How important is your smile? From Dr. Martin

At the orthodontic office of Dr. Jennifer Martin, we are dedicated to using the most advanced orthodontic technology in order to provide comfortable, accurate, customized orthodontic treatments. Dr. Martin and our talented staff have been creating beautiful smiles in Pleasant Hill and Contra Costa County for years.

The bottom line is, we know having a beautiful smile is important to you. It’s important to us, too.

In fact, in a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there are choosing teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

When you’re ready to take the next step toward a healthier, straighter smile, please contact our practice and schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Martin.

Get to know your braces! From Dr. Jennifer Martin

We hope you're having a great weekend! Should you need to call our Pleasant Hill, CA office in case you sustain any damage to your braces, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.



Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Let Dr. Martin know if you have any questions during your next visit or on Facebook!

Access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

Access to your account, whenever you want, wherever you want it. Sounds perfect and convenient, right?

Patients at Jennifer Martin DDS enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week! You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home - anytime!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started! We'd love some feedback about this helpful service!

Invisalign patient testimonial [Video]

Dr. Martin and team came across this video last week, and realized that it's just what folks considering Invisalign need to see. Invisalign gets a ton of promotion online (including here on our blog), but people rarely get the see a clear cut, unbiased, point of view from someone who actually has chosen to straighten their teeth with Invisalign.

At the orthodontic office of Dr. Jennifer Martin, we get quite a lot of requests for Invisalign. We always let our patients know about the stages of Invisalign, as well as how one might first react to it. But, to hear it from someone actually wearing these clear aligners is something else.

Check out this video of a patient who has been wearing her aligners for only 10 minutes! Because they’re clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you! Please give us a call to set up a free initial consultation, so Dr. Martin can discuss the specifics of your treatment.