The Blog of Diane M. Doppel DDS MSD

What are your summer plans?

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:25:36 +0000

The dog days of summer are almost upon us, and what better time for us to ask our patients’ summer plans!

Whether you’re going camping, hitting America’s great open roads, visiting our nation’s capitol, or just staying in town and hanging out, we want to know how you’re all going to spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page!

We look forward to reading all about your summer adventures!

Ask Dr. Doppel: “What should I expect during my initial consultation?”

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Great question! Your initial consultation with Dr. Doppel will give you the opportunity to meet our team, learn more about orthodontics, receive a complete initial exam, and find out which treatment options will best meet your needs. During your initial consultation, we will:

Review your dental and medical history forms
Provide a complete oral exam, with X-rays, to determine whether treatment is necessary
Help you create a customized treatment plan
Discuss all financial information, insurance options, and payment plans

During your initial consultation, you’ll probably also have a lot of questions. We want you to be prepared for your appointment and feel in charge of your orthodontic treatment decisions. We will be glad to answer any questions you may have, and we will provide all of the information that you need to determine which treatment is right for you.

We invite you to schedule your initial visit at our downtown Seattle office and let us help you find your most perfect smile!

May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, from Dr. Doppel

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:04 +0000

At Dr. Diane Doppel’s office, we know image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today’s teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a consultation with Dr. Doppel. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood?

We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

How “green” is Dr. Doppel’s office?

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:00:16 +0000

We are living in an age with a renewed commitment to conservation, and are frequently reminded to recycle, reduce and reuse. Sunday marked Earth Day, so today we thought we would discuss some of the things we do to conserve our natural resources and the environment.

Our office is digitalized, which means we can operate without the use of large amounts of paper and printing materials. The information in our office can be sent and processed digitally, which is also more efficient. We take all of the steps possible to be a ‘green’ office, making us better for the planet and more convenient for our patients.

We would love to hear how you minimize your impact on the environment. Leave us a comment below or post on our Facebook page!

“When should my child visit for an orthodontic consultation?”

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:24:21 +0000

Great question! Braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for us to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We hope this helps! Please give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment! See you soon!

Spring is here! Do we have your current contact info?

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:00:38 +0000

Spring is in the air! We also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

As you probably know, you can always connect with us on our Facebook page, but we invite you to please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you.

Thank you! Have a great week!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:14:13 +0000

Visiting your dentist during your orthodontic treatment will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy while you have braces, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Your dentist is specifically trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next adjustment appointment. Take care of your teeth!

Dr. Doppel Breaks the Barrier!

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:06:45 +0000

Back in the mists of time, when orthodontics first emerged from the field of dentistry to stand alone, there were only men involved. In 1880, a dentist named Edward H. Angle invented an appliance (alarmingly called a “jack and traction screw”!) which became the first real orthodontic appliance. Thus, Dr. Angle became the “father of modern orthodontics.” Interestingly, Dr. Angle, concerned with the aesthetics of orthodontics as well as the functionality, worked with an artist and art teacher, Edmund H. Wuerpel, to help him apply aethetics to the field of orthodontics. In 1892 Dr. Angle gave up his general dental practice and became the first to specialize in the teaching and practice of orthodontics. Since then, in the early part of the 1900s, the Edward H. Angle College of Orthodontia was formed in California. The first class was small, only three students, and all men. Over the years, graduates of Dr. Angle’s school formed regional groups which eventually became the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontics.

The main tenet of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists is, in a word, perfection. Dr. George W. Hahn, who wrote a history of the Angle Society back in the 1950s stated “It is the maintenance of the ideal of perfection which, in our profession, originated with Angle.” This is a lofty statement. Members are not just admitted because they want to belong. They are selected by the members after rigorous tests and scrutiny. The standards of the Angle Society are very high and “each was chosen a member of this society because a majority of the group believed that his ideals met the standards of the organization.” (Note the word “his”.)

In 1999, The Northwest Component of the Angle Society came a little bit closer to its goal of perfection when it admitted its first woman into its prestigious ranks. That woman was, of course, Dr. Doppel. This spring, Dr. Doppel was elected the first woman to be Secretary/Treasurer and will, in 2016, proceed into the presidency of the Northwest Component. Again, the first woman to do so.

Needless to say, we are extremely proud of Dr. Doppel. She has proven that she meets the standards of the Edward H. Angle Society so well that they are entrusting her with their highest office. We hope that you will join us in congratulating our Dr. Doppel for breaking the barrier.

Your Orthodontist, Your Medications and You

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:07:38 +0000

There are lots of reasons why you would want to seek orthodontic treatment from a Board Certified, fully qualified orthodontist. After all, Dr. Doppel has been to dental school, just like your general dentist, but then she has received additional years of specialized training beyond dental school.

As if that isn’t enough reason to convince you to choose a specialist, a non-specialist may not know that the medications you take may affect the way your teeth move! Scientists are discovering that significant doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, aspirin and Aleve can decrease tooth movement. Bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Zometa, may slow or even stop tooth movement and some patients can develop very serious jaw bone problems with long term use of such medications for treatment of osteoporosis.
There are medications that are thought to increase tooth movement too. Vitamin D3 and corticosteroid hormones, parathyroid hormone and thyroxin all do that. Even dietary calcium may influence tooth movement.

Don’t think you can get away without a retainer by taking Fosamax or speed up your treatment by massive doses of thyroid hormone. Sorry, it just won’t work. But do be an active partner in your orthodontic treatment. Make sure your orthodontist is informed about any medication you take – prescription as well as over the counter.

Anything you take regularly or temporarily can have an influence on how your teeth and tissues respond to your orthodontic treatment.

Connect with Dr. Doppel on Facebook!

mynetworks0299@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:00:01 +0000

We will be rolling out our new Facebook Timeline page soon and would love for you to check it out! You’ll find all the useful information that was there before, but now in a fun, new layout.

When you connect with us on facebook you’ll be able to check out photos of our office, find out about new events and contests, or you can even leave a note about how much you enjoyed your visit at our office. We love hearing your feedback to make our practice serve you and your family even better. To make life even easier, if you “Like” us on Facebook, you’ll automatically receive updates from our office right on your own news feed!