What are happy patients saying about Dr. Ouellette & Dental Specialists lately?

"He is always friendly, has a smile on his face and makes you feel comfortable. One of the family and not just a person being pushed through." ~ Pamela M.

"Kind, caring, best reputation, willing to work with me." ~ Anthony S.

"The staff is always very pleasant. Very accommodating with appt. dates and times." ~ Michael H.

"The modern technology makes me feel more comfortable with the knowledge of our orthodontist. It shows me that he is up to date on the latest trends in orthodontia." ~ Shari C.

"Convenient location, pleasant staff, good care." ~ Frank B.

Ask Dr. Ouellette: Why are straight teeth so important?

People wonder why Dr. Paul Ouellette, Dr. Ryan Collins and our staff at Dental Specialists work so tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Dental Specialists can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque, the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and, they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation at our convenient offices in Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Titusville or Kissimmee. We can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Questions? Give us a call at 321-453-7750 or ask us on Facebook!

Busy month at the Dental Specialists!

Our staff at the Dental Specialists want to know: Are you brushing and flossing daily properly during your orthodontic treatment? If your answer is yes, that’s wonderful! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to us every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting our office, of course).

Yes, October is National Orthodontic Health Month. But this month also marks National Dental Hygiene Month, which is why it can be a great time for a checkup, which can help you maintain good oral health, especially during your orthodontic treatment at one of our offices in Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Titusville or Kissimmee.

Here are a few tips to help you build good oral hygiene habits this month:

* Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two to three minutes. Make sure to get the outer and inner surfaces and the chewing surfaces of each tooth.

* Floss once a day to remove plaque from between teeth. Help children learn healthy flossing habits so when they’re capable, they know how to do it properly.

* Visit our office on a regular basis. Children should start seeing a dentist within six months of getting their first tooth.

* Ask us what toothpaste family members should use. Remember that not all toothpaste is appropriate for all ages.

* Eat a healthy diet, rich in fruit and veggies. Avoid sugary foods and eat a high fiber diet of fruits and veggies such as apples and carrots to help prevent tooth decay.

If you have any question, we invite you to ask us on Facebook or give us a call at 321-453-7750.

At The Dental Specialists, October marks National Orthodontic Health Month!

Happy Friday!

Today marks the official start of National Orthodontic Health Month, and our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have created a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly Halloween recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while wearing braces.

Drs. Ouellette, Collins and our entire staff recommend you check out the AAO's website as well for helpful tips on keeping your braces in tip-top shape. If you have any follow-up questions about keeping your braces in tip-top shape, please feel free to give us a call at 321-453-7750, ask us on Facebook or ask one of our staff members during your visit to one of our offices in Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Titusville or Kissimmee!

Lastly, we'd like to congratulate Joshua Yother on winning our iPad contest! Job well done Joshua!

The Dental Specialists, your local CEREC providers

A lot of folks ask us about CEREC, a technology for restoring damaged teeth. Little do they know this restoration can be completed in a single visit to one of our convenient offices in Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Titusville and Kissimmee.

The procedure makes your teeth stronger and more beautiful — all while keeping your teeth looking natural. The restoration is metal-free and the high-grade ceramic material is compatible with the natural tissue found in your mouth. This is the finest restorative material available today, all in one appointment.

The CEREC Process

First, Drs. Ouellette or Collins will meet with you to discuss the details of the procedure. During the procedure, we will apply a thin layer of reflective powder onto your tooth and will use a special camera to take a photo of your tooth. Using Computer Aided Design, the photo serves as an optimal impression. The restoration will then be designed by the computer on this impression. Then CEREC will use a diamond bur and disk to create your restoration piece out of a high tech ceramic. Finally, the ceramic restoration is bonded to your tooth using state-of-the-art adhesive dentistry.

Dr. Ouellette is your local CEREC dentist for single-visit tooth restorations. Call us today to schedule an appointment and enjoy the rest of your week.

PS we will be announcing the winner of our iPad contest on Friday, October 1st!

Which foods should you avoid while in braces?

There are a variety of foods Dr. Paul Ouellette and Dr. Ryan Collins want you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces! If you have braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch cause plaque, cavities and tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods to Avoid
• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
• Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give us a call or ask our staff during your next visit! Lastly, have answered all our question for the iPad giveaway? It's not too late to join - just head to our Facebook page and check out the five questions!

Access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

At Dental Specialists, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic and dental treatments we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern offices conveniently located in Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Titusville and Kissimmee.

Did you know that patients of Drs. Ouellette and Collins have 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, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call at 321-453-7750 if you have any questions about getting started! Lastly, are you participating in our iPad giveaway? For more information, head over to our Facebook page!