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!

Invisalign: How, exactly, does it work? [Video]

Perhaps you've thought about how Invisalign treatment at Main Street Orthodontics manages to straighten your teeth without using metallic traditional braces? Invisalign is a state-of-the-art system of clear, removable aligners that we proudly offer at our convenient locations in Niles and St. Joseph.

Not only are the aligners invisible, they're also removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor's office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

Dr. Ed Guyer, who happens to be a certified Invisalign provider, also provides plenty of resources on our website about Invisalign, or give us a call to learn if this revolutionary new treatment option is right for you!

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone!

Dr. Guyer and team want to know: what are your Independence Day weekend plans?

Like most Americans, our staff at Main Street Orthodontics will celebrate America's 234th birthday next Sunday.

Today, we thought we'd ask: what are you planning for the Fourth of July weekend? Are you heading to a barbecue? Hitting the open road with family? Are you planning on using fireworks to light up the night sky?

Whatever you and your family end up doing over Independence Day weekend, we hope you have a fantastic Fourth of July weekend!

See you all next week!

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!!

More happy patients at Main Street Orthodontics!

Our team at Main Street Orthodontics (as well as Dr. Guyer) love getting patient testimonials from current and former patients at our Niles and St. Joseph offices. Here are a few reviews we received recently - our patients like us and we love our patients!

"The personable environment of the entire office." ~ Danyzk T.

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

"We really liked Dr. Guyer and we feel very confident in the treatment plan that he recommended would be best." ~ Connor F.

"Dr. Guyer is very polite. I have the impression that he has his patients' best interests at heart. He's an excellent orthodontist, and loves what he does!" ~ Carlos N.

"He is very friendly and was very informative when I had questions and the office has a very friendly atmosphere." ~ Cynthia S.

"What I like best is that they work with your schedules." ~ Elizabeth M.

Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office!

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.

Share your experience at Main Street Orthodontics with the world!

Dr. Ed Guyer has been practicing orthodontics in Michigan for over 20 years. He understands the needs and expectations of his patients, and is dedicated to working with you and your family to achieve the healthy, beautiful smile you want!

We cater to people, not teeth! Our practice works hard to make your experience as comfortable, convenient, and rewarding as possible.

Whether you have visited Main Street Orthodontics for weeks or months, we'd love to hear your feedback about Dr. Guyer and our team. Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us on our Google Local page. It only takes a moment!

You may write a review here.

Thank you and have a great weekend! We really look forward to reading your reviews!

Main Street Orthodontics want to know: Did you change the world today?

At Main Street Orthodontics, we support Earth Day. Whether lending our helping hands to plant trees or grasses or getting out to volunteer in various projects around St. Joseph or Niles, today was our opportunity to get involved in making our year-round impact in the community. Dr. Guyer wants to know: Did you make a difference today? Tell us, what Earth Day-related activities did you accomplish? How long have you participated in helping our community and planet?

Earth Day, which today marks its 40th anniversary, is designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment and ecosystem. If you’d like to join the millions of people around the world who are making small but important changes to help sustain our ecosystem, we encourage you to try these helpful environmental tips, courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Have a great rest of the week everyone!

-- The staff at Main Street Orthodontics

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!

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.

The great social media adventure, with Main Street Orthodontics

Isn’t social media great? The team at Main Street Orthodontics love communicating with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our Facebook fan page. For social media to work, conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social media is hugely popular these days, it is unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Guyer and team are taking a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our "in-the-know" patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share? Send us your thoughts or give us a call!

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.

The Damon System at Main Street Orthodontics: Better Results in Less Time

A lot of our patients, (especially you parents!) come to Dr. Guyer convinced that traditional braces are the only answer to straight teeth. Here at Main Street Orthodontics, we offer the Damon System, a revolutionary new braces system that can give you better results in less time!

Some questions you're probably asking yourself include:

Am I right for the Damon System?

Main Street Orthodontics will evaluate your eligibility for the Damon System, and the procedure can be performed for children and adults alike!


What makes Damon braces better?

Probably the biggest advantage of Damon braces over traditional brackets is the amount of time and effort involved. Main Street Orthodontics can often cut months off of the total treatment time for patients using the Damon System, and less visits to our office are necessary to make adjustments.

In addition, the Damon System brackets are:

• Cleaner- Damon brackets don’t have the elastic of traditional brackets, and are less prone to all the plaque buildup that your dentist warns you about!
• Discreet- Damon braces are smaller and have fewer parts than traditional brackets, making them less noticeable and more comfortable.
• No tightening- With the Damon system, Dr. Guyer can position your teeth and avoid frequent adjustments. This also reduces the need for complicated tooth extractions or surgery.

If you have been thinking about an orthodontic procedure, contact the team at Main Street Orthodontics for an assessment to see if the Damon System is right for you!