May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month!

At our office, we know image can be 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 at our office. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in for a consultation?
We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

Share your winter break plans with us!

Dr. Dean P. Leonard and our team at Alpha Orthodontics want to know: what do your winter plans look like? Do you have any plans for an exciting family vacation? Are you hanging out around town? Catching up on sleep? Spending time with friends? Let us know!

Please feel free to share your exciting winter plans and experiences with us here or on our Facebook page! We would like to wish all of our patients and their families a safe and fun holiday season!

Congratulations Sally Story, from Alpha Orthodontics!

Dr. Leonard is proud to work with 98.7 KISS Country on recognizing the amazing people in our lives who make us smile. Our first winner is Sally Story, from Clear lake High School.

If you'd like to nominate someone, be sure to download the form, tell us why they make you smile and submit your entry today.

Throughout the school year, Dr. Leonard is working with KISS Country on reviewing your nominations. Winning nominees will be featured on Alpha Orthodontics' radio ads to be broadcast on 98.7 KISS Country!

The advantage of orthodontic treatment at Alpha Orthodontics [Video]

Our team at Alpha Orthodontics provides high-tech and cutting-edge treatments, combined with warm and friendly service, to give you the smile you've always dreamed of. Dr. Leonard specializes in adult and child orthodontics, offering SureSmile, Invisalign invisible braces, and Incognito (formerly known as iBraces).

For more information on Alpha Orthodontics and treatment options in Albert Lea, Mason City, Waseca, and Blue Earth, give us a call today!

Top ten tips for keeping your BRACES sparklin’ clean

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

Hope this helps!

Dr. Leonard and the Alpha Orthodontics Team of Albert Lea, Mason City, Blue Earth and Waseca

What Do You Love About Alpha Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to Alpha Orthodontics, We strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: What did you think about your experience? Did our 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!

Thank you,
-The Alpha Orthodontics teams of Albert Lea & Mason City

Ask Alpha Orthodontics: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Dean Leonard is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.

Great Smiles in Less Time At Alpha Orthodontics!

Great Smiles In Less Time with Alpha Orthodontics! Visit one of our four conveniently located orthodontic offices, or visit us on the web!

SureSmile makes the rounds on ABC’s “The Doctors”

On a recent episode of ABC's "The Doctors," Dr. Thomas Lee of Oxnard, California, was interviewed in front of a live audience and demonstrated SureSmile technology and discussed treatment benefits for orthodontists and their patients. Dr. Lee's 14-year-old patient, Nina, who had just completed SureSmile treatment, was part of the segment as well, and spoke positively about her SureSmile treatment experience.

SureSmile is a software program that facilitates the precise positioning of a patient’s teeth placement for orthodontic braces. Did you know Dr. Leonard of Alpha Orthodontics is a certified SureSmile provider? Give us a call and ask for more information!

Meet Our Orthodontist

Dr. Leonard knows from personal experience what it is like to be embarrassed by a smile. For over 25 years he has been on a mission to help his patients feel better about themselves and their smile.

“I love what I do! It is so gratifying to see how orthodontic treatment has improved the lives of my patients and to be greeted by so many great looking smiles out in the community.”

Dr. Leonard is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, the highest designation that an orthodontist can achieve. The American Board of Orthodontics is the only orthodontic specialty board recognized by the American Dental Association. Dr. Leonard is a member of many professional associations and societies. He enjoys continuing his professional education. Dr. Leonard regularly attends continuing education programs and has a special interest in facial aesthetics and advanced treatment methods. Dr. Leonard and his wife, Bev, have two grown children. The family is active in church and community activities.