California State University Cuts 4 Sports Programs, and How It Affects Students

At Montano Orthodontics, we know that Bakersfield and the rest of California have been hit hard with budget crisis, and we've seen cuts everywhere, especially in education. At California State University Bakersfield, the athletics program is being hit especially hard, with four sports being cut by the end of the 2009-2010 season. Check out the full article in the latest issue of CSUB's The Runner. This is tough news to hear!

-Montano Orthodontics

Smile for a Lifetime Foundation and Ormco Partner to Provide Free Orthodontic Treatment to Underserved Kids in Need In Bakersfield CA

Smile for a Lifetime Foundation announced Tuesday it has signed an exclusive arrangement with Ormco Corp. to help deliver pro bono orthodontic treatment services to underprivileged children throughout the country.

Ormco, a leading manufacturer of innovative orthodontic appliances and supplies, will provide products free of charge to orthodontists affiliated with Smile for a Lifetime to treat underserved children. Smile for a Lifetime is a non-profit organization that works nationally with orthodontists to provide treatment scholarships to underprivileged children whose families would not otherwise be able to afford treatment.

"I'm thrilled to have such a well-respected company like Ormco understand the importance of giving," said David B. Carter, DMD, national president of Smile for a Lifetime. "They are giving back in so many ways: to the lives they will change by sponsoring this charitable foundation and to our profession by helping the public see us as not only health care providers, but also as health care givers. In this, and many other ways, Ormco continues to be a truly visionary company."

Ormco will donate a number of state-of-the-art appliances including the Damon® System, a combination of tie-less braces and high-tech memory archwires that help clinicians treat patients quickly and comfortably. Doctors also will have access to the Simpli5™ express aligner system through Ormco's AOA Orthodontic Laboratory, which manufacturers customized appliances.

In addition, Ormco manufactures Insignia™ advance smile design, a combination of 3-D digital treatment planning software and custom-designed brackets and wires tailored to a patient's specific dental anatomy.

With average treatment fees ranging from $5,000 or more, orthodontia can be financially challenging for many parents. Smile for a Lifetime helps build self-confidence, inspire hope and change the lives of children by providing scholarships for orthodontic treatment in communities around the country. Each year, Smile for a Lifetime reviews hundreds of applicants before selecting those who will receive treatment based on financial need, letters of recommendation, community involvement and special circumstances. To date, the organization has provided more than $2 million in orthodontic care for individuals who cannot afford treatment and may not have other opportunities to acquire assistance.

"Orthodontists affiliated with the foundation donate their services, while this new arrangement with Ormco ensures that the appliances they use will be available without any out-of-pocket expenses," said Dr. Carter.

"Ormco is a recognized leader in orthodontic supplies, ingenuity and education," said Dr. Donald Montano, a long-time Smile for a Lifetime provider and chapter leader in California. "I have been a long-time user of Ormco products and am very pleased to have their support. While I'm happy for their support, I'm also not surprised. It's what great companies do!"

"We are so proud to support the exceptional work that Smile for a Lifetime and their affiliated orthodontists around the country are doing to change the lives of children," said Ken Konopa, Ormco president. "A beautiful smile can literally transform the life of an individual, giving them the confidence they need to pursue their dreams. This isn't just about straightening teeth; it's about giving underserved children a chance at a happier, more successful future."

About Ormco

Celebrating 50 years of providing innovative products and services, Ormco helps orthodontists deliver exceptional clinical results in the least amount of time and with the greatest patient comfort. The company is a subsidiary of Sybron Dental Specialties, Inc., a leading manufacturer of a broad range of value-added products for the dental profession, including the specialty markets of orthodontics, endodontics and implantology, and a variety of infection prevention products for use by the medical profession. For more information, visit www.ormco.com.

About Smile for a Lifetime

Smile for a Lifetime Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization that provides orthodontic care to individuals who may not have the opportunity to acquire assistance. Launched in 2008, Smile for a Lifetime Foundation aims to reach individuals with financial challenges, special situations, and orthodontic needs. The Foundation sponsors the orthodontic care of hundreds of patients each year. For more information, visit www.S4L.org.

A Heartfelt Patient Appreciation Letter for Montano Orthodontics

At Montano Orthodontics, we love to make an impact in a patient's life, whether it is a new smile, renewed self confidence, or just a healthier bite! When we receive feedback from patients like the Kukula family, it makes all our work worthwhile! Be sure to check out the letter, included below:



At times it has felt like Dr. Montano’s office has been a home away from home. I have entrusted him and his staff with not only the care of my smile, but that of my whole family! We are a walking billboard for Dr. Montano’s great work.

Returning to Dr. Montano for each family member has been an easy choice. He and his staff are very friendly and make it a top priority to give thorough explanations of the treatment needed. Just like each member of my family is different, so was each of our treatment plans. Dr. Montano customized our treatment based on our individual needs.

Choosing Dr. Montano and his staff to care for my family was a “painless” decision, both literally and figuratively. I am happy to say we are all very pleased with our fantastic results!

Sincerely,

George, Jan, Geoff & Lauren Kukula

SureSmile – Robotic Braces Featured on the Science Channel

SureSmile’s high tech wires and innovative 3D scanner were featured on the Science Channel last year, and we have found the video on YouTube! The video does a great job of explaining how the system works, and what makes it so much more effective than traditional orthodontic treatment. Check it out, and let us know what you think!

--Montano Orthodontics

Photos from the 2010 SureSmile Conference

Earlier this month Dr. Montano and the clinical team at Montano Orthodontics attended the 2010 SureSmile Conference in Grapevine, Texas. While there, Dr. Montano gave a presentation about SureSmile to other orthodontists, the picture of which is displayed above. We have plenty of fun photos that we just posted on Facebook as well, including a sequence of shots of Dr. Montano riding a mechanical bull at the conference for 22 seconds!

Check them out and let us know what you think!

Montano Orthodontics, helping tackle sports injuries in Bakersfield

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 Montano Orthodontics is helping spread the word that many facial sports injuries can be prevented simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Call us at Montano Orthodontics for an appointment to make a mouth guard for your child today. In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. 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 we is trying to achieve.

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

The Benefits of Being a Schulman Study Group Member, from Dr. Montano

I'm looking forward to one of the most educational and fun weeks of my year. I'm not talking about vacation even though it will be somewhere nice. I'm talking about my annual trek to spend a week of learning and sharing with my colleagues in the Schulman Study Group (SSG). The SSG is one of the most highly regarded Study Groups in North America. It is limited to 125 of the best practices and is by "invitation only" and even then there is a waiting list. I was honored with this distinction 9 years ago and was elected to a 6 year term on the Board of Directors 4 yrs ago. We spend a week together every year learning from one another. Much of what we learn is shared with the orthodontic profession at our national meetings and in our professional journals. This is a demanding group that continually inspires its members to improve in all aspects of our professional and personal lives. Our motto is "SUCCESS THROUGH SHARING".

Last year I presented our newly launched Smile For a Lifetime Foundation on the first day of our meeting. The response was what I expected. Pure enthusiasm and support. Our goal of setting up 25 new Chapters by year end was surpassed with a year end tally of
44 chapters up and running! We have moved beyond that and are now in over 35 states. This, all in less than a year. I am so inspired by my colleagues in the SSG that we stay in contact throughout the year. These are some of the most innovative and technologically advanced orthodontists in North America. Last year's family vacation included a visit to an SSG orthodontist in Calgary, Canada.