What do you love about Drake Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to Drake Orthodontics our doctor and team strives to provide our patients with superior treatment in the most comfortable atmosphere possible. Dr. Donald Drake is a board certified Orthodontist, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, and American Board of Orthodontics. This means that Dr. Drake and our team specialize in correcting all kinds of bite problems and straightening teeth.

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You may write a review of Drake Orthodontics here. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page.

We look forward to hearing your story!

-The team at Drake Orthodontics

Ask Dr. Drake: Why is it so important to have straight teeth?

Some people wonder why Sioux Falls, SD orthodontist Dr. Drake and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Drake Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Drake can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Tackling kids' sport safety with Drake Orthodontics

Let’s face it: sports-related injuries are common among children, let alone teens with braces. In a recent survey, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, discovered that 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. But 67 percent admitted that their child doesn’t wear a mouth guard when participating in organized sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer. That’s why Drake Orthodontics is helping spread the word that many facial sports injuries can be prevented simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Dr. Drake will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment. In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field this spring. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Drake is trying to achieve.

Give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Drake Orthodontics.

Ask Dr. Drake: What can invisalible aligners do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how treatment with invisible aligners is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about invisible aligners with Drake Orthodontics than you may know. Imvisible aligners are a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisible aligners are removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone

If you have any questions about invisible aligners, just ask Dr. Drake the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Ask Dr. Drake: What’s so bad about nail biting?

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? Recently, our team at Drake Orthodontics found an interesting article that discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, also known as Onychophagia, is a common habit among various age groups, including primarily children, teens and young adults. Nail biting is generally triggered by stress and most often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, as well as unhealthy for your teeth!

Here’s why:

• It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.
• No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.
• Braces don’t love it either. Braces already put pressure on teeth, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure, further stressing your teeth and weakening their roots.
• It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it?

Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation. Ask Dr. Drake or visit the article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!

Your friends at Drake Orthodontics

Smile wider, live longer, from Drake Orthodontics

Folks with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Dr. Drake 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 Drake Orthodontics on a regular basis? If not, give us a call!

Regular checkups are essential in maintaining good oral health, from Dr. Drake

Are you brushing your teeth twice a day during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Drake? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your dentist every six months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting Drake Orthodontics, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health.

Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam your dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in the Sioux Falls and Mitchell, South Dakota areas!