Smiling in Italy

It always feels good when someone appreciates something you've done, but it is even more rewarding when you can change someone's whole self image.

Today I was speaking to the father of one of my teen patients. He said "Oh my god Dr. Okun, I have to tell you. I have to tell you that my daughter's smile is so gorgeous. We went to Italy this summer, I'm an Italian American, but anyway, she knocked them dead over there. The men and the boys. You did it. It was entirely you."

When you feel good about your smile, you smile more often. And when you're smiling, people smile back at you. Being surrounded by those return- smiles makes you feel more confident, and then you change your posture, and how you present yourself. This is how I was able to change this young lady's life. With braces and dentofacial orthopedics, I changed the balance of her face, and how her teeth supported her lips, which changed her smile and her entire self image. This new self-confidence also changed her whole experience in Italy!

How Can You Have Fun If You’re Embarrassed To Smile?

Last night Okun Orthodontics was a sponsor for the WFAS “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” event at the Riverview in Hastings-on-Hudson. Our presentation was based on the fact that its hard to have fun if you’re embarrassed to smile (because your teeth don’t look nice) or if you’re in too much pain to smile (from jaw-joint or face pain either due to an accident or from clenching/grinding your teeth.) One of the ladies said to Dr. Okun, “It’s so true” and started relating to me the story of how she used to have horrible self esteem because she was embarrassed to smile. After a lot of dental work- which she had in her twenties- she loved her smile, and smiled all the time, and developed a great self-image. Recently, however, she has not been able to afford to go to the dentist to maintain her dental work and she said that she is now emotionally back to where she was before her dental work was done. Dr. Judith Okun is the one to see if you need to “get your smile back”. She can create the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted with straight teeth and no TMJ pain.

A beautiful smile can change your self image.

A beautiful smile can change your self image. It’s never too late to wear braces. Although orthodontic need can be evaluated in children as young as age 7 (to guide growth and create the proper balance for teeth to erupt), adults often wear braces to help them achieve that winning smile they never had, or to help them look young again. Dr. Judith A. Okun is a board certified orthodontist committed to providing her patients with comprehensive orthodontic care and TMJ treatment. When she eliminates jaw-joint and face pain in patients who grind their teeth or have sustained a trauma to the jaw, she helps “TMJ patients” to smile too. Dr. Okun incorporates the latest technology, including the Electro-Acuscope/Myopulse System for pain management; metal, clear, lingual and removable braces, aligner treatment (Clear Correct/ Invisalign), temporary anchorage devices, dental- guards for TMJ, and custom athletic mouth-guards. Our technological advancements include digital x-rays, photos and study models, as well as 24/7 patient access web services. You too can have a beautiful smile.

Dr. Okun Honored by TopDoc New York

Dr. Judith Okun has been honored by Topdoc New York who will be filming a video about her practice this month. As of 2011 TopDoc USA has started their NY campaign. It is honoring "Doctors and Dentists who have been chosen because of their professional qualification, recommendation by peers or because of popular ranking by patients on review websites such as : Web MD, Yelp, Rate MD, Health Grades, Physician Reports, Dr. Oogle and other leading independent healthcare rating companies... Starting in 2011, Top Doc will run a sement on Fox titled 'Meet the 2011 Top Doctors and Dentists.'" The Segment will air weekly inside the Dr. Oz show and will feature award-winning Doctors and Dentists considered to be in the top 10% of the region's medical professionals.' -info on Top Doc quoted from hubpages.com
Top Doc will also host a website for Dr. Okun which will include the following information:
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to get acquainted with me and learn about my practice. My name is Dr. Judith Okun, and I have been providing comprehensive orthodontic and TMJ care in Rye Brook, NY for over 20 years. I take pride in the fact that my patients regularly refer friends and family, and that I often treat multiple generations in the same family.
I look forward to your first visit to my office, when we can become acquainted with each other and you can experience our warm and caring atmosphere. At this visit I will do a preliminary evaluation of your facial development and alignment of your teeth in order to determine whether you might benefit from orthodontic or TMJ treatment, or from a custom athletic mouth guard, and determine the ideal time to start treatment. Full diagnostic records will be taken at your second visit.
We are proud of the technology we use in our practice such as:
Digital radiography, charting and scheduling. Orthocad Digital study models.
Biomedical Technology’s Electro-Accuscope/Myopulse system for pain management. Drufomat scan pressure formed athletic mouth guards and clear retainers.TAD’s (temporary orthodontic anchorage devices). We have an interactive website (www.okunortho.com) where patients can sign in and view their own digital images, appointment schedule, and financial information. Our patients can also sign up for e-mail and text appointment-reminders.

Swine Flu Awareness in New York State

I recently attended the NYS mandated Infection Control lecture. The following text was in one of the handouts from the New York State Department of Health:

"It is important to note that ordinary seasonal flu, which has symptoms similar to swine flu, is still active in New York State. Precautionary measures for both seasonal flu and swine flu include:

-Washing your hands often with soap and warm water. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also effective.

-Avoiding people who are ill.

-Staying home from work or school if you are sick.

-Using a tissue when you cough, sneeze or spit, and dispose of the tissue in a covered trash bin.

-Keeping hands away from your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

-Cleaning shared space more often such as phone receivers, keyboards, steering wheels and office equipment.

-Refraining from sharing personal items such as forks, spoons, toothbrushes and towels.

--Dr. Okun

Another Satisfied Patient from Okun Orthodontics

From our great staff to our state-of-the-art technology, patients love coming to Okun Orthodontics. Read this letter from a very happy patient!

Dear Dr. Okun

I am writing to thank you and commend you for your care over the past two years. As you know, I have suffered with jaw pain for years which after a particularly stressful time in my life led to a very painful “locking” of my jaw. I was unable to open my mouth and getting routine x-rays at my dentist’s office was extremely painful.

After being referred to you by my dentist, I was immediately impressed by your professionalism and thoroughness. Your explanations every step of the way put my mind at ease. I was fitted for a biteplate to wear daily to ease the pressure on my jaw. I went from wearing the device all day to wearing it only at night.

While there is no “cure” for my ailment, the biteplate has helped with the management of the jaw pain. Another thing that helped was the energy medicine that you recommended. The goal of the medicine is to “decrease the pain and spasm of the muscles in the face and jaw”. While I must admit I was skeptical at first by this “alternative medicine”, after sitting at the machine I would feel my jaw relax and sometimes a headache I was suffering from would even ease. I did not realize how well the medicine made me feel until I came back for a follow up appointment months later and did not think I needed the energy medicine. I did try it again however, and I was amazed at the difference it made, my face even looked more relaxed when I left.

I would just like to thank you again for your patience, care and for helping me to manage my jaw pain.

Sincerely,
M.H.