CD Orthodontics Blog New Hudson MI

A small peak into Cancer Research by Jens Schmidt (PhD)

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Dr. Christine DeMarti

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Jens Schmidt, and I am Dr. Chrissy’s husband. I grew up in Germany and I was an exchange student for my junior year in high school in Mayville, MI. As part of my undergraduate I came back for a research internship at the University of Michigan, during which I met Chrissy. I permanently moved to the US when I began graduate school at MIT, while Chrissy was in dental school at Boston University. I did my post-doctoral work in Colorado with Tom Cech, Nobel Prize Laureate for his work on RNA. I have a PhD in biology and now run a research lab at Michigan State University.

My research is focused on understanding how cancer cells keep growing. Our bodies are made up of trillions of tiny cells that carry out all kinds of different functions. Blood cells take oxygen to all parts of our body, brain cells help us think, move, and sense our environment. Basically, each cell has a very specific set of instructions on what to do. Part of these instructions is how much to grow. Our cells have a built-in timer that tells them when to stop growing. In cancers this timer is broken, and cells keep growing completely uncontrolled. In my lab we are trying to figure out how this timer works at the molecular level. The ultimate goal is to develop therapeutics that reactivate the timer in cancer cells to force them to stop growing.

In practice what that means is we use microscopes to shoot lasers at cells, so we can watch and study how molecules work in cancer cells. We then manipulate the cells, often using genome editing, to see how it changes how the molecules behave. Research is extremely rewarding, we do experiments that no one else in the world has done before, and we constantly learn new things. At the same time, it requires a lot of persistence and patience since most the time our experiments fail due to a variety of reasons. At the end of the day it is all worth it since we take slow but progressive steps forward to learn how our cells and bodies work and to develop new therapies that can be used to treat cancer and other diseases.

Spark, Invisalign, Ulab…. Clear aligners? What does it mean?

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Dr. Christine DeMarti

In my office I am using Spark clear aligners. This is confusing because most patients are used to seeing Invisalign. Invisalign is sort of like the Kleenex of clear aligners. When you are walking around asking for Kleenex, you really mean tissue. This is the same for clear aligners and Invisalign. You may even go to an office that uses Spark or 3m Clarity aligners, but they still call it Invisalign because patients know it as that. I typically say clear aligner, because there are so many options. I am not one that tries to hide something from my patients, and I am really happy with the product that Ormco has offered with Spark. I am writing this article to help you see why this product is being used here and in so many orthodontic offices that I know. I am confident this product will be extremely popular in the next year or two as more people discover how great it is!

Ormco is a very well-established orthodontic company (over 50 years) that has been extremely successful with the Damon bracket. You may be familiar with this bracket because Ormco somehow marketed the bracket beyond just orthodontists. In fact, I have patients that come into the office and ask specifically for Damon braces. This has always been so interesting to me. There are MANY different brands of braces and orthodontists all have their own preference. In the end it’s a tool and as long as you have a quality bracket you can get a great result! I did a lot of research for just about every material and machine in my office. I don’t want a “cheap” option, I want something efficient and reliable. So here we are with Ormco Spark clear aligners, and American Empower braces. Two trusted, reliable, and well-made products that I am proud to use in my office.

Why is Invisalign that big name? Invisalign was the first AND ONLY clear aligner on the market for many years. This is because they had a patent that prevented other companies from coming on the market with another clear aligner. What’s that called again… oh yea, monopoly. That was until the patent ran out. Since then, most orthodontic companies have attempted to mimic what Invisalign has. Some have done it better than others, some have completely failed. But when we sit back and really evaluate the good and the bad, we can realize that competition is the best for everyone! By having more products on the market, we get better products. Everyone is always working to improve. It also creates an environment where we can get better pricing which equates to savings for the patient! Some offices will have an “upcharge” for clear aligner treatment. I prefer to offer both at the same price, which is based on complexity of treatment.

A point that I want to be clear, the orthodontist does the treatment plan. While the software is programmed with certain codes, a well-trained orthodontist plans the tooth movement and takes into account biology, facial esthetics and more. The primary purpose of these companies is providing the software (which is great with both Invisalign and spark) and manufacturing aligners.

Which brings me to my next point, I also have uLab software and a 3d printer, which allows me to make clear aligners in my office. This is a great option for someone who lost retainers and needs a small movement and just a small amount of trays. By doing this we can avoid paying a large lab fee to the big box companies, which allows me to pass savings on to my patients.

If you are interested in learning more about spark aligners you can visit their website. You can also come in for a complimentary consultation where we can go over the best option for you. At the end of the day, it’s a tool for me to use. I wouldn’t choose any crummy aligner, that would make my life more complicated! I am confident that with Spark aligners and excellent wear we are going to get you the best results possible!

Getting Rid of Diet Culture

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Dr. Christine DeMarti

We celebrated Fat Tuesday this week and I got Paczki for my office. I had more than one person remark about me eating one, which immediately got my thoughts turning…. UGH! Diet culture. Why do people comment on ME having a paczki? Is it because I do CrossFit? Is it that all women in general expect that we shouldn’t eat “forbidden foods”? Years ago, you would have found me skipping the donuts in a quest for a smaller body. But two things changed, I found CrossFit (shocker, CrossFit helped me leave diet culture), and I became a (girl) mom.

About six years ago I started the process of motherhood. I got pregnant and told myself I was done with unhealthy dieting. Then I had my daughter, and I knew I needed to be extra serious. I didn’t want her to grow up hating her body or feeling like she needed to diet. For reference, I remember starting my first diet in third grade. I packed my lunch; a turkey sandwich, an orange, and a few pretzels, I ate this for years!! I hated my body. I spent a long part of my teens and twenties over exercising and obsessing about what I would eat. It stole so much time from me that I could have been enjoying life. I didn’t want that for my daughter, and so I knew when I was having a girl, I needed to find a balance. I threw away my scale and over the years I have somehow found a balance that 6 years ago I wouldn’t have known was possible. If I want a donut on a Tuesday, I eat it and I will not punish myself for the week. I know what people are saying, well you eat really healthy Chrissy, broccoli and eggs and chicken.. etc…. True, I do have a pretty nutrient dense diet 80% of the time because I know that is what helps me feel my best. But that other 20% is where the balance fits in that allows me to eat pancakes on Sunday morning with my kids. To model that it’s okay to eat pancakes, and we need broccoli to help our brain, and chicken to grow muscles. In general we don’t talk about food as good or bad.

Another thing that really helped me let go of diet culture was Crossfit. I know, Crossfitters seem pretty intense, it is assumed we all eat paleo or count our macros. That’s really not true. CrossFit actually gave me permission to start to love my body and my size, I could use my strength to achieve. And what do you need to grow strength and have energy, food! Food turned into fuel rather than a reward or punishment system. I don’t work out so I can eat more, I also don’t eat a donut and think I need to work out! I eat a mostly nutrient dense diet to keep me fueled so I can continue to excel in CrossFit, but I enjoy all food.

I am not saying there is a magic solution to diet culture. But what we can do is change the future for our daughters (and sons!). We can teach kids to love their bodies regardless of their size. Their worth is not connected to their size or their beauty! We also need to change things for adults too. Because when we stop spending so much time agonizing over our body and what we cannot eat, we can take that time and use it for good! We can enjoy that cookie with our kid on a Friday night, we can kick butt at the CrossFit workout on Saturday morning, and we can run around with our kids in the park on a sunny day.

Also, would you believe I ate closer to two paczki? And you know what I didn’t do, I didn’t skip dinner and I didn’t go workout that day. I didn’t punish myself the next day either.

It’s time to end diet culture. We are more than our size; we are more than our looks. When we stop focusing so much on those things and put it towards other parts of our lives we can excel. And you might just find when you stop obsessing, things just fall right into place. I am teaching my daughters to love themselves just the way they are, to not stress over how they look. With the goal that instead they can use all of that energy to study hard, excel in sports, or just enjoy life! Of course, I have a long road ahead of me, but I think we are heading in the right direction!

Braces or Invisalign, what is the right option for YOU?

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Dr. Christine DeMarti

People of all ages are seeking treatment to improve their smile. While it may seem like getting braces as an adult is silly, I tend to disagree. I place braces on adults every single day. I actually think it shows you value your smile and your teeth. If braces seem like too much for you, there are clear aligners like Invisalign or spark. For most patients either braces or clear trays are an option. I always tell my patients these are two tools, and as an orthodontic specialist I am an expert in both. So, which one is right for you? When you come in for a consultation, we will do a thorough evaluation and discuss your goals. From there we will figure out which option is best for you, because everyone is different. Basically, there are pros and cons to both.

For a person who is interested in something esthetic, Invisalign or clear aligners may be the better option. Typically, you will have some tooth-colored buttons on your teeth to aid in tooth movement, but with the trays in they are basically invisible. The problem with the invisible trays is that you can’t eat or drink anything other than plain water with them in. Meaning you will either have to take them in and out to snack and then brush, or drop your snacking habit in order to stick to the 22hour wear time. That also means you cannot leave them in when drinking your coffee or other sorts of drinks. This can cause problems for some people because they may enjoy sipping coffee or enjoying other beverages.

With braces you can eat and drink throughout the day as you please.*** So, while you have a little more freedom to sip on your coffee or other beverages, you are restricted to things you can eat. We recommend you do not eat anything too sticky, chewy or crunchy with braces on because you risk breaking a bracket.

The biggest difference between braces and clear trays mostly lies in compliance. If the trays aren’t in for 22 hours a day you won’t get the desired results. Many of my patients understand this and they know their tendencies, so we opt for braces. The braces are glued to your teeth, so as long as you are coming to your regularly scheduled visits with your orthodontic specialist you are going to have straight teeth!

Are you still struggling with which option is best for you? I would recommend coming in for a complimentary consultation and I would be happy to review everything with you and we can figure out what is best for you! But don’t let the idea of braces scare you off! If you want straight teeth, put in the time and effort and I will give you the desired results!

*** Sipping on drinks other than plain water throughout the day can lead to cavities, so it is not recommended with or without orthodontic appliances.

Why I chose Adult Braces!

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Dr. Christine DeMarti

I put braces on myself last week. Yes, I actually put them on myself. To be honest, I had been contemplating this for years now, but I finally just went for it! Once I did it, I thought to myself, why did I wait so long to do this.

One of the things holding me back was that I wasn’t sure I would be able to place them accurately, but I actually had no problem at all! The position of the bracket is everything, if it’s not exactly correct then it won’t straighten the tooth the way we need it to, it’s really an art that takes time to master. I also felt weird about having braces, like I would be embarrassed. Turns out I actually don’t care! Plus, in the current times we are all wearing masks most of the time and there are not many social activities so it’s a great time to do it.

A lot of people are looking at me like I am crazy. “Why did you put braces on! Your teeth were straight!” There is more to a smile than your teeth just being straight. There is the width of your smile, the smile arc, the way your teeth show when you smile. It is an art, an art that I have mastered (am mastering, always learning) as an orthodontic specialist. I finished my residency 6 years ago, but I have been immersed in the orthodontic world for almost 9 years now, hard to believe. I spend a large portion of my day either seeing patients, or in orthodontic Facebook groups evaluating other cases. To say I am obsessed is an understatement, I LOVE MY JOB! I take braces off about 8-10 patients a week and I see these perfect smiles, which is so amazing. But I finally realized I deserve the perfect smile. We all do!

The next question is, why didn’t I choose a clear aligner like Invisalign or Spark. I actually have done Invisalign on myself and I was not the best patient. I don’t love wearing the trays and because I can take them out whenever, I did. I was not motivated at all. The other day I tried to take my braces “out” then I remembered I didn’t have clear aligners in so I couldn’t. Some of the movements I wanted to do were also so precise that I knew if I didn’t wear my aligners 22 hours a day, my teeth wouldn’t change. A lot of the changes I want to make are more in the root level and those movements take more force and so braces was just the better choice for me.

This is not to say clear aligners don’t work, they work amazing if you wear them well. If you are motivated, I would highly recommend seeking out clear aligner treatment. But If you are concerned, just get braces. These days everyone wants the perfect smile. Wearing braces just shows that you care about your teeth and you are on your path to a better smile.

No matter your age, 7 or 70, we all deserve a perfect smile. So, if you are looking to straighten your teeth, even just the tiniest details, I am the person you are looking for! I promise you; braces aren’t that bad. I currently know from personal experience. 

LET’S GET YOU THE PERFECT SMILE! Call our office for a complimentary consultation. At that appointment we can discuss which option is best for you.

Work life balance as a mom, Orthodontist, and small business owner

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Dr. Christine DeMarti

As a child I always knew two things I wanted to be when I grew up: a mom and an orthodontist. I never thought about how I would balance that, or how it would work, I just went for it. One of my motivations was my own mom. You may think she was a dentist or a doctor, but she was actually a jack of all trades. She went where the job was, worked hard, and they saw her value. She has street smarts, is compassionate, friendly and fun, which made her a great addition to all of the jobs she has had. Her work ethic motivated me, and I wouldn’t be where I am without her. Beyond work she was always at all of my events cheering me on! She has given me so much support over the years, especially when I was in school for 10+ years! In undergraduate she used to drive out to Ann Arbor to pick up my laundry. She’s the kind of mom we all deserve. I think she is a rock star.

So we are all searching for this idea of balance as a mom and in our personal life. For me being a small business owner, an orthodontist and a mom can be overwhelming at times. What keeps me motivated is passion. I love going to work! Not many people get to say that. Making beautiful smiles is so satisfying! I also get to interact with people of all ages all day and it’s a lot of fun! I am not an orthodontist who takes a back seat to patient care, I prefer to be up in the action talking to patients, I am very hands on. In fact, in my own small business I currently do it all! Pictures, x-rays, place your braces, do your adjustment, go over all of the important information. It can be exhausting at times to be doing so much, but I feel so fulfilled! On the days when I am not at CD Orthodontics I work in another office. This means I am currently working 6 days a week, but the plan is to eventually transition to full time in my own space. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have time for myself, but I know in the long run the investment I am making now will pay off in the future when I am able to take off a random Wednesday afternoon to go watch my kids dance recital, or schedule patients around school drop off, especially on the first day of school!

To tie everything together, whether you are a stay-at-home mom, working mom, single mom, however you describe yourself we are all doing the best we can and we are all GOOD moms! There is often this tendency to feel like we are not doing enough, whether that is at work or at home. #MOMGUILT. At the end of the day our kids love us, they look up to us and all they need is our presence, care and support. In 2021 I hope to drop the mom guilt and just be present! I hope to model kindness, hard work, and compassion. And I hope I my kids grow up to think of me as a rock star the same way I look at my mom.

** Also, I couldn’t do any of this without my amazing husband Jens who helps at home, with the kids, and in the business.