The dog days of summer are almost upon us, and what better time for us to ask our patients’ summer plans!

Whether you’re going camping, hitting America’s great open roads, visiting our nation’s capitol, or just staying in town and hanging out, we want to know how you’re all going to spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page!

We look forward to reading all about your summer adventures!

As the summer rapidly approaches, Dr. Collins and our team at Parker Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to orthodontics and your treatment at our office.

To help us continue doing that through the course of the spring and summer, we would like to ask you, our readers: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing and exciting field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog in the spring and summer months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Collins for a while? Let us know by posting here, on our Facebook page, or during your next adjustment appointment.

We look forward to hearing from you!

We have rolled out our new Facebook Timeline page and would love for you to check it out! You’ll find all the useful information that was there before, but now in a fun, new layout. When you Like us on Facebook, you’ll be able to check out photos of our office, find out about new events and contests, or you can even leave a note about how much you enjoyed your visit at our office. We love hearing your feedback to make our practice serve you and your family even better. To make life even easier, if you “Like” us on Facebook, you’ll automatically receive updates from our office right on your own news feed!

See you on Facebook!

From Dr. Collins and team at Parker Orthodontics

Today marks Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents’ Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Parker Orthodontics.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:

*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called “20-year curse,” in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

Your smile is totally unique, so the time you’ll need to spend undergoing orthodontic treatment will also be unique. Generally, orthodontic treatment will take about two years, and this is for good reason. During this time, your teeth will slowly move into their desired positions, leaving you with a great smile with as little discomfort as possible. Rushing treatment can result in a less than perfect smile with a greater chance of tooth movement after your treatment is complete. At Parker Orthodontics, we don’t want to waste your time with treatment that won’t retain your smile for the rest of your life.

Of course, treatment time will vary depending on your specific situation. Very minor tooth movement may only take a few months to correct, while serious malocclusion (poor bite) may need more than two years to correct. Only Dr. Collins will be able to accurately estimate the time your treatment will take. But trust us—it’ll all be worth it in the end!

Has your child or teen visited Parker Orthodontics for an orthodontic consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help him or her begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Some REALLY great entries already for our pet contest! Keep 'em coming for a chance to win one of our VISA gift cards! We will start the voting period in mid-February! Let's see those furry friends of yours!
:)

Remember, now through Feb. 12, show us your Cute Pet Photo and you could WIN a VISA gift card (there will be four winners)! Whether you own a dog, cat, giraffe, a pet rock or a favorite stuffed animal, we want to see the cutest pet photo you have. Submit your cute pet photo, have your friends and family vote for your entry, and you could win the gift card! Here’s how you enter: LIKE our Facebook page and then submit your cute pet photo by clicking on the "CONTESTS" Tab on the left hand side of our page. This contest will be running from today through February 12th. GOOD LUCK and please let us know if you have any questions!

Some REALLY great entries already for our pet contest! Keep 'em coming for a chance to win one of our VISA gift cards! We will start the voting period in mid-February! Let's see those furry friends of yours! :)

Remember, now through Feb. 12, show us your Cute Pet Photo and you could WIN a VISA gift card (there will be four winners)! Whether you own a dog, cat, giraffe, a pet rock or a favorite stuffed animal, we want to see the cutest pet photo you have. Submit your cute pet photo, have your friends and family vote for your entry, and you could win the gift card! Here’s how you enter: LIKE our Facebook page and then submit your cute pet photo by clicking on the "CONTESTS" Tab on the left hand side of our page. This contest will be running from today through February 12th. GOOD LUCK and please let us know if you have any questions!

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as Dr. Collins and our team at Parker Orthodontics reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays? Being with your loved ones? Hitting the slopes? A clean slate for 2012? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food?

Please share your thoughts with us by either commenting on this post or on our Facebook Page. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Parker Orthodontics!

With state-of-the-art technology in a comfortable, friendly environment, Dr. Jeff Collins and our team at Parker Orthodontics are committed to providing you with an outstanding orthodontic experience. The bottom line is, we know having a beautiful smile is important to you. It’s important to us, too.

And speaking of smiling, in a poll conducted by Glamour Magazine earlier this year, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?”

Well, 44 percent of folks out there chose teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of one’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Take the next step toward a healthier, brighter smile! Please contact our Parker, Castle Rock or Elizabeth orthodontic office and schedule a complimentary initial consultation. See you soon!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season knocking at our door, Dr. Collins and our entire staff at Parker Orthodontics wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality orthodontic care that we have given you.

We hope that this Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of today's sweet and spooky holiday, Dr. Collins and team would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family tonight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists were kind enough to provide trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give us a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

Dr. Collins & our entire team at Parker Orthodontics wish you all a safe, fun and happy Halloween! Don't forget about our our Halloween Candy Buy-Back!

All of us at Parker Orthodontics extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We appreciate the opportunity to work together with you in the creation of your ideal smile and look forward to the day when your treatment is completed and you join our family of beautiful smiles, which we create daily at our offices. It's a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat, especially with those braces!

Besides turkey, here are a few foods you can enjoy at Thanksgiving dinner:

• Mashed potatoes or other cooked potatoes
• Corn (if cut off the cob)
• Stuffing
• Yams
• Pumpkin pie and other desserts such as cake and ice cream (but make sure to brush afterward!)

If you are still in search of some wonderful recipes, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have lots of delicious recipes that will satisfy both your sugar craving and hunger now that the weather is cold. We hope you have a safe and fun Thanksgiving this year with your friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Parker Orthodontics!