Visualize your new smile with the Brace Painter!

Braces at Kossoff & Minich Orthodontics are more fun than ever! With the Brace Painter, parents and children are able to “paint their braces,” and visualize how teeth will look with different colors of bands.

Would you like to try out green and gold bands this March, without the commitment of an all-out St. Patrick's Day look? The Brace Painter allows for you to select different colors, and then assign those colors of bands to certain teeth. Now, you can visualize your braces before you even come in for your appointment!

As always, please let Dr. Howard Kossoff or Dr. Craig Minich know if you have any questions about the Brace Painter, or your orthodontic treatment at Kossoff & Minich Orthodontics. Have a great week!

Meet Our New Orthodontist, Dr. Craig Minich

With the addition of Dr. Craig Minich, Kossoff Orthodontics is now Kossoff & Minich Orthodontics. Here’s Dr. Minich to tell you a little more about himself:

“I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. I attended college at Miami University (Ohio) where I earned my B.A. in Zoology and graduated with honors. I received my D.D.S. from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry where I graduated in the top ten percent of my class. I decided to continue my education by specializing in Orthodontics and receive my Master’s degree in Orthodontics from St. Louis University.

I’m very excited to be back home in Northeast Ohio practicing Orthodontics. My goal is to provide a fun experience and relaxing environment for our patients. I’m dedicated to staying current with the Orthodontic literature so that I can provide the best possible care for patients. I am a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Orthodontic Education and Research Foundation, the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, and the Northeast Ohio Dental Association.

I live in Chagrin Falls with my wife, Lori, our two year old daughter, Madison, and our English Bulldog, Pudge. I’m an avid Buckeye fan as well as an optimistic Browns, Cavs, and Indians fan. Some of my hobbies are golf, skiing, basketball, racquetball, bowling, playing the piano, listening to live music and spending time with my family.”

All the cool kids do it!

Braces today are “cool” and—many would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with Dr. Craig Minich, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited Dr. Minich for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Smoking - An Enemy of Oral Health

Everybody knows that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you also know that smokers and tobacco users are susceptible to a variety of oral health problems at a faster rate than non-smokers?

It’s true! Smoking is responsible for almost 75 percent of gum disease in adults; and, similar to smokers, adults who smoke pipes and cigars, as well as those using smokeless tobacco, are just as susceptible to gum disease and other tobacco related health problems.

As soon as you use tobacco products, you become more likely to experience any of these oral health problems:

• Oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Loss of bone in the jaw
• Gum recession
• Delayed/impaired healing process after oral surgery or any other treatment
• Decreased success rate of dental implant (tooth replacement) procedures
• Mouth sores
• Loss of your sense of taste and smell
• Bad breath
• Tooth and tongue stains

If you are interested in protecting your oral health, we strongly recommend you quit using tobacco products! The following steps are recommended by the Surgeon General to help you quit smoking and using tobacco:

• Get ready – set a quitting date and remove all materials from your home, car and office
• Get support
• Learn new skills and behaviors
• Get medication and use it correctly
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations

For support, start with Dr. Craig Minich! We can help by recommending different options to help you quit, and above all we will support you throughout the quitting process. We are dedicated to helping you protect your oral health – and quitting smoking is significant step in the right direction.