Smile! June is National Smile Month!

According to the American Dental Association, a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature, which is why it's important for our team at Bronsky Orthodontics to support National Smile Month this June.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Here's a helpful video showing you how to brush with your braces on.

* Floss every day to clean between your teeth.

* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment with Drs. Bronksy, Matos and Moon.

* Visit your general dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call.

Happy Memorial Day!

It's Memorial Day weekend, a time when Americans everywhere stop and remember all those men and women who bravely gave their lives for our country.

Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer 2011, and for many folks in New York City, getting out of town for three days after being cooped up in the office or in the classroom means sweet, sweet relief. At Bronsky Orthodontics, we also know Memorial Day weekend is ripe for travel. After all, it’s a season of vacations, adventures and great memories. Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, hitting the great open roads or hanging out in your backyard this weekend, we want to know about it!

Have a nice and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

Bronsky Orthodontics at the 2011 AAO Annual Session

At Bronsky Orthodontics, we are very proud to serve so many families in our community. Our greatest goal is to help you achieve a healthier, happier, more confident smile. Our team are both lifelong learners and spend countless hours every year to acquire and share the knowledge, skills, and expertise that directly benefits you, a member of our patient family.

One of the ways we provide a “complete” orthodontic treatment experience for our patients is by attending important seminars and conferences. One of these gatherings – the American Association of Orthodontists’ Annual Session in Chicago this weekend- is an educational event that is one of the largest orthodontic conventions in the world – and one that allows us to stay up-to-date on all the latest technologies and orthodontic treatment options available. This, in turn, allows us to give you, our wonderful patients, the best treatment experience possible. Dr. Bronsky will be attending the event this year, which runs from today through Tuesday. We are excited to attend, and look forward to sharing news and photos from the event once we return!

Celebrities get braces, too!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? During this time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Drs. Bronsky, Matos & Moon!

In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces with braces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give us a call.

Happy Earth Day!

Whether lending your helping hand to plant trees or grasses or getting out volunteering in various projects across NYC, today is our opportunity to get involved in making our year-round impact in the community.We want 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?

At Bronsky Orthodontics, we support Earth Day, which marks its 41th anniversary today and 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, try these helpful environmental tips, courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Enjoy!

Dr. Bronsky Meets with MME Consulting

In our continued commitment to patient comfort and orthodontic excellence, our team at Bronsky Orthodontics places a great deal of emphasis on staying at the cutting edge of technology and communication. The orthodontic technologies we use, and our website and social networks are all examples of this. Recently, Dr. Bronsky met with the MME Consulting team from California, who have recently partnered with us to overhaul and upgrade our office computer system. We are excited about the recent upgrades, and continuing to provide the highest level care to you, our patients.

Happy Friday everyone!

The Braces Glossary: Your Guide to Brackets, Bands, and More!

If you ever sustain damage to your braces and need to call Bronsky Orthodontics, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.



Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Congratulations to our iPod Winner!

Congratulations to May Wyeth for being the winner of a new iPod Nano! Thank You everyone who participated in celebrating National Children's Dental Health Month and "liking" our office. Look to our blog for upcoming contests and a chance to win more!

Connect with the Braces Brigade!

At Bronsky Orthodontics, our patients want to get as much out of their treatment as possible. That includes asking a lot of questions and making sure they take care of both their appliances and oral health.

Would you like to learn more about what to expect during orthodontic treatment, from someone with firsthand experience? Well, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently developed the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. The blog will serve as a source of guidance for others as the patients undergo orthodontic care.

Our team at Bronsky Orthodontics encourages you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

One in four parents says their child has had an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO. That why the doctors and team at Bronsky Orthodontics of uptown and TriBeCa thought February—also known as National Children’s Dental Health Month—would be a great time to remind our patients to be mindful of their braces and teeth while playing sports. Here are a few tips to stay safe on the field this spring, courtesy of the AAO:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our Park Avenue or TriBeCa offices today. Finally, don't forget about our iPod Nano giveaway going on all month long! Stay safe and have fun!

At Bronsky Orthodontics, easy access to your account information

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at our offices In Park Avenue and TriBeCa enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. 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 website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here for us at Bronsky Orthodontics, and now that Halloween is passed, we bet you and your families have begun 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 across Manhattan. 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!

Relax, You're at Bronsky Orthodontics!

At Bronsky Orthodontics and TriBeCa Orthodontics we have the best orthodontists and staff in the New York City area. All three of our orthodontists have exceptional educational history and upbeat, caring and devoted personalities (as well as pony tails). Our rock and roll atmosphere helps to keep our patients at ease at each visit and our iPads maintain our paperless/green ideals as well as provide entertainment for our patients.

We provide a friendly and hospitable environment from the moment our patients check-in with our scheduling coordinators all the way to their adjustment appointments with our certified clinical assistants and orthodontists. Dr. Bronsky’s extra education in dental deformities helps span our practices knowledge and abilities to handle all patient behaviors and structural disharmonies. The love that Dr. Bronsky, Dr. Matos and Dr. Moon share for orthodontics is proven in their every day camaraderie to give each patient the best care available in New York!

Oh, and don’t forget to take some organic chocolate chip cookies on your way out.

The Importance of Oral Care

Daily oral care is a very important routine each day. Patients that are undergoing orthodontic treatment should be even more diligent with their oral care routine not only to make their mouth’s healthier but also to help make treatment move faster. We always suggest that each patient flosses at least once per day and brushes 2 to 3 times per day. For patients with retainers we also suggest that the retainers are cleaned with liquid soap and water every night or every morning to avoid bacterial buildup.

To help aid our patients with their best flossing and brushing techniques, we have added several YouTube videos that show animations of the appropriate oral hygiene techniques. These can be found by visiting our YouTube link on our website.

Our new Backstage Pass program was developed to reward our patients for practicing excellent oral hygiene and compliance throughout treatment. Patients can receive reward points for attending their 6 month oral hygiene appointments and dental exams, properly wearing their prescribed appliances (headgear or elastics as requested), maintaining clean and healthy gums (result from brushing and flossing) and much more!

We cannot over-emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy gums and teeth during and after orthodontic treatment to allow for a long-lasting, stable, and healthy mouth and body.

October is National Dental Hygiene Month!

October is not only Breast Cancer Awareness month and the National Orthodontic Health Month but its also National Dental Hygiene Month. We want to remind our patients to return to their dentist’s office for their scheduled oral hygiene (dental cleaning) appointments regardless of your orthodontic status. Hygiene appointments allow the hygienist to do a deep cleaning to help wash away bacteria that can accumulate in the mouth. At many hygiene appointments, radiographs (X-rays) may also be taken to help dental practitioners check for cavities or other underlying issues.

So if you haven’t seen your hygienist in a while, give them a call and schedule a cleaning to get a healthier mouth and body. Do it for the “health” of it!

Braces-Friendly Halloween Recipes Every Person Will Love

We all know Halloween is just around the corner and as much as we love the holiday we have to remind our patients to avoid chewy/sticky candy. If you are having a sweet teeth check out our “Recipes” section of the website so that you can create some of your own treats or just stop on by for a chocolate chip cookie in the reception area.

Here are a few fun recipes for all of you chocolate, Jello, apple, or peanut butter lovers.

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters with braces. These treats can potentially cause damage that may prolong treatment. This is why the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is providing tips for trick-or-treaters with braces. Learn about which treats are friendlier to braces and which ones should be avoided. A few sweets can be okay occasionally, provided that the orthodontic patient remembers to brush and floss after eating. Below are guidelines for orthodontic patients so that they can enjoy the holiday and still be on pace to achieve their healthy, beautiful smiles.

Braces-Friendly Treats

In general, orthodontic patients should look for foods that are soft and easy to chew. Soft, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates Peanut butter cups Milk shakes Gelatin Peeled, thinly sliced apples Ice cream.


Treats To Avoid

In general, orthodontic patients should avoid treats that are sticky, hard, chewy or crunchy. Caramel Nuts (including candies that contain nuts) Licorice, jellybeans or taffy Hard pretzels Bubblegum Candy corn Lollipops Popcorn (including un-popped kernels) Taco chips Ice.

The AAO encourages orthodontic patients to consult with their orthodontist if they have specific questions or concerns pertaining to the types of foods that they should avoid.

Here Comes the Good Stuff!

Now that you know the dos and don'ts, here are some fantastic recipes, courtesy of the AAO, perfect not only for the child with braces, but EVERY child! That way, no one will feel left out this Halloween, and your party will be a monster success!

PUMPKIN PATCH BROWNIES

Ingredients: 1 box of favorite instant brownie mix 1 bag candy pumpkins 1 tube green decorating gel 1 tube orange decorating gel

Directions: Follow brownie mix package directions and bake in a 9" by 13" pan. Cool for 20 minutes; remove from dish.

To create a pumpkin patch, place pumpkin candies one inch apart all over surface. Draw lines (vines) with green gel and accent with orange gel as desired.

SCARY JIGGLERS*

Ingredients: 2-1/2 cups boiling water (Do not add cold water.) 2 pkg. gelatin (any flavor, but we recommend Orange, Grape or Lime for Halloween) Halloween shape cookie cutters - If serving to small children, perhaps consider using smaller cookie cutters to make bites more manageable.

Directions: Stir boiling water into gelatin in large bowl 3 minutes until completely dissolved. Pour into 13x9-inch pan. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or until firm (gelatin does not stick to finger when touched). Dip bottom of pan in warm water about 15 seconds. Cut into 24 decorative shapes using 2-inch cookie cutters, making sure to cut all of the way through the gelatin to the bottom of the pan. Remove from pan. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.
DO NOT swallow scary jigglers whole.

*Adapted from the Kraft Foods Kitchen

APPLES AND SPICE COBBLER*

Ingredients: 4-6 large Granny Smith, MacIntosh or other tart, firm apples 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1 10 inch round layer of pie crust (store bought is fine) 1-2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons sugar

Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. In a small bowl, combine the sugars, salt, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a large bowl, toss the apple slices and the dry ingredients together, then sprinkle in the vanilla extract and toss one more time. Pour the apples into a buttered round cake pan or pie pan, pat the surface as level as possible and dot with butter. Unroll the chilled pie dough onto a floured work surface and cut out a face like you would on a Jack-o-lantern, removing the excess dough where you cut out the eyes, nose and mouth. Carefully roll the dough up onto a rolling pin and unroll it over the apple filling. Brush the dough lightly with milk and sprinkle with additional 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until apples are tender and bubbling through the holes in the crust and crust is golden browned. Serve warm by spooning out a portion with a large serving spoon into dessert bowls and top with whipped cream or ice cream. Makes 4-6 servings.

*Courtesy of Celebrity Pastry Chef Gale Gand

PEANUT BUTTER EYEBALLS*

Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter, completely softened 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 1/2 cups toasted rice cereal (like Rice Krispies) 12 ounces of white chocolate 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Food coloring - two colors

Directions: Combine the butter, powdered sugar, and peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until well combined. (If you have no mixer, this can be done by hand). Then mix in the toasted rice cereal. Using your hands, form into 1/2-ounce balls (the size of a large marble) and refrigerate until firm (about 1 hour). Place the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt, adding vegetable oil partway through. After all chocolate is melted, stir until smooth. Dip the balls, one at a time into the melted white chocolate mix, using a fork to roll them around so they are entirely coated then remove them from the chocolate and set on a waxed paper lined sheet pan. Chill to set up about 30 minutes. Separate remaining white chocolate into two bowls and add 1-2 drops of food coloring each to tint each bowl a different color. Reheat chocolate if necessary and, using a small spoon, place a dollop of the colored chocolate on the eyeball to make an iris. Use a smaller drop of the contrasting color for the pupil. Let the chocolate set, place balls in individual mini muffin papers and serve. Makes 36 balls.

*Courtesy of Celebrity Pastry Chef Gale Gand

The Importance of Straight Teeth

The importance of straight teeth goes beyond cosmetics. With straight teeth and a correct bite, each patient has a healthier body and a brighter smile. It has been proven that a healthy mouth aids in the long term maintenance of a healthy body and also prevents infections and other mouth related issues such as periodontal disease and decay. Mouth related problems have also been shown to play a role in both heart disease and diseases of the brain (such as Alzheimers and Dementia). Many adults are unaware that straight teeth result in a healthier bite, gums, and bones. Orthodontics helps to provide more ideal oral infrastructure, thereby making the body healthier from the inside out!

Questions? Ask us by leaving a comment here, or calling our office!

The Importance of Continuing Education at Bronsky Orthodontics

Dr. Bronsky, his Office Manager, Diana, Treatment Coordinator, Janessa, and Scheduling Coordinator, Heather have recently taken a series of courses on optimizing the patient experience at our offices. At this three day series of courses in Washington, DC, the seminars focused on efficiency in the office setting, enhancing communication systems with our patients and their doctors, implementation of full staff training programs to stay on the leading edge of technology and all that it has to offer an orthodontic practice.

Specifically, we gleaned useful information on making our website and associated systems (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) to aid in patient communication and education. We are happy to say that in a few short months since these seminars, we are on course and enjoying the implementation of all that we learned!

It is our goal to pass the value of continuing education courses like these to our patients in the form of superb orthodontic treatment!

Exploring NYC with Bronsky Orthodontics

We feel blessed to have two great locations to conveniently serve our patients. So this week, we thought it would be fun to highlight all the places to see after your next appointment at either of our offices. Be sure to share with us any other destinations you think we may have missed!

When you come to visit our Uptown Park Avenue location, in one day you can stop by the Regency Hotel for the best breakfast in Manhattan, run over to Barneys to pick up a quick outfit for the weekend, run, walk or lounge in Central Park to take a break, stop by the Apple store to buy a new iPod or iPad, walk across the street to the Plaza Hotel for high tea in the afternoon, then stop at Tiffany’s to buy a gift for a loved one or yourself and don’t forget to make reservations for a fancy bite of pasta at Gino’s Italian restaurant before you go to a show!

If you stop by our TriBeCa location, you can wakeup to the best coffee and breakfast in downtown at Kaffee 1668, plan for lunch at the fabulous Tribeca Grill or walk to the famous Odeon restaurant if you are in the mood to walk on the French side. We always suggest you walk down Wall Street to see how the stock market is doing, pay your respects to the World Trade Center, have some dinner in the nice cobble stone Meatpacking District and then head over to SOHO so that you can shop until you drop.