Spring is in the air! 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.

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!

Thank you! Have a great week!

Orthodontic treatment for adults is becoming more and more common. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! More adults than ever are realizing that orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, and can help improve the aesthetics and health of a smile of any age! In society where appearance matters and can help make the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing wisely to invest in orthodontic treatment.

Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:
• Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart, sometimes as a result of tooth decay or gum disease
• Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw
• A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly

Most of all though, adult patients come to our office seeking a healthier mouth and a more confident smile! Orthodontic treatment at our office can be successful at any age, and adults especially can appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

As an adult patient, we recognize that you have different needs than our younger patients, and we will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. We understand you have a busy schedule, and will work with you to find a time that is convenient for you. Please visit our website or give our office a call to schedule your appointment today!

Monday, Feb. 20 marks Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents' Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Drs. Battistoni + Beam.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:

*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in zero died in office.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents, measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

Your smile is totally unique, so the time you’ll need to spend undergoing orthodontic treatment will also be unique. Generally, orthodontic treatment will take about two years, and this is for good reason. During this time, your teeth will slowly move into their desired positions, leaving you with a great smile with as little discomfort as possible. Rushing treatment can result in a less than perfect smile with a greater chance of tooth movement after your treatment is complete. At Drs. Battistoni + Beam, we don’t want to waste your time with treatment that won’t retain your smile for the rest of your life.

Of course, treatment time will vary depending on your specific situation. Very minor tooth movement may only take a few months to correct, while serious malocclusion (poor bite) may need more than two years to correct. Only Drs. Battistoni + Beam will be able to accurately estimate the time your treatment will take. But trust us—it’ll all be worth it in the end!

Great question!

If you are brushing and flossing daily during your orthodontic treatment with Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam, we think that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health, especially during orthodontic treatment.

Tooth decay, which is caused by sugars left in your mouth, can turn into an acid, which in turn can break down your teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay because adolescents tend to be lax in their oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines, combined with regular dental visits, help keep tooth decay away.

If you have any questions, please be sure to keep ask Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam or our team during your next adjustment appointment, or ask us on Facebook!

Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam and our team know having an attractive smile puts a spring in your step—or two—as well as increases your self-confidence, no matter if you’re 14 or in your late forties. Smiling not only makes people happy and puts them in a good mood, doing it often can even help you live longer, according to previous studies!

If you’ve been hiding your smile because you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment at Drs. Battistoni and Beam. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how quickly and efficiently today’s most advanced correction techniques can straighten your smile!

Don’t hide your smile any longer—give us a call today to schedule yours or your child’s orthodontic consultation.

At the orthodontic offices of Drs. Battistoni and Beam, we know nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth during orthodontic treatment, courtesy of WebMD.

Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to the dentist is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your general dentist at least twice a year or as recommended by your dentist, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth while wearing braces.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick up that candy bar, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be during your orthodontic treatment with Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam. If you have any questions, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Happy October! For those who don't know, it's National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam and our team realize that this is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Drs. Battistoni and Beam and other dental professionals in La Grange and Oak Park, IL.

The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook or at the office during your visit this month!

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Drs. Richard Battistoni & William Beam. 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, give us a call as soon as possible!

Hope this helps!

True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment with Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office.

The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:

Poking Wire: Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

Loose Bracket or Band: If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue.

Loose Wire: Using a tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax does not help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.

Loose Appliance: If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.

Headgear Does Not Fit: Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, headgear becomes more comfortable the more it's worn, so be sure you’re getting in the prescribed hours.

General Soreness: When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.

Remember, after alleviating your discomfort, it is still very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem.

Here at Drs. Battistoni+ Beam Ltd, we are very thankful for all of our amazing patients! Our doctor and team would like to wish everyone a fun and safe Thanksgiving. We also want to remind everyone to brush and floss after indulging in the big meal.

If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we encourage you to post them on our Facebook page or give us a call!

At Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd, we love connecting with our patients through contests, events, and fundraisers, both in the office and online. Today, we would like to update all our patients that the Breast Cancer Fundraiser is going great! As of this week, 163 patients have already gotten pink rubber bands. Wow! We would like to thank all of you that have chosen to help the Foundation, and we would like to encourage more patients to do the same.

Thank you,

-Drs. Battistoni and Beam

At Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd, 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 sharing pictures from our Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser on our Facebook 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 Drs. Battistoni and Beam 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!

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Drs. Battistoni and Beam will be providing our patients with the opportunity to help raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. For every patient that chooses to wear pink elastic bands now through October, Drs. Battistoni and Beam will donate $1 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. We appreciate your consideration, and look forward to seeing everyone in pink elastic bands this month!

As always, feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your next appointment.

Thank you,

-Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd.

Thank you to all of our amazing patients for your votes and support during the La Grange, IL Rain Barrel Auction last Friday, Sept. 10th. Drs. Battistoni and Beam won the barrel and raised $350 for the Pets and Pals charity. We appreciate everyone who took the time to vote for our "Em-BRACE the Summer" rain barrel, as well as Caitlin O'Mahoney's Art Class at McClure Jr. High School, who painted the barrel.

For more information about the Rain Barrel Auction, feel free to give us a call, or visit our Facebook page for the complete event photo album.

Thank you,

-Drs. Battistoni and Beam

You may remember that earlier this summer Drs. Battistoni and Beam had encouraged all of our patients to help us "em-BRACE the Summer" by voting for our barrel in the Rain Barrel auction. Our office sponsored the barrel, in partnership with Caitlin O'Mahoney's Art Class at McClure Jr. High School, who painted the barrel. The action is this Friday, so if you haven't yet had a chance, please check out barrel #59 and vote for it as your favorite!

We invite all of our patients to attend the barrel auction this Friday, Sept. 10. Proceeds will benefit Pets & Pals and other nonprofit organizations.

Thank you,

-Dr. Battistoni & Dr. Beam

Often, people wonder why Oak Park and La Grange, IL orthodontists Drs. Battistoni and Beam work so hard to provide our patients with beautiful, straight teeth. Did you know that straightening your teeth at Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Drs. Beam and Battistoni can help you decide if orthodontic treatment is right for you.

Hello, everyone! If we haven’t me already, my name is Jackie and I’m a Clinical Assistant at Drs. Battistoni and Beam’s office. Although I love my profession, if I were to choose another ideal job (other than helping make our patients' teeth straight and healthy) it would be in an entirely different field. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to swim with dolphins; it was an amazing experience, and one I remember so fondly. So, if I had to choose an ideal job, it would be to work with them in their training. There was such a peacefulness that came with swimming with them and a mutual trust as well.

Having been an audience member in dolphin shows a few times, I also remember how happy I was watching the relationship between the trainer and the dolphins. I realized how much time and effort must have gone into each jump or trick.

In reality, this does relate to the relationship between me and our patients. We have a special relationship built on trust. My favorite days are ones in which we are able to tell patients, especially those that have been working so hard to create their beautiful smiles, that it’s time for their braces to come off! Today, Drs. Battistoni and Beam want to know, if you were to pursue another profession, what would you want to do?

At Drs. Battistoni + Beam we make every effort to continuously improve service to our patients. Your response to our customer surveys is very important to us and as a result of your responses we have increased our telephone hours of operation to make it easier for you to reach us. In addition, if you happen to call when we are out of the office, and you do leave a message, we will make every effort to return your call the next business day.

We will also be expanding our hours for patients appointments September through May. Our offices will be open two Saturdays each month.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our customer survey. We appreciate your business and value your input to help us improve our service. As always, don't hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions!

Are you brushing your teeth twice a day during your orthodontic treatment with Drs. Battistoni and Beam? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your dentist every six months in addition to brushing and flossing your teeth (and visiting our office, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health.

Your general dentist can look for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, and treat oral health problems.

During an oral exam your dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in the greater Oak Park and La Grange, IL area!

Our team at Drs. Battistoni and Beam in La Grange and Oak Park, IL are dedicated to creating specialized treatment plans, which are customized towards the individual needs of our patients. Have you recently begun treatment or are considering treatment options with Drs. Battistoni and Beam? Check out all of the great patient photos on our Facebook page! To receive all of the latest office updates, event information, and pictures, take a moment to "like" our Facebook page.

While we’re taking a little time to research and decide 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 give us a call today! Or, you can connect with us through our Facebook page.

Have a great week,

-Our team at Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd.

Often, parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Drs. Battistoni and Beam to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd. to schedule an appointment.

At Drs. Battistoni and Beam, we value your winning smile, and we want to help protect you from unpleasant and damaging sports injuries. The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) has introduced the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge as a way of ensuring that children are using proper facial protection equipment.

Mouth guards are vital to protecting your teeth from sports related injuries while participating in sports, such as football, soccer, baseball, hockey, and basketball, to name a few. The Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge is a way for moms nationwide to make a commitment to protecting their kids’s smile from facial injuries.

In past entries, we’ve discussed the importance of using facial protection when exercising to prevent injury. Today, we at Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd. are inviting moms to take action by visiting the Moms for Mouth Guards website and taking the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge. For each mom that takes the pledge, Moms for Mouth Guards will donate a mouth guard to National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS).

Have a safe week everyone!

- Your friends at Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd.

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Drs. Battistoni + Beam wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also simple: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at our Oak Park & La Grange orthodontic offices, give us a call!

Folks with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. We have known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you perfected your smile with us? If not, give Drs. Battistoni and Beam a call!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? During this time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Drs. Battistoni & Beam.

In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give us a call at either our Oak Park or La Grange, IL offices!

Now that we’re in June, our staff at Drs. Battistoni & Beam thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to see Drs. Battistoni & Beam.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment with Drs. Battistoni & Beam.
* Visit your dentist regularly (every 6 months)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call. We hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend!

There are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment. You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment? Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement.

Fluoride used in the dentist/orthodontists’ office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your oral health or doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

--Drs. Battistoni + Beam

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call our office. 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, give us a call as soon as possible!

Hope this helps,

Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd.

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Drs. Battistoni + Beam will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment at our La Grange or Oak Park offices for a consultation!

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 activity into their lives, and the reminder is even more significant today as kids 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 reference. The guidelines call for children and teenagers to exercise one hour every 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 Battistoni + Beam 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.

At Battistoni + Beam, we know how important it is to protect your face while playing sports. The spring and summer months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Drs. Battistoni, Beam and our team also know sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. Another 67 percent admitted their child doesn’t wear a mouth guard when playing sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer.

That’s why we are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards.

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we is trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd.

April, also known as National Facial Protection Month, is upon us, and for our team at Battistoni & Beam, that only means one thing: it’s once again time to remind our dear patients to protect their faces and pearly whites. Above is a helpful video from our friends at the AAO about staying safe on the ball field this spring.

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. By simply wearing a properly fitted mouth guard or other form of protection, you can greatly reduce your chances of traumatic facial injuries.
We hope the above video helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of the tips offered in the video, please contact us at either our Oak Park or La Grange orthodontic offices. And remember to have fun and stay safe!

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work, says Drs. Battistoni & Beam. 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!

We are certified Invisalign providers. 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.

Recently, we read a fascinating statistic: adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! 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 teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Battistoni + Beam can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we'd would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

At Drs. Battistoni & Beam, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern offices conveniently located in Oak Park and La Grange, IL.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Just see what some of our patients are saying about this service:

Being able to check things, without needed to call the office. And I can do it on my time, day or night.

On-line account access allows a patient to identify charges relating to services with up to date info.

Drs. Battistoni and Beam are many steps ahead of any and all healthcare professionals that I have been in contact with. Having this service enables us to find any information at any time. There are no questions left unanswered because not only did Dr. Battistoni thoroughly explain everything but, if I forgot anything, it is right here on the website. Having this extra line of communication available is absolutely incredible!

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

Drs. Beam and Battistoni love getting reviews from our wonderful patients. And lately, our office, serving La Grange, Oak Park and surrounding communities, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! (We suspect it might have something to do with our staff asking patients to submit their reviews last week). Anyway, we thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Monday!

"They are very nice, kind and generous. They have vast knowledge on teeth and how to make you smile more." ~ Lisa K.

"Personal service, highly efficient office/staff, technologically advanced." ~ Ann C.

"It is hard to find any dental office that has such a friendly and understanding staff. All of the employees in your office have been extremely friendly and informative. Great Job. I would refer my friends to your office for their orthodontic needs." ~ Tammy W.

"Kind, competent, extremely caring, tremendously knowledgeable, reassuring, compassionate, understanding for a fearful child, organized..." ~ Cynthia B.

From your very first visit to our office, Drs. Battistoni and Beam, as well as our team, strive to provide superior orthodontic treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. While state-of-the-art technology brings our treatment to a new level of clinical performance, we believe our emphasis on building relationships is what makes us really stand out. Today, we thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Drs. Battistoni and Beam? Did our professional team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your smile?

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

People wonder why Drs. Battistoni and Beam work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. And here's our answer:

Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime.

Straight teeth are also less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay. And, they are easier to keep clean! Drs. Battistoni and Beam, as well as our dedicated staff, understand your desire to seek the best possible orthodontic care for you or your child. We pride ourselves on our honesty and patient respect, and assure you the best orthodontic treatment available.

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, give us a call to set up a consultation. Drs. Battistoni and Beam can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.