7 Critical Life Moments Your Teen Should Experience with the Perfect Smile

Putting your teen through orthodontic treatment doesn’t just mean a straighter smile after the braces are off. You know their smile will look different once teeth move into the right alignment, but sometimes it’s surprising just how much of a change this can make for your teen and their future.

For most adolescents, braces don’t just mean a healthier, more beautiful smile – they also mean twice the confidence and a brighter future.

Here’s a look at seven life moments you’ll guarantee your teen experiences with the perfect smile and that extra boost of confidence:

1.  Help your teen meet new friends with a smile.

Remember what it was like making friends growing up? It isn’t always easy –those first long term friendships provide a foundation for a lifetime of relationship building- self-esteem and a welcoming smile can make a huge difference.

Meeting new people and making new friends can be intimidating, even for adults, but it’s easier when you have the confidence of a straight smile. After having braces, (and even during treatment), most patients tend to smile more and that makes them act and feel more confident. And definitely makes them more approachable too.

2. Take some stress out of high school sweethearts.

Do you remember your first crush? You thought that he or she was the coolest person alive. Teens and adolescents take that first crush, (or first few!), very seriously. A first date can really be nerve-wracking, and they’ll want to get every minute right!

Teens put a lot of effort into their appearance on most days, but especially on a first date. What should they wear? Does their hair look O.K.? Which parent will give them a ride if they don’t have a car… how much will the parent embarrass them? Being confident in their smile means they have one less thing to worry about!

3. Be sure taking photos is fun.

More than ever, teens and adolescents are constantly using Social Media and taking countless photos with their friends at virtually all times. (A lot of them are taking plenty of themselves too.) Whether they are taking a trip to Disney World or the nearest shopping mall, almost every moment gets documented. 

A straighter, healthier smile means more comfort and confidence in front of a camera. That means your teen will feel comfortable taking pictures with their friends. On Photo Day it means they’ll spend more time on the perfect hair or outfit than they will practicing smiles in front of a mirror – that will come effortlessly. And yes, it also means they may be taking more selfies!

4. Make your teen’s prom perfect.

Prom night is a big occasion for any teenager. For months the school and students prepare for the dance most will only attend once or twice. Not only is it the biggest dance of the year, but it’s the dance that most teens will remember for the rest of their lives.

No expense is spared –there’s the dress or tux and matching corsage and boutonniere, sometimes even a limo or Uber Escalade - and of course, no prom experience is complete without an unstoppable smile.

5. Make sure they wear their cap and gown with a smile.

Whether it’s high school or college, graduation is a hallmark rite of passage for all of us. It’s also a time for friends and family to come together and celebrate your teen’s academic milestone and achievements. Make sure they’re smiling when they take their diploma (and that first big step forward).

6. Help them make stronger impressions at  interviews.

After graduating your teen will be ready to take the next steps to starting a career.  Smiles make an important first impression anywhere, and interviews are no exception. Whether they’re finding an entry level position just out of school, or interviewing for an executive role down the road, you don’t want a smile to hold your teen back in the future.

As surprising (and unfair) as it may sound, candidates who have more confident, straighter smiles have shown a proven advantage over the competition. News networks have reported on this smile phenomenon – why candidates with healthier more attractive smiles are more likely to succeed in their career goals.

The confidence that comes with a straight smile doesn’t hurt either! In fact, it’s a big reason why more people are getting adult braces than ever before.

7. Guarantee a big smile on their big day.

Many of us grow up with dreams of a big white wedding. One day your teen may be walking down the aisle. It’s a life changing occasion for both families and no big day is complete without a beautiful, white smile.

An effortless smile makes every moment better.

No matter what’s going on in your teen’s life, smiling is just all around good for people. Some studies have even linked smiling more to having longer, healthier lives.

Make every moment better for your teen and learn about the best treatment options for your family. Click here and schedule your teen's free consultation at Collins Orthodontics today! 

To your teen's continued success,

Grant Collins

Collins Orthodontics is proud to offer Invisalign® and Clear Braces.

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Collins Orthodontics Volunteers with Feed my Starving Children

“I’m STARVING!” are exactly the words that came out of my mouth after missing my usual breakfast and having to wait until lunch for my first meal of the day.  However, those words have taken on new meaning to me after this past weekend.  I spent the day with the Collins Orthodontics Team (and their families) on a Saturday, where we all pitched in to help a non-profit organization called “Feed my Starving Children” to serve children who truly understand the meaning of the word “starving” far greater than me.  Our staff and their children spent the day hand-packing meals specifically formulated for malnourished children. This organization had reached nearly 70 countries around the world, where a single bag of food provides nutritious meals for six children and costs only $1.32 to produce.  Although I LOVE what I do - braces, invisalign, and providing people with amazing smiles - it really is moments of service that mean the most to me.  The times that are most humbling and rewarding for our team at Collins Orthodontics is when we have opportunities like this to serve side-by-side with other wonderful volunteers in our community.  That being said, I leave you with an inspiring quote by Albert Einstein: “Only a life lived in the service to others is a life worth living.”  God Bless.  -Dr. Collins

#FeedMyStarvingChildren  #CollinsOrthodontics  #MakingHairNetsCool  #GetYourVolunteerOn

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Collins Orthodontics thanks Braces and Invisalign Patients with Cinderella Event (Rochester, MN)

By Grant C. Collins, DDS, MS

Our first Patient Appreciation Event at Collins Orthodontics was a success and a ton of fun! We had an amazing evening with our patients and their families at our exclusive pre-release showing of Disney's Cinderella movie! The main highlight of the night - an appearance by "Cinderella" herself (who just so happens to be one of Dr. Collins's former Invisalign patients)! Thanks to all of our Collins Orthodontics patients (i.e. our orthodontic "family") for coming out for a special evening! We always enjoy seeing all of our patients and it was a special treat for us to see them outside of our office! The Cinderella Event was the first of many patient events, and we can’t thank our patients enough for helping to make this event so memorable!

Below are some of the photos from the event.  To see more photos from the event, check out our "Cinderella Facebook Photo Album" on our Collins Orthodontics Facebook Page!

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Your Journey to a Great Smile

Your Journey to a Great Smile
By Grant Collins, D.D.S., M.S.
(Orthodontist - Rochester, Minnesota)

Have you ever wanted to get braces or Invisalign, but you are worried about what your experience will be like?  What will the orthodontist be like?  Will you be treated with respect?  Will they make you feel badly about your teeth?  Will they treat your child with the same amount of care as they would with their own families?

Going to an orthodontist can be nerve-wracking, and that's understandable!  You will be meeting with new people in a new office, and you are not quite sure what to expect.  For that reason, we have put together a short video called "Your Journey to a Great Smile" so you know exactly what it is like to become a family member (ahem - I mean "patient") at Collins Orthodontics.  Here is a little "peek" inside of our clinic walls to show you what we are all about...

For more information:
Web: RochesterOrthodontics.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/RochesterOrthodontics
Phone: 507-258-5400
Email: info@rochesterorthodontics.com
Request an Appointment: RequestMyAppointment.com

Does Your Child REALLY Need Braces at an Early Age? (...The Answer May Surprise You)

By Grant C. Collins, DDS, MS

Many of you have read one of the most popular special reports we offer at Collins Orthodontics called "Does My Child Really Need Braces?" (If you don't have a copy, please call my office today and we will be happy to mail you a free copy of the special report: 507-258-5400).  However, if you are a busy parent just like me, I know you may not have time to sit down a read a full report.  Just last week, I had a mother of one of our "patients" remind me how busy we all are.  She had to go to 8 soccer games in one weekend!  She also thanked me for a startling discovery she made in our office.  More about this in a minute (and you'll see why I put the word "patients" in quotes).

For your convenience, I've broken down the most important points of the report into readable "bite-sized" chunks so that you can learn the truth about braces...

Bite-Sized Chunk #1: Why Are Some Kids Getting Braces Earlier and Earlier?

Although I have lectured to dentists, pediatric dentists, and orthodontic residents about how to manage the most-common orthodontic problems, I still find that there are many orthodontists who do not like my viewpoint on early treatment.  Why?  Simple: I'm promoting the truth in our profession (backed up with the gold-standard of rigorously-tested research and scientific study) and the truth is this:  the majority of patients do not need early treatment before most of the permanent adult teeth have erupted.

Here's Where It Gets Confusing.  I agree with the American Association of Orthodontists.  Your child SHOULD see an orthodontist no later than age 7 (for a screening only) in order to determine if he or she can benefit from early treatment.  The good news?  In my experience, only 5-10% of younger patients actually need early treatment.  For those 5-10%, early treatment can literally prevent surgery and extremely expensive orthodontic treatments later in life.  These 5-10% who need treatment will likely have one of the following:  cross bites, severe crowding, jaw alignment issues, early loss of baby teeth, late loss of baby teeth, impacted or missing teeth, or finger/thumb habits.

So, Which Is It?  Early Treatment Or Not?  The bottom line is this:  get your child screened by an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7.  You don't need a referral to schedule this screening.  And remember, 90-95% of the time, your child will not require treatment and you can take a big sigh of relief.  We will monitor growth until the perfect time for braces and only if they are absolutely necessary.

If your orthodontist tells you that everyone can benefit from early treatment, the simple truth is that we have better research today that has proven this is not the case.  I tell parents in these situations to "hold onto your pocketbooks."  We can get the same result with less time and money invested.

What One Mom Discovered That Changed Her Daughter's Life and Saved Her Thousands!

Remember the mom I told you about in the beginning of this report?  Well, she's one of many parents in our practice with "patients" who aren't really patients.  I call them patients because we see them every 6-12 months or so, checking on their growth and development, monitoring and guiding eruption if needed, but none of them have braces on.

This mom, with the busy soccer family, reminded me last week that she had been signed up and ready to start early treatment on her daughter.  She was about to spend over $3,500 for early treatment with braces and headgear.  She thanked me last week because we were able to avoid all of this treatment and get a beautiful result, without headgear, without early treatment and without wasting any money.  I asked her permission to share this story and she insisted that I tell as many people as I can.

Her story is common.  She took her daughter to one office that recommended early treatment.

Then, she found us.

You Have To Ask Yourself...if you can get the same result with less time and money invested, especially considering how busy you are, why would you choose to keep your child in braces for years and years?  Missing work, missing school, paying more and allowing your child to suffer through multiple rounds of braces when 90-95% of the time we can get the same result in a single round of treatment or no treatment at all.

OK, That's Great "Doc" But What If I Have More Questions?

I'm including a fantastic resource to help you determine if your child could benefit from early treatment.  Remember, if we gathered up 100 kids in 2nd through 4th grade, there's a good chance only 5 or 10 of them would need early treatment.  You can download the easy-to-read brochure below:

http://www.mylifemysmile.org/sites/default/files/Your_Childs_First_Checkup-hl.pdf

Our smile specialists are here to help.  If you have questions or simply want to schedule your child for a complimentary consultation at our office, please call (507) 258-5400 and ask for a FREE new patient exam with digital x-rays.  If you have any special requests, do not hesitate to contact me.

To your children's future smiles,

Grant Collins, DDS, MS

RochesterOrthodontics.com

Invisalign: 5 Things You MUST know before starting Invisalign Clear Braces

By Grant Collins

1. Invisalign aligners look great...nearly invisible!

Honestly, one of the most common reasons why the wonderful people of Rochester, MN and surrounding communities do not want to straighten their teeth is because they do not want to wear traditional metal braces and wires.  The great news is that, because of Invisalign, you no longer have to!  Invisalign treatment consists of a series of clear, removable aligners that are custom-modeled to fit your teeth.  The virtually invisible aligners gradually straighten your teeth over time, and unlike traditional braces, Invisalign has no metal bands or wires! You don’t need to change anything about your current lifestyle! With Invisalign you can continue participating in day-to-day activities without changing a thing. Invisalign is great for professionals, athletes, brides, and parents. Most people will not even be able to tell you are getting your teeth straightened!

2. Invisalign is a tool, not a substitute for orthodontic knowledge

Just like braces, Invisalign is simply a "tool" used by orthodontists to straighten your teeth.  Also just like braces, the skill and orthodontic knowledge of your doctor has a much greater effect on your final outcome than the "tools" in which your doctor uses.  The first step in choosing your Invisalign provider is to find an expert in straightening teeth (i.e. an "orthodontist").  An orthodontist is a specialist that receives an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school in order to learn the most effective, efficient, and proper way to align misaligned teeth.  All orthodontists are dentists, but only 6% of dentists are orthodontists.  Orthodontists will focus all efforts of continuing education only within the specialty of orthodontics, ensuring that you are receiving the best and most specialized care possible.  In order to see if the doctor is a specialist, look for the seal of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).  Only orthodontic specialists can be members of the AAO.

3. Most people are great candidates for Invisalign

From our experience at Collins Orthodontics, the great majority of patients are great Invisalign candidates.  Although there are a few exceptions, we have found that Invisalign is an excellent tool to achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.  

4. Compliance is not optional

One of the greatest features of Invisalign is that you can remove the clear aligners in order to enjoy the foods you love and easily brush and floss your teeth (also reducing your risk of cavities and staining compared to traditional braces).  At the same time, if you do not wear your aligners a minimum of 22 hours per day, then the Invisalign will not work.  Your overall outcome with Invisalign is very much dependent on your commitment to wearing the aligners!

5. Invisalign reduces the risk of cavities compared to braces

Since you can remove the Invisalign aligners, it makes cleaning your teeth simple!  With traditional braces and wires, it is very difficult to keep your teeth clean, where food can easily get caught between the teeth.  When food is allowed to sit in your mouth, your risk of cavities increases significantly.  With Invisalign, that risk is completely eliminated!  It's a great treatment to keep your teeth healthy and clean, even during treatment!

For more information about Braces and Invisalign, please visit us at:

www.rochesterorthodontics.com

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Are All Orthodontic Clear Braces in Rochester, MN Really Clear? The Answer May Surprise You...

By Grant Collins

It's scientific fact that one full mouth of "old school" style metal orthodontic bands is enough to create all the characters needed for 2 entire Transformers movies (I made that up). But yikes, no wonder people hated braces back then! At Collins Orthodontics in Rochester, MN, we offer the newest and most esthetic treatment options including clear braces, Invisalign, and standard braces (and yes...with colors if you want!).

So what is the secret to our clear braces versus other orthodontic offices in Rochester, MN?  Well...our brackets are completely translucent, so they perfectly match the color of your teeth!  In fact, most types of "clear braces" aren't really clear at all! Instead, they are opaque, and if their color is not perfectly matched to your teeth color....then it will not blend in with your teeth at all!  That's why we use true "clear" brackets that are completely translucent in order to perfectly match the shade and color of your teeth!  Check out our patient, James P. below....he is wearing his Collins Orthodontics clear brackets in this photo!

Schedule a free "clear braces" consultation today!

Invisalign, Braces, and Clear Braces Patient Testimonials about Dr. Collins as Their Orthodontist in Rochester, MN

By Grant Collins

Of all the things that you need to consider before choosing your orthodontist in Rochester Minnesota, the MOST important item is that you (or your child) is comfortable around the orthodontist! Select an orthodontist that not only cares about your smile, but also about your well-being. If it is your child needing treatment, it is important that your orthodontist is a positive influence and excellent role model to your child; someone that makes you and your child feel at ease. 

Treatment can sometimes take up to several years, where you will see your orthodontist every 6 to 8 weeks – so choosing the right orthodontist is a very important decision! Whether you are choosing Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, Clear Braces, or Traditional Braces for you or your child, absolutely make sure that you begin treatment with an orthodontist that you trust!

Also, make sure to do your research on the orthodontist! Most orthodontists have biographies on their websites, which will allow you to assess if the orthodontist looks like the right fit for you. Some important items to find out:

•   Where did the orthodontist do his/her training?
• What do other patients say about the orthodontist? Look for a “testimonial” page on the website. If there are no testimonials, then make sure to find people who have had experiences with the orthodontist. It's great to see videos of testimonials as well!
• What are the orthodontist’s interests and involvement in the community?
• Does the orthodontist provide excellent treatment? Check the website for “Before and After” Galleries to show a sample of the orthodontist’s work.
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• Interested in scheduling a free consultation at Collins Orthodontics to see if we are the right fit for you? Call us at 507-258-5400 or simply Request a FREE consultation today!