Amherst Orthodontics

Following in his Mom's footsteps!

2012-02-01T07:02:00.000-08:00

Boy, time does fly by! Dr. Deb's oldest child, Steve, is a junior at Colgate (kind of ironic he goes to a college that has the same name as toothpaste!) and he spent a day at the office checking out what exactly his mom does for a living now that he has to decide his career path. The last time he posed for a picture in the office was when he was a year old! This photo was printed in the office newsletter 20 years ago! Katie Sodders is holding of gubernatorial proclamation heralding February as National Children's Dental Health Month. She is pictured with her brother, Brian and Dr. Deb holding "Stevie" (nice hair Dr. Deb!!)

Who says old ladies can't keep up!?

2011-12-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

Dr. Deb surprised us when she came to work one day sporting purple hair! She is a little worried, though, that the staff will now follow suit (our clinical assistant, Carrie has been wanting to get pink hair forever and Dr. Deb has always put the brakes on that!). Dr. Deb has brought new meaning to the phrase,"When I'm an old woman, I shall wear purple"!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

Ah, it's time to tell Santa what we really want. Justin officially does not have the look of shear terror, and Mei-Ling is calmly enjoying her time with the Big Guy. The Holidays this year with the kids is really great - they're at the age where the Elf on the Shelf works miracles, Herbie the dentist elf is a great role model, and tree decorating and all things Christmas have been really, really fun for all of us.
Happy Holidays! Cherish the ones you love.

The power of love and family

2011-11-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

Family fall fun! My kids are shown helping my parents with some Fall clean up around the house. More than just helping their grandparents, they are enjoying their presence for a while. (I never get too old for mom's cooking either!) It always amazes me how much kids remember their family, even if they don't see each other all that often. The last time my folks were here was nearly 6 months ago. While the kids speak periodically with my parents, they never hesitate to miss them, ask for them, and love them like mad when they are here. The power of love and family - awesome.

Continuing Education

2011-11-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

Dr. Deb and Dr. Diane are shown here with their study club, New England Orthodontic Study Club. In the rear and center is Dr. Tiziano Baccetti, a world reknown orthodontist and researcher, who presented a 2 day course on "The Orthodontic Management of Impacted Cuspids" and "Updates on Treatment Timing of Class II and Class III Patients." The docs hope to continue providing the best care with the latest information to their patients, and were thrilled to be able to start applying some of what they recently learned... In 2 weeks they attend the NESO conference in Boston with some of your dental providers to continue their ongoing education! Stay tuned.

Pumpkins,pumpkins, and moooore pumpkins!

2011-10-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered where all the pumpkins come from for our annual pumpkin decorating contest (this is our 20th year!)? A farm delivers them to Dr. Deb’s house in huge cardboard crates on pallets and then she and her husband (she used to coerce her sons into doing this before they went to college!) divide them up into bushel baskets and load them into her car. It is really pleasant when a rotten pumpkin gets accidentally packed up and putrid pumpkin rot gets all over everything. Our team then schleps the baskets into the office. We develop big biceps in October so don’t be messin’ with us!!

Pumpkin Chuckin'?!?

2011-09-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, you know when Fall is here! The mums are out, the cider is brewing, apples are being picked and polished, pumpkins are being carved..... AND tossed. Ever hear of Pumpkin Chukin'? Me neither (so don't feel so badly). Our dear friend's husband is competing in Delaware at a national Trebuche competition. Here we are at Trombley Farm test-firing the homemade, medieval device, which I understand aims to toss a pumpkin as far as it can. The Science Channel was even here interviewing his team! Good luck to our local entrants! Now off to pumpkin PICKING.

Pounding the Pavement

2011-08-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of a motley crew before we ran the 39th Annual Falmouth Road Race (it looks like we already ran the race…!) My 20 yo son, Steve and my husband, Steve (he pulled a fast one when our son was born but that is another story!) and I pounded the pavement for 7.2 miles from Woods Hole to Falmouth on August 14, 2011. I even shaved 3 minutes off my time from last year (trust me, that is not saying much!). Every year I tell myself, “I’m done. I hate training and I don’t even like running” and then I forget the pain (sort of like child birth) and sign up again….old age memory loss!

Natalie "For the love of clean teeth!"

2011-08-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

Cleaning my teeth has been a new (and time consuming!) experience. As time has gone by I have become better and more efficient with my cleanings (practice really does make perfect!) I love the feeling of clean teeth; I think they’re actually cleaner now than they ever were before braces! I have to confess, I did try eating popcorn- totally not worth it! Accidentally chomping down on a kernel hurts and the hulls of the corn were stuck here, there, and everywhere under my brackets and under my gums! Never again! A plus to braces, I’ve lost weight! It has to really be worth it to go through my cleaning regimen after any indulgence!

The social hierarchy of the homo studentus universitatus

2011-07-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

I have observed that the HSU species gathers in groups and their social hierarchy is complicated. When together the alpha males are attached to video game controllers, totally focused on annihilating their cyber enemies, others are mulling around playing pool, watching the alpha males make their kill, while others are ripping open bags of chips and making popcorn…what intriguing social structure. There is also a select few, usually the females of the group that are intent on rapid communication via texting on their cellular devices. I think they may be socially stunted but who am I to comment?

Dear God....please help my kids grow up to be socially capable and productive members of society (or I will have to change my last name!!)

Raspberries of Wrath...

2011-07-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Berry picking in the summer is filled with lots of laughs, yummy treats, and loads of berries to boot! Gotta watch the sun though! Here's my SPF 1000 son, who loves and insists on applying his own. I know that he will never burn on his face!

My daughter, however, was more content re-enacting a scene from Steinbeck's classic - Raspberries of Wrath, no wait, that was Grapes of Wrath... Same idea.

4th of July Fun!

2011-07-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

July 4th in Amherst!

We were lucky to share some front row seats with close friends in the Village. The kids loved the Shriner's cars, and the militia even fired in front of us! Great to be Amherst citizens living with great history and tradition. Next year, we'll enter the bike parade!

I can't believe I've been in braces almost a month!

2011-07-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe it; I’ve been in braces for three weeks! The first three days after they were placed, although my teeth were sore, I thought this is a piece of cake! But oh boy, after the third day my teeth started to feel like they were set in sponges and over time it started to feel more “spongy”! I could really feel the movement!

(Getting my braces on...the point of no return!)

(This is my daughter, Charlotte. She was by my side while I got my braces on.)

I recently went to visit my son in South Carolina. I ate something that I wasn't supposed to (lesson learned) and broke a bracket! No worries, I just secured it with some wax until I as able to get back to New Hampshire and have it clipped off.

(Did I mention that wax is my new best friend?)

Primate visitations...

2011-06-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

I am the owner of two Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) primates who have migrated home for the summer. HSU is a social creature. I started seeing evidence of other primate visitations when I would get home from work at night ie soda cans lying about, multiple dirty dishes strewn about the sink (not in the sink or in the dishwasher), every light in the house on. They are also nocturnal. These and other primates seem to come and go all night. I’m not sure why they have to go to a 10:30 pm movie rather than a 7 pm one...

Dear God, please help your faithful daughter try to understand their unusual habits and not bite their heads off. Amen

Happy birthday to my precious little girl!

2011-06-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go? My precious little girl just turned 4! It's wild thinking about how fast this has been and all the wonderful things she has learned - she's starting to read, learning how to write, and developing her independence... Her little brother is now 2 1/2 and really not so little, but he just loves her to pieces too. I'm so proud of her, and wish that time would slow down. Happy Birthday, Sweet One!

I can't believe I didnt shop!!

2011-05-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

This year I attended the annual American Association of Orthodontics meeting in Chicago from May 14-16th. I had never been there before and wanted to experience as many Chicago highlights as possible.

This included: eating a deep dish pizza,

going to the top of the Hancock Tower,

riding the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier,

and going to the Chicago Institute of Art and visiting Millennium Park...

of course attending the meeting was also of paramount importance!! This left no time to shop on the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave)---always good to leave something on the table!

He's Baaaack!

2011-05-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

He’s baaaack! The summer migration of the Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) has started. I am now lucky enough to have two HSUs! My husband traveled to Colgate University last weekend to collect our eldest. I opted to stay home and do laundry, go to the grocery store, weed, mulch …anything so as not to have to drive back 6 hours to NH with a car full of dirty laundry, moldy sneakers and unwashed popcorn bowls. When they pulled into the driveway, my husband bolted for the house without saying a word and the creature emerged from the car, wrinkled, unwashed, unshaven and full of hugs for his mom! This was the day before Mother’s Day and I have to say it was a really special gift (you can take this anyway you want!!). HSU #2 is coming home Wednesday…can't wait!

Funny What a Year Can Do!

2011-01-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

Funny what a year can do! In 2009, you can see the nervousness and near terror on their faces! Maybe it was "Mall Santa" who's larger than life with all his helpers! This year, breakfast with Santa at the Amherst Newcomers' Club event seemed much calmer and relaxed... FYI, they asked for princess stuff and trucks!

Dr. Deb & Dr. Diane's Response to the Wall Street Journal Article

2010-12-20T15:28:00.000-08:00

Wall Street Journal Article about Early Orthodontics:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703326204575616460332062620.html

The doctor's response:

Bravo to the Wall Street Journal for its front page article on early orthodontic treatment last month. It eloquently addressed our philosophy to treat only when necessary, and answers why we are not like other offices who may routinely propose multi-phase plans beginning at early ages.

That being said, we agree there are important indications for interceptive (Phase 1) treatment. As the article says, “Early treatment makes sense for an underbite or a narrow upper arch, problems that are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Treating patients as young as 7 or 8 years old with a "palatal expander" widens the upper jaw, so the upper teeth line up better with the lower teeth. This may make the second round of treatment, when the patient is a teenager, quicker and easier. Kids with crossbites also may benefit from such early treatment, although they too may still need a second round. We might also add that prematurely extracted teeth (due to crowding or decay) often require a simple appliance (space maintainer) to prevent loss of precious space.

The article continues, “For one of the most common conditions—a Class II Malocclusion, commonly known as an overbite, "overjet" or buck teeth—studies indicate there aren't measurable benefits to early treatment. Starting treatment early for this condition usually means a second phase of treatment is coming and with no guarantee it will be any easier than without early treatment. For this condition, early treatment also usually means longer overall treatment time and a higher bill at the end. Sometimes there are psychological reasons for correcting crooked or buck teeth early: A child may be getting teased, or a parent may worry the teeth will be knocked out.” This is the exception, not the rule.

The article concludes with, “Children who had early treatment did spend less time, on average, in the second phase of treatment. But taking both phases into account, their total treatment time was considerably longer. At the end, only small differences were noted in front-to-back jaw position between the groups” "There is no doubt about this conclusion," says Gregory King, professor of orthodontics at the University of Washington, Seattle. "It is no more effective to do it early than later. You end up in the same place."

These findings are not new to the profession, and speak to our sensibilities as practitioners and mothers. These are the standards we would apply to our own families, and hence to yours.

We invite questions to the article and our response. Please email any questions to info@amherstorthodontics.com.

What to Remember This Holiday Season

2010-11-29T17:00:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the blessings God has bestowed upon us. It can be challenging this time of year to keep this thought front and center during our daily activities. So remember, when the boys come home from college with 3 months worth of dirty laundry and look part Neanderthal because they haven’t had a haircut since September and haven’t shaved in a month….shower them with hugs and kisses. When your 17 yo daughter comes home excited about the dress she bought for the semi and you want to throw a bathrobe around her and cover her up …tell her how beautiful she looks and give her one on your shawls. When you asked a relative to bring a pie for dessert and they show up with a Tabletalk pie (yes, they still make these)…serve it with a smile. When your mother continues to quip during Thanksgiving Day cooking, “you need to use more butter; not enough salt, add more salt” …give her a hug and tell her she is the best taster in the world. Above all, make a point this holiday season to find a quite spot, get down on your knees and give heartfelt thanks to God.

Every Kid Wants a Pet

2010-11-15T13:27:00.000-08:00

So it's kinda hard to see the full details, but every parent (I think) has walked down the road of their kids wanting a pet. I've been a dog lover forever and would really enjoy a pup, BUT timing is everything. My daughter lately, has wanted a pug (wonder where she got that idea!). And of course, everything big sister wants must be a great idea, so my son wants a pug too! No, no, no. There isn't a pug in the aquarium! But there are 2 hermit crabs... Sharkie and Nemo. Well, since Sharkie and Nemo joined our clan, I have to admit that never having hermit crabs before, I was caught red-handed in the local Petco, purchasing their replacements 1 month later... Stay tuned. Have been watching Food Network for enticing crab recipes...

Homo Studentus Highschoolitatus

2010-10-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

I’ve discovered a new species! This species evolved from what used to be my darling daughter. The creature is one who recently has been legally granted permission to operate a motor vehicle, has a weird predilection to consuming all things unhealthy including gasoline and has no concept of basic neatness. I know one of these inhabits our domicile because evidence is everywhere. I find Reeses wrappers, Dunkin Donut napkins and McDonald’s paper bags strewn about my car and the needle on the gas gauge is always pointing to ‘E’! The creature also must be thinking on a more elevated plane and can’t be slowed down with the mundane like understanding that the house and car are not extensions of its school locker. Dirty socks, jeans, sweatshirts, tattered notebooks, crumbled papers and chewed pens are now commonplace in my once tidy vehicle and home. Threatening to hide the keys to both seems to illicit a primordial response of eyes rolling back in its head, an ugly scowl and frantic finger movements while holding a cellular device. Oh where, oh where has my sweet baby gone?!

End of Summer Celebration

2010-10-18T17:38:00.001-07:00

End of summer was celebrated by going to Lull Farm's Peach Festival in Milford. Thd kids enjoyed a jumpy house (won't be able to shake this one from birthday party requests now!), lots of yummy peachy treats, and music from their favorite - Amy Conley of Music Together in Milford!

The Return to College

2010-09-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the summer, I was so happy to have Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) back in the nest (minus the mess) and all three of my kids around. At the same time, I was already thinking about having to send HSU back to the place where the species thrives and I was dreading that another one of my offspring would morph into this creature. Don’t get me wrong, the rewards of having the species around are substantial… happy noises in a quiet house, my credit card feeling so fully and vibrantly alive, an accumulation of funny creature photos on my digital camera, a window into a complex society of social primates. Alas, the Homo studentus summer season is brief. No matter how much they have enjoyed the family nest, mom’s cooking and use of their own bathrooms, they will return to college and bide their time until their winter migration back. I, for one, look forward to their return!

HSU returns home from college...

2010-08-16T13:43:00.001-07:00

The Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) has acclimated to its summer surroundings. The appearance of a large pile of dirty laundry in the corner of its dwelling is present. Plastic bins from its college habitat are still strewn about its territory and all flat surfaces are covered with its belongings. The bed covers are never on the bed so I’m not really sure where it has been sleeping but there are signs of slumber on various couches. When I wake up in the morning, I find evidence of what it ate during the night all over the counters in the kitchen (and on the floor).

Communication is limited with its parental units except when it is asking for the car or “What’s for dinner”. I’m assuming this is because its highly evolved brain can’t be weighed down with mundane questions like “How come you can’t hang up your clothes?” When I ask this, HSU just seems to shrug, like it has a weird itch on its back. No, I guess that brain is for churning out high GPA’s in the quest of getting into graduate school or landing a high paying job where you don’t have to work much.

Museum of Science with Diane and her kids!

2010-07-25T16:22:00.001-07:00

Summer is such a great time to get out and explore new things! There happened to be a whale exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston, so I took the kids. You can tell, the kids were caught at a dull moment in the photo! I can assure you that they ran around the exhibit having a great time! They crawled in and out of a model whale heart (an adult and 3 other kids were in there together), and listened to eerie whale songs. Such a cool place!

Deb's take on Modern Art

2010-07-02T07:14:00.001-07:00

So I traveled to Washington, DC once again but this time to attend my 25^th dental school reunion. While I was there I went to the Hirshhorn (contemporary art) Museum. Now I’m not a big fan of contemporary art but I like to go and chuckle at what critics call “Brilliant!” Picture this…as part of the exhibit, a film clip was playing of naked women painting the front of their bodies with blue paint and then pressing themselves against a canvas making body prints. The artist (Yves Klein, French), wanted these “living brushes” to record the body’s cosmic energy. Needless to say, I had to pull my husband away from this exhibit! The poor artist died at 34yo of a heart attack…I wonder if it was due to the same heart palpations my husband was feeling while in the museum!

Dance Recitals and Summer Picnics

2010-06-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

Summer's officially here with school out for most kiddos, including my 3 year old who celebrated her last day in Country Village Montessori School with a school-wide/family picnic. Pigtails commemorated the day (act of Congress - read on) and my son also had a great time roaming the playyard! Another clue that summer abounds - it's dance recital season, and our last Baby Ballet class at Kathy Blake's

was a dress rehearsal. Our first ever miniature bun! Sparkly hair gel! Tutu!!! She barely lets me comb her hair in the morning, so I prayed that the bun up-do would be straightforward... (Remember, you're reading the blog from the lady who wears no makeup, and hasn't bought hair gel in decades.) We survived and she loved her little red lips too!

Summer migration of Homo studentus universitatus

2010-06-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well the summer migration has occurred. We traveled to Colgate University to collect our Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) We left Manchester optimistic albeit a bit tired. Our second son had his senior prom the night before. Tim had his friends over for a pre-prom gathering complete with parents, clicking cameras, endless cleavage (why don’t I remember seeing cleavage at my prom?) and luckily no breezes to create havoc with hem lines! They all looked so grown up and everyone got home safe and sound!

Upon arriving at HSU’s dorm, we noted incredible chaos. Trash littered the hallways, mold spores emanated from the carpets, beer bottles stacked in the corners (I thought the drinking age was 21yo??). I had to use the rest room but decided against it because I was afraid of the plague. We did get out of there in one piece but I’m not sure whose stuff we actually took home. I did not recognize some of it! We looked like the Clampets traveling down the NY Thruway with the windows open, while it was raining, because the stench was overpowering. I was anxious to get home and dreading it at the same time!

Having little kids is so great!

2010-06-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

Having little kids is so great! I love the wonder on their faces when they discover something new! In the recent hot weather, I broke out the ole sprinkler. I took it forgranted that a 3 year old and a 19 month old have no idea what this is for (outside of watering the grass)! After watching them transfixed on the metronomic back and forth, I decided in full civvies that I had to be their fearless mommy. Off I leapt into the chilling cold, with streaks of water marked in my clothes! My son took off after me with glee and even stuck his face in it with me! My daughter, however, required a piggy back ride through the water, as she does not like getting wet! Oh to be young again!

Homo Studentus Universitatus in the wrong place at the wrong time

2010-05-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

It seems that a small male grouping of the species was spotted walking, late one spring night, from town after devouring pizza (which is a basic staple of their diet) back to their hovel at the University when the creature, completely oblivious to his surroundings (thought he was back in Kansas aka Amherst) hid behind a tree and decided that the roots needed a little watering. Unfortunately, he was spotted by one of the small town’s finest, who’s mission is to quell any improper behavior in this little college town, and was slapped with a ticket and court date. The poor, naive creature was under the delusion that if he dons a tie and sport coat (which has been crumpled up in a bin underneath his bed since August) he will look like a responsible college dweller and they will go easy on him....

“How did you do today in court?” I asked, holding my breath. “Did you wear a nice shirt and comb your hair?” Exasperated, he says, “Mom, I could have shown up in my boxers and they would have given me the same fine. I can’t believe that I have to pay the same amount of money as a kid who was fooling around and ran out into the street, nearly causing a four car pile up!” Of course, I said what he didn’t want to hear, “Life isn’t always fair, dear.” While hanging up the phone I smiled to myself … another painful but important life lesson! (He would kill me if he knew I put this out there for all to read but he probably won’t find out because he doesn’t think I even know what a ‘blog’ is!!)

A Great Comedy Show!

2010-05-15T14:19:00.001-07:00

Loretta LaRoche – if you haven’t heard her, you must. We had a staff event at her comedy show at the Palace Theatre on Saturday. The staff had a great time, and so did me and Deb! Not knowing what to expect, she was a great blend of comedy with traditional values and psychotherapy! It’s reassuring to know that women of different cultures are still women – we “obsess” and we are the same. What is different is the clothing! Smaller and more revealing over the years! Ai, Ai, Ai! Tsk, tsk, tsk!

Dr. Deb visits Washington DC...her old stomping grounds.

2010-05-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

I attended the American Association of Orthodontists annual meeting in Washington, DC with my husband, Steve.

We took a little time from the three day convention to sightsee on bikes. We visited the monuments and the National Gallery of Art. While taking in the sights, I was still in “ortho mode” observing various profiles and making observations about what artists from various time periods liked to portray.

Just before leaving, we visited where I went to dental school, Georgetown. Even though the dental school closed its doors in 1999, all the buildings remain and have become part of a research facility for the medical school.

Dr. Diane is 4 Months into her Invisalign Treatment!

2010-05-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

So I’m almost 4 months into Invisalign treatment (my total time is just over 1 year). My quick observations of my experience so far… 1) Don’t realize how thirsty I am until I take them out and my lips stick to my teeth! (The aligners are filled with saliva and your lips don’t stick to the aligners so you don’t realize you’re parched!) 2) VERY hard to tell progress from one aligner to the next, so we are giving progress shots every few visits – don’t lose faith! 3) Wish that I wouldn’t eat as much since I’m supposed to have these in 20-22 hrs/day! My very fast eating, has only gotten that much more disgustingly faster! 4) SO GLAD I’m going through this, as I would’ve never really understood the challenges our Invisalign patients endure!

A Surprise Visit for Dr. Deb!

2010-04-26T07:18:00.001-07:00

Picture this… 9:30 pm Good Friday and I’m in our family room setting two 6 ft tables for Easter dinner (the dining room and kitchen tables have already been set-I started at noon that day) deciding if I’m going to search out the spare dishes or go for the Chinet when a scary figure flitted by the window. Well, I knew it couldn’t be the Easter Bunny –it was too tall and lacked a fluffy white tail- After a moment of disbelief (or consternation… I gave up his room to his grandfather, I had mailed his Easter basket four days before, and I did not have enough food in the frig), I realized that our homo studentus universitatus had made a surprise visit home!

It appeared at our door step with a white sack slung over its shoulder which it deposited abruptly as it entered the house. Of course, the sack was dropped right inside the door so everyone would either trip on it or have to walk around it. But who cared! We were all so excited to see him! (Well, almost all…his brother was thinking not only about his clean clothes and gas but now, his bedroom, too!). After the commotion settled and I fed it what I could, I noticed an unpleasant odor emanating from the doorway … I knew that I was about to enter battle. Either I was going to battle the beast and make it handle its belongings or battle the stench myself and take care of the rest of the inhabitants of the household and besides, the creature did look so tired and disheveled and he did just travel 6 hours… I just felt sorry for it… WHAT WAS I THINKING???

The Kids First Easter Egg Hunt

2010-04-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung! We were so blessed with great weather on Easter! My kids were able to do their very first Easter Egg hunt at Deb’s house, and got spoiled with lots of candy! I probably shouldn’t admit this, but it was Mei-Ling’s first jelly bean and first M&M, and she’s turning 3 next month! Fingers have been wagged at me for depriving her! Justin happened to swipe his first Skittle, and now the precedent has been set! What to do for her birthday??

Spring Migration of the Homo Studentus Universitatus

2010-04-10T16:44:00.000-07:00

During this time of spring migration of the homo studentus universitatus, we have caught glimpses of this nocturnal animal. The homo studentus is not seen before noon and it is advised not to disturb it before then because it growls. Once it awakens, it moves slowly from its lair to a cushy chair where it takes up residence in front of the TV, under a throw blanket, clutching the remote. Its hygiene is questionable and appetite is voracious. It leaves a trail of crumbs and soda cans in its path. Luckily, the creature left after only a week but I know it will return in about 6 weeks for an extended period of time. I can’t wait!

Now, here is a query…why is he returning ‘home’ at all if, when filling out the census, we are supposed to report him to be “living” where he is going to school (a very small town in upstate NY complete with nice restaurants, boutiques and big, beautiful Victorian homes)? This seems ridiculous considering he is only there less than 8 months a year, he does not have a car, he lives on campus, he is not using any of the town resources and his parental units are paying for his room and board! Is it me??

Kid thoughts...

2010-03-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

So funny that Deb and I are at different ends of the kid spectrum… I can remember meeting her kids for the first time, and how little they seemed. Now they’re adults! With my own little ones, I struggle with letting their “babiness” go (just love to squish them!), but at the same time want them to have independence… My daughter just started pre-school and loves it, and I love that I finally get some time alone with my son… I love how different they are, not just because of the boy/girl differences, but truly how they learn, express themselves, and do things is so fascinating to me. Sigh… I feel like I just had them.

Homo Studentus Universitatus

2010-03-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Blog, blog, blog sounds like blah, blah, blah…But here goes..I recently read an article that was published in the Chicago Tribune about a special species, homo studentus universitatus, aka the college student on break.

The article says that this creature returns to the parental nest several times a year for an extended stay that lasts anywhere from one to fourteen weeks! We have one of these!! The interesting thing is that our whole family looks forward to the arrival of this very social creature. (Well, almost the whole family…the creature’s brother just sighs and says, “There goes my clean clothes and gas.”) But within a very short period of time we are thinking that we should have changed the locks. We have just experienced the spring migration of the species. After I finish restoring normalcy to our house I will tell you more!

Giving to a Cause that Matters...

2010-03-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

I’ve always had a soft spot for charities and really feel so lucky in life that it only seems right to give back to causes that matter and make real impacts in people’s lives. I’m so proud of some recent fundraising efforts that I was blessed to be member to. You may have read about our first ever fundraising event on March 6, 2010 to benefit the Greater Nashua Dental Connection in the Telegraph or in our office Newsletter – a Comedy Night at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua. Our group worked countless hours putting together the event and it was a success! Over, $47,000 was raised as pure profit to the clinic, which serves the underprivileged population of Greater Nashua…

It’s a great feeling knowing that our group and its supporters stepped up to the plate to help the Dental Connection, and I know that future events will be created to continue its mission! Now that life is “back to normal” with fewer meetings, I can see my kids in the evenings again! Miss those little guys! My next blog page dedicated to them!

Dr. Deb Starts Blogging

2010-03-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

Blog. What a funny word. Dr. Diane, who is 15 years younger than I, is blogging about her Invisalign experience. What the heck can a 50 year old woman write about that has any interest to anyone, I ask?. The ladies at the office tell me to just try it. Write about anything, they advised. Like what??? Like what I made for dinner Friday night? How many loads of laundry I did over the weekend? Ahhh…weekend! How ‘bout this….I went to a Catholic Women’s retreat this weekend in Andover. The title of the retreat was “Life in the Spirit”. It was a moving and powerful experience shared with women of all ages and backgrounds. I decided that my Lenten experience would be deeper if I dedicated some uninterrupted time with God. OK, there you have it…my first ever blog! I’m not sure what my dedication is going to be to this but I will give it a try. Don’t expect anything big but I guess life is just filled with little moments that may be even more special if shared.

Dr. Diane is a Patient!

2010-03-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

I’m excited about blogging! I’ve been emailing for ages and never understood what this meant! Hopefully, I’ll have something meaningful to share that you can connect with or laugh at! I also hope that you’ll get to know me outside of the office – and you can feel free to call me “Di” if you see me at Shaw’s or out and about town. (Really, “Dr. Diane” is really so formal to me!) Over the course of blogging, I will share my life – its ups and downs, my loves and frustrations, and I hope that you will see that I’m really just your average gal next door… I definitely invite comments and look forward to dialoguing! Let’s make this a fun adventure!

While I had been wanting to blog for a while, I got motivated the other day when I started my own Invisalign treatment – yes, invisible braces! While I’m only on Day 2, I’ve gotten some raised eyebrows after announcing it to parents. “But your front teeth are straight!” or “I don’t get it! Your teeth look great!” I’m flattered but I’ve also been dying to fix parts of my bite that didn’t get fixed completely when I was in braces as a teen. Fortunately I wore my retainers and the correction I have to do is limited, but significant. My “bite” has always felt off…

I’m a firm believer in standing behind what I recommend to my patients. I always thought it was funny that there are so many orthodontists who tell their patients about the benefits of braces when they themselves have crooked teeth or an uncorrected bite. Isn’t that like an overweight, smoking cardiologist telling you to modify your diet to help your heart? Or a dermatologist that is addicted to the tanning beds?? Practice what you preach, I say!

I’m really glad I decided to re-treat – now mostly because I REALLY know what my patients are going through! There are some challenges like remembering how it feels to eat when your teeth are achy, and remembering to put them back in after meals – oops! – I’m going to go brush and wear them right now!!!

Stay tuned… I will be back within a week to let you know my progress, but also the NON-ORTHODONTIC stuff going on – big stuff coming up!! (ps –thanks for reading!)