Smile for a Lifetime Foundation of Battle Creek & Marshall

NEW FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE FREE ORTHODONTIC CARE:  “Smile for a Lifetime” is a national foundation focused on helping young people improve their lives through the gift of a new smile.  In April of 2011, Dr. Tim Bandeen and Dr. Emily Bandeen of Bandeen Orthodontics in Battle Creek announced the establishment of the “Smile for a Lifetime Foundation of Battle Creek and Marshall”.  The first chapter of “Smile for a Lifetime” was founded by Dr. Ben Burris of Jonesboro, Arkansas in 2008.  In a short 2 and a half years, about 100 chapters in 28 states have been established.  The foundation’s goal is to give out orthodontic scholarships to deserving individuals who would not otherwise be able to afford treatment.

The Mission Statement of the National Foundation speaks to the heart of what the local board members and the doctors aspire to accomplish here in our community:

“At Smile for a Lifetime Foundation it is our mission to create self-confidence, inspire hope, and change the lives of children in our communities in a dramatic way. The gift of a smile can do all this for a deserving, underserved individual who, in turn, can use this gift to better themselves and their community.”

THE PROCESS:  The foundation will work here in our community by selecting candidates to be awarded orthodontic scholarships.  Potential patients or candidates will fill out an application which is available on the BandeenOrthodontics.com website.  The candidates will submit their application materials to the office of Bandeen Orthodontics.  From the applications received, the local board will nominate candidates to be awarded orthodontic scholarships.  Those nominated candidates will then be seen by Drs. Emily and Tim for an appointment to determine if orthodontic treatment is appropriate and beneficial.  After it has been determined that candidates are ready for treatment, the board members of the local Smile for a Lifetime chapter will contact them to let them know that they have been awarded an orthodontic scholarship.  The board will meet a few times each year to review applications and to nominate candidates for the orthodontic scholarships.

THE GOALS:  In 2011, the local board for Smile for a Lifetime of Battle Creek and Marshall will select at least 6 candidates for treatment who will receive care here at our office.  The total estimated value of the free treatment to be provided in 2011 is about $36,000.  The board members and the doctors of Bandeen Orthodontics hope to see the program grow.  Goals are to have one patient a month receive an orthodontic scholarship in the near future.

THE BOARD:  The members of the board for the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation are people from local schools, health care providers, business owners, members of the local media, and people who currently work with other charitable organizations.  Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily are not members of the board, but are available to give advice during the selection process.

THE CANDIDATES:  The goal of “Smile for a Lifetime” is to help young people have orthodontic treatment when they would otherwise not be able afford it.  The following are some guidelines for eligible candidates

• Candidates must be a resident of Calhoun County
• Preference will be given to candidates who are between 11 to 18 years of age
• In general, a candidate will meet the financial qualifications for Smile for a Lifetime if they also qualify for the “free and reduced school lunch program”; however discretion is given to the board members when evaluating the financial circumstances of each candidate
• He or she must have a significant esthetic need for orthodontic treatment
• Candidates must be a currently enrolled student
• Candidates have a positive attitude
• He or she agree to follow the treatment plan, and demonstrate the ability and commitment to make all appointments on time

While this program focuses on orthodontic care, the fact is that orthodontic care is only one step of the process.  The board members and the doctors are hoping that young people who receive orthodontic scholarships will get much more than just a new smile.  In order to be ready for orthodontic care, some of the young people will have to change their lifestyles, how they take care of themselves, and how they see themselves.  

At the press conference on April 12, 2011, Dr. Tim said, “We want to see increases in confidence and self respect.  We want them to become motivated to give of themselves to others in need, to become better prepared for daily life, and to become leaders.  We are hoping that we see life changing experiences through this program.  We want these young people to go out and make our community a better place because of their experiences with this program.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT/DONATIONS OF EFFORT AND TIME:  The local board is working on acquiring community support for this project.  Community support in terms of financial backing as well as donations of time will be greatly appreciated.  It is possible to email “SmileForALifetime@BandeenOrthodontics.com” to find out more about the program and how to help.  Any donations made to this local chapter of Smile for a Lifetime will stay local to help the local community and to support the local chapter of Smile For A Lifetime in its business of helping the community.  Plans are to set up accounts where local donations can submitted to a fund held with the Battle Creek Community Foundation.  Community support and partnership will allow for the program to expand to help more young people have the gift of a new smile.

At the present time, Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily are the primary supporters of the foundation through both their personal finances and their efforts.  Three local dentists have pledged to help provide dental care to scholarship recipients who may not have a current dentist and who cannot afford general care.  Also, Ormco, the company used by Bandeen Orthodontics for braces and technology, has generously agreed to provide Damon System Braces and the technology of Insignia computerized orthodontic treatment for candidates who have been awarded scholarships.  

Mother Teresa once said, “peace begins with a smile”.  It is the sincere desire of everyone involved that this program will bring new smiles to our community.  

APPLICATIONS AND MORE INFORMATION:  For more information, please visit BandeenOrthodontics.com.  You can find applications at that site along with information about the application process.

Bandeen Orthodontics has been part of Battle Creek since 1987, and is currently led by Dr. Tim Bandeen and Dr. Emily Bandeen. The doctors and staff at Bandeen Orthodontics are thrilled to be on the cutting edge of orthodontic care, striving to continually improve treatment results, and making the process of getting a great smile more pleasant and enjoyable for patients.  They are also extremely excited to be a part of Smile for a Lifetime Foundation.  To learn more about care at Bandeen Orthodontics, please visit the website at BandeenOrthodontics.com or call (269) 963-4118 to schedule an appointment.  

Computers Help Build Real World Smiles: Insignia at Bandeen Orthodontics

Article originally published in the Battle Creek Enquirer.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “orthodontics”?  Most people hear “orthodontics” and think of braces, retainers, and teeth.  Dr. Tim Bandeen and Dr. Emily Bandeen of Bandeen Orthodontics in Battle Creek think of “smiles and computers”.  Computers are now such an integral part of care at their office that it is difficult for them to imagine treating patients any other way.   

In the fall of 2009, Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily - as they are known to their patients - started using a system called Insignia.  This innovative system is designed to give every patient a customized smile... but what does that mean?  Insignia is a CAD/CAM (computer aided design and manufacture) software package that allows the orthodontist to design smiles and allows the doctors to deliver customized care for each patient.  Bandeen Orthodontics’ pioneering use of customized computer orthodontics led to their recognition in 2010 as one of only five “Insignia Premier Provider” practices in the world.  

How does a system like Insignia work?  Information is sent from Bandeen Orthodontics to the Insignia Lab in California where they create an electronic, interactive model of the teeth.  After the model has been created, the teeth are moved in computer simulation to establish a desirable and realistic end goal.  Once the teeth are set in their desired positions in the computer, virtual braces are placed on the virtual teeth.  The virtual teeth are then moved back to their original positions with the braces still attached to reverse engineer where the braces should be placed at the start of treatment.  From this point, a computer will create customized templates to allow the doctors to transfer the braces to the teeth in the precise, pre-determined locations.  

12 months of treatment with Insignia & the Damon System

Bandeen Orthodontics additionally takes advantage of advanced capabilities of the Insignia system beyond the placement of the braces. Each individual brace is custom cut to correspond to the unique anatomy of the surface of each individual tooth down to a tenth of a degree.  All teeth have a unique curvature, and the in-and-out tip of a tooth (or torque) can greatly affect the beauty and function of a person’s smile and bite.  The wires that are used for treatment are built with the use of the computer modeling, too.  The series of wires used for treatment have slight waves and subtle bends that match the widths of each tooth as the wire curves around the set of teeth.  Typically, orthodontists have to “freehand” the adjustments during treatment, often with a lot of adjustment to compensate both for the anatomy of the teeth and to compensate for braces that were not placed well enough.  Since implementing Insignia in 2009, the doctors at Bandeen Orthodontics have noticed a significant reduction in the need to make adjustments near the end of treatment.  

While a CAD/CAM system like Insignia is providing a substantial benefit to how doctors provide orthodontic care, it’s also important to note that the benefits extend to the patients. The positive effects are seen in three different areas:  reduced time in braces, improved results, and reduction in potential discomfort during treatment.

Since starting with Insignia, Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily have noticed that the time of orthodontic treatment has significantly shortened, often by as much as 6 to 12 months.  Treatment times now seem to be about 12 to 18 months total, with the goal of 12 months for many patients.  The doctors have also noticed that the final results of orthodontic treatment have been even better, since they started with Insignia.  Most people have 28 permanent teeth, not counting wisdom teeth.  Solving 28 complex three dimensional math problems is a simple step for a computer, but a daunting task for the human mind to perform accurately and consistently.  Dr. Tim Bandeen said, “I like to think that I am talented at placing braces well, but the consistency and precision provided by Insignia allows us to take our treatment to the next level of excellence for our patients.”  Concern about the potential discomfort of orthodontic treatment is one reason why patients may be hesitant to seek care. Fortunately, Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily have found that patients tend not to have as many adjustment appointments with the Insignia system, and therefore there are fewer chances for discomfort. 

Despite all of the advances in technology, the doctors and staff at Bandeen Orthodontics realize that there is a person attached to each smile.  In the end, it is the interaction between the doctors and the patients - not the process - which makes the difference.  Dr. Tim and Dr. Emily believe in providing treatment based on solid principles for patient-based care.  Patients are typically not put through multiple phases of treatment unless it is deemed to be effective and necessary to the desired overall results.   Advances in treatment philosophy and techniques have shown that one phase of treatment is often all that is needed, and it can be done with more streamlined means than in the past.  There have been significant improvements in the time required, in results achieved, and in patient comfort since the days of palatal expanders.  Those improvements allow offices like Bandeen Orthodontics to provide care that is constantly aiming for perfection.

Bandeen Orthodontics has been part of Battle Creek since 1987, and is currently led by Dr. Tim Bandeen and Dr. Emily Bandeen. The doctors and staff at Bandeen Orthodontics are thrilled to be on the cutting edge of orthodontic care, striving to continually improve treatment results, and making the process of getting a great smile more pleasant and enjoyable for patients.  To learn more about care at Bandeen Orthodontics, please visit the website at BandeenOrthodontics.com or call (269) 963-4118 to schedule an appointment.