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Dr. Mark Hablinski will be providing Invisalign treatment consultations to answer your questions about Invisalign treatment, the clear way to straighten teeth. If you have wondered if Invisalign is right for you, ask the scheduling coordinator to schedule you for an appointment for this special event.
 
For eligible Invisalign Special Event patients:
 $250.00 discount off your Full Invisalign treatment
Complimentary bleaching kit
Your name will be put in a drawing for Nikon COOLPIX L120 camera if you start Invisalign treatment the month of October

• •Financing options available
• • Don’t forget to use your flex spending for the year
• •Hurry! Offer ends October 31, 2012
• •Limited appointments available so please call soon
• •Ask the scheduling coordinator about Invisalign Special Event.

VISIBLY CROOKED TEETH ARE NOT THE ONLY REASON TO TAKE YOUR CHILD INTO THE ORTHODONTIST. THERE ARE SOME SUBTLE THINGS TO LOOK FOR AS WELL, WHICH MAY INDICATE THE ONSET OF MORE SERIOUS ORTHODONTIC ISSUES. MANY ORTHODONTIC ISSUES ARE MUCH EASIER TO ADDRESS IF TREATED AND CORRECTED DURING A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT.
WAITING UNTIL FACIAL DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETE OR UNTIL THE PERMANENT TEETH HAVE COME IN CAN MAKE CORRECTION OF MANY ORTHODONTIC ISSUES MORE CHALLENGING. BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS CAN BENEFIT FROM ORTHODONTIC CARE AT ANY AGE, BUT ADDRESSING ISSUES EARLY IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE IDEAL CHOICE.
IF YOU’RE WONDERING IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD MIGHT HAVE NEED FOR ORTHODONTIC CARE, THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR. HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON WARNING SIGNS OF ORTHODONTIC ISSUES:
• DIFFICULTY WHEN CHEWING OR BITING
• CHRONIC MOUTH-BREATHING
• SUCKING THE THUMB, THE FINGERS, OR ANY OTHER ORAL SUCKING HABITS THAT CONTINUE AFTER THE AGE OF SIX
• OVERBITE – WHEN THE UPPER TEETH OVERLAP THE LOWER TEETH BY MORE THAN 5MM
• TOP FRONT TEETH THAT COVER MORE THAN 25% OF THE BOTTOM TEETH WHILE BITING
• UNDERBITE – WHEN THE TOP FRONT TEETH GO BEHIND THE BOTTOM ROW OF TEETH WHEN BITING
• CROWDED, CROOKED, OVERLAPPED, MISSHAPEN, MISPLACED TEETH OR EXTRA TEETH OF ANY SIZE
• CROSSBITE – WHEN ONE OR MORE TEETH TILT TOWARD THE CHEEK OR TOWARD THE TONGUE CAUSING EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE JAWBONE
• THE CENTER OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM TEETH DON’T LINE UP
• UNEVEN TEETH-WEARING
• BABY TEETH COMING OUT TOO EARLY FOR THE CHILD’S AGE
• PAIN IN JAWS
• CLICKING IN THE JAW JOINTS
• THE JAW SHIFTS OFF-CENTER WHILE CHEWING OR BITING
• A JAW THAT PROTRUDES, OR RECEDES, TOO MUCH
• DIFFICULTY SPEAKING OR ENUNCIATING CLEARLY
• CHRONIC BITING OF THE INNER CHEEK OR ROOF OF THE MOUTH
• ASYMMETRICAL FACIAL STRUCTURE
• GRINDING OR CLENCHING OF THE TEETH
IF YOU NOTICE THAT EITHER YOU OR YOUR CHILD HAS ONE OR MORE OF THESE CONDITIONS, THEY COULD BE SIGNS THAT THERE IS A RISK OF ORTHODONTIC OR HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE SOONER THESE PROBLEMS ARE ADDRESSED, THE WIDER AND BRIGHTER YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SMILE GOING FORWARD!

Summer is here, and with summer comes lots of swimming! Our team found some helpful pool safety tips that we’d like to share with you, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Pediatricians.
* Install a fence at least four-feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.
* Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can’t reach.
* Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
* Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd’s hook – a long pole with a hook on the end – and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd’s hook and other rescue equipment made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity.
* Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties.” They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
* Children may not be developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning.
* Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.”
Have more questions about your children and their safety this summer? Give us a call!

Summer is only weeks away, which means a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories is just around the corner for most of our patients. Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, hitting America’s open roads or just having fun in the backyard this summer, we want to hear all about it! Make sure to let us know what you’re up to as spring winds down and summer begins on our Facebook page!
Everyone wants a glowing and radiant white smile when the sun comes around and we have a few reminders to keep your pearly whites healthy and beautiful over the summer! Try to stay away from drinks that will stain your teeth like coffee, soft drinks or dark colored juices- Not only will drinks like this weaken your enamel but they will also darken that fabulous smile your working on! Another tip is to try and focus on brushing your teeth- everyone knows when busy schedules start picking up, getting a good brushing session in tends to take the backseat! A good tip for keeping your mouth safe from staining and other possible pitfalls is to try and swirl your mouth with water after any meal you can’t fully brush your teeth after- your teeth, inside and out, will benefit!
We also encourage you to post any photos from your adventures!

Memorial Day weekend, a time to remember and honor the men and women lost while serving for our country. Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of summer, and for many folks getting out of town for three days after being cooped up in the classroom or the office spells sweet, sweet relief.
What about you? What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or just hitting the great American open roads, we’d like to hear all about it!
Our entire team wishes you a happy, safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

Great question! When you first come in for your initial consultation your doctor will conduct a comprehensive examination to assess your oral health. This will better enable us to determine the best treatment method for you.
Your orthodontic evaluation will consist of an oral and facial examination to assess your oral health. We will have you take intraoral and facial photographs as well as panoramic and cephalometric X-rays to help determine the proper orthodontic treatment method. Then, an impression of your teeth and bite will be taken to construct a model of your mouth. (This will help us when examining your diagnostic records).
At your second appointment, the doctor will discuss your options with you. Our team feels it’s important to take the time to carefully examine your diagnostic records after your consultation so that we can more thoroughly prepare for your orthodontic treatment. This additional preparation will ensure that you receive the best orthodontic care possible. At this time, we encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about your treatment.
If you are seeking orthodontics for your child, our staff asks that both you and your child attend the initial consultation. We feel it is important that both you and your child completely understand the doctor’s recommendations before we proceed with treatment.
Give us a call today and schedule a consultation! We look forward to hearing from you!

At Dr. Mark P. Hablinski Orthodontics, we know image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today’s teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.
One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a consultation at Dr. Mark P. Hablinski Orthodontics. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in for a consultation with Dr. Hablinski?
We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

There are a variety of foods you should avoid while you’re wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.
Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you’ll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you’ll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you’re wearing braces.
Foods you should avoid include:
• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Also, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.
If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give us a call or ask our staff during your next visit.