May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!

Did you know the month of May is designated National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged Americans to incorporate more physical activity into their lives, and the reminder is even more significant in this day and age, as kids everywhere are distracted more and more by television, social networking and video games. Kids living an active lifestyle can improve their health, productivity and overall well-being, and best of all? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these public health guidelines for your convenience. The guidelines call for children and teens to exercise for at least one hour each day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At Alpha Orthodontics, we always encourage our patients to stay fit by exercising or participating in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when playing sports. To learn more about how often your child should exercise, we recommend you check out this series of helpful articles about kids and exercise, courtesy of our friends at KidsHealth.org.

Ask Dr. Leonard: “I’m 38 – am I too old for braces?”

Who’s afraid of “metal mouth” and the appearance of braces? Not adults, apparently. Recently, our staff at Alpha Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. Leonard can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

Dr. Leonard is your orthodontic specialist offering SureSmile, Invisalign invisible braces, and iBraces lingual braces. Please give us a call to set up your complimentary consultation, and take the first step toward your ideal smile!

Another happy patient at Alpha Orthodontics!

Dr. Leonard and our team love getting patient reviews. We recently removed Andrea's braces, and she wanted to share a few words about her experience at Alpha Orthodontics.

‎"I want to thank everyone at Alpha Orthodontics. They made my smile beautiful. I appreciate them always being caring and kind. I thought I would have my braces on for two year,s but I did so well wearing by bands that it was just a year and a half! I love everyone at Alpha Orthodontics, they truly care about me." ~Thank you, Andrea

Taking steps to reduce our environmental impact

We are living in an age with a renewed commitment to conservation, and are frequently reminded to recycle, reduce and reuse. Earth Day is this Friday, April 22nd, and we thought this would a great time to discuss the things that Alpha Orthodontics does to conserve our natural resources and the environment.

Did you know that we offer patients account access 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Our office has convenient and secure online services with Sesame 24-7™. Patients can also receive appointment reminders through email or text messages. Since this information is submitted electronically, we eliminate the use of large amounts of paper and printing materials.

Dr. Leonard and our team would love to hear how you minimize your impact on the environment. Leave us a comment below or you can also visit our Facebook page and post something on our wall.

Happy Earth Day!

Another great smile at Alpha Orthodontics!

‎"When I first saw my new smile it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Dr. Leonard and staff" ~Darla

At Alpha Orthodontics, we understand the importance of a great smile. Darla was so overwhelmed with her new smile, it really made us proud and happy for her. Congratulations on your new smile, Darla!

Play it safe this spring, from Alpha Orthodontics

With spring here, many children, teens and adults will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, our dedicated team urges young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Alpha Orthodontics. Stay safe and have fun!

Another beautiful smile at Alpha Orthodontics!

Jon just got his braces off at Alpha Orthodontics! We love your new smile, Jon! Dr. Leonard and our staff had a lot of fun with Jon during his orthodontic treatment.

For more information about Dr. Dean Leonard, and and orthodontic treatment options in Albert Lea, Waseca, and Blue Earth, MN and Mason City, IA please request an appointment today!