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At Mark Powell DDS we believe that it is important for all children to visit an orthodontist by the age of 7 or 8 to check for growth guidance, as recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists. It is the philosophy of  Dr. Mark Powell to treat each child as if they're one of his own, and he will recommend the best treatment for your child. Be sure to give us a call to learn more about Mark Powell DDS, and orthodontic treatment options options serving Grand Rapids, Allendale, Grandville, Hudsonville, Zeeland and Jenison, MI. Thank you!

Braces at Mark Powell DDS are more fun than ever! With the Brace Painter, parents and children are able to "paint their braces," and visualize how teeth will look with different colors of bands.

Would you like to try out pink and purple bands this February, without the commitment of an all-out Valentine's Day look? The Brace Painter allows for you to select different colors, and then assign those colors of bands to certain teeth. Now, you can visualize your braces before you even come in for your appointment!

As always, please let Dr. Powell know if you have any questions about the Brace Painter, or your orthodontic treatment at Mark Powell, DDS. Have a great week!

Once you've completed treatment at Mark Powell DDS, we will provide you with retainers. Retainers are designed to hold teeth in their corrected positions until the bones and gums adapt to treatment changes. They provide stabilization and insure that your treatment changes last a lifetime.

Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:
Wear Them! They are only effective if they are in your mouth. Retainers should be worn all the time except when eating or playing contact sports.

Keep Them Clean! Clean all parts of the retainer with your toothbrush and toothpaste. Soak in denture cleaner as needed. It is not necessary to soak your retainer in water when not wearing. Do not boil the retainer to clean.

Handle Them With Care! Retainers are easier to lose than our think. Always place them in your retainer case for safety. Please keep them away from pets and small children. They are expensive to replace. If a retainer becomes lost or broken or does not fit properly please call our office.

Check out this short video from Dr. Mark Powell to learn more about retainers!

Let’s face it- when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year’s resolution? We at Mark L. M. Powell DDS believe the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable. If you haven’t yet picked a New Year’s resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!

For example, resolve to brush twice and floss once a day. Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in your oral health and overall health too! For more oral health-themed resolutions for you and your family, check out this article.

We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2011!

-Happy New Year, from your friends at Dr. Powell's office