2016 is finally here.

For most of us, it means the beginning of yet another year of the “same-old, same-old.”

You know: The same old job. The same old snowy winter. The same old … you.

You can’t control the weather, and it’s unlikely that you’ll win the Powerball, but I’ve got some good news for you: You can actually do something about yourself for a change.

A new year should be a time for a new beginning. And while we can’t all leave our jobs and sail around the world just yet, you can endeavor to improve ourselves right where you are, beginning with the quality and appearance of your smile.

Indeed, one of the easiest and most long-lasting ways to change the same old you into a more confident and attractive version is choosing to believe that you’re worth it.

“But Am I Really Worth It?”

My team and I at Orthodontic Alliances believe that you are. We can help you ring in the new year with a variety of services a smile that can make your smile dreams a reality, this year and beyond.

Here are just a few of the ways I can help you shake up your “same old” smile, and give 2016 a run for its money (while saving you money in the long run).

Straighter Teeth For Greater Confidence

Over the years, you’ve gotten used to hiding your smile, but 2016 can be different. If you’ve got crooked or buck teeth, you don’t have to suffer the shame any longer, or risk complications like gum disease or tooth decay.

I offer a range of different braces technologies, including clear ceramic and nearly invisible Invisalign aligners. Both of them can correct the odd angles of those problem teeth without adding to the embarrassment that typically comes with metal braces.

Between a few months and a year or so, depending upon the extent we need to redirect the direction of your teeth, you’ll have the smile that’s always eluded you so you can ring in 2017 in style!

Eliminate Unnecessary Pain–Before It Gets Worse

Do you wake up with an ache in your jaw? Is it getting hard to talk? Did you spend Christmas wincing more than you did smiling (and not because you didn’t get the gifts you expected)?

You don’t have to put up with that pain, which could be caused by a number of factors, including a serious disorder of your jaw joints, called TMJ.

TMJ could also be caused by teeth grinding (or bruxism), which can wear down your natural tooth enamel, causing even greater damage.

Or maybe you’ve just been neglecting that cavity.

Whatever the source of your pain, we can treat it as painlessly as possible, but only if you quit putting it off for another year and do something about it.

Prevention For This Year And The Next

Maybe you think your smile is in pretty good shape. Maybe it is.

But “maybe” isn’t good enough, because without preventative care like regular check-ups and X-rays, you could be developing problems without even knowing it. And what you don’t know can hurt you or your child.

And we can help you and your family to maintain smile integrity from one year to the next, but only if you become proactive.

This is especially critical for children and adolescents, not only because prevention can spare them pain and prevent serious complications to their oral health, but it can help instill within them a careful, responsible mindset that will serve them well into adulthood.

And that’s what preventative dentistry is all about.

Putting An End To Embarrassment And Shame

Anything short of a perfect smile can make you feel self-conscious. It’s how you’ve felt for years, and you’ve just learned to accept it.

But it doesn’t mean 2016 has to play out in the same way.

By reducing gaps between your teeth, or fixing cracked or crooked teeth, you can look good on the outside and feel good on the inside. That’s having your cake and eating it too, minus the calories and the cavities!

Teenagers are very likely to experience self-esteem issues without having a smile that attracts the unwanted attention of bullies; it’s just a part of going through that phase as a young adult.

But if your child does have a problematic smile, then the effects on their sense of self-worth can be nothing short of devastating.

Just as you owe it to yourself to have a healthy smile, you owe it to them to do everything you can to make them stronger and healthier.

Because you can’t always be there to protect them, a beautiful smile can serve as a shield for the slings and arrows that come on the playground, the cafeteria, and elsewhere.

They’ll thank you for it when they’re older.

I hope that, by now, you can understand that the benefits of these procedures are not just cosmetic, even though they will improve your appearance by leaps and bounds.

They will also improve your total oral health, make hygiene easier and more efficient, and renew your levels of confidence beyond what you thought possible.

Don’t Wait Another Day, Much Less Another Year

My team and I are ready to help you or a child transition into a radiant and gorgeous smile. So pick up the phone and give my staff a call at 219-809-6584 to set up an appointment at any one of our conveniently located offices in Northern Indiana.

Or you can request an appointment online. It’ll take just a few moments for an appointment that will change your life.

2016 can be the start of something new, and it begins by refusing to settle for that same old smile!