Scenic City Blog

SCO Celebrates: 10 Years of SCO

Thu, 16 May 2024 21:22:37 GMT

10 years?! It seems like I blinked and a whole decade flew by! My kids who were once a toddler, a newborn and a twinkle in our eyes are now a vibrant middle schooler, a thrill-seeking 5th grader and a life-of-the-party 8 year-old who keeps us on our toes! Even more mind-blowing, the first patients that I treated were young adolescents, and now they’re thriving adults with families of their own!

There isn’t enough space to say thank you to each person who has helped or encouraged me along the way, but I do have a few special shoutouts: Thank you to my family, especially my wife Stacey, who has gone above and beyond in every way possible. Whether she’s helping me dream up the next big idea for the office before she’s even had her first cup of coffee or organizing a community event, she always has a smile on her face and truly enjoys it all.

If you’ve ever been in the office you know my team keeps the ball rolling better than I could ever imagine. Each member is unique and brings something different to the table, which means they work together as one well-oiled machine. And I wouldn’t have this wonderful group of people without our office manager, Tasha. She has worn many, many hats during her time at SCO – she’s been with us since day one and hasn’t looked back! We couldn’t do it without her.

One thing I was told early on was to surround myself with people I can learn from. I have been fortunate enough to be in community, here locally and across the country, with many dental and orthodontic professionals for whom I have the upmost respect. Collaborating and brainstorming with these individuals on business ideas or patient treatment always pushes me to do better, work harder and find the best solution to the opportunities that come my way.

While 2020 definitely has not been the milestone year we anticipated, we were still excited to come together and celebrate with our annual patient appreciation party! It was a fun evening watching a 10-year throwback on the big screen underneath the night stars – socially distanced of course! Check out more pictures from our night here!

We also got to announce the winner of #SCOSlowMo contest that we (virtually) hosted all summer long! Congratulations to Liam and a big thank you to all of those who participated – it gave us something to smile at no matter the circumstances.

Once again, I can’t say thank you enough! I will always be grateful for how you trust me and my team with your families’ smiles. Here’s to the next 10!

Keep Smiling,

Teeth Grinding: What You Need To Know

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:51:04 GMT

Here at the start of 2020, we’re making even more smiles happen at SCO as we begin our TENTH year as a practice. Over the past decade as your local orthodontist, I’ve been asked a LOT of questions about teeth. Crooked teeth and over/underbites top the list of course, but bruxism (teeth grinding) also seems to be on everyone’s mind…literally.

“I get horrible headaches from grinding/clenching my teeth. How can I stop?”

“Why am I grinding?”

“My child grinds her teeth in her sleep; should I be worried?”

“How much damage is it actually causing?”

Most of us actually experience periods of grinding during our life; in fact one third of all children grind their teeth as they grow. Generally the frequency increases as each set of teeth comes in, and then subsides as they get older.

So, while it may sound like nails on a chalkboard, I usually tell concerned parents that as long as the permanent teeth aren’t getting damaged, bruxism of the baby teeth will most often resolve itself over time.

If the permanent teeth are seeing some damage, in both children and adults, that is when I typically will step in with some sort of appliance, like a mouth guard or retainer, to prevent the teeth from touching while asleep. (As a side note, I believe everyone should do this anyway to maximize the lifespan of healthy teeth!) The appliance customization will vary depending on the severity of the issue. To determine how severe someone’s grinding problems may be, here are some questions we ask:

Do you have a difficult time sleeping?

Have you struggled with sleep apnea?

Do you break a lot of crowns?

Do you wake up with headaches?

We ask these questions because the reality is that grinding your teeth can cause way more problems than headaches and jaw pain. Over time, excessive grinding can lead to severely worn teeth that cause loose teeth and a misaligned bite that requires orthodontic and restorative correction.

So, before we have to go down that road in symptomatic patients, we encourage prevention with the use of a mouth guard, along with some lifestyle changes to help set you up for (teeth) rest and (jaw) relaxation!

Stop chronic chewing gum
Avoid hard, difficult-to-chew foods
Exercise regularly to reduce stress
Adopt a calm, no-screen, bedtime routine
Evaluate medications for possible associations

This is a broad overview of a large issue and you may have more questions. If you would like to know more or see how we have treated bruxism patients in our office, please check out the videos below. Remember, my team and I are always happy to help and are only a phone call or text away!

Keep smiling,

A Year in Smiles: 2019 in Review

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:45:31 GMT

It doesn’t feel real that Christmas has already come and gone! These past few days have flown by and now we’re in the final countdown of not only the year, but the decade. This time is generally a time were most reflect on the past year and for me it’s no different.

2019 has been a big year for SCO! We were blessed to start it in our brand new building. This was a dream that has been in the works for a long time and to be ending a year in this place still feels surreal. We’re so thankful to be in a building where we are better able to serve our patients and their families.

Another highlight this year was being able to gift a smile to a very deserving Hometown Hero! During our annual Patient Appreciation celebration my team and I were able to announce our recipient of a brand new smile. It was amazing to see so many people in our community nominate a special hero that goes above and beyond their call of duty and we were thrilled to announce Brandy, a mom of five, as our winner!

The SCO team wrapped up the year by sharing some Smiles with Santa – we had a blast this holiday season as we became an official North Pole mailing station AND got to host Santa Claus himself here at the office!

Whether we were celebrating a holiday together as an office or spreading smiles through a community event, SCO has had the best year and it wouldn’t be possible without you! Here’s to 2020!

Keep smiling,

Celebrating Smiles: SCO Patient Appreciation 2019

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:36:08 GMT

It’s hard to believe that another summer has come and gone. Between my kids’ activities and trying to sneak as much lake time in as possible, it truly did fly by. I’m so glad that we got to end on a high note, though – our annual Patient Appreciation party!

Celebrating our patients and their families reminds the team and me of why we do what we do. Whether you were eating a sno cone or belting your heart out at the karaoke station, we enjoyed getting to hang out with you!

We also were stoked to announce our Hometown Hero smile giveaway winner! Brandy was nominated by her 16-year-old daughter and had all of us in tears with her submission:

“My mom is a 12-year Navy Veteran and also a military spouse. Currently, she is a full time college student. Both of my parents combined have 32 years of military service. My dad retired last year however he is currently in Iraq serving as a contractor pilot. My mom deserves a new smile because she has invested so much in making mine and my sibling’s smiles great. Not only me and my brother but also my cousins who live with us. She does everything for everyone else and I’d like to surprise her with something just for her.”

As a parent, I know that hearing such thoughtful words from your child means so much. We are thrilled to be able to give this smile to Brandy!

Thank you to everyone that came out – we had a blast! If you want to check out some fun pictures you can by clicking here ! And while I know I’ll see you in the office or maybe at a PTA meeting or baseball game, I already can’t wait to celebrate with you next summer!

Keep on smiling,

Keeping Your Smile in Line: Retainer Tips

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:30:59 GMT

In our last blog post, I discussed how to properly care for your braces at home. If you missed that post, you can find it here. Today I want to fast forward to your last phase of treatment – retention. So, congratulations! You’ve put in all the work – months without chewing gum or eating popcorn, plenty of adjustment appointments and maybe even some rubber bands. Together with our team, you have achieved your dream smile, and I want to make sure it stays that way!

It’s as simple as four words: Retention. Is. For. Life. Your teeth are constantly on the move, so without your retainer, they will easily shift back to their original position. Not “they could shift back” or “they might” but as sure as the the sun will rise, they will shift back. Therefore, you must wear your retainer every night for as long as you would like to retain your results…which I’m guessing is forever!

If you follow the instructions below, I promise the retention phase of your treatment will be smooth sailing:

1. Only remove your retainer if you are eating, brushing, playing a contact sport or swimming.

2. If not in your mouth, ALWAYS store your retainer in the provided case.

3. Gently clean your retainer with a toothbrush and toothpaste in lukewarm (never hot) water. You can also soak it in a non-alcohol based mouthwash or denture cleaner.

4. Always store your retainer at room temperature and keep it away from any heat source, like a heater or stove.

If you lose your retainer, call our office as soon as possible and my team will be happy to help guide you to the next steps you need to take!

Keep Smiling!

How To Take Care of Your Braces: Home Care Questions Answered!

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:27:53 GMT

So it’s finally happening. You’ve had your consultation, taken xrays, picked out the tshirt and enjoyed your last apple/gum/popcorn chewing for a while. Today is the day your braces are going on! You’re feeling good, maybe a little sore, but mostly excited to get this beautiful-smile journey started! But before you can walk out our door with your cool new hardware, there’s one more thing we need to do…learn how to take care of your braces in between your appointments with us! So let’s answer a few questions to tell you what to do with all the goodies that came in that SCO water bottle!

You mentioned I’m not going to be eating popcorn for a while. Are you saying there are certain foods that I need to avoid while in braces?

Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions and provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy). You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.

What can I do if the inside of my mouth is sore?

Peroxyl, a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouth rinse, will reduce any inflammation to your gums and cheeks caused by the brackets. Peroxyl helps to prevent infection and decrease irritation that may develop from your braces.

1. Rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of Peroxyl (half a capful) for one minute and then spit it out.

2. You may use Peroxyl up to four times daily following your schedule for brushing: after meals (or after school) and before bed.

Just like using peroxide for a scrape on your skin, Peroxyl helps the inside of your mouth heal. Peroxyl can be used for general irritation caused by your braces or for canker sores, cheek bites and other minor temporary injuries to the gums.

How often should I brush my teeth while wearing braces?

Patients should brush their teeth 3-4 times each day – after each meal and before going to bed. We will show you how to floss their teeth with braces and may also provide a prescription for a special fluoride, if necessary.

Specifically, how do I keep my braces and teeth clean?

Glad you asked! You and I have to work together to achieve the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. My team and I do our part during your appointments, and your job happens every day in between.

The most important thing to remember when brushing your teeth is to take adequate time. Brushing every surface of every tooth will take several minutes.

1. Begin brushing in the top right area of your mouth.

2. Brush two teeth at a time with five small circular movements.

3. Tilt the brush under the wire and brush two teeth at a time with five back and forth strokes.

4. Tilt the brush over the wire to clean between the braces and the gums.

5. Next, brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth.

6. Also brush the tongue side of your teeth.

7. Don’t forget to brush your tongue. A lot of bacteria which causes bad breath lives in your tongue.

It is important to remember that if you haven’t spent adequate time brushing to remove plaque and food debris, fluoride from toothpaste will not reach the tooth surface and will be ineffective. As you brush thoroughly the health of your teeth and gums will improve.

What can I do to prevent tooth decay while wearing braces?

Phos-Flur is a sodium fluoride gel that helps braces wearers prevent tooth decay by killing bacteria and replacing minerals in tooth enamel that have been exposed to harmful acids. The use of Phos-Flur does not replace daily brushing and flossing but should be done following your daily schedule at bedtime.

1. Place a small strip of Phos-Flur on a toothbrush and apply it to your teeth for one minute and spit it out.

2. It is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating or drinking.

What is that tiny pipe cleaner tool that I’ve seen used for?

You must mean the proxabrush! It is fantastic for cleaning between teeth under orthodontic wires. It cleans spaces a typical toothbrush might miss. It is small enough to fit in your pocket or school bag and is a great accessory to clean your teeth after lunch.

1. Gently slide the proxabrush under the wire between two teeth.

2. In a back and forth motion, remove plaque and food debris around the brackets.

3. Slide the brush under the wire near the gums to continue the cleaning process.

4. After you brush with your toothbrush, use your proxabrush daily to minimize white spots and improve your gingival health.

Do I still need to floss when I’m wearing braces?

Simply put, if you floss daily, the health of your gums will improve. And there just so happens to be a special floss for braces called Super Floss. One end is stiff to help you thread it under your wire.

1. Thread the floss behind the wire and gently glide the floss in between the teeth in a sawing motion.

2. Pull the floss against one tooth and gently slide the floss up and down to remove plaque and food debris.

3. Repeat this step on the adjacent tooth.

4. Carefully remove the floss and move to the next site.

There is a piece of lettuce stuck in my braces that WILL. NOT. COME. OUT. Help?!

That’s the worst! Luckily, a water jet device uses a stream of water to clean where a toothbrush can’t reach.

1. Angle the tip perpendicular to the surface you are cleaning.

2. Clean each part of each tooth carefully making sure to remove all the plaque and food debris.

3. Gently move the tip along your gumline at a 45-degree angle to clean your gums. This is a critical area to clean as food is frequently trapped between the braces and the gumline.

You can also use the water jet to clean around appliances in the roof of your mouth. Use a water jet daily to keep your gums and teeth healthy. There are several instruments on the market, and we recommend this one.

Is it that big of a deal to make that big of a deal out of all this?

I’m not much of a doomsdayer, but this is one of those times I’m going to need to scare you straight. (get it? #orthojokes) If you don’t clean your mouth meticulously every day, plaque will form along your gums and around the brackets. Bacteria in the plaque produce acid that destroys your teeth. Once the braces are removed and the plaque is cleaned you will have cavities and permanent scars called “white spots” on your teeth. Myth Buster: orthodontic glue does not cause the white spots. In fact, it is due to poor brushing and flossing. This will happen to your teeth if you don’t take care of them. Please take the time each day to brush floss and/or use the water jet to keep your teeth and gums healthy. It’s the only way to protect the investment you and I are making in your smile.

Keep smiling!

Wait! What about me – I have Invisalign or a removable appliance. How and when do I clean that?

If you’re an Invisalign patient, we recommend that your clean your trays twice a day with soap and water. We also recommend that your rinse them with water when removing them!

If you have a removable appliance, brush it every day as a part of your regular brushing and flossing schedule. Because food particles and plaque can accumulate on your appliance just as they do on your teeth, soak the appliance daily by dissolving a denture-cleaning tablet (Polident, Efferdent, etc.) in a glass of tap water at room temperature and letting your appliance soak for 10 minutes. Your appliance will taste better, and you will prevent plaque and bacterial accumulation.

SCO’s Super Swift Summer Spectacular!

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:23:54 GMT

SCO’s Super Swift Summer Spectacular. (Try saying that five times fast)

My team and I are making this summer one to remember. We’re giving away 4 FLOOR tickets to see TAYLOR SWIFT live in concert on August 11 in Atlanta! Sounds pretty spectacular, right?

How can you enter? It’s easy – swing by our office and grab a pair of SCO sunglasses, take a selfie, and post it to social media using #SCOsmiles. Or take a selfie with our very own T. Swift while you’re in the office and post that using #SCOsmiles for a second entry. For a THIRD entry, head on over to our Facebook page and share our Summer Spectacular post! Watch the video below to see the SCO team’s debut music video – I think we gave Taylor Swift a run for her money!

To make our summer even more super, we’re inviting all of our spectacular patients to Superfly on August 3rd for our annual Patient Appreciation Party. Be sure to mark your calendars for night of fun, food and bouncing off the walls with the best team and patients in town!

Save your spot today to jump with us and get your tickets here!

We’ll also be doing a live drawing at our Patient Appreciation Party to announce the winner of the 4 Taylor Swift tickets, so make sure you’re there! I can’t wait to celebrate the most spectacular summer of all with our awesome patients!

Keep smiling!

A Week of Fun: 7 Summer Days in the Scenic City!

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:09:01 GMT

This is the time of year at the office that patients’ school uniforms are replaced with swimsuit coverups and their lips and tongues turn a nice cherry-slushie red. The sun is out and the humidity is up – it must be summer in the south!

Here in Chattanooga, we are fortunate to live in a city that ranks highly on many tourism lists…from mountains to hike, to rivers to swim, there is no shortage of ways to take advantage of our long days and hot weather. But sometimes even we locals can forget how much this town has to offer!

So our creative team at SCO, made of moms and millennials alike, thought we would put together a week-long agenda to help our patient families and friends make the most of these long hot days of summer in the Scenic City. Links to accompanying websites will outline hours, pricing and other details, and we tried to pair the days with outings that offer special pricing or amenities. Let’s go!

Sunday

Stroll through the Chattanooga Market from 11am – 4pm to find local vendors’ work and crafts, and local farmers’ flowers and produce. Grab lunch from one of the several food trucks onsite or pack a picnic and head out to the North Chick Blue Hole for a short easy hike and to cool off in one of its several refreshing pools.

Monday

With rides and attractions for the entire family, Lake Winnepesaukah is recognized as one of America’s top ten family amusement parks for all ages. And on Monday Fundays, an adult (21 or older) receives a free Unlimited Rides Pass with the purchase of tickets for two children (16 or younger). Each ticket is good for both Lake Winnie and its on-property Soakya water park!

Tuesday

The Red Clay Resort offers a discounted rate early in the week, so jump in the car for the 40-min drive from downtown and get ready to relax in the spring-fed swimming pool with diving boards and all sorts of amenities to keep your family entertained all day long.

Wednesday

Spend the morning admiring the new lemurs exhibit at the Chattanooga Zoo (camel rides available Wed – Sun), then eat lunch by the playground or at the zoo’s new Wild Burger restaurant before walking over to the Warner Park Pool and Splash Pad after 12:30 to enjoy it’s huge obstacle course and fountains.

Thursday

Take advantage of smaller weekday crowds at the Coolidge Park Fountain and Carousel (carousel opens at 11) and enjoy a blanket picnic or a sausage and frites from Good Dog. A cool-treat from Clumpies will complete your Northshore adventure, or give you an added boost for some window shopping along Frazier Avenue.

If weather isn’t cooperating, stay cool and dry while checking out the underwater creatures at the Tennessee Aquarium and taking in an educational film at the IMAX 3D Theater . Your tickets will earn you discounts at restaurants within walking distance, such as Big River Grille.

Friday

The FREE Nightfall concert series is held each Friday night of the summer – rain or shine – outdoors in Miller Plaza. Opening acts begin at 7:00 with a nationally touring headliner taking the stage at 8:00. Bring your kids, lawn chairs, pets and friends to enjoy great live music, food and drinks.

Saturday

On the first and last weekend of each month through November, Lula Lake Land Trust is open to the public. Choose from varying degrees of hiking, but don’t miss taking in its beautiful waterfall. Once you’re back down from Lookout Mountain, stop by Southside Social for refreshments with a side of bowling and outdoor yard games (family-friendly open at 11 am, 21+ at 9 pm). And if you’re not willing to let the sun go down without you, every Saturday night, the whole family can enjoy Summer in the West Village. This outdoor street festival has live music from local bands, drinks, food trucks, laser light show, kids activities including Legos, art, face painting, balloon artist, hula hoops, jump ropes, and more…like Chattanooga’s one and only Pinkberry and Peet’s Coffee .

So there’s Seven Summer Days in the Scenic City for ya! Of course, there are a number of other can’t-miss places and event that we didn’t have room to cover, like visiting the Creative Discovery Museum , cheering on the home team at a Lookouts game, or cooling off at Ruby Falls. So send us your favorite places to enjoy this summer and we’ll include them next year!

And we do hope that SCO is at the top of your list of places to visit this summer! Remember to share your smile (cherry-slushie lips and all) with your friends and get spotted all over town to win big. Speaking of winning big, stayed tuned for our summer contest that you won’t want to miss! Spoiler alert: it’s pretty spectacular.

Keep smiling!

We Want to Spot You: How to Win Free Braces in the Scenic City!

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:00:10 GMT

I don’t generally see what’s going on outside the office doors during the week, but from what I hear, there are a bunch of these car magnets cruising all around Chattanooga!

*also available as a sticker

And in addition to brightening up your bumper, these magnets could bring in some bucks too! Whenever a member of the SCO team spots our magnet out and about, we will put a card that looks like this on your windshield.

Then you can trade that card in at our office for a $25 gift card to a local store or restaurant! If that’s not enough reason to slap one on your swagger wagon, listen to this – you will also be entered into our annual drawing for FREE orthodontic treatment! This drawing will take place at the beginning of November, so stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages for all the details. It’s always exciting and usually involves a lot of cheering and confetti! So much confetti…

So if you don’t have one yet, or yours fell off in the car wash, or it’s time to replace the one you’ve had for years, grab a magnet next time you’re in the office. Sport it with pride, knowing that you could be encouraging someone else start their smile journey here at SCO and also getting a chance to win yours for free! Hope to spot you soon!

Giving Back to Our Schools: My Teacher Rocks

Thu, 16 May 2024 19:48:16 GMT

Birds are chirping, baseball is in full swing, and the temperature is finally rising – summer is almost here! By this point in the school year, our patients have really gotten to know their teachers. And whether they have taught you how to read, how to multiply or divide, or have given you some great advice to help you do your best, Scenic City Orthodontics wants to know all the ways that your teachers ROCK!

Simply click here to nominate your teacher! We will choose one patient’s teacher to win in March, April and May. Our three winners will receive a pizza party for the whole class and a $200 gift card for their classroom wish list! So don’t be tardy, tell us why your teacher rocks today!

During our My Teacher Rocks campaign, SCO is excited to partner with Rock Point Church and the Junior League of Chattanooga by collecting school supplies for East Lake and Hardy Elementary schools. Teachers often sacrifice so much to ensure that the children of our community are equipped to learn and we want to help where we can! These schools’ greatest needs now are art supplies: markers, crayons, glue, etc.

We want to thank our amazing dental partners that have joined with us to donate school supplies – we think you ROCK!

If you would like to partner with us and give back to these awesome educators, all patients that bring in supplies between now and May 10 will receive 5 points on their Rewards Hub card! Look for the drop-off basket in our lobby, and we’ll load your points right away.

We can’t wait to say thank you to our teachers who ROCK!

Spring Break Fun: Camps for Kids in the Scenic City

Thu, 16 May 2024 19:37:17 GMT

The weather is warming up, the trees are blossoming, and the rain showers are aplenty; Spring has officially sprung in the Scenic City! And that means Spring Break for Hamilton County students is just around the corner. While some families are packing for the beach or heading to the mountains, we know that a lot of Chattanoogans will be spending the week in town and looking for a little bit of local fun.

Fortunately, we live in a town that happens to specialize in local fun! So whether you need full-day childcare or half-day adventures, here is a list of several Spring Break camps during Hamilton County’s Spring Break, April 2 – 6.

YMCA Spring Break Camp

The Downtown Family, Hamilton Family and North River YMCAs

April 2 – 6

7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Ages: 5 – 12

Cost: $110 per week for members/per child; $150 per child per week for non-members.

Children will swim, play games, do arts and crafts and more!

Registration: https://www.ymcachattanooga.org/programs/camp/school-break-camps

For more information, contact Nicole Brogden at nbrogden@ymcachattanooga.org .

North River YMCA Aquatics Swim Camp

April 2 – 6

8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Ages: 5 – 12

Cost: $65 for Y members / $85 for non-members

Every day, a new stroke will be introduced and swimmers will focus on the fundamentals and technique associated with that day’s assigned stroke. Campers need to bring towel, snack, tennis shoes, sunscreen and goggles.

Registration: contact Sarah Poole-Hall at 423.877.3517 or at spoole-hall@ymcachattanooga.org .

The Chattanooga Zoo Spring Break Camp

April 2 – 6

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Grades: K – 5th

Cost: Daily – $40 per day for members / $45 for non-members

Week – $130 for K-2nd / $165 for 3rd-5th for members; $155 for K-2nd / $190 for 3rd-5th for non-members

The Chattanooga Zoo is excited to announce that registration is OPEN for the upcoming Spring Break Zoo Camp running April 2nd-6th. Please join us as we SPRING into Camp!! Your camper will enjoy hands-on activities learning about the wonders of Spring. Each day will present campers with many exciting and adventurous experiences including crafts, games, animal enrichment, animal encounters, lessons, and MORE!

Registration: http://www.chattzoo.org/education/camps If you have any questions, please email podom@chattzoo.org or call 423-697-1322 ext: 5788

TechTown Spring Camp: Kilobytes – Become a World Explorer Through Steam

April 2 – 6

9:00am – 3:00pm

Ages: 7 – 10

Cost: $260

Description: Get Your Passports Ready! Join us as we solve clues that guide us on a global adventure! Campers will experience STEAM all around the world through geography, computer skills, and language arts. Campers will engage in STEAM projects and digital activities to arrive at an exciting final destination! Please Note: A Materials Fee is included with the cost of this Camp Offering. Snack and lunch provided.

TechTown Spring Camp: Megabytes – Film, So You Want to be a YouTuber?

April 2 – 6

9:00am – 3:00pm

Ages: 11 – 17

Cost: $250

Description: This Camp is designed to take Young Innovators through a number of video production scenarios. This Camp will help those with very little filming knowledge to gain a good foundation for what video production entails. For the more experienced Young Innovators, this Camp will allow him/her to look a little deeper into how to make better films and video by adding to the knowledge they already have. In addition, Campers are encouraged to (1) be creative, (2) work together, (3) have fun and (4) focus on telling a story with video. Snack and lunch provided.

TechTown Spring Camp: Megabytes – Robotics, Spring Break Adventure

April 2 – 6

9:00am – 3:00pm

Ages: 11 – 17

Cost: $250

Description: Join us for a Robotics Spring Break Adventure encompassing Robots and Ancient History! Campers will begin by learning how to Construct a Robot, Program a Robot, and other Robotic Applications in various industries. Campers will then apply that knowledge to build one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World using robots and various building materials. Snack and lunch provided.

Girls, Inc.: Girl Gazette (elementary)

April 2 – 6

8:00am – 5:30pm

Ages: 6 – 11

Cost: $120

Description: Located at Brainerd United Methodist Church. Learn about being a news reporter and other fun activities at Girl Gazette! Girls Inc. Spring Break Camp provides intentional, hands-on, age appropriate interactive activities that develop and promote girls’ strengths. Each camp is designed to inspire each girl to be healthy, educated, and independent. Lunch and snack are provided. Parent Orientation is Mandatory.

Girls, Inc.: Miss Independant (teens)

April 2 – 6

8:00am – 5:30pm

Grades: 6th – 12th

Cost: $120

Description: Located at Brainerd United Methodist Church. If you think you’re ready to be independent, then this is the camp for you. Girls Inc. Spring Break Camp for teens provides intentional, hands-on, age appropriate interactive activities that develop and promote girls’ strengths, like independence. Each camp is designed to inspire each girl to be healthy, educated, and independent. Lunch and snack are provided. Parent Orientation is Mandatory.

High Point Spring Break Camp

April 2 – 6

Mon and Tues: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Wed and Thurs: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Ages: 5 – 14

Cost: $75 (for two days)

Description: Activities are planned daily for the full four hours including an introduction to the gym, climbing, equipment, knot tying, climbing techniques, bouldering, team-building activities, games, and open climbing.

Kids 4 Clean Water Spring Break Camp 2018

April 2 – 6

9:00am – 4:00pm (after care available upon request)

Grades: 3rd – 8th

Cost: $200

Located at Mountain Arts Community Center. Calling All Water Lovers! TenneSEA Kids 4 Clean Water is a nonprofit in Chattanooga dedicated to empowering students to lead their communities to protect and restore our local environment by focusing on the quality of our watersheds. Our goal is education leading to positive action for our water. What better way to get students interested in water than getting outside and learning while having a blast! Throughout the week, the students will get to go hiking, play in the creeks, rock climbing, orienteering, and so much more! Our staff encourages free play, creativity, active engagement, team building, and of course having a ton of fun in the water! When you enroll with us, you will be helping your child create memories that will last a lifetime and learning that will inspire them.

Registration: http://www.caribbean-sea.org/camp-2018/

The Factory: Spring Break Sports Camp

April 2 – 6

8:00am – 6:00pm (Drop off: 8a-930a Pick up: 430p-6p)

Ages: 5 – 14

Cost: $200

The Fusion Factory Sports Academy combines different sports and athletic methodologies to provide an environment that fosters excellence, allowing our participants to develop the self discipline, integrity, confidence, character, courage, dedication, teamwork, and strong work ethic needed for future success. This will be a fun-filled week of sports, drills, games, teamwork, fitness, critical thinking, and other extracurricular activities. Campers are required to provide proper athletic gear, 2 snacks & a lunch, and a great attitude!

Top Martial Arts Spring Break Camp

April 2 – 6 (weekly or daily options available)

7:30am – 4:00pm

Ages: school-aged

Cost: $200

http://www.tkdsma.com

Located at Top Martial Arts Fort Oglethorpe. Each day will have different games and activities! Stretching your creativity, make new friends and build your team, stay active and have fun! Campers will need to bring their own lunch.

Registration: For more information or to register, please speak to a staff member.

Invisalign vs Smile Direct Club: The Clear Smile Solution

zack@onboardmg.com (Zack Nichols) — Thu, 16 May 2024 19:26:59 GMT

Pretty much every time someone finds out that I’m an orthodontist, they tell me something they wish they could change about their smile. Bank tellers, restaurant servers, the guy selling splat balls at the mall kiosk – they all point at their teeth and tell me their troubles. I nod while looking at their overbite or snaggle tooth and then invite them to come for a complimentary consultation for braces. Record scratch. “Braces?! I could never do braces!”

I get it. A mouth of metal (while more effective and comfortable than ever before thanks to the Damon bracket system) is a tough sell for some people, especially adults who may have PTSD about their previous experiences or feel they’re too old, too professional, or too busy for braces now.

That’s when I pull out my ace in the hole. “Have you considered Invisalign?” Eyes light up. “Yes! Do you do that?!” Why, yes I do. A whole lot of it.

Invisalign has advanced over the years to become an excellent tool for me to correct alignment for our patients with impressive results. Here’s the basics:

1. Invisalign straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners.

2. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan that I create at that complimentary consultation.

3. I send precise treatment instructions to Invisalign which translates these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners, as few as 12 or as many as 48.

4. Each aligner is worn for one week and only taken out to eat, brush and floss.

5. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually, week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained.

It’s really impressive technology, and I’ve been able to achieve fantastic results using it for hundreds of patients. In fact, I’m Chattanooga’s only Platinum Invisalign provider, which boils down to the fact that I’ve done my research and crafted the skill. Check out this video from my Facebook Live event to learn more about my approach:

Pretty cool right? Now listen, Invisalign is my preferred clear aligner treatment company. It has superior plastic and software over its competition. But it’s important to remember that the products the company provides are just that: plastic and software. It does not create the treatment plans or know its users’ individual goals. That’s my job as the orthodontist. Think of it like an artist with a paintbrush. The brush is the tool the artist uses to achieve his or her vision. Or, in the spirit of the Olympics, and my Canadian homeland, it’s the hockey stick in the player’s hand. The player has the talent, the stick is the tool used to score the winning goal.

So while there are many clear alignment treatments out there (looking at you, Smile Direct Club), consider the goal you’re going after. Are these clear aligners able to make your teeth straight? Sure, they can make your teeth straight(er). But with this unsupervised product, there is no specialist steering the course and making revisions when teeth begin to shift excessively, or your bite becomes misaligned. Taking a cheaper shortcut for what is supposed to be once-in-a-lifetime treatment has wound many people back into the orthodontist’s chair to correct an even more severe issue.

Even in the most mild cases, an orthodontist just does it easier, better and faster. The clear aligner companies sell a quick-fix, but orthodontists create smiles by hand and maintain the results. And at Scenic City Orthodontics, we have the 3D-printing technology in our office to create clear aligners inhouse and offer comparable cost as SDC, but with the security of specialized care. You don’t even have to take your own impressions over the bathroom sink – our skilled technicians do that for you, digitally (no goop!), during your complimentary consultation.

So as you can clearly see (get it?!), I’m passionate about providing my patients with a variety of treatment options to best meet your goals and financial needs. And I want you to be really happy with your new smile…not just happ(ier) than you were before. A clearly crafted smile is yours for the taking, so don’t settle. Click that little consult button today, and let’s get started!

Smiles Will Happen Here: Update on our New Building

Thu, 16 May 2024 19:16:04 GMT

If you’ve been part of our SCO family for any length of time (or maybe just know someone who is), you’ve heard or seen that we are building a new office. And then you’ve asked, “When is it going to be ready?!”

Now I would love to be able to give you, and myself, a hard fast answer, but we all know how these things go! What I can say is that we are one step closer, as we broke ground just last month! Of course I had to stop by to check on it myself, so here’s a quick video of just what we’ve got up our sleeves.

Definitely some exciting times ahead! We look forward to this convenient, central location right off the interstate with great neighbors and easy parking, and a building that truly reflects the vision of this office – to be fun and welcoming, with the latest in technology and most customized treatment available. Our team’s goal is to exceed your expectations every step of the way, and moving our current office into this new space will provide the ideal environment to do just that!

So while my official answer today to your question would be that I see us opening our new doors in the fall of 2018, check back here for more building updates along the way, and we’d love for you to follow our progress and stay connected on Instagram and Facebook!

Keep smiling,

Introducing Our New Kids Club: 7 & Up!

Thu, 16 May 2024 19:12:00 GMT

As an orthodontist, who happens to also be a dad of school-age kids, I spend a lot of time talking with fellow parents about teeth! It’s not at all strange to find me sitting in the bleachers at a softball or basketball game looking into a child’s mouth or talking to our neighbors about proper alignment at a barbeque. One of the questions I’m asked most often is:

“How do I know when it’s time for my child to see an orthodontist?”

While it varies in every situation, the official answer is that I, along with the the American Association of Orthodontists ( AAO ), recommend every child gets an initial evaluation at seven years old. During this age, the first permanent teeth are erupting, negative growth patterns such as underbites and crossbites can be identified, and major orthodontic problems can be prevented.

You might be thinking that seven seems young for braces, and most often, you’d be right! Our patients who come in for an appointment at this age rarely leave with braces. This complimentary evaluation is meant to identify growth issues and prevent more severe orthodontic complications from developing. Some examples of necessary treatment possible at this time would be for correcting thumbsucking, severe protrusion or a narrow palette. For the most part though, this visit is an introduction into our observation program, aptly named The 7-and-Up Kids Club!

In this program, we begin with that important appointment that evaluates your child’s dental development and health. Each subsequent visit down the road fills in the gaps a little more so that by the time your child has lost all those baby teeth and is ready for treatment, I have a very clear picture of the treatment plan that will produce the best results, which is of course, a beautiful smile. For more information, check out the full video below.

And like anything we do at Scenic City Orthodontics, we like to have a lot of fun along the way! That’s why our 7-and-Up Kids Club members get the VIP treatment every time they visit…from snapping selfies in the photo booth, filling up a goody cup, and collecting special 7-and-Up Kids Club pins to adorn his or her very own SCO lanyard, coming to our office will be the highlight of your child’s day!

So while I’m happy to take a look at your child’s mouth when we see each other out and about around Chattanooga, there is no better time and place to get started on that beautiful smile than scheduling your complimentary smile analysis at Scenic City Orthodontics today!

Christmas To-Do’s in Chattanooga: Winter Fun for Kids

Thu, 16 May 2024 18:46:27 GMT

As a dad of three kids, I know how it goes. They’ve been counting down the days since Thanksgiving til school gets out. Seriously, visions of no homework, staying up late and sleeping in dance in their heads…only to get two hours into Winter Break before the “I’m bored!” and “what are we doing today?” begins!

We all know and love the Enchanted Garden lights at Rock City and have enjoyed family outings to Ice on the Landing and Ruby Falls. But what’s a parent to do to curb the weekday stircrazy or provide a stimulating environment while you’re at work? Fortunately, we know a little bit here about what kids like and have put together a go-to list of winter break camps in the Chattanooga area this holiday season!

Creative Discovery Museum
Winter Break Camp: Celebrate Winter!
Grades: K – 5

Thursday, Dec. 21
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 22
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Tuesday, Jan. 2
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 3
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Thursday, Jan. 4
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

The kids are out of school. Now what? Avoid cabin fever this winter break and head to Creative Discovery Museum’s winter break camp for one, two, or all five days! It’s time to “Celebrate Winter!”

Campers will explore all things winter as they create tasty treats in Culinary Corner, craft wintry works of art and immerse themselves in seasonal stories. Time will be set aside each day for campers to explore the Museum.

“Celebrate Winter” is designed and run by professionals who know how to have fun with kids in a safe, nurturing environment. Our goal is for everyone to have fun while they learn about winter.

Registration: Reservations are required and can be made at cdmfun.org/camp For more information or to reserve by phone, call Nancy at (423) 648-6045 or Sheila at (423) 648-6040.

Chattanooga Zoo
Winter Wonder Camp 2017
Grades: K – 5

Wednesday, Dec. 20
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 21
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 22
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

– OR –

Wednesday, Dec. 27
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 28
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 27
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The Chattanooga Zoo is excited to announce the upcoming Winter Break Zoo Camp. Please join us as we explore an amazing Winter Wonder-Zoo! Each day will present campers with many exciting and adventurous experiences including crafts, games, animal enrichment, animal encounters, lessons, and MORE! Registration is open for all campers, grades Kindergarten to 5th grade. To accommodate busy Christmas schedules, two sessions are offered, and campers are able to register for individual days or the whole session of 3 days! Celebrate winter break with your favorite animal friends as we explore a Winter Wonder-Zoo.

Registration: http://www.chattzoo.org/education/camps

If you have any questions or concerns about Winter Wonder Zoo Camp, please email the education department or call 423-697-1322 ext: 5782

Bricks 4 Kids
Santa’s Workshop
Ages: 6 – 10

Wednesday, Dec. 20
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 21
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 22
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Come one day for $30 or all three for only $75. Different builds every day!

Santa is looking for LEGO-building elves to join his Bricks 4 Kidz workshop! There will be lots of Christmas builds and fun challenges to get everything ready in time for Christmas. We need your help! Santa’s helpers will build and help set-up the toy shop, while building holiday-themed models using LEGO bricks as well as special motorized models and other fun, festive creations.

Campers should bring a mid-morning snack, drink and lunch each day.

Registration: https://my.bricks4kidz.com/index.php?action=classdetail&record=185687

Tech Town
Winter Break Camp

Wednesday, Dec. 20 – Friday, Dec. 22
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Kilobytes (Ages 7-10) Film – Holiday Edition

DESCRIPTION
This Camp is for Young Innovators Ages 7 – 10

Have your Young Innovator join us for our Holiday Film Camp! Campers will have an opportunity to create their own Holiday Video Card, reenact scenes from their favorite Holiday Movie, Record

Karaoke Holiday Carol

Songs or Make short films about what the Holiday Season means to them.

We will also create Holiday videos to send to the local Senior Living facilities and Children’s Hospital.

Kilobytes (ages 7-10) 3D Design – Create a Winter Ornament

This Camp is for Young Innovators Ages 7 – 10

DESCRIPTION
This Camp is for Young Innovators Ages 7 – 10

Explore the fundamentals of 3D Design through hands-on and digital creation! Campers will have the opportunity to design an ornament of winter-themed object that will be 3D Printed for them to take home. All 3D Prints will be available for Campers to take home the last day of Camp.
Please Note: A Materials Fee is associated with this Camp. This fee is included in the price.

Megabytes (ages 11-17) Robotics – Snowball Edition

DESCRIPTION
This Camp is for Young Innovators Ages 11 – 17

Have you ever seen Robots having a snowball fight? Come to our Robotics Winter Camp and we will teach you to put together a robot that can throw a snowball (in reality a ping pong ball, but still VERY cool)! You will learn how to program a robot to move around and throw snow snowballs at designated targets. The winner will receive a trophy to take home at the end of the Camp Week!

Reading and basic typing skills required.

Reservations: https://gotechtown.org/adventures-and-camps/ *Lunch and Snacks provided*

GPS
Winter Camp 2018

Grades: K – 6

Tuesday, Jan. 2
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 3
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Thursday, Jan. 4
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Friday, Jan. 5
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Winter Camp allows girls and boys, grades K-6, to kick off the New Year with seasonal activities, crafts, snacks, games, swimming in our heated pool, and more! Choose the days that work for you—attend one, two, three, or all four days!

Downtown Family YMCA

Winter Break Camp
Ages: 5 – 12

Wednesday, Dec. 20 – Friday, Dec. 22
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Friday, Dec. 29
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday Jan. 2 – Friday, Jan. 5
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Break the boredom and come play at the Y over the holiday break! Enjoy swimming daily, structured routines, physical activities, socialization, and games. Choose the days that work for you – attend one day or two, three, or all four days!

Registration: contact Nicole Brogden at nbrogden@ymcachattanooga.org

Connect Training Center
Winter Softball Youth Camp
Ages: 5-14

Wednesday, Dec. 27 – Friday, Dec. 29
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Connect Training Center is hosting a 3-day Winter Softball Youth Camp. Campers will work on hitting, fielding, catching, and all other aspects of the game while having a blast with our future, current, and past college players. We will split up the girls into close age groups for the entire camp. This will benefit them because they will get to work in smaller groups and have more instruction.

Registration: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/asp/adm/main_enroll.asp?fl=true&tabID=7

FURY Baseball
Stephen Gaylor Holiday Camp

December 29
9:00 AM -12:00 PM (ages 5 – 12)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (ages 13 – 18)

Looking for a winter baseball camp to get you ready for spring season? Stephen is a big part of the Braves organization and is headed to our town to bring his big league skills and knowledge.

Registration: https://www.furyacademy.net/events

Soccer Shots
Winter Soccer Camp
Ages: 3 – 12

Wednesday, Dec. 20
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 21
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Soccer Shots is hosting a one- or two-day camp with hours of Indoor Soccer Shots fun with games, crafts, and snacks!

Registration: https://chattanooga.ssreg.org/?_ga=2.42600673.574997313.1511195961-984073532.1480516264

GCC Hixson
Holiday Camp
Ages: 4 – 11

Wednesday, Jan. 3 – Friday, Jan. 5
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

GCC Camp is perfect after-the-holidays fun for boys and girls! There will be gymnastics instruction, games, open gym and tons of fun!! All campers will need a sack lunch.

Registration: www.gccgymnastics.com or contact 423-877-5433 or gcchixson@gymcc.com

McCallie School
Holiday Minecraft Camp – Viking World & Theme Park
Ages: 7 – 11 (boys and girls)

Thursday, Dec. 21
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Join us for a holiday camp of exploring, trading, building, and creativity in Minecraft! We will first explore Viking World where campers will interact and trade with Custom NPC’s to complete quests that will unlock tools, supplies, weapons and armor for the players. They will ultimately cross the sea to locate the NPC Viking Outpost and build a Viking outpost of their own. Then campers will work to turn the Group Building World into a Minecraft theme park. What will we include in our theme park…roller coasters, water slides, Parkour, labyrinths? It will be a day full of Minecraft fun!

Registration: https://mccalliesummercamps.com/weekends-at-mccallie/

McCallie School
Holiday Tennis Clinics
Grades: K – 12 (boys and girls)

December 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (full day)
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (half day)
12:30 AM – 3:00 PM (half day)

Stay warm in our heated tennis center with six indoor courts! Tennis fun all day, with drills and running in the morning, followed by point and match play in the afternoon. And, of course, we will have holiday music too.

Registration: https://mccalliesummercamps.com/weekends-at-mccallie/

Enjoy this special time of the year with your family and friends and remember to share a smile with someone this holiday season!

Welcome: Smiles Happen Here!

Thu, 16 May 2024 18:31:56 GMT

Hello and welcome to the blog!

I’m so pumped to get this up and running so that we have a way to keep our patient families and friends in the loop about our office, events, cool things happening locally and the best ways to take care of the beautiful smiles we are creating together!

Before I dive into all things orthodontics, I feel like I should tell you a little about myself. I was born and raised in Canada, outside of Toronto, the youngest of three children. My parents both worked hard to give us opportunities to better ourselves, which ultimately led me to attend Southern Adventist University here in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I majored in biology and minored in chemistry and business, planning to go into medicine. That was until Dr. Fuller from the University of Alabama at Birmingham spoke to a class about the dental profession, and I was hooked.

I spent four years in dental school at UAB and graduated top of my class. I loved the craftsmanship of dentistry and decided to further that those skills by pursuing an orthodontics degree. By this time, my wife Stacey and I had been married for four years and were ready to start a family. Our first son, Ben, was born in January 2008, with his sister, Katie Beth, following in April 2010 – the same week we moved to Chattanooga and our next child was born…Scenic City Orthodontics! (We’ve since added another to brood; Will joined us in August 2012.)

Building this practice has been hard work, which I love, and the business-side is always changing and evolving. There is always new technology to learn – like our itero scanner and the advancements of the Invisalign system and self-ligating Damon brackets that provide the best treatment results. There are always new developments like the design and construction of our new location on Jenkins Road, scheduled to break ground in early 2018.

But the people side, the true heart of what I do, always stays the same. Here’s the deal: you can get braces or Invisalign literally anywhere these days…even on the internet! Families trust our office to provide the outstanding orthodontic care in an uplifting, comfortable environment that we have come to be known for. My team and I are 100% committed this mission statement and practice vision of exceeding our patients’ expectations in every conversation, every email, every phone call, every day. When we say, “smiles happen here”, we truly mean that – from the 7-year old who fills up her bag of treats from our candy wall after her first consultation, to the college-grad who finally feels confident smiling during his job interviews, to the mom who just really enjoys some quiet time in our lobby with a warm cup of coffee and a magazine, it is my goal that coming to our office is the best part of each patient’s day.

So, that’s my “why”! I now I look forward to talking about your “whys” here on this blog – “Why braces?” “Why do I need to wear my retainer every day?” Even “Why is Chattanooga such a cool place to live?” We’ll cover it all, and I hope you’ll join us for the ride!

Keep smiling, eh! Dr. Prentice