Orthodontics and Your Child

Phase 1 and Phase 2 Orthodontics – Orthodontics and Your Child

When most people think of orthodontics, they typically think of "braces,” the metal bracket and wire system used to straighten permanent teeth. But certain orthodontic problems are far easier to correct in the early stages of a child's growth and development.

Waiting to begin treatment may actually make it more difficult to treat certain conditions. At Boschken Orthodontics, we believe that early interceptive orthodontic treatment can improve your child’s likelihood of achieving a beautiful, well-functioning bite and smile.

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children be seen by an orthodontist by the age of seven. The purpose of an early visit is to evaluate whether changes in the child’s skeletal and bite conditions are needed. If changes are needed, plans can be made to begin treatment at the ideal time.

 There are several advantages to early orthodontic treatment. If detected early, harmful habits can be corrected to avoid further, more extensive treatment. In addition, early treatment provides a variety of options that adolescent or adult treatment may be unable to offer. Dr. Boschken and his knowledgeable team will assess your child’s orthodontic needs and recommend options for treatment.

Phase 1 Orthodontic treatment generally occurs on children between the ages of 7 and 10, when the child still has a mixture of primary and permanent teeth. Phase 1 treatment usually lasts about 6-18 months, and the primary objective is to address significant problems to prevent more severe conditions from arising.  By addressing early orthodontic needs we can help improve a child's self-esteem and self-image, avoid unnecessary and costly removal of permanent healthy teeth, and shorten overall treatment time. Most children may still need full braces even after Phase 1 treatment.

Phase 2 Orthodontics typically occurs around 11+ years of age, once all of the adult teeth have erupted.

Please contact Boschken Orthodontics with any questions and to schedule your complimentary evaluation at our beautiful South San Jose location. (408) 225-6660

Recipes to help with orthodontic discomfort

Easy, yummy sample recipes to help with occasional orthodontic discomfort!  Enjoy!!

Strawberry Freeze

½ cup plain non-fat yogurt
2 T non-fat dry milk powder
½ cup orange juice
1 ¼ cups frozen or fresh strawberries
½ medium banana, ripe, cut into chunks
2 packets sugar substitute or more to taste
Dash of vanilla extract
3 ice cubes

Place ice cubes in blender first. Add remaining ingredients. Process on low until ice begins to blend into mixture. Increase speed to high and process until smooth. Pour into chilled glass and enjoy!!

Baked Potato Soup

3 strips bacon
2 T. butter
3 T. flour
3 cups milk
grated cheese
1 ½ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
5 potatoes – boil, peel, diced
2 T. minced onion

Fry bacon with onions together – save grease. Place 1 T bacon grease in double boiler in which butter has been melted. Blend in flour and add milk, stirring constantly. Cook until smooth and thickened. Add salt and pepper, then cooked, diced potatoes, onion and crumbled bacon. Stir- garnish with grated cheese as served.

Chicken Tetrazini

½ chopped green pepper
4 oz. can or jar of sliced mushrooms
8 oz thin spaghetti (or any noodle) cooked and drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup thin slivered almonds
1 onion minced
½ cup butter
2 cups chopped chicken cooked
1 cup milk
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of pepper
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Sauté green pepper, onion in butter
Mix all ingredients together except cheese and put in 2-quart casserole. Bake at 340 degrees for 30 minutes. Top with cheese and bake until melted.

Chipotle-Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

2 ½ lbs. potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 inch cubes
2 ½ t. salt
1 cup milk
1 T butter
1/8 t. ground cinnamon
1 cup shredded white sharp cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
2 canned Chipolte Chilies in Adobo, chopped
1 t. Adobo Sauce from canned chipolte.

In large saucepan, combine potatoes, salt and enough cold water to cover potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; gently boil until fork tender

In small saucepan, combine milk, butter, and cinnamon and remaining salt. Set aside.

Drain potatoes. Return potatoes to sauce pan. Place over medium heat; toss about 1 minute to dry out. Remove from heat; add cheese; stir to combine. Add milk mixture; chipolte and Adobo Sauce. Mash.

Flan

½ cup sugar
1 2/3 cups (1 can) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup milk
3 eggs
3 egg yolks
1 t. vanilla

In round 9” cake pan, sprinkle sugar evenly. Place over medium heat on burner and shake until sugar is caramelized (light golden brown) [watch carefully – this only takes a minute or two and it burns very easily]
Combine other ingredients and mix. Pour over caramelized sugar. Cover with foil. Place cake pan in another larger, shallow pan filled with enough water so that the cake pan with ingredients will be covered halfway. Bake 55 minutes at 250° in this water bath. Uncover and cool 30 minutes. Loosen edges with knife. Carefully flip over onto a large plate - it's easiest to place the plate upside down on the rim of the pan and turn them both over together, then slowly lift the pan to reveal the flan. Cut into pie-like pieces.

~And as always, be certain to brush and floss after every meal!! 

Yelp reviews for Boschken Orthodontics

In love with your smile? We invite you to share your review of us on Yelp!

For years, Boschken Orthodontics has set the standard of excellence in orthodontic care. With offices in San Jose, Los Altos, and Mountain View, Dr. David  Boschken provides a winning smile and improved self-confidence to every patient.

Whether you've visited our office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our offices are faring! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice on the Web, but we encourage you to head to our Yelp page and write  a review there.

After all, reviews help Dr. Boschken and our team create more beautiful smiles!

You may want to simply click here for San Jose or  here for Mountain View to get started, and as always we thank you for your participation.

Boschken Orthodontics Insurance Billing and Financing Options

There are many different agreements between insurance carriers and their subscribers, and each contract provides a different benefit. However, orthodontic insurance generally differs from regular dental insurance in that each insured individual usually has a lifetime maximum benefit for orthodontic services. This benefit is paid as a percentage of the orthodontic fee (initial fee, monthly payments, etc.) until the benefit maximum has been reached. Also notable is that orthodontic benefits are paid in small installments throughout the course of treatment rather than in one lump sum.  If your insurance changes during orthodontic treatment, we may not receive your full benefit. Please advise us if your insurance is going to change or terminate as soon as possible.  We are happy to promptly resubmit to new carriers if you inform us. Remember too that fees incurred for lost or broken appliances and retainers will not be covered by insurance. 

For your convenience, we are flexible on our payment plans and do accept payment from insurance companies. As a courtesy, we will gladly submit claims on your behalf.   When our Treatment coordinator goes over Dr. Boschken’s fees, she will give you the total amount due for that particular patient’s treatment plan.  Financial arrangements can be made based on your estimated insurance benefit estimate. This allows our patients to budget for a monthly fee.  Payments are also accepted on Visa, MasterCard and Discover (and payments can be made on-line too!). A down payment of 30 percent is due at the time of service when braces are applied to the patient’s teeth. Seriously delinquent accounts (90 days past due) will lead to delayed treatment progress or the removal of orthodontic appliances.

Helpful hints:

§                                 Know what your benefits are before treatment starts. Our treatment coordinator will gladly verify estimated coverage over the phone on your behalf. If you’re ever unsure, please contact your insurance company.

§                                 Our Insurance Coordinator will be glad to file claims on your behalf. We simply need your carrier information (including the phone number) , the employer information and the insured social security or i.d. number before treatment has begun.

§                                 We cannot render services on the assumption that our charges will be paid by an insurance carrier. Simply stated, you must be making regular monthly payments to be credited to your account in addition to monies expected from the insurance company.

Orthodontic care requires a specific-term financial commitment, and we do offer no-interest monthly payment options, credit card acceptance and paid-in-full discounts. Please speak to our financial or treatment coordinators ahead of time if you anticipate problems making payments.

A monthly payment is due regardless of your appointment dates. While you may have an appointment with Dr. Boschken every five to six weeks, your monthly payment is still due.(Please note that each payment does not reflect one particular visit. Rather, your overall treatment fee is divided into monthly payments to make braces more affordable. For example, you may have 24 monthly payments in your contract, but Dr. Boschken may have seen you 20 times or 40 times throughout your treatment.)

We also do offer third party financing, some plans are interest free!

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. We appreciate all of our patients, and we want to do our best to serve you.



Boschken Orthodontics talks about: fluoride

During Orthodontic treatment @ Boschken Orthodontics… is Fluoride Friend or Foe?

 There are many ways you protect your teeth during your treatment with Dr. Boschken. You brush your teeth after meals and snacks, floss regularly, and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged by watching foods you eat and wearing a mouth guard during contact sports . But did you know about fluoride to keep your teeth sparkling and healthy during orthodontic treatment to protect against tooth decay and white marks around your braces during treatment?


Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay to keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical applied directly on the teeth or as part of your diet in a supplement. The most commonly used is the topical form found in toothpaste or in a fluoride rinse. The team at Boschken Orthodontics recommends fluoride to help maintain healthy teeth for children, teens, and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Fluoride used in your general dental office is a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash you can buy over the counter at your local grocery or drug store. If your general dentist prescribes a fluoride product, it usually only takes just a few minutes to apply after your regular cleaning. Once applied, it is suggested patients not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.
Your general dentist will determine how often to repeat the fluoride process; every 6 months – once a year, especially for kids who poor brushing habits. Additional in house fluoride products such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses are recommended for additional protection of your teeth during treatment to prevent decalcification or white marks around the braces due to poor brushing habits. So obviously, when all is said an done… fluoride is your friend during orthodontic treatment.
When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness when using a dental product.

At Boschken Orthodontics, we are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you or someone in your family is interested more information about how we can help achieve the smile you deserve, please contact our office for a complimentary examination!

Temporal Mandibular Joint Disorder

What Is TMJ?

Technically, TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, or jaw joint, one of which is located on each side of the head. These joints are where the lower jaw, or mandible (MAN-di-bul), meets the temporal (TEM-po-ral) bone, which is one of a pair of bones that form the lower part of the

Side view of a temporomandibular joint.

Each temporomandibular joint acts as both a hinge and a gliding joint; they allow the jaw to open and to slide from side to side.TMJ also refers to temporomandibular joint syndrome (or disorder), in which the joints do not function properly. This may cause pain, difficulty opening and closing the mouth easily, or problems with chewing and swallowing, as well as other symptoms.

What Are the Causes of TMJ?

TMJ can be caused by dislocated temporomandibular joints or by inherited problems with the joints. In a condition called bruxism (BRUK-siz-um), some people grind their teeth during sleep or times of stress, which can lead to TMJ. Malocclusion, when teeth do not fit together properly; whiplash injuries * from car accidents; being hit on the head or jaw; and arthritis ^* are other causes of TMJ.

What Are the Symptoms of TMJ?

Since the TMJ joint is located near many important nerves going between the brain and many parts of the body, the symptoms can be felt in parts of the body that do not seem related to the TMJ joint. Millions of Americans report some of the following symptoms:

• Frequent headaches
• Pain in the face, sinuses, ears, eyes, teeth, neck, and back
• Clicking sounds in the jaw
• Difficulty in opening or closing the mouth
• Trouble chewing or swallowing

How Is TMJ Diagnosed and Treated?

Doctors or dentists will ask the patient to describe the symptoms and will then examine the patient. Sometimes, x-rays and MRIs ^* are used to examine the joints to diagnose TMJ.
Hot compresses and over-the-counter pain medications may help relieve TMJ. Stress management and mouth guards worn at night can help eliminate teeth grinding and its effects.

^* whiplash injuries describe general injuries to the spine and spinal cord at the junction of the fourth and fifth vertebrae  in the neck occurring as a result of rapid acceleration or deceleration of the body.
^* arthritis refers to any of several disorders characterized by inflammation of the joints.
^* MRI, which is short for magnetic resonance imaging, produces computerized images of internal body tissues based on the magnetic properties of atoms within the body.

Ask Dr. Boscken if you have any signs or symptoms which concern you. We are happy to guide you in resolving concerns!

Meet the Team!

Kristen has been a dental assistant for 7 years. She joined our practice over a year ago and has 6 years experience in cosmetic dentistry. Kristen grew up in Montana and currently lives with her husband and daughter in Boulder Creek. On the weekends you will find her playing any and all outdoor sports and spending time with her family.

Lindsay has been the treatment coordinator for Boschken Orthodontics for 3 years. She has over 10 years experience in the dental and orthodontic field. She grew up in South San Jose and still resides in the neighborhood with her husband and daughter. On the weekends you can find Lindsay riding her mountain bike, running, camping, wakeboarding, snowboarding, watching football and spending time with her family.

Lisa has been a Registered Dental Assistant for 13 years and has really enjoyed orthodontics the last 4 of those years. She is a people person and an occasional practical joker. She has a caring personality with a special place in her heart for animals. She enjoys camping with her husband and friends. Like most Pisces, Lisa loves water.

Sonya is our Patient Relations Coordinator and Registered Dental Assistant (for 26 years!) She has been with Boschken Orthodontics since 2002 and enjoys all aspects of Orthodontic care. If you have any questions regarding treatment, please let her know-she is such a people person! She is also chief in charge of our office contests, and social networking/blog sites so let her know about the fun things happening in your community! Sonya lives in Sunnyvale with her fabulous husband, wonderful son, energetic dog and crazy cat. In her spare time she enjoys photography, the beach, volunteering, movies, paper crafts, baseball and swimming.

Victoria has been a Registered Dental Assistant for 17 years and joined Dr. Boschken’s team ten years ago. She has experience in both pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. Her favorite part of her job is working with kids. She loves the group she works with and loves coming to work every day. Victoria lives in San Jose with her husband and her daughter, Alex.

Nicole is our financial coordinator. She joined our team in August 2006 and has been the backbone of our practice. She lives in San Jose with her husband and two dogs. A few of her favorite hobbies include scuba diving, party planning, and gardening.