Our Monthly Braces Friendly Recipe

This month's recipe is from Scarlett G, another one of our awesome patients!


Banana Chocolate-Chip Muffins

• 1 stick of butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 ripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ package chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together well and bake on 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Early Orthodontic Treatment May Mean Less Treatment Later

One of the most common questions we get from patients about their treatment is "How long will it take?" New technologies and techniques mean that orthodontic treatment is more more effective and faster than ever. A recent article on the Colgate website suggests that early orthodontic treatment may mean a shorter second phase of orthodontic treatment.

We invite you to read the article to learn more, and then give our office a call to set up a complimentary consultation with Dr. Elchahal & team to learn if two phase treatment is right for your child.

Cool Kids Wear Braces

Braces today are “cool” and even “fun.” These are among the findings of a new nationwide survey of mothers whose children are having or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies in treatment, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s youth.

The study, conducted on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, finds 86 percent of mothers reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent 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, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Questions? Give us a call or visit our website to learn more!

Introducing Insignia Advanced Smile Design

We are proud to announce a brand new technology we are offering at our John's Creek, Hamilton Mill, and Vickery locations, to help patients get the precise results they are looking for from orthodontic treatment.

Insignia Advanced Smile Design works by building a customized, completely digital treatment plan with brackets and wires tailored for each individual. The system uses 3D imaging technology to capture an exact representation of your teeth and bite, allowing us to prescribe a precise treatment plan for each patient. With this customized treatment, fewer office visits are required, and for many patients, the overall treatment time is shorter compared to traditional braces.

Dr. Elchahal underwent special training to be able to offer this exciting new technology, and we are one of the few orthodontic offices in the area with the technology and certification to offer Insignia orthodontics. You can learn more about Insignia on their website, or give our office a call to set up your complimentary consultation and learn if insignia braces are right for you!

April's Recipe- Three Cheese Macaroni Extravaganza

Another braces friendly dish, this month from one of our awesome patients – Kristen E!

Three Cheese Macaroni Extravaganda
• 2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
• 1-2 onions, chopped
• 1-2 Tblsp margarine
• ½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese/fresh
• ½ cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• ½ cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 ½ cups milk
• ½ cup bread crumbs

Boil Noodles! Sauté onions in margarine. Add all cheeses till melted. Drain noodles and add to cheese/onion mixture. Add Milk and top with breadcrumbs. Bake 350 degrees till toasty brown.

ENJOY!!

What Will YOUR Smile Look Like After Orthodontic Treatment?

It is sometimes hard to believe the transformation your smile undergoes during orthodontic treatment. We love to see our patients’ smiles light up when they see their new smile in the mirror for the first time. For those of you who haven’t yet started or finished your orthodontic treatment, have you ever wondered what your new smile might look like after treatment?

The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO for short, has recently launched a new tool called “Virtual Smiles”, which shows what your smile might look like after orthodontic treatment. Using the tool will also earn you a free orthodontic consultation coupon, which can be redeemed at our office by yourself, a family member or friend.

Check out the Virtual Smiles tool, and call to get started on improving your smile today!

Zoom!® Whitening at Dr. Elchahal's Office

Going to Prom? Want a brighter smile? Call us today to schedule an appointment for Home Whitening Treatment or for a faster solution come to our Johns Creek office for our in-office Zoom treatment.

A whiter smile is one just one visit away! ZOOM!® Smile Whitening brightens and whitens your teeth in just 45 minutes.

While Zoom!® Smile Whitening is a great way to enhance the appearance of your smile, it's not always for everyone. Those with deep, dark stains that remain unaffected by whitening treatments and patients with regular tooth sensitivity may not be good candidates. Find out more about Zoom!® Smile Whitening by calling us today for an evaluation!

Recipe of the Month- Baked Ham & Egg Hashbrowns

3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, uncooked
¾ cups shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
1 cup diced cooked ham or shredded deli ham
4 eggs, beaten
1 12 oz can evaporated milk

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease a 2 qt casserole dish.
Spoon potatoes on the bottom of dish and top with cheese
And ham. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and salt. Pour egg mixture over ham mixture in casserole dish. Bake
40-45 minutes, unless chilled, bake 55-60 minutes. Let stand
5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Enter our Art Contest!

Would you like to earn 100 points on your smile rewards card? Participate in our Art Contest!

Here are the rules:

1. All art submissions must be environmentally friendly. Art can be made of anything- old shoe w/beads & buttons, old fence boards, scraps of old wood and metal pieces, gum wrappers, bottle caps, parts of old computers, paper, etc.

2. It must be wall mountable.

3. It must be a minimum size of 12” up to a maximum of 48” in length and width.

4. The Winners’ art pieces will be displayed in our offices permanently and will receive additional 100 points on their Smiles Rewards Card. All others will be displayed for 3 months and then returned to the artist.

Please feel free to call us if you have any questions. Looking for ideas? Click here for a helpful worksheet. We are looking forward to seeing your submissions!

Never Too Old to Treat Yourself to a New Smile - Is This Your Year?

Did you know one in every five orthodontic patients is an adult? We’re living longer and technology is improving, making orthodontic treatment an appealing and safe option for patients of all ages. As the trend toward treatment later in life grows, we’re seeing braces on parents as well as children – and even adult celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Gwen Stefani and Nicholas Cage have shown off their braces. It’s never too late to look and feel your best!

Can Braces Work for Adults?

People of all ages can benefit from orthodontic treatment. The physical process for moving teeth is the same, young or old, which means it is never too late to address issues such as an overbite or underbite, crooked or crowded teeth, or jaw disorders.

How Do I Get Started?

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, we’ll make a consultation appointment with you. During this meeting we will perform a general assessment of your oral health, discuss options for treatment, and answer any questions you may have. We will also discuss matters of cost and insurance. The next step is an orthodontic records appointment in which we take x-rays, photos, and an impression of your teeth. This information drives your unique treatment plan.

What Are the Benefits?

Straightening your teeth can improve your smile, your self-esteem, and your dental health. Technologically advanced new treatments make it easier to identify the option that best fits your lifestyle. Modern techniques and materials have made braces and aligners more effective, comfortable and unobtrusive than ever.

If you think you might benefit from orthodontic treatment, get in touch with us so we may set up a consultation to determine what type of treatment best meets your needs.

Smile- February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

Each February for the past 61 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. These habits become even more important during orthodontic treatment. Call our office to learn more about how you can maintain your oral health during orthodontic treatment. We'd love to hear from you!

"How Orthodontics Changed My Life" Video Contest

We are excited to announce to you our newest contest the "How Orthodontics Changed My Life" Video Contest.

Rules:
1. Contest participants must have completed active orthodontic treatment (braces must have been removed) at the practice of Dr. Alec Elchahal & Associates.

2. Entries are limited to 1 per person

3. Contestants should tell their stories on video. Creativity is HIGHLY encouraged! Contestants should answer questions such as:

What were you like before you had orthodontic treatment?
How have you changed?
What kinds of changes have you noticed?
What does your new smile mean to you?
How was your experience with Dr. Elchahal, Dr. Moore and the rest of the team while in orthodontic treatment?
What would you say to others who aren't completely happy or feel self conscious about their smile?

4. Burn your video file onto a DVD or USB flash drive and mail it to us or simply drop it off at any one of our locations. Make sure it is marked with the patient's name - phone # - email address.

We will evaluate entries based on:
Clarity of Patient's story
Creativity in the approach of conveying the story
Use of attractive and interesting visual elements
Clear and comprehensible audio
Enthusiasm and positive perspective on orthodontic treatment


1st Place Winner - $500
2nd Place Winner - $300


*ALL CONTESTANTS MUST BE IN AGREEMENT THAT THEIR VIDEO WILL BE USED FOR MARKETING PURPOSES FOR DR. ALEC ELCHAHAL & ASSOCIATES. VIDEOS MAY BE DISPLAYED ON OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS. PLEASE DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONTEST IF YOU ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT.*

A Proper "Please" and "Thank You"

From the desk of Dr. Elchahal

Dear Family of Patients,

"Please" help me welcome Dr. Stephanie Moore to our practice. Dr. Moore joined our practice January 3rd, 2011 and will be seeing patients in our Johns Creek, Hamilton Mill and Vickery offices. She is a native of Johns Creek where she attended Dolvin Elementary, Taylor Road Middle and Chattahoochee High School. Dr. Moore then went on to attend the University of Georgia and The Medical College of Georgia where she received both her dental degree and orthodontic residency training. She's married to her high school sweetheart Lonnie, and they are both excited and happy to be back and actively be a part of the community that they love so dearly. Dr. Moore is an excellent orthodontist and a delightful, warm individual. Our entire team is excited to have her join our practice and look forward to personally introducing her to you. Again, would you "please" help us welcome Dr. Stephanie Moore into our practice.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alec Elchahal and Team

From the desk of Dr. Moore

"Thank you" so much for the warm welcome! It's always been a dream of mine to come back to my hometown to practice orthodontics, so it's great to be back! I am so excited to be joining Dr. Alec Elchahal and his team to continue creating beautiful smiles in our wonderful community. I'm looking forward to meeting all of our fellow colleagues, existing patients and welcoming new patients to be a part of our orthodontic family. "Thank you" again for welcoming me back home.

Hobbies: Dr. Moore and her husband, Lonnie enjoy skiing, camping and spending time outdoors together. She also loves the arts and enjoys painting in her spare time.

Residency: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA - December 2010

DMD: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA - May 2008

BS: University of Georgia, Athens, GA GO DAWGS!! - May 2004

High School: Chattahoochee High School, Alpharetta, GA GO COUGARS!! - May 2000

Honors: 2008 Academy of Osseointegration Outstanding Student Award
2008 Pierre Fauchard Outstanding Merit Award
2008 Inducted as Omicron Kappa Upsilon Member (Dental School Honor Society)
2007 Hinman dental Society Scholarship

Memberships: American Association of Orthodontists, Southern Association of Orthodontists, Georgia Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association

Connect with the Braces Brigade!

At our office, our patients want to get as much out of their treatment as possible. That includes asking a lot of questions and making sure they take care of both their appliances and oral health.

Would you like to learn more about what to expect during orthodontic treatment, from someone with firsthand experience? Well, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently developed the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. The blog will serve as a source of guidance for others as the patients undergo orthodontic care.

Our team and Dr. Elchahal encourages you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment!

What is your New Year’s Resolution?

2010 is nearly over, and our team at Dr. Elchahal's office hope all our patients and their families had the merriest of holidays. We wish you all the best for the New Year.

We thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Smile, and you might just live longer!

Folks with big smiles may actually live longer than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Dr. Elchahal has known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting us at Dr. Elchahal's office? If not, give us a call!

Invisalign Winter 2010-11 Family Study

Would you, or someone in your immediate family like to enjoy the benefits of straighter teeth? If so, and if you are willing to participate in a study, then this might be a great opportunity for you.

Dr. Elchahal, a Premier Invisalign Provider, is conducting a study for Align Technology, Inc., the makers of Invisalign. The study is about immediate family members who are undergoing orthodontic treatment together. If you participate in this study, you will receive a $500 discount off our normal Invisalign fee. Excludes treatment fees less than 12 months.

Conditions for the study:
1. You are the immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling) of a current patient of Dr. Elchahal.
2. You begin Invisalign therapy during the Winter of 2010-11. That means initial impressions for therapy are received by Align Technology between December 1st 2010 through Feb 1st, 2011. New patients only.
3. You agree to permit your orthodontic records, including photographs, to be used for educational purposes by Align Technology, Inc., the makers of Invisalign. You must sign an agreement form.

To learn more about this special offer, give us a call! We'd be happy to explain more about the Invisalign system!

Give the Gift that Keeps on Smiling

Give the gift that keeps on Smiling this Holiday season with our Home Whitening Treatment from Dr. Elchahal. What a great way to enhance your smile with brighter, whiter teeth. The great news is that this Holiday offer is not just for our patients but can be given to other family members as well. Each Home Whitening Treatment costs $250 and as our way of supporting Breast Cancer research, $50 dollars from each Home Whitening Treatment sold is donated to Gwinnett Hospital Foundation.

To schedule your Home Whitening impressions give us a call today!

Happy Holidays,

From Dr. Elchahal & Team

Thanks to Invisalign®, mom and dad can have a perfect smile, too!

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Halloween Costume Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of our costume contest, as voted by our office team. We've shared all the photos on our Facebook page, be sure to head over and check them out!

Hamilton Mill Orthodontics Winner- Amanda P.

Johns Creek Orthodontics Winners- Meghana E, Jackson F, and Sebastian M.

Vickery Orthodontics Winners- Spencer B, Sarah A.

Great job everyone, and thank you for participating!