Great question! When you first come in for your initial consultation, we will conduct a comprehensive examination to assess your oral health. This will better enable us to determine the best treatment method for you.

Your orthodontic evaluation will consist of an oral and facial examination to assess your oral health. We will have you take intraoral and facial photographs as well as panoramic and cephalometric X-rays to help determine the proper orthodontic treatment method. Then, an impression of your teeth and bite will be taken to construct a model of your mouth. (This will help us when examining your diagnostic records).

At your second appointment, the Doctor will discuss your options with you. Our team feels it’s important to take the time to carefully examine your diagnostic records after your consultation so that we can more thoroughly prepare for your treatment. This additional preparation will ensure that you receive the best orthodontic care possible. At this time, we encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about your treatment.

If you are seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, our staff asks that both you and your child attend the initial consultation. We feel it is important that both you and your child completely understand the doctor’s recommendations before we proceed with treatment.

Give us a call today and schedule a consultation! We look forward to hearing from you!

The Drs. Battistoni and Beam team and their pets will be participating in the La Grange Pet Parade! The parade is sponsored by the Pets and Pals Charities, and it begins at 9:30am on June 2nd, 2012. Bring your pets and your smiles to celebrate a great charity and have an awesome time.

The Pets and Pals Charities was established in 1999, and is headquartered in La Grange, Illinois. It is dedicated to promoting and supporting the health and care of animals in the Metropolitan Chicago area. In addition, it promotes awareness of the value of animals in individuals lives and the special bonds that exists between kids and animals.

We hope to see you flash those beautiful teeth at us from the crowd!

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!

Rubber bands, or elastics, can be an integral aspect of orthodontic care, so if Dr. Richard Battistoni and Dr. William Beam have prescribed elastics as a part of your treatment, it’s important to follow the directions fully. Elastics help to align your bite or cause teeth to move in different directions and straighten more quickly. We will instruct you how to hook one end to an upper bracket and the other end to a lower bracket so the rubber band goes vertically or diagonally from one bracket to another. The tension of the rubber band produces pressure on the bracket, which causes the teeth to move and straighten. This tension is also sufficient to correct an overbite or an under bite in the jaw.

If rubber bands are a part of your treatment plan, there are a few things to keep in mind. With rubber bands, you won’t be able to open your mouth fully, so they will have to be removed when you eat and reapplied after meal time. Many times, rubber bands are only needed at night, so you won’t need to worry about eating with them. Also, if you try to open your mouth too wide, your rubber bands might snap – so be careful!

Failure to wear your elastics full time or as instructed can lengthen your treatment time and may make it more difficult to achieve an optimal result. But don’t worry; your time in elastics will be well worth it when you see your beautiful, new smile.

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!

All of us at Drs. Battistoni + Beam Ltd. are excited to announce our upcoming contests in the office!

First, we have Drs. Battistoni and Beam's Lucky Lotto. All you have to do is pick 5 numbers from 1 to 100, and write it on a lottery card. On March 31, 2012 we will draw the lucky lotto numbers and a winner will be chosen. The prize is $50! Feeling lucky? If so, we encourage you to enter!

The American Dental Association is also currently hosting a coloring contest! We have the coloring page in our office for our patients to color. Entries must be submitted by Feb 29th, so don't delay in turning in your coloring pages to us! We look forward to seeing all of your great coloring skills!

If you have any questions about these contests, don't hesitate to ask us in the office or on Facebook. Good luck!

At the office of Drs. Battistoni and Beam, the New Year is a time to look back to the past, and more importantly, forward, to the coming year. Our wish is that our patients continue to keep their teeth healthy, as well as wear their rubber bands, headgear and appliances as prescribed during their treatment.

We look forward to meeting those patients who are planning to begin their orthodontic treatment this year—we think it's a great resolution!

Happy New Year from Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam and all of us at the office!

With winter sports right around the corner, many patients here at orthodontic offices of Drs. Battistoni and Beam will once again pick up the ball, bring the cleats out of seasonal retirement and hit the fields and courts for the return of sports action! During this time, however, Dr. Richard Battistoni and William Beam and our team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this fall and winter, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as basketball, wrestling and hockey
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! Drs. Battistoni and Beam and team will tell you 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 our office or ask us on Facebook. Stay safe!

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did prior to your orthodontic treatment.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Richard Battistoni and Dr. William Beam and our team at the office recommend that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse as well; just ask us for a recommendation!

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.

Drs. Battistoni and Beam and team will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our Oak Park or La Grange, IL office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Lastly, in addition to visiting the office of Drs. Battistoni and Beam during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

Questions? Please let us know below or on our Facebook page. You may also give us a call!

Don't forget about our current contest going on NOW until January 31, 2012 at the orthodontic offices of Drs. Battistoni and Beam! Simply write a story and draw a picture about how you have broken your brackets and enter it for a chance to win. All of the stories will be included in a book, but only 1 winner will be chosen. The winning drawing will be featured on the cover of the book! But wait! There's more...the winner will also receive $50.00!!

Stop by one of our offices to pick up an entry form! We can't wait to see all of your wonderful entries. Good luck and happy writing! If you have any questions about this contest or your orthodontic treatment, feel free to contact our office or ask us on Facebook.

We are also hosting a mitten, glove and hat donation drive in our office! Help those less fortunate stay warm this holiday season by bringing in mittens, gloves, and hats to your next appointment. Thank you in advance for your donations!

Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It's a big food holiday, so remember to brush and floss! If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we'd encourage you to post them on our Facebook page.

Gobble Gobble!

All of us at the office of Drs. Battistoni and Beam are excited to announce our new office contest! We are asking the kids in our office to write a story and draw a picture about how they have broken their brackets. All of the stories will be included in a book, but we will choose one winner. The winning drawing will be featured on the cover of the book! But wait! There's more...they will also win $50.00!! The contest is running from November 1, 2011 until January 31, 2012.

Stop by one of our offices to pick up an entry form! We can't wait to see all of your wonderful entries. Good luck and happy writing! If you have any questions about this contest or your orthodontic treatment, feel free to contact our office or ask us on Facebook.

It’s that spooky time of year again and Oak Park and La Grange, IL orthodontists, Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam, and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Trick-or-treating safety guidelines:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Ice

Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly Halloween treats can help you enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not recommended. However, you can enjoy thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.

Drs. Battistoni and Beam suggest looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the entire team at the office of Drs. Battistoni and Beam!

Drs. Battistoni and Beam are proud to partner with Community Support Services to conduct a Holiday Donation Drive. Community Support Services is a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives of over 600 children, adults and seniors with developmental disabilities and their families.

From now until January 31, 2012, we will be collecting donations of new mittens or gloves, hats and scarves in our La Grange and Oak Park, IL offices. Each office will have a drop off box for all donations. Please check out the Community Support Services website for more information about this amazing organization.

Thank you in advance for helping us support this wonderful cause. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at the office, or leave us a comment on Facebook!

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Drs. Richard Battistoni and William 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 on their braces September 15th through October 31st, 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!

We know orthodontic emergencies are never convenient nor timely. If you are a patient of record, Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam and our team are committed to your dental health and are more than willing to see you after hours or over the weekend. 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 to resolve the problem. If you have a orthodontic emergency after regular office hours, please give us a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts to learn how you may be able to solve the problem yourself, or, if you cannot, how to contact Drs. Battistoni & Beam and team.

Common issues include:

*Broken Brace
*Broken Wires
*Tie has come off of a Brace
*Loose Expander
*Poking Wire Tie
*Sharpness Felt on the Tongue Side of a Brace
*Loss of a Separator
*Initial Soreness
*Wire Poking

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you visit our office.

Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam and their team at the office would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at the office of Drs. Battistoni and Beam, please give us a call.

At the offices of Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your adjustment visits with Drs. Battistoni and Beam.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment, as well as preventing gum disease. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth when you are wearing braces. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Dr. Battistoni or Dr. Beam if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. The use of a mechanical toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B can aid in removing plaque around braces. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our office or ask your general dentist during your next scheduled visit! Or, ask us on Facebook!

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? Recently, our team at the office of Drs. Richard Battistoni and William Beam found an interesting article that discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, also known as Onychophagia, is a common habit among various age groups, including primarily children, teens and young adults. Nail biting is generally triggered by stress and most often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, as well as unhealthy for your teeth!

Here’s why:

• It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.

• No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.

• Braces don’t love it either. Braces already put pressure on teeth, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure, further stressing your teeth and weakening their roots.

• It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it?

Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation. Ask Drs. Battistoni and Beam or visit the article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!

Your friends at Dr. Battistoni & Dr. Beam's office