seven Year Orthodontic Exam

At the seven year orthodontic exam, your orthodontist will evaluate:
1. Overjet and facial profile
2. Overbite and jaw function
3. Underbite and tooth wear
4. Openbite, breathing, and oral habits
5. Crowding, spacing, rotations and tooth alignment
6. Symmmetry and facial balance
7. Crossbite and functional shifts

Be sure to seek early treatment if your child has:
1. Snoring or mouth breathing
2. Difficulty chewing, cheek biting, or jaw shifting
3. Thumb sucking, lip biting, or finger habits
4. Crowding or missing teeth
5. Speech problems
6. Grinding or excessive tooth wear
7. Crooked, spaced, or crowded teeth

This case was treated by Board Certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Antioch, California. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925)757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Give your child a great smile. For your child's first orthodonic exam, seven is the magic number.

Top image by Flickr user Sebastien Wiertz used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

IT’S SHOCKING. Blood on your floss. Red gums bleed while you brush your teeth. You're spooked by halitosis, or bad breath. Frightening plaque and calculus accumulate on your teeth like cement. These are the scary signs of periodontal disease. And malocclusion, or crooked teeth, make it worse.

Malocclusion Affects A Majority Of Adults

Malocclusion affects 74% of American adults. If you have severely crooked and crowded teeth, it may affect your periodontal health by making it difficult to remove plaque when teeth are not aligned.

Gingivitis Can Affect More Than Your Gums

If not treated, gum inflammation, gingivitis, will lead to soft tissue damage. Receding gums, and the formation of pockets between your teeth produces bone loss. Eventually, your teeth may even fall out!

Your teeth can be saved by periodontal treatment and orthodontics. Properly positioned teeth can help gums "fit" tightly around teeth and lead to peiodontal health.

This case was treated by board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Antioch, California. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary exam. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org. To find a periodontist near you, visit American Academy of Periodontology at www.perio.org.

Don't let your mouth be haunted. Change malocclusion and periodontal disease to oral health.

TO OUR VALUED PATIENTS, thank you for making Gorczyca Orthodontics the #1 Orthodontic Office in Antioch, California on Yelp! We appreciate you and our opportunity to serve you. Here's what some patients on Yelp had to say:

Place: Your Patient Experience

"The office is very clean and comfortable"
"The office is always cheerfully decorated"
"I'm thrilled with the service I received there"
"Best run office I've been to"

Product: Things Patients Love

"Super nice and fun!"
"I'm very happy with my treatment"
"omg it was awesome!"
"I give them an A+"

Price: I Can Afford Dental Care

"Prices are reasonable"
"Easy payment options"
"Finishing up our third kid. All experiences have been great."

Promotion: Patient Experience

"I couldn't be happier"
"I will refer...to Gorczyca Orthodontics ;)!
"You are definately #1 in my book":

The Team

"The staff has repeatedly gone the extra mile"
"Amazing and talented group of people"
"High standard of professionalism"

The Doctor

"Dr. Gorczyca always takes time to listen"
"She is about patients and their individual needs"
"Friendly, helpful, compassionate"
"Dr. Gorczyca is fantastic"
"She's the best orthodontist EVER!"

We Love Making You Smile

It makes our day at Gorczyca Orthodontics to receive a 5 star patient review on Yelp. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 to schedule a complimentary orthodontic exam.

Your happiness and smiles are what we at Gorczyca Orthodntics are all about. Thank you for allowing us to serve you and for referring your family and friends. Your smile truly is our inspiration.

OUR TEAM IS NOT ONLY CONCERNED WITH YOUR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, but we also care about your overall health and comfort. That's why we want to address something that affects one in four households—migraines.

For migraine sufferers, it may seem as though there are only two options—either suffer in silence with a bottle of ibuprofen, or go to the doctor for something stronger. However, experts say that as many as 95% of migraines may be linked to dental issues. So if you, your child, or other family member suffer from migraines, maybe it’s time for a chat with our practice (or your general dentist) instead. If you’re not sure who to talk to first, call us and we can visit about it.

Yes, sometimes the orthodontic work we are doing can cause minor headaches. If this is ever the case for you, please let us know.  However, if your headaches are chronic, there may be another cause altogether.

Your Migraines May Be Caused By TMJ or TMD

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint responsible for jaw movement—talking, crunching, grinding, clenching, etc. It’s a complex system of bones, muscles, and tendons. When something interrupts the function of this system, it’s referred to as TMD, or temporomandibular disorder.

If your jaw is misaligned, your muscles are strained trying to put (or keep) your jaw in its proper place. Soon it starts impacting all the surrounding muscles, including your neck, your head, and even your spine.

Some TMD Symptoms Include:

• Popping or clicking jaw
• Sore teeth
• Facial pain
• Aching neck muscles
• And of course, Migraines

Treating TMD

TMD research is still a developing science and treatments can range from fitting a mouthpiece to actually adjusting one’s bite (which often includes orthodontic work). If you’re suffering from pain in your jaw, your teeth, your face or head, come in and ask us at Gorczyca Orthodontics about it. As you know, we are ALWAYS looking at your bite each time you visit us. However, if you are experiencing some of the symptoms we’ve described here, we should take another look.

If you have questions about TMJ or TMD, leave us a comment below, send us a direct message on Facebook, or contact us for an appointment.

As always, thanks for the trust you place in our orthodontic practice!

A BEAUTIFUL SMILE reveals gorgeous upper front teeth with ideal proportions. With gummy smile, excessive gum tissue makes upper front teeth look short.

Reveal Your Full Smile With A Gingivectomy

The shape of these teeth appears square or like a sizeways rectangle, rather than the normal 80% width to height ratio.

Gingivectomy is a procedure that can be used to restore ideal tooth height where gums are excessive. Removal of excessive gums can be done by laser, quickly and comfortably, for a beautiful result.

Gingivectomy eliminates gummy smile with or without braces. In children, teeth may appear square from incomplete tooth eruption. In adults, teeth may appear short from either excessive gum tissue or extreme tooth wear.

Keep Your Beautiful Smile For A Lifetime!

Your orthodontist, periodontist, or general dentist can answer your questions about short teeth and gummy smile. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org or call Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 in Antioch, California for a complimentary consultation and smile analysis.

Let everyone see your beautiful teeth by eliminating your extra gums. Here's to your gorgeous new smile.

FEW CAN SAY THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE OLYMPICS, yet we all have the opportunity to go for the gold.

In orthodontics as in sports, there are similar marks of excellence. Becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is one of them.

Becoming A Diplomate Of The ABO

The ABO process starts by a dental school graduate completing an additional two to three year post-doctoral orthodontic residency program accredited by the American Dental Association.

Board certified orthodontists pass an examination which verifies mastery of advanced skills in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

An ABO orthodontist demonstrates excellence in patient care by presenting treatment records of their own patients and passing an oral examination given by a panel of expert orthodontists.

The Benefits Of Being ABO Certified

Orthodontic board certification goes far beyond acheiving the approval of a panel of expert orthodontists. The greatest benefit comes from the insight gained through the time and study in ABO preparation. This process usually takes five years to complete.

Only one out of three orthodontists is board certified. To find a board certified orthdontist near you, visit the American Board of Orthodontics at www.americanboardortho.com.

This case was treated by board certified orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

You can be sure that ABO orthodontists have pursued excellence. They've gone for the gold.

Top image by Flickr user The U.S. Army used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

IN PREPARATION FOR Dr. Gorczyca’s 2015 Summer Tour to Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame she asked the excellent team at Gorczyca Orthodontics "What was your first rock concert?"

Here’s What They Had To Say:

Jolene: I’ve never been to a rock concert. I’m a country girl. I love to listen to Kenny Chesney. If I had gone to my favorite first rock concert, I would have been to see the Beatles or the Beach Boys!

Monica: Garth Brooks was my first rock concert. Does he count for a rock concert?

Veronica: I’ve never been to a rock concert. But, if I had, I would have picked Bruce Springsteen singing “Born in the U. S. A.” but I would have changed the words to “Raised in the U. S. A.”!

Patty: MANA

Ashley: I’ve never been to a rock concert! If I could pick a rock concert, it would be Aerosmith!

Dr. Gorczyca: My first rock concert was Aerosmith. My high school friend Arthur took me because he thought I needed to expand my musical horizons. The concert was at the Providence Rhode Island Civic Center. Being in such a wild and crazy audience was a bit of a “bad scene.” Even so, the concert was a lot of fun!

Later, my high school friend Leslie took me to hear Jethro Tull because I played the flute. The lead singer of this group, Ian Anderson, is an incredible flutist! Amazingly, he sings and plays flute at the same time which gives him a unique flute sound. It was incredible!

Let us know what your first rock concert was and if you are dreaming of beautiful straight teeth, come see us for braces, Invisalign, or retainers at Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, in Antioch, CA. Gorczyca. Find us at www.clubbraces.com. Gorczyca Orthodontics ROCKS when it comes to straight teeth!

Dream on.... Dream until your dreams come true.
-Aerosmith

Take Home a Smile

Edgar Guest
(1881-1959)

Take home a smile; forget the petty cares,
The dull, grim grind of all the day's affairs;
The day is done, come be yourself awhile:
To-night, to those who wait, take home a smile.

Take home a smile; don’t scatter grief and gloom
Where laughter and light hearts should always bloom;
What though you’ve traveled many a dusty mile,
Footsore and weary, still take home a smile.

Take home a smile- it is not much to do,
But much it means to them who wait for you;
You can be brave for such a little while;
The day of doubt is done- take home a smile.

YOUR NEW SMILE IS LIKE A WORK OF ART. Whether you have just completed Invisalign, Invisalignteen, or braces, Vivera retainers can preserve the art work of your smile for a lifetime.

Vivera Retainers Are Strong And Comfortable

Vivera retainers are made with 3-D technology like Invisalign. This precise fit grips your teeth firmly holding them in place. Vivera retainers’ thermoplastic material is clear and smooth while being comfortable to wear. Vivera retainers are also strong—a critical quality for longivity of material and keeping your teeth straight.

Once your 3-D molds are digitally processed by your orthodontist, you will have the ability to have replacement retainers made without further office visits or additional impressions.

Keep Your Beautiful Smile For A Lifetime!

Gorczyca Orthodontics provides Vivera retainers after completion of Invisalign, Invisalignteen or traditional braces. Your new Vivera retainers will be shipped directly to Gorczyca Orthodontics for easy pickup. Call us at 925-757-9000 if you would like to join our Vivera retainer retention program.

Retain your smile masterpiece. With Vivera retainers, your teeth will be as straight and beautiful as the day you completed your orthodontic work of art.

DENTAL AND SKELETAL bite problems are evident by age 7. Phase I Phase II orthodontic treatment is like doing half now, half later, assisting you with the development of your smile from age 7 to age 13 when your smile is mature.

Phase I orthodontic treatment starts around age 7 in the mixed dentition when 12 permanent teeth and 12 baby teeth are present.

Phase I Phase II Treatment May Improve Your Final Result

In 15% of cases, the overall result will be improved by Phase I orthodontic treatment. Benefits include symmetrical jaw growth, eliminating the need for tooth extraction, preventing tooth wear, or stopping harmful habits such as thumbsucking while improving speech and self-esteem.

Permanent retainers are popular after Phase I orthodontic treatment. These bonded wires prevent tooth relapse and the need for replacement of lost retainers.

Sixteen permanent teeth come in between Phase I and Phase II orthodontic treatment. The chances of one of these new teeth being crooked is high. Usualy there is a benefit in doing Phase II orthodontic treatment after Phase I treatment.

Phase I Treatment Makes Phase II Go Easier

Phase II orthodontic treatment begins when all the permanent teeth have come into place at age 12.

Phase II treatment is easier because Phase I treatment has already corrected the major orthodontic problems.

If you have questions about Phase I Phase II orthodontic treatment, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary consultation.

Every smile is unique. Here’s to the growth and development of your beautiful smile!

SUMMER IS THE PERFECT TIME of year for all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics to say “Thank you for choosing our office for your orthodontic care. It is a pleasure and privilege for all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics to serve you. We appreciate you very much.”

We love being your orthodontist and your orthodontic team and having you as a patient in our office. We love spending time with you, talking with you, and seeing you, your family, and your friends.

You Are Special To Us!

We’d like to show our appreciation to you by spending a special evening together, just for fun, at the Gorczyca Orthodontics Patient Appreciation Summer Splash Party.

Our Summer Splash Party will be on Saturday, July 18, 6:30 p.m. at the Antioch Water Park. This evening the park will have a special opening just for our Gorczyca Orthodontics private party. Please invite everyone in your family including grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins, too! Feel free to invite friends and neighbors. We would love to meet and see them all! The more, the merrier!

Come Be A Part Of The Tradition

Gorczyca Orthodontics has been hosting the Summer Splash Party at the Antioch Water Park since the park opened in 1998. The Antioch Water Park is a landmark in our East Contra Costa County Community and the Gorczyca Orthodontics Annual Summer Splash Party has become and anticipated local summer event and part of our practice culture.

So get on your suit, kick off your shoes, and take a splash or stroll with us under the stars!

It is going to be a great evening! See you there!

WORDS CAN BARELY EXPRESS the transformation in appearance, confidence, morale, and happiness that comprehensive orthodontic treatment makes in a young person’s life.

Comprehensive orthodontic treatment takes an investment of time and resources, but this investment is priceless. Having a beautiful smile will make a big difference in your life.

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we love changing lives by improving smiles. We have treated over 10,000 orthodontics cases. Each patient is unique and has their own story. We treat each patient with individualized attention, one at a time, with tender loving care.

Thank you for trusting us to care for your orthodontic needs. We guarantee satisfaction. We value you and the family and friends who you refer.

Visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics at www.clubbraces.com or on Facebook.

It is our privilege to give you the smile of your dreams. Your smile is our inspiration!

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU’RE A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. Time to move on to the college scene.

Do you wish you had straightened your teeth in high school?

Good news! Invisalign is the perfect option for you to straighten your teeth during college.

Your hometown orthodontist can still provide you with the aligners you need to get started with your Invisalign treatment today. You can then take your custom made aligners with you to college. Once at college, you will continue to make maximum progress with your Invisalign aligners. Your orthodontist will check your progress and give you additional aligners when you are back home again for your Thanksgiving or Christmas break.

The Major Advantages Of Invisalign Treatment During College Are:

1. You can eat whatever you want
2. Nothing will get broken or loose
3. You will be extremely comfortable during your treatment
4. You can look great at parties!

Call Us To Schedule A Complimentary Invisalign Exam

Call Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, CA today if you are interested in starting Invisalign treatment. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 to schedule your complimentary Invisalign exam.

Get ready for college. Prepare for rush week today with Invisalign.

SOMETIMES, WE’RE  GUILTY OF ASSUMING TOO MUCH, RIGHT? We recently realized that we’ve probably wrongly assumed that ALL of you—our valued patients—know Ally as well as we do! That’s probably not the case.

Ally’s real name is Ashley. But, Gorczyca Orthodontics already had an Ashley, one of the most popular names! So, Gorczyca Orthodontics decided they would call her by her nickname “Ally!”

So, We Asked Ally A Few Questions

Those questions are found below—along with her candid answers! Enjoy!

Where are you originally from?

“I am originally from Richmond, California. When I was 15 years old, my family moved to Suisun, not far from Fairfield, and Antioch, California, on the Sacramento River Delta. Recently, I moved to Antioch to be closer to my Dad.”

What made you decide that you wanted to become a dental assistant?

“When I was a Junior in High School, my marketing class had a field trip to Heald College in Concord, California. At this college, I learned about the career option of becoming a dental assistant. After graduating from Pinole Valley High School, I attended Blake Austin College in Vacaville, California and received my education in dental assisting.”

When you started as a dental assistant was there something funny that happened? Do you dare tell us that story?

“Years ago, when I started working for the very first time on the first day, I nervously grabbed the air water syringe. I accidentally pressed water instead of air and sprayed the doctor! He laughed knowing how nervous I was. Things have been great ever since!”

How did you come to work at Gorczyca Orthodontics?

“My stepmother was an orthodontic patient at Gorczyca Orthodontics. She told me that Gorcyzca Orthodontics had a great team, the doctor was really nice, and she thought that I would do really well at Gorczyca Orthodontics. I visited Gorczyca Orthodontics in 2014 but they did not have a job opening then. When they recently did have a job opening, Gorczyca Orthodontics called me back. It’s funny how things work out in life!

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not at work?

“When I am not at work, I love spending time with my family. My favorite thing to do is to have a cook-out including dancing, singing, karaoke, laughing, and watching old family videos. Most of my family is originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana. My grandparents moved to California in the early 1960’s when my grandfather was in the service.”

What do you enjoy most about being a dental assistant?

“What I love most about working at Gorczyca Orthodontics is transforming smiles. It is a confidence builder for our patients to receive a beautiful orthodontic result. It make me feel like I’ve really made a difference in the life of our patients to be part of the orthodontic treatment result that they receive.”

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Ally a little better. Here at Gorczyca Orthodontics we feel really fortunate to have her as a member of our awesome team.

Do YOU Have A Question For Ally?

If so, please enter it in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to pass it along to her for an answer! Also, as you know, you can always send us private questions or comments on our Facebook page.

Thanks for the trust you place in us!

IN CASES WHERE LOWER TEETH are spaced more than upper teeth, closing these spaces by orthodontic treatment will greatly improve your bite. In abnormal edge to edge bites, where there is no overjet or overbite, teeth experience rapid and excessive tooth wear as well as periodontal damage. This can be prevented by orthodontic treatment with Invisalign.

Diabetes affects periodontal health and can cause teeth to space and gums to recede. If you have dental spacing or gum recession and an abnormal bite due to diabetes, Invisalign can help.

Invisalign Treatment May Be The Ideal Option For You

Invisalign treatment is a series of clear custom trays which move teeth to a new, more ideal position. Invisalign aligners are comfortable and effective at closing mild to moderate spaces between your teeth.

If you would like to close dental spaces between your teeth, find out if Invisalign is right for you. Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics 925-757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic consultation and a referral to a periodontist if necessary.

Don’t let dental spacing keep you from smiling. Start your Invisalign treatment today.

WHEN I THINK OF DENTAL SPORTS mouth guards, I think of my cousin John. Always the scholar athelete, a few seconds without his dental mouth guard caused him to lose an upper front tooth while wrestling in high school.

It has been reported that sports cause approximately 36% of injuries to children and adolescents. According to the American Dental Association, 10-20% of all sports related injuries are to the jaws and teeth.

Get Your Sports Mouth Guard At Gorczyca Orthodontics

For this reason, Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Antioch, California offers custom-made sports mouth guards at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Having recently returned from the office of Dr. Todd Yerondopoulos, Dentist of the Oakland Raiders, Dr. Gorczyca and her assistant Ashley are ready to serve local athletes in the fabrication of professional grade sports mouth guards. Custom designs are also available for Deer Valley High School, Antioch H.S., Pittsburg H.S., as well as Liberty, Freedom, and Heritage High Schools in Brentwood, California. Our goal is to prevent sports related dental injuries in our East Contra County community.

But What Ever Happened To Dr. Gorczyca’s Cousin?

What happened next to Dr. Gorczyca’s cousin is the stuff of dental legend. Making the best of the situation, John visited Boston University Dental School for his dental implant, where he became the patient of a beautiful and charming dental student named Maria.

He was so impressed with her passion for dentistry and his love for his new dental implant that he decided to marry her! Thirty four years later, John is the father of three and a leading orthopaedic trauma surgeon, making for a romantic ending to this “toothsome” tale.

IT’S NO SECRET that straight, well-aligned teeth are an important part of a great smile. Unfortunately, the inconvenience and discomfort often associated with traditional braces keeps some people from straightening their teeth.

We’ve Been Using Invisalign Since 1999

Gorczyca Orthodontics is a leader in Invisalign treatment. Having provided Invisalign treatment since 1999, we have treated hundreds of patients with a variety of problems including protruding teeth, generalized spacing, and severe crowding. Due to the advances in Invisalign technology, it is now possible for orthodontists to even treat skeletal malocclusion (orthognathic surgery cases), and cases which need extraction or elastics with Invisalign.

Invisalign is a modern approach to teeth straightening without many of the drawbacks of braces. Let’s talk about why Invisalign may be right for you.

The Clear Plastic Aligners Are Nearly Invisible

Most people won’t even know you’re wearing Invisalign aligners. You can confidently show off your smile while straightening your teeth!

No Wires Or Brackets To Irritate Your Mouth

Invisalign uses a series of soft, plastic aligners that fit comfortably over your teeth to gradually and gently straighten your smile.

Traditional braces require frequent tightening visits. With Invisalign, you can save time, since all you have to do is come in every couple weeks for your new trays, and to give us a chance to check in on your progress.

You Can See Your Whole Treatment Plan From The Beginning

Invisalign also provides a 3D computerized set-up of your virtual case (ClinCheck) so that you can track your progress with treatment and see your eventual outcome.

Your Invisalign outcome will be as successful as your orthodontists treatment plan and your commitment to wearing your aligners 24/7. We suggest that aligners be worn a minimum of 22 hours per day for the quickest and most successful treatment.

Brush, Floss, And Eat Without Interference

Unlike traditional braces, you can remove your Invisalign aligner during your oral hygiene routines, and while eating your favorite meals! Brushing and flossing is not complicated and you don’t have to give up any of the foods you love.

We want to help determine whether or not Invisalign is right for you. Call us today to set up a smile consultation.

Thank you for being one of our valued patients!

And, thanks for considering Invisalign!

THIS SUNDAY MUCH OF THE WORLD CELEBRATES motherhood and the many moms who have helped shape our lives. Most of us can thank a mom for our first smiles, subsequent years of grins and endless hours of care—including lots of help and encouragement taking care of our smiles. For ALL our mothers do, we want to say “thanks”!

The next time you eat, brush, or floss, stop and think about who taught you to do all those things? It may have been a dad or someone else who watched over you, but chances are it was your mom. Regardless of who it was, the individual(s) who taught you how to take care of yourself—and your smile—have made a big difference in your life.

This Mother’s Day, when you talk to your own mom or send a message to another mom who’s important to you, think about all the times that person made you smile. If that special somebody helped you with oral care, say “thank you” specifically for that! Let us know what that person says back to you by commenting below! We’d like to hear what their reactions might be!

After all, if it weren’t for the people who cared for us and taught us about good oral hygiene, we’d probably all have less to smile about (and fewer teeth to smile with).

A Fun, Thank You Tribute To Moms

If you have a favorite memory of mom, we’d love to hear about it. Share it with us in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

Have a great Mother's Day!

SPACE... THE FINAL ORTHODONTIC RETENTION FRONTIER

These are the bonded lingual retainers of the office, Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Its mission, to retain straight dentitions for life,

to seek out retention excellence for all patients,

to boldly retain, longer and better than ever before!

Recent studies have shown that bonded lingual wires maintain straight teeth at 20 years with imperceivable change (0.06mm).

These cases were treated by Board Certified Orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca. Find us at www.clubbraces.com.

Keep your dental space closed for a lifetime with bonded lingual wire retainers.

DENTAL MIDLINES THAT DO NOT LINE UP are a sign that something much bigger is functionally off in a bite.

When midlines do not line up vertically in the center of the face between your upper and lower front teeth, often there is a major tooth position problem. This is frequently caused by loosing a baby tooth too early and teeth drifting forward into the space. This creates a major bite asymmetry.

Correcting Bite Asymmetry Protects Your Teeth

Bite asymmetry is usually corrected by comprehensive orthodontic treatment, which takes 24 months. Midline discrepancy or uncentered midlines can be treated with Class II or Class III elastics or by having a tooth extracted for an excellent orthodontic result. When tooth tips hit due to asymmetry, orthodontic correction will prevent teeth from being worn down prematurely in the future.

Whatever The Underlying Cause, Orthodontic Treatment Can Correct It

Other causes of midlines which do not line up are tooth size problems of a unilateral small tooth or jaw asymmetry. Both of these conditions can be fixed by comprehensive orthodontic treatment.

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Antioch, California. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic exam.

Find out why your midlines are not centered. An uncentered midline is just the tip of the bite iceberg!

A GORGEOUS SMILE IS more than six straight front teeth. A beautiful smile includes facial balance, an esthetic profile, ideal lip posture, and straight front teeth that contact.

The most common orthodontic complaint, teeth that stick-out “overjet” in the horizontal direction, requires careful orthodontic analysis.

Overbite + Overjet Can Cause Severe Problems

When “overbite” (front teeth overlapped in the vertical direction) is combined with excessive overjet, an impinging bite occurs. Lower teeth contact the roof of the mouth. Left untreated, this deep bite will produce severe tooth and gum problems.

There are several treatment options to reduce excessive overjet and overbite:

• growth modification
• elastic wear
• tooth extraction
• orthognathic surgery

Orthodontists Treat Your Whole Face

Your initial photo can be morphed to show you the predicted facial changes with each treatment option.

Your orthodontist will carefully analyze your profile X-ray to produce a customized treatment plan to improve your bite, profile, and dental health. Orthodontists treat faces, not only teeth.

Questions? Give Us A Call

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California.

If you have questions about overjet and overbite, call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

You don’t have to “stick-out.” Consider orthodontic treatment today.

DRIFTING TEETH, TEETH MOVING OUT OF POSITION to the side or even further into the mouth, may be a sign of active periodontal disease. If you are an adult and have spaces between your teeth where spaces previously did not exist, you may need to be checked by a periodontist for periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease Is Acute Inflammation Of Gums

Periodontal disease is characterized by episodes of acute inflammatory attack on bone and gums surrounding teeth. When dental bone is lost, it can lead to mobile teeth which easily move out of position. If your gums have persistent bleeding on gentle probing, you may need treatment by a periodontist for periodontal disease.

Once The Disease Is Under Control, Orthodontic Treatment Can Repair Your Smile

Adults who have had periodontal disease and bone loss can be orthodontically treated to have the dental spaces closed and teeth straightened as long as the disease has been brought under control.

Following your orthodontic treatment, a small wire, a lingual splint, may be placed on the tongue side of your teeth to eliminate tooth mobility and hold your straightened teeth in place where there has been bone loss.

Do You Have Questions? Give Us A Call

To find out more about drifting teeth, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, CA. Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Move your drifted teeth back together with orthodontic treatment for a strong and healthy smile.

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT IS A WORTHWHILE investment in your smile, and your future. However, some patients become a little discouraged by the length of treatment time to completion. That’s why we provide AcceleDent technology to dramatically shorten the time you spend in treatment!

Tiny Vibrations Help Bones & Teeth Move More Quickly

AcceleDent uses SoftPulse Technology—tiny vibrations that help your bones and teeth move more quickly. AcceleDent is a mouthpiece that fits comfortably around your existing orthodontics, and does its work in 20 minutes a day. Some studies have shown that AcceleDent can possibly cut treatment time in half!

How Much Will It Cost?

Whether you are actively in braces or Invisalign, AcceleDent can be added to your orthodontic treatment. It can be included in your overall treatment contract. Presently, at Gorczyca Orthodontics, AcceleDent costs $1,200.

What Effect Will It Have On My Treatment?

With AcceleDent, patients with braces can have their wires changed every 4 weeks instead of every 8 weeks, and Invisalign patients can change their trays every week instead of every two weeks.

The most important factor for AcceleDent effectiveness is consistency of use of 20 minutes per day. Many patients who have added AcceleDent to their orthodontic treatment report that their braces and aligners feel more comfortable in addition to their orthodontic treatment proceeding faster. AcceleDent technology has the potential to give great results for everyone.

Our Patients Love AcceleDent!

Gorczyca Orthodontics has been offering AcceleDent for over a year with great results. Patients love AcceleDent!

If you are interested in learning more about AcceleDent, call us at (925) 757-9000 to schedule a complimentary orthodontic exam in Antioch, CA. For more information, visit us at www.clubbraces.com. Find out if Acceledent is right for you.

Thanks for being our valued orthodontic patient. We appreciate you!

THUMBSUCKING IS A HARD HABIT TO BREAK. A survival instinct at birth, the longer someone sucks their thumb, the harder the habit is to stop.

Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Board Certified Orthodontist says, “People think that only children suck their thumb. I can tell you from experience treating the habit, that this is not the case. Over the course of my 25 year career, I have treated plenty of children to stop thumb sucking. I have also treated high school football players, engaged women getting ready to be married, and people over the age of forty. The longer you wait to stop sucking your thumb, the harder the habit is to break.”

Thumb Sucking Should Be Stopped By Age 7

Thumb sucking cessation is best treated at age 7. Thumb sucking with baby teeth has little or no long term effects on permanent tooth position. Psychologists argue that there is a psychological benefit to thumb sucking at a very early age. But after age 7, thumb sucking will create a malocclusion (bad bite) including flared front teeth, spaced upper teeth, pushed in lower teeth, a narrow upper arch, and front tooth openbite. These are serious bite problems.

An Appliance Can Help Stop Thumbsucking

If caught early, thumb sucking can be treated with a upper jaw habit appliance only. This appliance will stop both the thumb sucking habit and allow the open bite to close naturally.

Orthodontic treatment may also be needed to expand the upper arch and align front teeth after thumb sucking. This is usually done between the ages of 7 to 9 during Phase 1 orthodontic treatment.

Some Tips To Stop Thumbsucking At Home

There are things you can try at home to stop thumb sucking.

1. Place a band aid on the finger as a reminder not to suck the finger.
2. Put the finger into something which does not taste good like hot sauce, vinegar, or mustard as a taste reminder not to suck the finger.
3. Put a smelly sock or a glove on the hand as a smell and touch reminder not to suck the finger.

At any age, your orthodontist can help you stop thumb sucking. To find an orthodontist near you visit www.mylifemysmile.org or visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California at www.clubbraces.com. Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary exam.

Stop thumb sucking! Isn’t time to kick the habit?

AFTER PHASE 1 orthodontic treatment, your 12 year old’s teeth look really good. Why do Phase 2 orthodontic treatment?

Phase 1 orthodontic treatment is completed between ages 7 and 9. Between Phase 1 and Phase 2, 16 additional permanent teeth come into the mouth. The chances of all 16 of these permanent teeth coming in perfectly are pretty low.

Phase 2 Is The Final Bite Tune-Up

Growth can also modify midlines, bite, or tooth position. Consider Phase 2 orthodontic treatment as the final bite tune-up that will last your child’s lifetime.

When choosing to do Phase 1 Phase 2 treatment versus comprehensive orthodontic treatment starting at age twelve, consider two phase treament as “half now, half later.” Doing Phase 1 and starting Phase 2 treatment early will insure that your child has their braces off by the Junior Prom. Two phase treatment will make their final treatment phase shorter and easier to complete during this delicate and precious teenage time of life.

Two-Phase Treatment Is Sometimes Needed For Best Results

In 15% of cases, doing Phase I Phase 2 orthodontic treatment will produce a better result. Growth and tooth position can be modified. There is also the psychological benefit of early confidence that goes with having a beautiful smile at a young age.

Questions? Give Us A Call!

It is possible to do Phase 2 orthodontic treatment with either braces or Invisalign Teen. Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics if you have questions about Phase 1 Phase 2 orthodontic treatment (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

The Junior Prom will be here soon. Phase 2 orthodontic treatment with make your child’s smile and bite great!

347 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE have diabetes, and that number grows every year. Diabetes affects all areas of people’s health, from the skin to the kidneys. Diabetes can also cause severe dental health issues.

Diabetes Increases Gum Disease Risk

Research has shown that people with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a serious health problem that can lead to bone and tooth loss if not properly managed.

Periodontitis Can Also Reduce One’s Ability To Control Blood Sugar

Periodontitis (an advanced stage of gum disease) can make blood sugar levels spike and fluctuate. Additional research suggests that when diabetic patients gain control of gum disease, they can also gain better control of their diabetes.

Can Periodontal Disease Affect Orthodontic Treatment?

Many patients with diabetes needs orthodontic treatment. When bone is lost surrounding teeth, often these teeth move into undesirable positions. Bone loss in the presence of inflammation, as found in periodontitis, can result in unpredictable orthodontic tooth movement during orthodontic treatment.

That’s why, at Gorczyca Orthodontics, we send every adult orthodontic patient for a thorough periodontal examination with a periodontist prior to starting active orthodontic therapy.

Periodontist, Dr. Nancy Dubuk of Deer Valley Professionals, 5201 Deer Valley Road in Antioch, California says:

“A diabetic patient seeking orthodontic treatment can be stable with blood sugars under control with proper monitoring. These patients can maintain their periodontal health well, as long as they are on a good oral hygiene maintenance schedule, both at home and professionally. Once these are established, they can begin orthodontic treatment.”

Help Us Raise Awareness About Diabetes-Related Periodontal Disease

What Can You Do To Prevent Periodontal Disease?

Patients can brush and floss twice per day to prevent periodontal disease. Be sure to have professional cleanings done at least twice per year with your dentist. Ask your dentist to complete a thorough periodontal exam, which includes pockets probing measurements and full mouth series radiographs. If bony pockets deeper than 4 mm exist, early treatment by a periodontist can help prevent further bone loss.

For more information about periodontal disease, contact the American Academy of Periodontology at www.perio.org. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Oral hygiene maintenance and beautifully white straight teeth will help you prevent the danger of of diabetes associated periodontal disease. Let your periodontist and orthodontist help you achieve a beautiful smile.

To learn more about adult orthodontics, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Share This Information With Someone You Know

Most of us know at least one person who is affected by these diseases. If you have a friend, family member, neighbor, or coworker who has diabetes or periodontitis, share this information with them! It’s essential that they understand the relationship between these two things—and, what they can do to help improve their situation.

Thank you for your trust in our practice!

WHEN YOU START your orthodontic treatment, we create a specialized plan just for you! We use many methods and tools to give you a unique, personalized, beautiful, well-balanced smile.

Teeth Crowding Is Often Solved With A Palatal Expander

Many orthodontic patients have crowded teeth—often caused by a narrow palate. Crowded teeth can be hard to clean and interrupt the symmetry and balance of your bite. Sometimes, we solve this problem with a palatal expander.

Palatal expander treatment is most effective when patients are young, before the growth plate in the roof of the mouth has fused (which often happens by age 14).

What Can You Expect From An Expander?

Expanders gently help your palate become wider, making room to straighten your teeth. Braced on each side of your mouth, it gently and gradually exerts pressure. Typically, there’s a small key that fits into the expander and is turned at regular intervals.

When you advance your newly fitted cemented expander, it is best at first to be seated. Take a hand mirror to see the arrow and hole in your expander. Remember to use the key front to back and then remove the key at the back of your mouth. Long handled keys are best. If you need help, lay down on the couch and have a parent help or return to your orthodontist for more instruction. Once you are a pro, you can advance your expander yourself while looking in the bathroom mirror.

How Will It Feel?

An expander may feel strange at first. Patients report feeling a little pressure each time the expander is adjusted, but that feeling goes away quickly. You may also find yourself speaking a little differently, or experiencing extra saliva flow as your mouth adjusts to the changes.

Palatal Expanders Are Most Often Used For Crossbites

Crossbites occur when upper teeth sit inside your lower teeth instead of outside. The presence of crossbites may cause you to bite the inside of your cheeks. This problem will go away once your crossbite is corrected.

The Benefits Of Palatal Expansion Are Numerous

Palatal expanders widen not only the roof of your mouth but also your nasal passages. An added benefit of palatal expansion is that it will improve breathing and help prevent sleep apnea. In old age, it will also help you not snore!

The most beautiful benefit of palatal expansion is that you will have a broad smile. In photos, you will show teeth all the way to the corners of your mouth and there will be no "black spaces". Your smile will light up the room.

If You Ever Have Questions About The Treatments We Recommend, Please Ask!

Regardless of the particular appliances and/or treatment plan we recommend for you, the bottom line is that you’re going to FEEL fantastic about the change in your appearance.

We want you to feel confident about your treatment, and excited about your future smile. If you ever have any questions about the process, please talk to us. We’d love to explain the steps that we’re recommending to you!

To find out more about palatal expansion, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, Calfornia. For a complimentary exam, please call (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com

Consider orthodontic palatal expansion today. Your smile will be gorgeous!

Thanks for your trust in our practice!

SOME BRANDS ARE KNOWN for quality. Gucci is one of them. Invisalign is another. Orthodontists are a third.

There is only one Invisalign. It is called Invisalign. Invisalign clear tooth aligners are produced by Invisalign Company and delivered by an Invisalign provider in a professional office.

Follow-up visits with Invisalign are approximately every three months or longer. Invisalign has been shown to produce excellent results when done correctly.

There Is Only One...

There is only one expert in tooth straightening. They are called orthodontists. One becomes an orthodontist by completing a many year full time residency program at a university. Orthodontists devote their professional life to delivering excellent orthodontic results.

The Invisalign results of orthodontists are high quality, stable, long lasting, and beautiful.

Don’t Fall For A Knockoff

There is no... “like” Invisalign

or... “like” an orthodontist.

There are...
“like” Gucci purses being sold on the streets of New York.

THE YEAR IS 1997. The place is Whitehall, Central London. At age 43, the youngest Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool of 1812 emerges from 10 Downing Street to make his first official appearance and announce his manifesto to an adoring crowd.

But There’s A Mystery To Be Solved...

Where is Tony Blair’s lower tooth?

Upon closer examination, an astute and logical orthodontist deduces that Tony Blair’s lower tooth is significantly crowded out of the dental arch. This tooth is pushed towards his tongue giving him the appearance of a missing tooth.

More significant, if left untreated, his lower teeth will continue to crowd giving him the appearance of the oldest Prime Minister in British History, Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, age 71.

It’s Simple To Fix...

Significant lower tooth crowding can be simple for you to fix with orthodontic treatment.

If there is excessive lower front tooth width (Bolton Discrepancy), one lower tooth may be removed to restore straightness and give you the appearance of a beautiful smile.

Make Room For A Beautiful Smile

No one up close or in a crowd will ever notice that one of your lower teeth has been removed. Only your orthodontist or dentist will know for sure.

Talk To Us About What Orthodontic Treatment Can Do For Your Smile

Let your teeth help you look your age or younger. Consider orthodontic treatment today and straighten your lower front teeth. Help your teeth look young, like the youngest British Prime Minister in History, William Pitt the Young, 1783, age 24.

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California. To schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation, call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com

SOMETIMES, WE’RE  GUILTY OF ASSUMING TOO MUCH, RIGHT? We recently realized that we’ve probably wrongly assumed that ALL of you—our valued patients—know Ebony as well as we do! That’s probably not the case.

So, We Asked Ebony A Few Questions

We asked Ebony a few questions to help you get to know her a little better. Those questions are found below—along with her candid answers! Enjoy!

Where are you originally from?

“I am originally from Antioch, California. My parents named me Ebony because this name was very popular in the 90's due to the magazine and a Stevie Wonder song. I went to Berean Christian High School, and then studied at Sonoma State where I was a biology major.”

What made you decide that you wanted to become a dental assistant?

“I am planning to attend dental school and I hope to become an orthodontist. I originally decided to become an orthodontist because I had braces when I was young. I just loved how my teeth looked when I finished my orthodontic treatment and I always felt that this was my calling to make other people feel the same wonderful way that I did about orthodontics.”

When you started as a dental assistant was there something funny that happened? Do you dare tell us that story?

“I started as a volunteer intern at Gorczyca Orthodontics in the summertime. During that time, I had Dr. Gorczyca proofread my application essay for dental school for fall of 2015. When I described how I used to suck my thumb and how my teeth stuck out, how I had my teeth fixed, and then wanted to become an orthodontist, Dr. Gorczyca said that is exactly her story as well and that I was destined to be an orthodontist! You can see Dr. Gorczyca tell her story HERE on The Wellness Hour with Randy Alvarez!”

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not at work?

“When I'm not at work, I love to cook. I also like to draw and paint. I also work out in my free time.”

What do you enjoy most about being a dental assistant?

“I really enjoy helping people. When I can accommodate them, schedule them, help them with their orthodontic needs, and make them happy it makes me happy. What could be better than that?”

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Ebony a little better. Here at our practice we feel really fortunate to have her as a member of our awesome team.

Do YOU Have A Question For Ebony?

If so, please enter it in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to pass it along to Ebony for an answer! Also, as you know, you can always send us private questions or comments on our Facebook page.

Would you like to learn more about our practice? Visit us online at www.clubbraces.com.

Thanks for the trust you place in us!

TRUE LOVE IS RARE. SO ARE “KISSING” MOLARS. The condition of impacted bilateral kissing molars is so rare a phenomenon, it has only been reported five times in the literature.

Kissing Molars Can Cause Complications

“Kissing” or “rosetting” molars are impacted permanent mandibular second, third, and very rarely, fourth molars with contacting occlusal surfaces. The imaginological appearance of “kissing” molars show roots pointing in opposite directions while their occlusal surfaces are in close apposition “kissing” while occupying a single follicular space.

The term “kissing molar” was given by Van Hoof in 1973. Early surgical removal of kissing molars is recommended as this condition can cause complications including formation of dentigerous cysts and other pathologies that can cause destruction of the lower jaw bone. In surgical treatment of impacted kissing molars of the lower jaw, a high resolution conebeam computed tomography (CBCT) can be used to evaluate the relationship of the impacted teeth to the alveolar inferior nerve. In the management of asymptomatic patients, the risk and morbidity of a surgical procedure must be evaluated.

This Case Was Actually Found By Dr. Gorczyca

This case of “kissing” molars was discovered by Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca at Gorczyca Orthodontics, in Antioch, California. If you would like to find out how romantic your molars are, visit us at www.clubbraces.com. If you need to find an orthodontist in your area, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

If you have third molar symptoms, your molars need to elope. To find an oral surgeon in your area, visit the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons at MyOMS.org. Isn’t it romantic?