Make 2012 the year to improve your oral health

Many folks in consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2012? Our team recommends that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health. After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

-Your friends at Dr. Ostreicher's office

Halloween TIPS from the American Association of Orthodontists

It’s almost that spooky time of year again and Levittown orthodontist, Dr. David Ostreicher, and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Trick-or-treating safety guidelines:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Ice

Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly Halloween treats can help you enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not recommended. However, you can enjoy thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.

Dr. David Ostreicher suggests looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the entire team at Dr. David Ostreicher!

Ask Dr. Ostreicher: What's the real difference between a Dentist and an Orthodontist?

"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. David Ostreicher started out in dental school and earned a DDS (dental degree), just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Ostreicher decided he wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics, which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a dental expert here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

Ask Dr. Ostreicher : What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with Dr. David S. Ostreicher than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.
Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.
Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Ostreicher the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Staying connected with the office of David S. Ostreicher, DDS, MS, MPH

At the office of David S. Ostreicher, DDS, MS, MPH, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook fan page. As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our fan page. For social media to work, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Ostreicher and our staff take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Please post your thoughts or give us a call!

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

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at the office of David S. Ostreicher enjoy 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, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call at 516-342-4464 if you have any questions about getting started or ask us on Facebook!

Have a great rest of the week!

When should you call Dr. David Ostreicher?

We hope you're off to a great week so far! Our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. David Ostreicher or Dr. Bronwyn McAndrews for an appointment. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, please give us a call at 516-342-4464 as soon as possible!

Love your new smile? Then we invite you to review us on Google!

At the orthodontic office of David Ostreicher, we strive to provide our patients with the highest quality of orthodontic care in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Dr. Ostreicher, Dr. McAndrews and our knowledgeable staff believe in a whole health oriented orthodontic practice where patients are more than just teeth.

Whether you've visited our office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office has fared during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice, but we encourage you to head to our Google Places page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Drs. Ostreicher and McAndrews create more beautiful smiles in Levittown and surrounding communities around Long Island. Thanks in advance, and we hope you have a GREAT rest of the weekend!

You may write your review here.

Drs. Ostreicher & McAndrews, helping dispel all the myths about braces

Trust us when we say that we are aware that there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) out there nowadays. But before you buy into all those myths, we want you to get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, help set the record straight and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We definitely encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about braces or your orthodontic treatment at the office of Dr. David Ostreicher, please feel free to give us a call at (516) 342-4464 or ask us during your next visit!

Age 7, the magic number in orthodontics

Many parents here in Levittown and Long Island believe they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit our office, only to find that treatment would have been much simpler if started sooner. But did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

"All right," you think to yourself, "what’s so great about age seven?" Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Drs. Ostreicher or McAndrews to make a determination about whether any problems are present. Also, by then, the first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what we like to call “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some kids, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, please give us a call to schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation.

Hoping you're enjoying the weekend!

This summer, share your plans & adventures with us!

We're well into summer here at the office of Dr. David Ostreicher, and that means another season full of adventures, vacations and great memories. Whether you're headed to a family barbecue, an exotic destination, a camping trip, or just having fun on Long Island this summer, Drs. Ostreicher, McAndrews and team want to hear about it! Share your plans and experiences on our Facebook page as the summer rolls along, and be sure to post photos on our wall!

Happy (and safe) travels everyone!

What are happy patients saying about Dr. Ostreicher and team?

Last week, you may remember, we asked you, our wonderful patients, what you most liked about David S. Ostreicher DDS. Well, we received some pretty great reviews, and thought we’d share a few with you today. Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office! Long Island orthodontist Dr. Ostreicher and team love getting patient testimonials!

"Your staff makes me look forward to my visits. They are very accommodating, and your staff always makes me feel like a celebrity,and they are always able to help solve any problems that I have encountered with my aligners." ~ Laura M.

"I've never met anybody in the entire medical community so passionate about not just teeth but overall health. In his office you will feel 100% comfortable and at ease, he's not only going to make your smile beautiful but his great personality is going to make your day! I was hesitant as an adult patient to go back to the orthodontist after 15 years of not wearing my retainer. Dr. Ostreicher is making my smile beautiful again with Invisalign...because I'm worth it!‎" ~ Marcy

"Go and see for yourself! Very organized and professional! Dr Ostreicher is awesome!‎" ~ Jean

"This is my favorite place to go besides the mall. :)" ~ Cathy

"What a wonderful office! had such a great experience with everyone that worked there. they're all extremely friendly!‎" ~ Veronica C.

What do you love about Dr. Ostreicher and team?

From your very first visit the office of Dr. David S. Ostreicher, our professional team strives to provide you with superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere.

Serving Levittown, Nassau County, and Suffolk County, Dr. Ostreicher and Dr. Bronwyn McAndrews provide our patients with the highest quality of orthodontic care in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Dr. Ostreicher, Dr. McAndrews and our knowledgeable staff believe in a whole health oriented orthodontic practice where patients are more than just teeth.

Today, we thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Drs. Ostreicher or McAndrews? Did our dedicated team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!