What is your New Year’s Resolution?

The 2010 holiday season is upon us, and our team at Bronsky Orthodontics would like to wish all our patients and their families the merriest of holidays and best wishes for the New Year.

We thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, from all of us at Bronsky Orthodontics!

Season’s Greetings from Bronsky Orthodontics

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as the team at Bronsky & TriBeCa Orthodontics reflects on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2010? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm!

Smile wider, live longer, from Bronsky 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. We have 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 Bronsky Orthodontics? If not, give us a call!

A Word on Dental X-Rays and Their Safety

You may have noticed the article in the New York Times a few weeks back entitled "Radiation Worries for Children in Dentists’ Chairs". The article discusses the use of x-rays and radiation in dental and orthodontic offices. Newer technologies, such as the 3D CT machines, are touted as safer, but as this article suggests, there are emerging concerns regarding their safety.

FIRST AND FOREMOST--- We do NOT own or use the 3-D CT x-ray machines in our office! While the Cone Beam (3-D CT) X-Ray units are very helpful in certain situations, we only own and operate the LOWEST DOSAGE/HIGHEST RESOLUTION standard digital orthodontic radiographs that exist today. Our PlanMeca X-Ray machines (manufactured outside of Helsinki, Finland) are so well designed that patients don’t even need a lead X-Ray shield (though we use the shields regardless). Safety, comfort, and exemplary results are our main concerns and we are proud to say that our concern for our patients and their radiographic (X-Ray) safety has already been woven into our treatment systems. NO NEED TO WORRY—we are ON IT and always have been. Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns, we are happy to help!