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ON JUNE 11, 1901 Dr. Edward Hartley Angle, the Father of Orthodontics, convened a three day meeting in St. Louis to start what was to be called the American Society of Orthodontists. We would call this day, the birthday of modern day orthodontists.

The Story Of The First Female Orthodontist

At this meeting, only one licensed female dentist was present. That woman was Dr. Guilhermena P. Mendell of Nashua, New Hampshire. Dr. Guilhermena P. Mendell is therefore the first woman orthodontist.

Although Anna Hopkins Angle, often called "The First Lady of Orthodontics" was present at this landmark meeting. Anna Hopkins was not yet a dentist. Anna had begun working as Dr. Angle's secretary in 1892 and assisted him enormously with his writings. She graduated dental school at the University of Iowa in 1902 with a DDS degree. She continued to be the secretary of Dr. Angle's Society from 1902 to 1905. She married Dr. Angle in 1906 in Niagra Falls, New York.

There is no record that either Dr. Locke or Dr. Hopkins-Angle graduated from the Angle School of Orthodontics. Here is a 1905 record of a third woman, Jane G. Bunker, who appears to be the first female graduate of the Angle School of Orthodontics. She graduated from the Angle School of Orthodontia in 1904.

Today to become a dental specialist orthodontist, a dentist must attend an additional two to three university graduate residency program after completing dental school. Fifty percent of orthodontic graduates nationwide are female and some residency programs have had an all female class.

As the orthodontic specialty continues to evolve, it's nice to know that Dr. Guilhermena P. Mendell was there from the start.

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

HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING STATS about soft drinks:

• The average person drinks about 45 gallons of soda per year.
• 7% of adults drink four servings or more per day.
• At least 20% of children drink four servings or more per day.

Soft drinks are loaded with sugar and empty calories. Consumption has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart problems.

As you know, we recommend that our patients avoid soft drinks. Here’s why they pose a danger both during your orthodontic treatment and after:

1. The Acids Eat Away At Your Tooth Enamel

Your tooth enamel is strong—the hardest substance in your body, in fact. But the phosphoric acid and citric acid in soft drinks (ironic name for sodas, isn’t it?) is stronger.

2. Carbonated Sugar Is Replacing Calcium-Rich Milk

In 1966, Americans drank more milk (33 gallons/year) than soft drinks (20 gallons/year). Contrast that with 2010, when the average American drank 45 gallons of soft drinks and only 20 gallons of milk.

3. Diet Isn’t Really Better

You can remove sugar from the equation, but the acid is still there! In fact, many sugar-free soft drinks are more acidic than high-sugar ones.

4. Constant Sipping Creates A Constant War Zone

Every time you take a sip of a Coke, your mouth becomes an acid-attack zone. It takes your mouth up to 30 minutes to rebalance and create a safe zone for your teeth again. Until then, your teeth ARE losing protective substance, leaving them more vulnerable to cavities, and sensitivity.

5. It’s A Dessert Disguised As A Beverage

Don’t believe us? Here’s the math... One 12 oz can of Coke (the smallest serving available) has 39 grams of sugar, which is more than...

• 3 snack packs of Chips Ahoy
• 2 servings of frozen yogurt
• A whole slice of apple pie WITH ice cream on top.

6. There’s Increased Risk During Braces Treatment

Soft drinks are highly corrosive, and the acid and sugar concentrated around your brackets can cause decay and decalcification—spots that you’ll see once your braces are removed.

What Do YOU Think?

What are YOUR tips for eliminating soft drinks from your diet while you have braces? It’s a tough business, but we promise that it’s worth it! Please comment below, or on our Facebook page. We love hearing from you.

Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 if you have questions about braces, Invisalign, retainers, orthodontic, or general dental health. Find us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

Here's to your dental health, medical health, and well being.

CHANCES ARE YOU DON’T THINK MUCH about smiling. It just “happens” once in a while, right? You hear something funny. You meet someone new. You cuddle your newborn daughter.

Smiling feels good, and studies show that people who frequently smile are perceived to be more in control, at ease, and attractive than those who smile less often.

But did you know that smiling can also improve your health? It’s true.

The Health Benefits Of Smiling

Serotonin, Pain Killers, And Endorphins—Oh My!

Studies show that smiling actually releases natural pain killers, endorphins and serotonin (a neurotransmitter believed to help people feel happier) in your body. Yes, a smile may be the simplest, natural, legal drug.

Stress Relief And Reduced Blood Pressure

Chronic stress can do significant damage to both mind and body. According to Columbia University PhD, Mark Stibich, increased smiling may help reduce many symptoms associated with anxiety including improved digestion, lower blood pressure, etc.

And Finally, People Who Smile More May Actually Live Longer

Living longer—now THERE’S a serious health 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.

The Moral Of The Story? Smile!

Our team is passionate about doing everything we can to help you and your loved ones feel confident when you smile! Our hunch is that if you feel confident when you smile, you’ll smile more often—and THAT could make your life (and the lives of those around you) healthier and happier.

Do YOU have a great story about the power of a smile? If so, post it on our Facebook page!

Be sure to contact us or visit us at www.clubbraces.com if you ever have any questions about the services we provide. You can also leave a comment or question below and we’ll respond right away.

Thanks for the confidence you place in our practice. We Appreciate You!

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 patient coordinator, Roberta.

A Little About Roberta, In Her Own Words

I was born in Antioch, California and graduated from Antioch High School. I have seen Antioch go through a lot of changes. When I was a girl, the population was less than 20,000. Now our population is over 100,000!

I married my high school sweetheart who was a year younger than me in high school. We now have two children, ages 22 and 18. Both of my children graduated from Deer Valley High School, right next door to Gorczyca Orthodontics.

We recently put Roberta 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 I have a day off, I like to watch baseball. I wish my sons were still in little league. Those games and times were so much fun.

I have a lot of family living locally in Antioch so on our weekends and days off, we usually visit either my parents who still live in Antioch, or my husband's parents who also still live in Antioch.

My family and I are opening a new coffee shop on G Street. The name of the shop will be "Bo's Coffee and T's." The shop will also feature custom and designer t-shirts! Come on by when it opens on October 1st!

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

My first impression of Gorczyca Orthodontics was that everyone here is very happy and joyful. I can honestly say that the first patients that I saw who got their braces and welcome prizes and photos were so happy they almost made me cry! It is very rewarding to be part of such a positive experience in a person's life.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

My favorite thing about the job is how different it is from what I used to do, which was working in the car industry. Business is business but working with the public and delivering a fantastic customer experience adds a new dimension of satisfaction in a person's job. I'm really happy to have joined the team at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

We’re So Happy To Have Roberta 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 Roberta for being part of our Gorczyca Orthodontics team!

As one of our valued patients, if you have your own question for Roberta, 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.