Our Blog

2011 is here—and what a year 2010 was at the office of Dr. Jennifer Martin! Today, we thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you most looking forward to this year? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2011!

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Jennifer Martin. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with Dr. Martin:

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 or your child? If so, give us a call as soon as possible! Have a safe and happy New Year, to all our patients, friends, family and all our dental and medical colleagues in Pleasant Hill and surrounding areas in Contra Costa County.

See you all in 2011!

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as our team at the orthodontic office of Dr. Jennifer Martin reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients and readers: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2011? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us here, or on our Facebook page, all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets and crunchy foods!

Happy Holidays!

Dr. Jennifer Martin and our team know that many children have fear when it comes to visiting the dentist or orthodontist. Recently, we found a great article on how parents can help their kids overcome fears of the dentist, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Making your child feel comfortable when they visit Dr. Martin for an orthodontic consultation is a priority for us, and we excel at making children feel comfortable when visiting with Dr. Martin or our friendly staff. In fact, most of our patients look forward to their next visit!

So when should kids come in for a consultation? It's best for Dr. Martin to see children by age seven to evaluate the need for orthodontic treatment and determine when the best time is for that treatment. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated. Has your child visited Dr. Martin's office? If not, it’s time to schedule an appointment for a complimentary consultation!