Race for the Cure

It's that time of year again where wearing PINK is a must!  We are excited to announce our involvement in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  This is the fourth year our office has done this as a team and we are hoping to make it our biggest year yet! 

We would love to have you as part of our team!  To sign up click here.

Also, as part of the excitement we are incorporating our contest into this years fun!  We need ideas for our costumes for the Race.  Take a picture in your craziest pink outfit and post it to our Facebook wall or tag us in the photo.

You can dress yourself up...

You can dress your dog up:

You can dress your dad up:

Just send us your ideas!  The winner receives a $35 dollar gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods!!!

*If you don't have a facebook just bring your picture into the office and we'll put it up for you.

UTAH VS BYU RIVALRY

The month of November means the annual "Holy War" between Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.  Come to your appointment with your team colors on and receive an extra ruble!  The contest this month will be to guess the score of the game.  The person who comes the closest to the real score will receive a $15.00 gift certificate to the college bookstore of their choice!

"Would Your Rather?" Contest and Celebration Videos!

   

Would you rather have really stinky feet or a snort every time you laughed? Would you rather be the bull rider or the clown? Would you rather eat a bottle of ketchup or mustard?  How about a whole bucket of peanut butter with nothing to drink or 10 lbs of cheese?

Would you rather win the game "Would You Rather?" or a gift certificate to Target for $15? Either way you'll be a winner if you're chosen for this month's fun contest of "Would You Rather" questions!  Enter in the office!



And just for your enjoyment we are attaching a video of some great patients dancing it up to CELEBRATE the day they got their braces off!

And this is cute Francie who couldn't be happier about her beautiful new smile!

Patient Appreciation Summer Party!

We had such a great time at our annual Patient Appreciation Party!  We loved going to the movies with our wonderful patients and hope all of those that participated has as much fun as we did! 

More Updates on Haiti

Dr. Richards is being featured by "Our South Valley" for his volunteer work in Haiti.  To see the full story click here.

IASK and Helping in Haiti

Dear Patients and Parents:

In about four weeks my 16 year-old son, Drew, and I will join with about 30 other healthcare providers on a medical/dental humanitarian trip to the impoverished country of Haiti. For years I have wanted to get involved with a humanitarian aid volunteer organization, but like many others, let the busyness of life get in the way of that goal. When this opportunity to participate with International Aid Serving Kids (IASK) presented itself, I just couldn't let it pass by.

I wanted to let you know about my involvement with IASK because I believe that many of you might be interested in being involved in such a worthwhile cause. While we have all been affected by these tough economic times, for the most part, we are all very blessed with food, clothing, shelter and good health (not to mention luxuries like straight teeth!). Many of the children of Haiti are malnourished, live in squalor and are lucky if they even have healthy teeth. There are so many ways to serve others and we certainly can't support every cause that comes our way. You may feel however, you have a few dollars to spare that could go a long way in helping the children of Haiti.

Everyone that is involved with this upcoming aid mission is gladly covering their individual expenses for the trip, as well as additional contributions to the support the needs of the mission. However, in order to adequately provide free medical and dental care, provide medications, vitamins and needed hygiene, medical, dental, school and newborn kits, and sponsor orphan children by placing them in foster care and providing for their costs of living, we are in need of additional on-going donations. One dollar a day can sponsor three well-balanced meals, and another dollar a day will pay for a child's tuition, books, school uniform and other clothing and medical needs. Think what we could do for these impoverished children if we as a practice "family" could each contribute as little as $2!

If you feel able to contribute to this humanitarian mission, please include a separate check for any amount you desire made out to "IASK". If you would like to learn more about IASK and have an interest in more substantial involvement, you can visit www.iask4kids.org.

I look forward to doing what I can to serve the children of Haiti and am excited to share my experiences with you when I return in mid-February. May you each be blessed abundantly this new year and experience great joy as you look for ways to serve others.

Best regards,

Dr. Michael F. Richards

Orthodontic Health Month

October is the official Orthodontic Health Month!

Why choose an Orthodontist?  An Orthodontist is a Dentist that went through at least two extra years of specialized training to learn how to treat dental and facial irregularities.  Orthodontists not only know how to straighten teeth, but also know how to deal with crowded or protruded teeth as well as jaw alignment issues which can be a contributing factor to problems with joint pain, clicking or locking of the jaw.  TMJ is a common, often overlooked, problem .This condition can be brought on by trauma, stress or the way your bite fits together. If you are experiencing neck or joint pain Dr. Richards may be able to provide relief.


Dr. Richards supports the American Association of Orthodontists' reccommendation that children should be seen for an Orthodontic Check-Up as young as seven, especially if a problem is suspected.
Dr. Richards believes in early diagnosis and treatment in order to prevent more serious problems later on in life.  And while children and teens continue to make up the majority of our patients it may surprise you to learn that over 25% of our practice consists of adults from the ages of 18-65.  Braces aren’t just for kids anymore. Tooth alignment can be changed at any age if your gums and bone structure are healthy. We offer a variety of treatments that are designed for different age groups – including adults. Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem.  Click here to see examples of the "Bracelift" Facelift. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is equally important. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, headaches and jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.

There are many reasons why more and more adults are pursuing treatment options to correct their teeth and jaw alignment.  Advances in orthodontics, specifically the Damon System, have made braces much more comfortable, affordable, and attractive in recent years.  Also, with recent break-throughs in brace technology your treatment can be done in less time with fewer appointments. 

If you are interested in finding out what options are available to you make an appointment for a complimentary consultation at one of our two offices.

For our current patients: Don't forget that sticky or hard Halloween candy can easily cause breakage to your brackets or appliances which may delay your treatment.  Instead, make one of these delightful, brace-friendly Halloween treats! 

Sensational Cinnamon Snickerdoodles


Ingredients

1 cup shortening
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on low to combine the shortening, 1 ½ cups sugar and eggs. Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. In a separate, small bowl, stir together the 2 Tablespoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon to use later. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for about an hour. With well-floured hands, pinch bits of dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar until coated. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 8 to 10 minutes at 400°, being careful not to over bake. Makes about five dozen. Store in a covered container.
 
From “The Braces Cookbook: Recipes You and Your Orthodontist Will Love” by Pamela and Brenda Waterman. http://www.bracescookbook.com/
 
Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients

1 pkg. yellow or white cake mix
½ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
¾ cup sugar 1
 tsp. cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
¼ cup water (add 2 tbl. of water if eggs are small)

Directions

Put cake mix in a large bowl. Make an indentation in the center and pour in the oil and one egg. Mix using mixer at medium speed, then add the rest of the eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Add pumpkin, sugar, spices, then water. Bake in greased and floured tube pan in 350 degree oven for 60-70 minutes. Cool before removing from pan. Makes a moist and delicious cake—no frosting required.
 
Recipe courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontists

For more fun facts and great recipes go here.

Welcome To Our Blog!

Michael Richards Orthodontics is thrilled to announce the creation of our team blog! Our office realizes the need to adapt to the ever changing world we live in and hope this will provide opportunities for you to find useful information regarding our office including patient information, ideas on how to care for your braces, contests and more. Check back often for important updates!

Quarterly Update

There are some exciting things happening at the office! Here is what's up and coming:


THE RIVALRY
Utah vs. BYU Saturday, November 28, 2009. Wear Utah/BYU team clothing to your office visit during the month of November and receive an extra ruble. Also, the contest for the month will be guessing the correct score of the game. The winner will receive a new team shirt from the team of their choice.