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Calling all artists!

“The human brain is built for art appreciation.”  The Wall Street Journal reports it’s a “natural biological process.”


The Modern Orthodontist (Dr. Schnepper and team) is calling all artists to create a piece of art  for our 2016 Calendar.

How cool would it be to have your art work displayed in our annual TMO calendar?  All submissions will be included. If you are selected to be featured on one of the months, not only will you win a prize, but you will also get enough calendars to give to all your classmates.

Please make sure you create your art (all medias accepted!) on a 8×10 page in landscape format. You can either bring it by the office or email it to vicki@themodernorthodontist.com

Because art is great for the brain and because your brain is used every single day, makes perfect sense that Dr. Schnepper would want to encourage that relationship and help you feel inspired and your art appreciated by being published in the TMO calendar!  It’s such a great feeling and experience to see your “work” displayed in such a fun and useful format.

I say we listen to the Wall Street Journal and get our art on!

calendars 2016 with kid

Stop in or call for more details!  The Modern Orthodontist 2702 NE 78th St. Vancouver, Wa 98665 360-260-5113


The Mysterious World of Orthodontic Insurance Including Delta Dental!

Confused about insurance for your orthodontist? You’re not alone. Many insurance companies, such as Delta, have a list of participating providers. If you go to a provider listed in your network you can usually save on your out of pocket costs. Some insurance companies offer PPO (preferred provider organization), a lower level participating provider which is not PPO, and non-PPO benefit levels. Each employer chooses their benefit level with the insurance company. The in-network providers have a separate agreement with each insurance company on the maximum they are allowed to charge for each service. Many of our patients save $300+ more than a patient who is not in a participating insurance.

Not all plans pay a different fee for non-PPO providers. Many insurance companies will pay the same benefit regardless of the provider status. 

The Modern Orthodontist participates in Aetna, Delta Dental Premier, Delta Dental PPO, Delta Dental Preferred, United Concordia, Cigna radius, Regence, and Guardian networks.  

We have an in office Insurance Coordinator, Levon, who will help navigate your questions regarding your insurance and will directly work with the insurance company to obtain your benefit for you.

Now on to the part of orthodontic insurance that differs from almost any other insurance benefit

-Orthodontic treatment is nearly always a lifetime benefit and does not renew yearly. It is usually separate from the dental benefit but may include some oral surgery procedures.

-The orthodontic insurance benefit is commonly a set dollar amount with a percentage.  The insurance will pay for the % of treatment up to the lifetime maximum dollar amount whichever is less. For example if your benefit is $1500 at 50% and your treatment fee is $400 it will pay 50% or $200.  But if your treatment is $3000 or more, no matter how high the fee, the maximum you will receive is $1500. 

-Nearly all insurance companies will make an initial payment when the appliances are placed then make payments over the length of treatment. They do this because the adjustment visits are not performed all at once. This means that if you lose or cancel your insurance before treatment is finished you may lose a portion of your benefit. Always check with your provider before canceling your insurance.

-Also some orthodontic benefits have a longer waiting period. So although you may have met the wait period for general dental benefits you may have to wait 6-12months longer before your orthodontic insurance benefit will begin making payments.

-If you have two orthodontic insurances, there is a coordination of benefits that has to be checked to see how the benefits will work together. Usually the birthday rule applies meaning whoever’s birthday is first in the year not which is older. If you are lucky they will coordinate and you will get the full benefit from both insurance companies.


What is Acceledent

What is AcceleDent® Aura?

Developed by OrthoAccel® Technologies, Inc., Leader in Accelerated Orthodontics, AcceleDent Aura is a simple-to-use, hands-free device designed for faster orthodontic treatment with only 20 minutes daily use.

It’s Fast.

  • Clinically proven to move teeth up to 50% faster in a U.S. clinical trial.1

It’s Safe.

  • Cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and available only by prescription from your orthodontist.1

It’s Gentle.

  • AcceleDent patients have reported reduced discomfort with their orthodontics.1

References: 1. Data on file.  

 

AcceleDent® Aura Components:

Activator only

 

Activator
The heart of AcceleDent Aura, the small, lightweight Activator generates gentle micropulses to accelerate bone remodeling. It includes a USB interface, which can be plugged directly into a computer to view patient usage history via the FastTrac Report.

 

 

 

 

Mouthpiece only

 

Mouthpiece
Provides a comfortable fit and snaps easily on and off the Activator for transport and cleaning.

 

 

Power Adaptor and Cable wide

 

USB extension cable with power adapter
Allows for easy, convenient charging.

 

 

 

AcceleDent Aura Travel-Case

 

 

Travel Case
Keeps the components safe, clean and secure.


How Acceledent works

By inserting the mouthpiece fitted around your existing orthodontics and wearing the activator for 20 minutes everyday, AcceleDent Aura can speed up tooth movement through the use of SoftPulse Technology®. Faster tooth movement may decrease the duration of your orthodontic treatment and may help to make your orthodontics more comfortable.

Check out our Use & Care Videos to see it in action.


AcceleDent Aura Speeds Orthodontic Treatment

  • Exclusive SoftPulse Technology® applied precisely calibrated micropulses to gently accelerate the movement of your teeth as they are guided by your orthodontics.
  • Safe acceleration of the bone remodeling process complements conventional orthodontic treatment.
  • Clinically proven to move teeth up to 50% faster. 1

SoftPulse Technology Illustration

 

AcceleDent Aura is Approved by FDA

  • AcceleDent has been prescribed to thousands of patients worldwide, since its introduction in 2009.
  • Cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and available only by prescription from your orthodontist.

AcceleDent Aura Helps Make Orthodontics More Comfortable

  • SoftPulse Technology® micropulses are gentle and exert up to 8x less force than a power toothbrush.
  • These micropulses can also help make your orthodontic treatment more comfortable.

Aura vs Sonic

References: 1. Data on fileOral-B® is a registered trademark of Proctor & Gamble.


Check out our office…

What makes us “The Modern Orthodontist?” In part, it is Dr. Schnepper’s passion for art. She designed the office to look like a modern art museum. Throughout the office, we proudly display the art of local artists and students from the Vancouver School District.

We are also dedicated to providing the most up-to-date technology and treatment techniques. We have a 3D x-ray machine. By using this machine, we can take one image to create 2 x-rays, which reduces radiation exposure. The 3D x-ray also shows exactly how a tooth is situated in three dimensions, so we can see problems that might not be visible in the old 2D x-rays.

We use Damon brackets. These brackets have doors that hold the wire in. Since they don’t use the old style color ties, they have less friction and the teeth move easier. Although old ties get stretched out, the doors on Damon brackets do not, which means that they only need to be adjusted every 8-10 weeks instead of 6 every weeks. This can save up to 4 appointments over a 2 year treatment. Color ties sit against the teeth and create a place for plaque to hide. Damon brackets don’t have ties so it’s much easier to keep teeth clean.

We place brackets using an indirect bonding tray. We take an impression and then create a model. Dr. Schnepper then places the brackets on the model in the exact position needed for treatment. A tray is made that holds the brackets and all the brackets are bonded at one time. This means you don’t have to hold your mouth open as each individual bracket is placed. It’s more accurate for us and much more comfortable for you.

For patients who don’t want to wear braces we offer aligner treatment such as Invisalign or Orchestrate. For patients who have molars that are not in the ideal Class I position we have appliances that are worn in the mouth. This means no cumbersome headgear strap going around your head. We also offer Acceledent, an appliance which can speed up treatment time by 30-50%.

Our entire staff takes continuing education classes to keep up to date on new techniques and products so we can offer the best choices to our patients. All of us at the modern orthodontist strive to grow as professionals as our practice grows.

We combine modern technology with skillful artistry to provide you with the beautiful smile you deserve. It is our vision to provide this valuable service with an experience that wows you every step of the way.


Community Involvement

We love being a part of our community and participate in many different ways. In 2011, we created a Partners in Education program to support our local schools and help them with their budget cuts. For each patient that begins full treatment, we donate $100 to their school. We sponsor our patients’ sports teams, biking teams, art programs, fundraising efforts, and trips. We also donate gift baskets to various school auctions.

We put on a fall and spring art show for the Vancouver Schools. We display the students’ art and have an evening art show. The students set their prices and receive the full payment for any pieces that sell. Our spring show featuring 7 local middle schools is the largest art show showcasing middle school student’s art.

We have Girl Scouts come to our office for a tour and set up a variety of fun interactive stations. We review proper brushing and oral hygiene, nutrition, what an orthodontist is and have an fun art project. The troop also get make plaster molds of their fingers and have the opportunity to receive an orthodontic screening. We also discuss women owned businesses. Every member of the troop receives a dental health badge and is sent home with a healthy snack and a goodie bag of oral hygiene supplies.

During dental health month, we visit schools to do a visual demonstration on dental health and orthodontics. During the demonstration, we discuss what an orthodontist does, fun tooth facts and how to care for your teeth. We also discuss healthy eating and what schooling is required to become an orthodontist.

It is our goal to be more than just a place to get braces. We want to help make our community the best it can be!


Braces food list

Each time a bracket is broken it can mean longer time in treatment.  Avoiding some foods or eating them differently can prevent broken appliances get you out of braces faster. Here are some things to think about to help your treatment go smoothly.

THE HARD CRUST OF PIZZA is the best part, and the place where bent wires start. Cut up the crust and eat with a fork.

HARD ROLLS, BAGELS, & PRETZELS knock off brackets and wires so leave them alone.

DORITOS, CHEETOS, FRITOS, HARD TACOS and all the rest will make your braces a mess.

POPCORN at movies is fun to eat, but avoid the “un-popped” as loose brackets are no treat.

BEEF JERKY & SLIM JIMS are fun to eat, but for wrecking your braces their hard to beat.

RIBS & MEAT on the BONE are destructive so leave them alone! Cut the meat off the bone to eat it.

CORN ON THE COB is a treat, but cut the corn off the cob before you eat.

RAW CARROTS, APPLES, and rabbits go together well, but the damage it causes is easy to tell. Cut those hard foods into small, thin bites instead of biting into the whole food.

SUCKERS AND JOLLY RANCHERS are always a sweet delight, but damage your braces with every bite.

CARAMEL CANDY, TAFFY, & Ju-Ju BEANS are known to be great, but broken braces just don’t rate.

NUTS are hard on braces so keep them away from your faces.

PENS & PENCILS are food for thought, but in your mouth they belong not.

ICE is nice in the summer heat, but with braces you must avoid this hard treat.

Remember the rule of food – HARD AND CRUNCHY or STICKY/CHEWY need to be avoided.

Eating these foods will break braces, causing delays in both treatment time and improvement of faces. So please help yourself by watching what you eat. Be creative and you can still have many of your favorite treats.  You can always refer back to your braces food list during your treatment.


Top 10 reasons to choose The Modern Orthodontist

We think you’ll love our office and staff.  Here are the top 10 reasons our patients choose The Modern Orthodontist

1. Our experienced doctor is a Certified Specialist in Orthodontics with two years additional training following dental school and is committed to ongoing continuing education for herself and her staff.

2. We respect and focus on the individual needs of each and every patient including quality care, evening and Friday appointments, and after-hours comfort visits. We are committed to encouraging exceptional oral hygiene promoting long-term dental health.

3. Our friendly and personable staff is highly experienced. Patients appreciate the talent and skill level of our certified orthodontic assistants and their dedication to communication of ongoing progress throughout treatment.

4. A warm and inviting environment at our modern office located within two miles of I-5 and I-205.

5. Patient Rewards program that offers a wide variety of prizes in addition to exciting monthly interactive contests.

6. Active participation in the local community through our Partners in Education Program as well as support of youth theater and team sports.

7. Artwork featuring local artists and patient art as well as a unique art and puzzle station for our patients and families.

8. State-of-the-art office featuring sterilization area with strict adherence to sterilization protocols.

9. 3D digital radiographs to reduce radiation concerns and cutting-edge paperless patient records to increase efficiency and minimize our carbon footprint.

10. Payment plans that fit every budget because everyone deserves a beautiful smile.


Quinoa and Black Bean salad

quinoa

 

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad, Original recipe makes 10 servings.

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1  onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
  • 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

  1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned.
  2. Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.
  3. Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro.

Parmesan Chicken Recipe

parmchicken

Original recipe makes 5 servings        

  • 1/2 cup  dried bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup  grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1  egg, beaten
  • 5  skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. In a medium bowl mix together the bread crumbs, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Dip chicken breasts in egg, then in bread crumb mixture to coat. Place coated chicken in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until juices run clear, turning over chicken 5 minutes before removing from oven.

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