Patient Referral Contest at Irvine Orthodontics!

At Irvine Orthodontics, we value the relationships we’ve developed with our patients over the years. Even if you visit our office on a regular basis, did you know you can always connect with us on Facebook and other social networks?

By “Liking” us on Facebook, you will receive regular updates, contest announcements and exclusive special offers from our office – all through your news feed! In fact, we’re excited to announce our new patient referral contest:

With the holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to think about gift giving. Why not give a friend or relative that perfect gift (a beautiful smile). It's easy to do, with no cost to you.

Just give a friend a referral for our office to receive a FREE examination and consultation. For each referral that begins treatment, you will be entered for a chance at the grand drawing for an iPod Touch (first place), Flip camera (second place) or an iTunes gift card (third place)!

Here's how it works:

1st referral: ONE drawing entry ticket
2nd referral: TWO drawing entry tickets
3rd referral: THREE drawing entry tickets
4th referral: FOUR drawing entry tickets
5th referral: FIVE drawing entry tickets

You'll receive your prizes after new patient begins treatment with us between December 1st and March 31st, 2011.

GOOD LUCK!

Cold and Flu Season is Here - Replace Your Toothbrush!

Great question! With fall season upon us, so is the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Wanda Claro and our experienced staff at Irvine Orthodontics will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook.

Happy November! From Irvine Orthodontics

Happy November, everybody! Believe it or not, we’re almost in full holiday mode! But before we at Irvine Orthodontics forget about the spooky month that just wrapped up, we’d like to know how you celebrated Halloween! What did you wear? How much candy did you get? Did you have fun?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or feel free to post them on our Facebook page!

We hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween! Also, what are you up to this month? Anything exciting happening in your life? If so, we’d love to hear all about it.

Lastly, have you been in for a dental checkup lately? It’s important that you see your general dentist, as well as visiting Drs. Claro & Ghafouri. If you have questions about your orthodontic treatment or just want some general information, give us a call or ask us during your next visit!

Happy Tuesday!

Ask Irvine Orthodontics: What's the deal with Halloween candy?

October may almost be over, but not before we get a chance to acknowledge this month as National Orthodontic Health Month! Our staff at Irvine Orthodontics wanted to remind all our wonderful patients to be careful when they bite into their treats this month. Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, bubble gum, popcorn kernels and suckers are some of the foods you should be avoiding this Halloween Season! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time!

Of course, Halloween doesn’t have to be completely treat-less. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have provided a helpful list of tips and braces-friendly recipes for the Halloween Season.

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

What puts you at ease at Irvine Orthodontics?

Drs. Claro and Ghafouri, as well as our staff at Irvine Orthodontics, understand that not everyone is thrilled to see their orthodontist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about our convenient Irvine office that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment or our personable staff? Is it something about our fun and friendly doctors?

Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook page! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Dr. Claro at the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists annual meeting

This weekend, Dr. Wanda Claro is attending the annual Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists meeting in Honolulu as a board of director for the California Association of Orthodontists

Continuing education is very important for Dr. Claro - the field of orthodontics is always searching for more comfortable and effective techniques to achieve the best outcomes possible. Dr. Claro prides herself in keeping up on and offering the latest technological advancements to our patients at Irvine Orthodontics by continuing her education yearly.

"The Record Straight" at Irvine Orthodontics [Video]

Eric and Mackenzie show you how "set the record straight" at Irvine Orthodontics! You may check out more videos on our YouTube channel!

October is a great time to get YOUR teeth straight - it's National Orthodontic Health Month! We'll have more on this next week!