The scary and exciting age of multimedia!

Infinite Bandwidth

By Eugene Gan

I want to share with you is an incredible book that I think every parent should read. We are in a scary and exciting age of multimedia and we must embrace it (sorry, you can get the girl out of orthodontics but you can’t get orthodontics out of the girl!). BUT I’m so concerned about our children.. Here are some hard facts discussed in the book:

                                                              i.      The average person spends 5+ hours a day in front of a screen

                                                           ii.      Teens and college students are never “in one place” at a time

                                                         iii.      Constant media use breaks down silence and powers of concentration; creates narcissistic bubbles (ie. only voices of those of my peer group); fosters distraction and superficiality…. YIKES

This book is easy reading and will give you suggestions on how to guide our children to use media in the best and healthiest way possible. It is written from a Catholic perspective but it is not about religion. Don’t let this stop you from reading it…I know you will not be disappointed. I only wish I had read it sooner!

National Facial Protection Month!

April is National Facial Protection Month. Dr. Deb and Dr. Diane want to remind parents, coaches and athletes to wear mouth guards in order to prevent recreation-related mouth and face injuries. In a survey commissioned by the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), 67 percent of parents admitted that their children do not wear mouth guards during organized sports. Last year, The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation predicted that more than 3 million teeth would be knocked out in youth sporting events! Yikes!!
Amherst Orthodontics provides orthodontic mouth guards, made specifically to fit over braces, please let us know if you need one!
Check out this hilarious video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mMTTXbdwT4&feature=g-upl&context=G258365bAUAAAAAAAAAA

22 years of little growing reminders...

February is National Children’s Health Month and for the past 22 out of 25 years, I have been going to area schools teaching the virtues of brushing and flossing. (Di has been sharing this mission with me for 11 years). During my recent visit to Wilkins, I again visited Barb Piotrowski’s classroom. I love chiding her about the fact that she was my 21 year old son’s 1st grade teacher. This year, she proudly informed me that her son, who I started caring for when he was 8 years old, is getting married. He is now almost 28!…touché!... So here is a pic of two ‘old’ ladies who don’t feel old (or look old for that matter!) but have the kids to prove it!

Oh the weather outside...

It wouldn’t be New England without all of these weather changes! Just a few weeks ago we had enough snow to dust off the ol’ sled to be taken on the maiden voyage! Now, here we are mid February and still no more snow! As much as we enjoy not shoveling, we sure would love more sledding! Alas, Spring will be here before we know it and we’ll find more ways to enjoy being outside!

Following in his Mom's footsteps!

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!?

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!

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.