Dr. Guyer in the Niles Daily Star

We are excited to announce that Dr. Edmund Guyer was on the front page of the Niles Daily Star! In the article, Dr. Guyer talked about the Damon Bracket System and how it is more gentle than traditional braces. The paper stated:

"Dr. Ed Guyer, who has been practicing at Main Street Orthodontics in downtown Niles for 23 years, uses the Damon Bracket System when treating his patients. Main Street Orthodontics was one of the first offices in the Midwest to begin using the system about 10 years ago, which has been updated and improved over the years."

"'It’s quite unique,' Guyer said. 'It causes the teeth to move faster with a lot less discomfort to the patient.' Guyer says traditional braces are tied with elastics that cause friction and pressure, while the Damon System uses a mechanism that doesn’t cause that friction."

To read the rest of the article, visit the Niles Daily Star online! If you have any questions about the Damon Bracket System, visit our website or give us a call at the office!

What helps you relax at Main Street Orthodontics?

Dr. Guyer and team understand not everyone enjoys visiting their orthodontist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about Main Street Orthodontics that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly staff or Dr. Guyer?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call!

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here at Main Street Orthodontics, a time when all across the country, the leaves begin to change colors, the air becomes crisp, and families begin to make plans for Thanksgiving.

Today we wanted to ask you, our wonderful patients, "How are you spending your time this fall?" Our team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment within the Niles and St. Joseph areas. We are interested in learning about what makes your community “yours.”

Feel free to post your responses on our Facebook page, or give us a call!

Are you wearing your mouth guard?

Can you believe we're halfway through summer? As the weather gets - and stays - hot here in Michigan, the chances for athletes to sustain a mouth injury get likelier and likelier because of all the sports they play over the summer. Dr. Guyer would like to remind you to always take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports.

That includes wearing a mouth guard at all times when you're out on the field. Only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. And don't forget to ask us for a mouth guard - Dr. Guyer will provide a mouth guard for anyone in active treatment! We hope you're having a GREAT summer!

This summer, be a part of the Braces Brigade!

Thanks to our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists' Braces Brigade campaign, YOU can blog about your experience in braces AND come away with a $100 American Express gift card!

To complete your Braces Brigade application, you'll need to provide the AAO with your:

* Name
* Age – Must be 14 years of age or older
* E-mail
* Phone number
* Stage of orthodontic treatment
* A photo of your braces/smile
* A sample blog post – picture yourself as a member of Braces Brigade and show off those blogging skills! (100-word minimum)

In your blog, you'll (hopefully) answer the following questions:

• Why did you decide to get orthodontic treatment at Main Street Orthodontics?
• What advice would you share with other orthodontic patients?
• What does it feel like to get braces on?
• What foods do you miss the most?
• What new foods have you discovered?
• Do your friends have braces or retainers?
• Where is the first place you’re going to show off your new, beautiful smile?
• How has your new smile changed your life?

Remember, if you're under 18, your parents must fill out a consent form along with your official entry, giving you permission to enter the contest.

We strongly encourage you to apply for the Braces Brigade by August 31! If you get accepted, let us know during your next visit or post on our Facebook page!

Dr. Guyer and Main Street Orthodontics want to know: What do you love about summer?

With summer finally here, Dr. Guyer and our staff at Main Street Orthodontics thought we’d ask: What’s your favorite part about summer? The warm weather we get? The free time you get? Less homework? Spending quality time with friends and family? Grilling barbecue in the backyard?

We'd like to know what makes summer truly special for you. Let us know by posting on our Facebook page!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!!

Tell Main Street Orthodontics: What should we blog about?

As the summer rapidly approaches in Michigan, our team at Main Street Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to orthodontics and your treatment with Dr. Ed Guyer.

To help us continue doing that through the course of the long, hot summer, however, we're looking for your help: What would you like us to focus on our blog in the coming months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Guyer and staff for a while and just haven't found the chance? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook page!

We hope you a relaxing rest of the weekend! See you soon!

Fun facts with Dr. Guyer and Main Street Orthodontics!

At Main Street Orthodontics, we know our patients love fun facts - LOVE THEM. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team thought you would enjoy. Have a great rest of Memorial Day weekend!

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

At Main Street Orthodontics, easy access to your account information!

Access to your account any time you wish sounds pretty great, doesn't it? At Main Street Orthodontics, our wonderful patients may access their accounts 24/7, thanks to a helpful tool called OrthoSesame. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started, and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

"Hey, Dr. Guyer! Which toothbrush should my kid use?"

At Main Street Orthodontics, we'll always tell you that brushing your teeth - even during orthodontic treatment - is one of the easiest methods of cavity prevention. But the question remains: which type of toothbrush should your child use? When choosing a toothbrush, look for round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Choose one that is specifically designed for children's smaller hands and mouths. Also, look for large handles that can help children control the toothbrush. Lastly, throw out a toothbrush after three months or as soon as bristles begin fraying.

As far as which toothpaste is best? It doesn't really as long as it has fluoride in it. However, for small children who tend to swallow toothpaste, do not use fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure to touch each tooth and every side of that tooth. Also, make sure to gently brush on your gums.

To learn more about choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste for your child, we encourage you to read this helpful article from Parenthood.com. Or, you may give us a call at either our Niles or St. Joseph location, and we'll try to answer any question you may have about keeping your child's mouth as healthy as possible!

Ask Main Street Orthodontics: What should I expect during my consultation?

At your initial consultation at Main Street Orthodontics, our team and Dr. Guyer will conduct a comprehensive examination to assess your oral health. This will better enable us to determine the best treatment method for you.

Your orthodontic evaluation will consist of an oral and facial examination to assess your oral health. Dr. Guyer will have you take intraoral and facial photographs as well as panoramic and cephalometric x-rays to help determine the proper orthodontic treatment method. Then, an impression of your teeth and bite will be taken to construct a model of your mouth. (This will help Dr. Guyer when examining your diagnostic records).

At your second appointment, Dr. Guyer will discuss your options with you. Our team feels it’s important to take the time to carefully examine your diagnostic records after your consultation so that Dr. Guyer can more thoroughly prepare for your treatment at Main Street Orthodontics. This additional preparation will ensure that you receive the best orthodontic care possible. At this time, we encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about your treatment.

If you are seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, our staff asks that both you and your child attend the initial consultation. We feel it is important that both you and your child completely understand Dr. Guyer’s recommendations before we proceed with treatment.

Give us a call and schedule a consultation! We look forward to hearing from you!

Don't be fooled! From Dr. Guyer

April 1st is traditionally known as April Fools' Day. Dr. Guyer and our entire team at Main Street Orthodontics would like if you shared a great story about a trick you played, or someone else played on you, on this silliest of days.

Feel free to post them here or on our Facebook page, and stay alert out there today! Lots of pranksters running around!

Talking retainers with Dr. Ed Guyer

If you recently completed treatment with Dr. Guyer, our professional team at Main Street Orthodontics would like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Guyer will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized.

Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes, Dr. Guyer says. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

If you have additional questions about retainers or your treatment here at Main Street Orthodontics, please give us a call at (269) 684-2355. Our staff would love to hear from you!

Wishing you a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day, from Main Street Orthodontics

Dr. Guyer and team hope you remembered to wear green on your way out this morning! Whether Irish or not, millions of people in the U.S. and around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with toasts, parades and "the wearing of the green." Here are some fun facts about St. Patty’s Day our team at Main Street Orthodontics thought you might enjoy:

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17th because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.

• The name “leprechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which simply means “shoemaker.”

• Some American towns have Irish names. They include: Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio and Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia.

• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed in Ireland. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

• St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in Boston, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

Burning Invisalign® questions, with Dr. Ed Guyer

Are you wondering what Invisalign treatment is really like, and what effect it will have on your day-to-day activities? Will it slur your speech? Will people know you're in treatment? You're not alone in your concerns! Dr. Ed Guyer and our professional team thought we’d share this list of questions and answers for anyone pondering Invisalign treatment at Main Street Orthodontics.

How exactly does Invisalign work?

Using 3-D computer imaging technology, Invisalign creates a series of custom-made, clear aligners exclusively for your teeth, based on the treatment plan that we specify for you. Each aligner moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

Will I experience pain during treatment?

Most people experience temporary discomfort for a few days after a new aligner is placed. This feeling of pressure is normal and is a sign that Invisalign is working by sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination.

Can other people see that I'm in treatment?

One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.

Are there any foods I cannot eat while in treatment?

You can eat normally during the entire course of treatment. One of the advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable. Simply take the aligners out before each meal, brush when you're finished eating, then reinsert the aligners afterward.

What about chewing gum?

We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks, as gum and other chewy substances can stick to the aligners.

How often must I wear my aligners?

Aligners should be worn all day, except when eating, brushing, and flossing.

Will my speech be affected by the aligners?

As with any orthodontic treatment, aligners may temporarily affect your speech. If this does happen, your tongue will adjust within a day or two and your speech should return to normal.

How can I clean my aligners?

The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water.

How often must I visit your office during treatment?

For most patients, visits every 4-6 weeks are frequent enough for us to determine that your treatment is progressing properly. Dr. Guyer will provide you with a specific schedule that supports your individual treatment plan.

What are patients saying about Main Street Orthodontics?

Main Street Orthodontics deliver the highest quality orthodontic care in a personalized environment here in Niles and St. Joseph. We make orthodontic treatment fun and enjoyable. Just see what our patients have to say!

"He is very friendly and accessible for any question I may have especially since I am a novice." ~ Betty K.

"The way Dr. Guyer takes his time. Plus he does a good job." ~ Greg D.

"Very up-to-date office. Friendly doctor and staff." ~ Allison C.

"Dr. Guyer seems to care about his patients.Also he takes time to answer any questions that I have." ~ Anthoney W.

Happy Washington's birthday, from Main Street Orthodontics!

Everyone knows George Washington was the first President of the United States and one of our country's founding fathers. But in honor of Washington birthday, we at Main Street Orthodontics thought we'd share a few little-known facts about the man who was known for never telling a lie.

• Washington is the only President inaugurated in 2 cities (New York and Philadelphia)
• Toothaches bothered Washington for years. When he was 57, he had all his teeth pulled. From then on, he wore ivory false teeth. At the time of his inauguration, George Washington had only one tooth.
• Five states were added to the Union during Washington's presidency - North Carolina (1789), Rhode Island (1790), Vermont (1791), Kentucky (1792) and Tennessee (1796).
• At six feet, two inches tall, and 200 pounds, Washington was one of our biggest presidents.
• There were only 13 stars on the United States flag when Washington became President in 1789.

Tackling sports injuries with Dr. Guyer

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 fear is that their child will get hurt while playing organized sports. But 67 percent admitted that their child doesn’t wear a mouth guard during organized sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer. That’s why Main Street Orthodontics is helping spread the word that many facial sports injuries can be prevented simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards.

Did you know mouth guards are one of the least expensive pieces of protective equipment available? Over-the-counter versions may cost as little as $5, although custom-fit mouth guards offer greater protection. Dr. Guyer can recommend the best mouth guard for you. In addition, the AAO has four quick tips for keeping kids safe during sport activities.

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eyewear
• 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. Give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Main Street Orthodontics.

Dr. Guyer wants to know: What do you love about our community?

Main Street Orthodontics, located in Niles and St. Joseph, and serving surrounding communities, is situated around some pretty unique neighborhoods. Each is special with its own personality, created by the people and places (and our fantastic patients) living within.

Today, Dr. Guyer and our team thought we'd ask: What are your favorite things about Niles, St. Joseph or our local communities? Is there a local event you attend every year? Do you have a favorite eatery? Perhaps a favorite Michigan getaway?

Please feel free to share some information about your favorite local hang-outs in Niles or St. Joseph, and everything you love best about “your neck of the woods.” And, who knows, we might post your response on our social networks!

Ask Main Street Orthodontics: When should my child get an orthodontic check-up?

Many parents assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Consequently, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

What’s so great about age seven? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for an orthodontist to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites, and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind, says Dr. Guyer.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age 7, give us a call at Main Street Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.