Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Confidence of a Beautiful Smile!
When you first meet someone (and it is a pleasant encounter) what is your first action? In almost every instance it is a smile. Oh sure, you look at the colors of their clothing or the style of their hair but it is the mouth to which the eye is directed. It actually feels a bit weird to stare into someone’s eyes as you talk to them and it is the motion of the mouth and the display of the teeth that you watch as the conversation progresses.
Constructing a beautiful smile is what makes me feel like an artist even though I can’t paint worth a hoot! Interestingly I can see how the finished smile will appear even before I start moving the teeth. I get more excited than patients expect at their initial consultation because of this final image in my mind. Significant changes in patients’ lives can occur with the reconstruction of protrusive front teeth or closing of large spaces that were thought to be permanent until they made their orthodontic appointment with us.
When I return from a vacation I cannot wait until my first day at work comes around! It is this life changing occupation that keeps me excited about what we do here at Hechler Orthodontics. Knowing that a young boy or girl may experience less embarrassment from peer pressure over their lifetime due to our aesthetic changes makes every day so fulfilling. When an adult patient experiences a dramatic change in their acceptance during conversations that aren’t diverted to unsightly teeth, their desire to be in a crowd changes immensely.
I can only hope you find or have found an occupation that gives you as much pleasure and fulfillment in your lives as I have in mine. If you are a student and would ever like to talk about your future as an orthodontist please feel free to let me know.
Dr. Hechler
Constructing a beautiful smile is what makes me feel like an artist even though I can’t paint worth a hoot! Interestingly I can see how the finished smile will appear even before I start moving the teeth. I get more excited than patients expect at their initial consultation because of this final image in my mind. Significant changes in patients’ lives can occur with the reconstruction of protrusive front teeth or closing of large spaces that were thought to be permanent until they made their orthodontic appointment with us.
When I return from a vacation I cannot wait until my first day at work comes around! It is this life changing occupation that keeps me excited about what we do here at Hechler Orthodontics. Knowing that a young boy or girl may experience less embarrassment from peer pressure over their lifetime due to our aesthetic changes makes every day so fulfilling. When an adult patient experiences a dramatic change in their acceptance during conversations that aren’t diverted to unsightly teeth, their desire to be in a crowd changes immensely.
I can only hope you find or have found an occupation that gives you as much pleasure and fulfillment in your lives as I have in mine. If you are a student and would ever like to talk about your future as an orthodontist please feel free to let me know.
Dr. Hechler
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
How Does One Become An Orthodontist?
I get asked the question above quite frequently. Since I love every minute of my job (sometimes a little too much!), discussing this with me may turn into a longer conversation than you bargained for. Let's try to get a feel for what is involved in becoming a specialist in orthodontics.
Since dentistry is quite a competitive field to enter, your grades are very important. High school grades are looked at somewhat by your future dental school but it is the grades you earn in college that are most important to being accepted into a fine school of dentistry. As we all know, good grades are hard to obtain in any class but especially in the more difficult prerequisites that are necessary for your dental school application. Biology, chemistry, calculus, physics, anatomy and physiology are some of the courses required at most dental schools. These classes can turn you into the roommate that has to hit the books Monday nights instead of watching Monday Night Football on ESPN.
You usually apply for dental school during your fourth year in college after taking the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) previous to that. This test is equivalent to the MCAT necessary for admission to medical school. The admission committees usually look not only at your grades and DAT score but also what other extracurricular activities you were involved in. Working and volunteering in dental offices is important so that you have a knowledge of the dental profession. The personal interview also helps to distinguish you from other "would be dentists".
Once you start dental school the grades there continue to be of prime importance. Now you are taking the same classes as most other students that will be competing against you for the orthodontic school positions available after finishing your four year dental training. Those accepted into an orthodontic residency tend to be in the very top of their dental class. Many of them have also built up a rather student loan amount which may continue to rise the added cost of the orthodontic training.
Most orthodontic training programs now require form 30 to 36 months after completing four years of dental school. However, this is where the fun starts because you have finally made it to the instruction for which you have been yearning (for the last 8 years of college!). My orthodontic residency at Mayo Clinic was for 36 continuous months with no breaks other than the holidays themselves.
College was fun, dental school was interesting and challenging while orthodontic "school" was the most intellectual fun I have ever had. I would not change a thing about the whole process and am truly thankful for every day I have spent in the orthodontic profession.
Since dentistry is quite a competitive field to enter, your grades are very important. High school grades are looked at somewhat by your future dental school but it is the grades you earn in college that are most important to being accepted into a fine school of dentistry. As we all know, good grades are hard to obtain in any class but especially in the more difficult prerequisites that are necessary for your dental school application. Biology, chemistry, calculus, physics, anatomy and physiology are some of the courses required at most dental schools. These classes can turn you into the roommate that has to hit the books Monday nights instead of watching Monday Night Football on ESPN.
You usually apply for dental school during your fourth year in college after taking the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) previous to that. This test is equivalent to the MCAT necessary for admission to medical school. The admission committees usually look not only at your grades and DAT score but also what other extracurricular activities you were involved in. Working and volunteering in dental offices is important so that you have a knowledge of the dental profession. The personal interview also helps to distinguish you from other "would be dentists".
Once you start dental school the grades there continue to be of prime importance. Now you are taking the same classes as most other students that will be competing against you for the orthodontic school positions available after finishing your four year dental training. Those accepted into an orthodontic residency tend to be in the very top of their dental class. Many of them have also built up a rather student loan amount which may continue to rise the added cost of the orthodontic training.
Most orthodontic training programs now require form 30 to 36 months after completing four years of dental school. However, this is where the fun starts because you have finally made it to the instruction for which you have been yearning (for the last 8 years of college!). My orthodontic residency at Mayo Clinic was for 36 continuous months with no breaks other than the holidays themselves.
College was fun, dental school was interesting and challenging while orthodontic "school" was the most intellectual fun I have ever had. I would not change a thing about the whole process and am truly thankful for every day I have spent in the orthodontic profession.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Why did I become an Orthodontist?
Many patients and parents ask me what led to my choosing orthodontics as an occupation. They are also curious to know when I first felt that this may be "what I wanted to be when I grew up."
Unlike most young people, I knew the major I wanted to pursue in college before graduating high school. Science and math always interested me in school so a biology major was a "no brainer" for me. It was an easy major in which to obtain the necessary prerequisites for dental school as well. Four years of dental school at UMKC followed college and then off to Mayo Clinic to spend three years in my orthodontic residency.
I had braces as a twelve year old boy and always found it to be a pleasant experience. Dr. McRobert was a kind and caring man while his staff made my visits fun and USUALLY not to painful. Only once did I hear someone crying in his office during the two years that I made monthly visits. At that appointment I commented to him that, up to that day, I had never heard anyone crying in his office. His reply was, "Me neither". He never spoke of emergency appointments after hours and it seemed to be a dependable 8:00 to 5:00 job.
I thought what is not to like about this occupation! You could express your creative side by supplying beautiful smiles while working in the health care field. Everyone in the office smiled while they were working and appeared as some of the most pleasant and attractive people I had ever experienced as a pre-teen.
So it was while undergoing orthodontic treatment that I made the life directing decision to pursue a future in orthodontics. This was a from the career path that I was considering at the time which was becoming a church pastor. I think both professions have benefited from that change in direction!
In next month's blog I'll spell out the educational requirements of becoming an orthodontic specialist for any of you that may be interested in the profession.
Dr. Hechler
Unlike most young people, I knew the major I wanted to pursue in college before graduating high school. Science and math always interested me in school so a biology major was a "no brainer" for me. It was an easy major in which to obtain the necessary prerequisites for dental school as well. Four years of dental school at UMKC followed college and then off to Mayo Clinic to spend three years in my orthodontic residency.
I had braces as a twelve year old boy and always found it to be a pleasant experience. Dr. McRobert was a kind and caring man while his staff made my visits fun and USUALLY not to painful. Only once did I hear someone crying in his office during the two years that I made monthly visits. At that appointment I commented to him that, up to that day, I had never heard anyone crying in his office. His reply was, "Me neither". He never spoke of emergency appointments after hours and it seemed to be a dependable 8:00 to 5:00 job.
I thought what is not to like about this occupation! You could express your creative side by supplying beautiful smiles while working in the health care field. Everyone in the office smiled while they were working and appeared as some of the most pleasant and attractive people I had ever experienced as a pre-teen.
So it was while undergoing orthodontic treatment that I made the life directing decision to pursue a future in orthodontics. This was a from the career path that I was considering at the time which was becoming a church pastor. I think both professions have benefited from that change in direction!
In next month's blog I'll spell out the educational requirements of becoming an orthodontic specialist for any of you that may be interested in the profession.
Dr. Hechler
Thursday, June 17, 2010
What's new on the horizon at Hechler Orthodontics?
The old saying goes that is you don't keep moving ahead you get passed up by the crowd. We feel nothing could be more true when it comes to orthodontic treatment! In order to keep on top of new research and technology in orthodontic treatment we are constantly striving to add new techniques to your treatment.
We are currently evaluating new ceramic (clear) braces. Our goal is to offer excellent tooth alignment with unmatched esthetics. We would love for no one to know you are sporting braces during your treatment if that is your goal. Just tell everyone we were your orthodontic office when you are finished as they won't know you had the "hardware" during your treatment. The newest of these "invisible" braces require little or no elastic ties (since these can stain with coffee, tea, wine, and mustard). In some instances these braces speed up your treatment while requiring you to have appointments that are further apart.
I was involved in the development of one of the new "invisible" braces from Ormco Corporation who is the world's largest supplier of orthodontic products. I think this will be a real "winner" for orthodontics around the world. It is still hard to believe that machines can make such small, complicated devises that are expected to remain clear and weather the forces of eating while moving teeth!
In the next blog we'll go over the possibility of obtaining models of your teeth without impressions. Wow, no more of that gushy stuff in your mouth as you begin orthodontic treatment! Check back with us in a month!
Have a great summer!
Dr. H
We are currently evaluating new ceramic (clear) braces. Our goal is to offer excellent tooth alignment with unmatched esthetics. We would love for no one to know you are sporting braces during your treatment if that is your goal. Just tell everyone we were your orthodontic office when you are finished as they won't know you had the "hardware" during your treatment. The newest of these "invisible" braces require little or no elastic ties (since these can stain with coffee, tea, wine, and mustard). In some instances these braces speed up your treatment while requiring you to have appointments that are further apart.
I was involved in the development of one of the new "invisible" braces from Ormco Corporation who is the world's largest supplier of orthodontic products. I think this will be a real "winner" for orthodontics around the world. It is still hard to believe that machines can make such small, complicated devises that are expected to remain clear and weather the forces of eating while moving teeth!
In the next blog we'll go over the possibility of obtaining models of your teeth without impressions. Wow, no more of that gushy stuff in your mouth as you begin orthodontic treatment! Check back with us in a month!
Have a great summer!
Dr. H
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Hello from Washington DC!!
I'm in our nation's capital Washington DC for the American Association of Orthodontics annual meeting. What an inspiration to see all of the wonderful buildings of such a beautiful city. The monuments you grew up seeing on television and studying about in school are just a glance away. One gets an overwhelming sense of patriotism as well as a real respect for all that our forefathers went through in order to supply our current freedom.
The reason for my trip is to participate in the activities of the annual conference that our American Association of Orthodontics puts on each year. Orthodontists from around the nation and the world come here to learn about the latest advances in orthodontic research. We get a chance to see and get caught up with our colleagues from far and wide. On the trip I had the pleasure of again seeing of my orthodontic friends from Tokyo, Japan. We met many years ago at a study club meeting and have corresponded since. We have even referred patients to each other who may have relocated to our respective cities. The world is truly getting smaller every day!
I have added knowledge by attending lectures given by those in research and educational positions and by simply carrying on conversations with some of my respected practicing orthodontist friends. Heck, I am even picking up some more exciting ideas we can use in our office to make the orthodontic experience more fun for those of you in treatment! Last night I discussed what we can do to enhance our Facebook presence on the web. Cool!
I will be returning to Kansas on Wednesday and back in the office on Thursday to see if some of the new ideas I have discovered can be put to use. I look forward to seeing all of you soon and please take the opportunity to visit Washington DC whenever possible. Parents don't wait until it is too late to take the kids to visit where our democracy all began.
Dr. H
The reason for my trip is to participate in the activities of the annual conference that our American Association of Orthodontics puts on each year. Orthodontists from around the nation and the world come here to learn about the latest advances in orthodontic research. We get a chance to see and get caught up with our colleagues from far and wide. On the trip I had the pleasure of again seeing of my orthodontic friends from Tokyo, Japan. We met many years ago at a study club meeting and have corresponded since. We have even referred patients to each other who may have relocated to our respective cities. The world is truly getting smaller every day!
I have added knowledge by attending lectures given by those in research and educational positions and by simply carrying on conversations with some of my respected practicing orthodontist friends. Heck, I am even picking up some more exciting ideas we can use in our office to make the orthodontic experience more fun for those of you in treatment! Last night I discussed what we can do to enhance our Facebook presence on the web. Cool!
I will be returning to Kansas on Wednesday and back in the office on Thursday to see if some of the new ideas I have discovered can be put to use. I look forward to seeing all of you soon and please take the opportunity to visit Washington DC whenever possible. Parents don't wait until it is too late to take the kids to visit where our democracy all began.
Dr. H
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