Contests and Events

Back To School With Braces

August 15th, 2023

Back to School activities are back in full swing! Our doctors and staff hope you’ve all had an awesome summer break, and wish you all a successful and fun new school year. SmilesForever Orthodontics wants to help our patients return to school prepared for school life with braces.

If you’ve started orthodontic treatment over the summer, your new braces and confident smile are going to be part of your school year success. We’re excited to help you achieve your forever smiles and want to ensure our patients are comfortable with new braces and appliances. 

Going back to school with braces can be a bit of an adjustment, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can be a smooth experience. Here are some tips Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and Dr. Svetlana Lekht have put together to help you navigate school with braces:

  • Back to School with Braces Kit: Pack your very own "Back to School with Braces" kit - something as simple as a ziplock plastic bag including items such as: Orthodontic rubber bands, mini toothbrush and toothpaste, orthodontic wax, small mirror, floss, floss threaders, Platypus flossers, retainer case and tissues. This kit can easily be tucked into a locker, backpack, bookbag or purse and will help as a reminder of orthodontic care even when at school.
  • Practice Oral Hygiene: Brushing and flossing become even more important with braces. Clean your teeth and braces after meals to prevent food particles from getting stuck. While at school, also make sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly each time after eating. 
  • Pack a Braces-Friendly Lunch: Opt for soft foods that won't damage your braces. Avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that can potentially break your brackets or wires.
  • Stay Hydrated: Drinking water throughout the day can help flush away food particles and keep your mouth clean.
  • Brace-Friendly Snacks: Pack braces-friendly snacks like yogurt, soft fruits, cheese, or pudding for quick bites during breaks.
  • Avoid Habits That Can Damage Braces: Be mindful of habits like chewing on pencils or biting your nails, as these can damage your braces.
  • Be Patient: If your braces are very recent, it might take a little time to adjust to speaking with braces. Practice speaking slowly and clearly, and you'll get the hang of it.
  • Participate in Activities: Don't let braces hold you back from participating in activities or sports you enjoy. If you’re involved in sports, just make sure to wear an orthodontic  mouthguard if needed. An orthodontic mouthguard will help to protect your braces and teeth from potential impact.
  • Stay Positive: Braces are a temporary part of your journey to a beautiful smile. Focus on the end result and take pride in your commitment to your oral health.
  • Educate Your Peers: If you're comfortable, take the opportunity to educate your classmates about braces. This can help reduce any teasing or misconceptions.
  • Regular Orthodontist Visits: Keep up with your scheduled orthodontist appointments for adjustments and check-ups.
  • Have Confidence: Braces are common, and many of your classmates and teachers might also have them or have had them in the past. Embrace your braces and don't be afraid to show off your smile.

Remember that going back to school with braces is a temporary phase, and the end result will be a beautiful, confident and healthy smile. If you ever experience any issues or concerns with your braces, don't hesitate to reach out to us at any of our four practice locations in Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville, GA., for guidance. We’re always happy to help our patients and look forward to seeing your smile at your next appointment!

How Long Are Retainers Worn Once Braces Are Removed?

June 7th, 2023

Finally, your braces have been removed and your smile is beautiful, straight, and best of all, metal-free! However, your orthodontic journey isn't quite completed. To keep your smile looking its best, you'll have to wear a retainer to preserve and stabilize your results. Retainers are needed to control or limit potential changes in tooth position. They are used after braces treatment to hold teeth in their correct alignment while the surrounding gums, bone, and muscle adjust to the new positioning of your teeth.

The duration of wearing a retainer after orthodontic treatment can vary depending on several factors, including the specific treatment plan, the individual's orthodontic needs, and the recommendations of the orthodontist. However, typically, Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and Dr. Svetlana Lekht advise wearing a retainer for an extended period after the active orthodontic treatment is complete.

How Often Are Retainers Worn?

Initially, after the braces or aligners are removed, a full-time retainer is often prescribed. This means wearing the retainer consistently, usually 12 to 24 hours a day, for a few months and may include alternating removable upper and lower retainers. This phase allows the teeth to stabilize in their new positions and ensures that they do not shift back to their original alignment.

After the initial full-time wear period, the orthodontist may recommend transitioning to part-time wear, usually during sleep. This phase can last for several more months or even years. It's crucial to follow the orthodontist's instructions regarding the frequency and duration of retainer use during this phase.

Eventually, many individuals are advised to continue wearing the retainer on a less frequent basis, such as a few nights a week, to maintain the results achieved through orthodontic treatment. Some individuals may need to wear retainers long-term, while others may gradually reduce their usage over time. The orthodontist will provide specific guidance based on individual circumstances.

It's important to note that every person's orthodontic treatment and retention needs are unique, so the duration of retainer wear can vary. It's vital to consult with your SmilesForever Orthodontics orthodontists to determine the appropriate duration and retainer regimen for your specific case.

Should Retainers Be Removed With Sports Activities? 

When involved in sports activities or swimming regularly, it’s advisable to speak with Drs. Gilbert, Wells and Lekht as they’ll give you specialized instructions. In some cases, they may suggest using a mouthguard for sports activities to provide protection and minimize the risk of dental injuries.

Types of Retainers & How To Choose

We offer several types of retainers at our Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville, GA., SmilesForever Orthodontics locations. You’ve worn your braces and appliances and want to make the best choice and we’re going to help! Toward the end of your treatment, our doctors will guide you in the best retainer options to keep your smile healthy and beautiful.

Retainers are custom-made and can be removable or fixed.

  • Traditional removable retainers typically include a metal wire that surrounds the front teeth and is attached to an acrylic arch that sits in the roof of the mouth. The metal wires can be adjusted to finish treatment and continue minor movement of the front teeth as needed.
  • Aligner-style retainers, or Essix retainers, look similar to clear aligners and offer a more aesthetic alternative to wire retainers. This clear retainer may fit over the entire arch of your teeth, or only from canine to canine (clip-on retainer). It is produced from a mold of your newly aligned teeth.
  • Fixed retainers consist of wires bonded behind the bottom and/or top teeth. While the device is usually required no more than a year after wisdom teeth have been extracted, it is often kept in place for life.

If you’re ending the final active treatment phase of braces and preparing for retainers — CONGRATULATIONS! You’re almost done with braces and closer to revealing your beautiful, confident forever smile! Remember to wear your retainers exactly as we’ve instructed and call us with any questions at any of our Gwinnett County, Hall County and Loganville County, GA locations. 

2022 Best of Gwinnett Award

February 14th, 2023

The Votes Have Been Counted And The Results Are In! SmilesForever Orthodontics is a 2022 Best of Gwinnett Winner for Best of Orthodontic Practices.

Our doctors and staff at SmilesForever Orthodontics want to thank our patients for voting us the best in the Gwinnett area, again this year! Thank you to each and every one of you. We are beyond delighted to announce your votes helped us achieve, and to now celebrate, being awarded our 14th consecutive “Best Of” blue ribbon! With this 2022 Best of Orthodontic Practices, valued distinction, it tells us you love your smiles and are proud to share our practice with your friends, families and neighbors. Thank you. We want you to know we value your trust in allowing us to continue treating your families smiles. Your trust means the world to us.

With the rapidly evolving field of dental and orthodontic treatment, it is important that our practice remains on the cutting edge, while providing excellence in treatment and results, patient care and affordable payment options. At SmilesForever Orthodontics, our orthodontists Drs. Brad Gilbert, Adam Wells and Svetlana Lekht offer the full scope of advanced technology, diagnostic testing, and treatment. Our physicians take the time necessary to provide each patient with information needed to understand their treatment options and to achieve the best possible results. 

Additionally, our orthodontists are fortunate to be working with a devoted and skilled staff of which each member stands out at their respective positions with a complimentary skill set and a caring attitude. We believe this approach allows us to be the best orthodontic practice for quality care.

Thank you again to all of our patients, peers and to Gwinnett Magazine’s Guide to Gwinnett division, that voted us Gwinnett’s 2022 Best of Orthodontic Practices!

We love all of our patients and communities serving Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville and throughout Gwinnett, Hall and Walton counties!

Our Summer Photo Challenge Contest Starts Today!

May 25th, 2022

SmilesForever Summer Photo Challenge

What could be MORE exciting on the last day of school, than a FUN Summer Contest? Back by popular request, our SmilesForever Orthodontics Summer Photo Challenge Contest begins TODAY! We are SO ready for SUMMER, SUNSHINE & SMILES. 

How Do I Start?

At your next appointment be sure to pick up one of our Summer of Smiles postcards to take your summer pictures with! Feel free to drop by for a postcard & instructions before then if you'd like to better your chances in the drawing - each new picture posted earns you an entry! You are also welcome to print the front of the Postcard found on our Facebook announcement post and follow the instructions here if you can’t get in to pick up a postcard before your vacation fun starts.

How Do I Enter?

It’s super easy to enter the photo challenge contest. 

  1. Simply take a picture of yourself with the front of the postcard while on your summer vacations, staycations and adventures. 
  2. Post it on Instagram or Facebook. 
  3. Tag @SmilesForeverOrtho including #smilesforeverortho and patient’s first name.
  4. Each image will earn you one entry into the contest random drawing for some cool prizes like gift cards to Target, Amazon, the Movies and MORE! 

Dr. Gilbert, Dr. Wells, Dr. Lana and our staff can't wait to see what fun and mischief our patients get up to this summer. Have fun smiling and GOOD LUCK!

*Make sure your account and/or the post is public so we can view your entry. Terms and conditions apply. Contest ends 08/02/22
/SmilesForeverOrthodontics

National Orthodontic Health Month

October 6th, 2021


As we begin the month of October, pumpkin spiced foods and beverages are appearing everywhere, leaves are beginning to change colors on trees here in Georgia and quite a few of us are still settling into our back-to-school schedules. For many of our patients, this month means Halloween, which in turn equates to candy! For the dental health world, October is National Orthodontic Health Month. A whole month devoted to celebrating healthy smiles, learning more about the benefits of orthodontic treatment, and the importance of good oral health. Our SmilesForever Orthodontics doctors and staff are concerned with overall dental, oral and orthodontic health and are eager to share this awareness with our patients.

Orthodontic Health Awareness can be highlighted by a few key facts.
  • The recommended age for a child’s first orthodontic check-up is age 7.
  • Orthodontic health relates to dental health and overall health.
    • Crowded teeth make it harder to brush and floss.
    • Certain habits such as thumb-sucking may cause changes in your child’s oral structures which may in turn affect speech and feeding.
  • Orthodontists straighten teeth, they correct abnormal bites.
    • Abnormal bites are categorized as overbites, underbites, deep bites, open bites and crossbites.
    • Other problems that can be corrected by a board certified orthodontist are crooked and crowded teeth, impacted or missing teeth, extra teeth, gaps or spacing between teeth.
  • Teeth can be straightened and bites can be corrected at any age.Yes, ANY AGE! In fact, one in three orthodontic patients is an adult. 
  • Orthodontist spend an extra three years of specialty training to obtain their Specialty Certificate, after completing four years of Dental School.
  • Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells put in those hard earned extra miles and obtained their Board Certification status from the American Board of Orthodontists. Did you know only one out of every three orthodontists achieve their Board Certification?

The American Association of Orthodontists urges patients to choose braces-friendly treats at Halloween time. During orthodontic treatment with braces, it’s always important to remember that certain foods should be avoided in order to reduce breakage.  Any hard, crunchy, sticky or chewy candies or gum are on the “Foods To Avoid” list.  These types of foods and candies not only break braces and bend wires, but can potentially break healthy teeth too! Though we can always fix broken brackets and orthodontic wires, this may add up to additional patient appointments and time in treatment. Alternative sweet treats are recommended, and Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells encourage our patients to always brush and floss after enjoying any treats!  Check out our Ghoulishly Delicious Treats Pinterest board for those braces-friendly fun Halloween treats!


SmilesForever Orthodontics is ready to help you to achieve and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. If you do have any unfortunate breakage, please call us right away to schedule an appointment to assess repairing brackets or wires. We want to get you back to smiling as quickly as possible! 

We hope y’all enjoy the amazing sights, scents and tastes of Fall this season. Stay safe and smile healthy!

Back To School With New Braces

August 11th, 2021

Where did the summer go? It’s hard to believe, but summer is fading away and a brand new school year is under way. Many of our patients’ new school attire includes braces and they are returning to school with a new experience. Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our staff want all of our school-aged patients wearing braces, to have a smooth transition into the classroom and new school year. At SmilesForever Orthodontics, our goal is to make treatment as easy and as enjoyable as possible. If your child is going back to school for the first time with braces,  we’ve put together some tips below for making this adjustment easier.

Keeping Lunches & Snacks Braces-Friendly

Foods that are sticky, chewy and crunchy must be avoided to prevent damage to wires and braces. While it’s easier to avoid at home, if your child buys their lunches at school, indulging in some of their favorite forbidden foods can be a pretty strong temptation. Simply checking the school’s lunch menu each week, and making sure it includes braces-friendly options like spaghetti, chili or mac and cheese, is a great start to making sure there’s something safe for your child to eat.

If you find the school lunch choices are limited, packing a lunch can make things easier for them. Healthier foods and snacks like chicken salad, cheese yogurt and applesauce are gentle on the braces and can help your child feel full throughout the day. Prepping the night before, by cutting foods into bite sized pieces, and thinly slicing fruits and vegetables, can be a time saver in the mornings and help make it easier to chew and eat for orthodontic patients. 

Take Along A Braces Care Kit

It’s ideal for patients to brush after eating since braces and wires can trap food particles. We  recommend patients carry a braces care kit with them at school. For any braces related issues that may pop up during the day, having a few common items on hand in their backpack or school locker can keep them prepared to handle them confidently. Some of the Items we’ve found best to include are:

  • Soft-Bristled Orthodontic Toothbrush
  • Dental Wax
  • Dental Floss
  • Floss Threaders
  • Lip Balm
  • Toothpaste
  • Orthodontic Elastics (If prescribed)
  • Mouthguard

A comfortable orthodontic patient equals a more focused student! For lips that become dry and irritated from braces and appliances, we find that lip balm is a definite must-have! A small amount of dental wax can be placed over dental brackets and wires that sometimes can cause mild irritation to lips, gums and cheeks. 

Have our orthodontists prescribed elastics for your child to wear during treatment? Keeping an extra bag of orthodontic elastics in their care kit, locker and backpack will make it much more convenient to replace worn bands after eating lunch and snacks.

Oh, Mirror, Mirror On The Locker Wall!

Admit it! We’ve all experienced that moment. THE MOMENT when we look in the mirror and realize we’ve gone about our afternoon talking, smiling and laughing - only to realize we’ve had a food particle stuck in our teeth, SINCE LUNCH! Many of us are too polite to point out when someone has food stuck in their braces or teeth. Encourage your student to carry a small mirror with them or place one on the inside of a locker.  Checking their teeth after eating can help them in avoiding feeling self-conscious. Even sticking to braces-friendly foods, eating with braces and wires can be tricky. Nooks and crannies can easily trap food debris, which can cause your child embarrassment when noticed by others. 

Have A Mouthguard On-Hand

Protect that smile! Whether you have a student-athlete or your child or teen has recess or gym class, investing in an orthodontic mouthguard while in braces is highly recommended. Sports and other physical activities can increase the risk of injury to your child’s lips, cheeks and mouths as well as damaging braces. Because they are specially designed to wear with braces, orthodontic mouthguards are the simplest way to ensure oral health and prevent injury. These specialized mouthguards do not form to the teeth and are NOT the take home and boil guards typically sold at sporting goods stores. Though sometimes available at stores, for our patient’s convenience, we also offer these for purchase at our front desk. We’ve pinned our recommended care kit list and reminder on our Taking Care Of Your Teeth And Braces Pinterest board. 

Starting The School Year Off Right

You may want to head over to our SmilesForever Orthodontics Pinterest page to check out our Braces-Friendly School Lunches board for nutritious and yummy ideas. While you’re there, be sure to also check out our Taking Care of Your Teeth and Braces board for our Braces Care Kit flier of recommendations!

With a little encouragement and patience, your child can conquer the school year with a healthy, shining smile! When braces are new, it’s completely normal to feel nervous returning to school. After all, it’s a brand new experience! Working towards a healthier and straighter smile takes time and effort, but it won’t take long for it to become familiar to your child and they will adjust and adapt quickly. To become and remain active in their orthodontic journey, it’s important for patients to stay informed. Knowledge often creates a strong desire to do our best! Our SmilesForever Orthodontics doctors and staff are ready to help you and your child navigate a new school year with braces and we’re always happy to answer any questions you may have. Our existing and new patients are always welcome to call or drop by our Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville, GA locations.

We wish all of our student-patients a happy, healthy and successful 2021-2022 school year!

Please take a moment to vote for your favorite 2021 Best of Gwinnett Orthodontic Practice here:

Vote SmilesForever Orthodontics Best Of Gwinnett 2021!

SmilesForever Orthodontics awarded “Best of Gwinnett” for 2020!

February 14th, 2021


At SmilesForever Orthodontics, we pride ourselves on providing patients in the Gwinnett area and surrounding communities with the absolute best in orthodontic care and services. Knowing our caring and specialized orthodontists and staff are doing our best to help improve the lives and oral health of our patients is extremely rewarding. Having our patients, associates and community actively showing their support through voting as a tangible acknowledgement is very appreciated too. That’s why we are so proud to announce that we have been named “Best of Gwinnett” in the field of Orthodontic Practices for 2020 by Gwinnett Magazine!

Being voted Best Orthodontic Practice in the largest county in the state of Georgia is quite special to us. 40 years ago, Dr. Ron Parsons and SmilesForever Orthodontics opened our doors and became part of the Gwinnett community. This year, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we are proudly providing orthodontic excellence with four office locations. Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells, along with every one of our SmilesForever team are committed to helping create beautiful, confident smiles. We enthusiastically participate in extensive training and continuing education to treat our patients with the utmost skill, technology, care, and compassion. We simply love bringing smiles to Gwinnett!

What is the coveted “Best of Gwinnett” award?

“Best of Gwinnett” is an annual poll created by Gwinnett Magazine. The goal of the poll is to acknowledge and award the Gwinnett area’s best businesses in over 20 professional fields in a wide variety of categories. Nominees are submitted by people in the Gwinnett area in categories including Health and Medicine, Orthodontic Practices, Dental Health, Education, Food and Drink, and many more. The winners are determined by reader voting and the editorial staff at Gwinnett Magazine. Before winners are announced, the results are confirmed by the Better Business Bureau reports, ranking sites and voting pattern analysis reports to verify their legitimacy.

We are beyond honored and humbled!

This is the 12th consecutive year that we have been awarded and named “Best of Gwinnett”, which makes this honor all the more special. From our board certified orthodontists, Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells, to our front desk to our team of specialized orthodontic assistants, everyone here at SmilesForever is so touched and genuinely grateful to receive this honor once again. With this in mind, we would like to take a moment to thank everyone who helped in making this possible, including the incredible patients we treat and the entire staff at Gwinnett Magazine. Our commitment to upkeep our rigorous standards and compassionate patient and community care strengthens with your trust and confidence into 2021 and beyond!

TREAT Your Braces and Teeth Kindly This October!

October 21st, 2020

At SmilesForever Orthodontics we LOVE Halloween!! Did you also know that October is National Orthodontic Health Month? As Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells tell our patients - that's not just a coincidence!

Many of our patients and families are opting not to trick or treat door-to-door this Halloween but the candy bags in every store sure are tempting this time of year. Dr. Wells and Dr. Gilbert feel it's still very important to educate both our patients and their parents of the potential risks to braces and teeth with some of the "treat" choices out there. Each of our patients are given a list of foods to avoid while in orthodontic treatment and are encouraged to avoid these hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy items even once the braces have come off. Any food item that may harm braces and appliances may also pose that same risk to permanent teeth!

In addition to our "Foods to Avoid" list for patients, which can also be found on our webpage under the Life With Braces tab, our SmilesForever doctors and team have put together a braces-friendly Pinterest Board of Ghoulishly Delicious Treats recipes. We're teaming up with The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) again this year to recommend FIVE TIMELY TIPS to protect braces and orthodontic appliances, while also protecting teeth from decay.

  1. Avoid sticky foods
  2. Brush up after eating to avoid cavities
  3. Just say "BOO" to hard treats!
  4. Spooktacular News - if your diet allows sugar, you can still indulge in soft chocolates, M&M's and Reeces Peanut Butter Cups WITHOUT NUTS, Muskateer Bars, etc.
  5. Make a commitment to avoid hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy foods all year round to increase your rate of success for worry-free orthodontics and healthy teeth
Fun Ideas to Treat Your Neighborhood Children

Know of any neighbors with braces? Consider handing out alternative treats instead of candy snacks this year. Bracelets, spooky rings, toy cars, coloring books, etc., make an awesome surprise! If your neighborhood opts out of door-to-door trick or treating this year, an option may be a surprise toy bag or ice cream gift card left at the front door for the recipients. We heard of one local subdivision that will be posting pictures of their children dressed in costume on their mailboxes for a fun drive-by Halloween night!

Remember to make good choices for your braces and teeth during and after treatment. We wish you all a safe, happy and HEALTHY Halloween!

Alternate Spring Break Staycation Ideas

March 30th, 2020

While this is not a typical year, spring break is already upon us and many families have had to look toward alternate spring vacation plans. If you’re among those now planning a staycation, consider these alternative ideas from Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our SmilesForever staff to keep the family entertained safely.

Visiting Grammy and Granddad (Electronically, of course!)

Staying connected is so important when families can’t be together and a staycation allows ample time for sharing exciting news! Visiting with Grammy and Granddad over spring break is something both children and grandparents really look forward to. While traveling outside the home isn’t advised right now, video chats and phone calls certainly are!

  • Consider setting up an evening chat time throughout your staycation and the kids can share the fun they’ve been having or the adventures they’ll take next!
  • Have favorite recipes the family shares? Each family can cook the same meal and share pictures of their masterpiece!
Let’s Go Camping
  • Pitch a tent in the backyard and bring a sense of adventure. Make it as real as possible with traditional camping food like hot dogs or hamburgers and let’s not forget the s’mores! This is a great time to connect, tell stories and stargaze.
  • If rain is on the horizon, pitch your tent in the living room! Turn out the lights and tell stories around your fireplace or make a campfire out of flashlights or lanterns. Can you say finger puppet shadows? They're the BEST!
Science Camp

  • Original plans for a learning vacation can still be super fun at home! Simple outdoor scavenger hunts for a list of items to learn about are stimulating. On the list? Feathers, a maple leaf, butterfly, clouds, fruit…the list can be endless and offer a great learning opportunity on each item found!
  • Pinterest has loads of recipes for so many science projects like making bath bombs and gooey or glittery slime. A great FREE resource for at-home learning, including STEM crafts and everyday science experiments can be found online at Kiwico.com
Host a Family Film Festival
  • Popcorn and pillow time! Family vote for 2 movies will make it a double feature. This is a super fun way to cozy up with the whole family!
  • Feel up to a Film-fest challenge? Pair off and shoot some short videos and gather round to watch. You can even dress up & host your own Family Grammy’s!
Take a Culinary Vacation
  • Plan a day exploring the cuisine of another culture. Choose a recipe online and the whole family can work together to create a tasty meal.
  • Take your culinary adventure even further! Pick a few different countries and enjoy cuisines from around the world each night of your staycation!
Artists’ Retreat
  • Inspire creativity, gather craft items and art supplies and let your imagination run wild! Set up stations to keep organized while attempting different projects and a final station to display your finished works of art!
  • Google Arts & Culture offers online exhibits and virtual tours to some of the most well known museums and galleries around the world.
Picnic
  • Pack a delicious lunch or dinner and head out to the backyard for a sun drenched meal!
  • Raining or avoiding those pesky picnic ants? Don’t miss out on a family favorite-throw an old sheet or shower curtain down on the family room floor and picnic indoors!
Spa-cation
  • What family member DOESN’T love to be pampered? Robes required! Set up stations for nails and hair. Mix up a replenishing face mask. This can be relaxing but we’re betting this turns into tons of silly fun for the whole family, especially with Dad manning the “nail salon”!
  • Don’t forget the pets! Your furry friends have been cooped up too and are longing for a shampoo and puppy or kitty massage!

All of us at SmilesForever Orthodontics are looking forward to hearing about your awesome and adventurous staycations! We know you'll find loads to keep you busy and we wish each of you a relaxing, fun spring break. Stay well and we'll see you soon!

We're celebrating National Pi Day!

March 14th, 2019

How many of our SmilesForever Logos do you see? 314 in celebration of National Pi Day!

 

Our SmilesForever Orthodontics doctors and staff are SO excited it's National Pi Day!    No - not THAT kind of pie - we're talking about pi or π!

What is Pi?

Written as 3.14, pi is a number representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. We calculate the circumference of a circle by multiplying its diameter by pi. Pi is thought to be a special number because it is an irrational number, meaning that it can't be expressed as a simple fraction. Mathematicians, scientists and other curious people have been fascinated by pi for hundreds of years trying to determine whether there is a pattern to its digits or whether they are completely random.

Well, to be a bit more exact, the number is 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510
58209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679... we can TRY to be MORE precise but pi literally goes on forever!

Why do we celebrate National Pi Day?

National Pi Day came about in 2009 to promote mathematics. Our SmilesForever Orthodontics staff loves Pi Day because many businesses celebrate with pie deals. Yes - THAT pie! Pizza, fruit, cream, pumpkin, sweet potato, chicken, yummy, braces-friendly PIE!

Yummy Local "Pi" Deals we found online:

 

"Pies don’t have to be round. On National Pi Day (Thursday, March 14), visit Bojangles’ to experience three rectangular-shaped Sweet Potato Pies for the fitting price of $3.14."

 

Kroger logo
"For Pi Day this year, Kroger grocery stores will offer fruit-based, sweet potato, pumpkin and no sugar-added pies for just $3.14, which is over 30 percent off their regular retail price."
bostonmarket's profile picture 

"If you love Boston Market's Pot Pie - click on the link below or go to their website to download a coupon for a Buy 1 Pot Pie & A Drink - Get 1 Pot Pie FREE!"
Coupon Link 
Five Fun Pi Facts
  1. Albert Einstein was born on pi day in 1879.
  2. Pi is the number of times that a circle's diameter will fit around a circle's circumference.
  3. Without knowing the true value of pi, it's impossible to find the circumference of a circle.
  4. The first 31 digits of pi contain NO zeroes.
  5. In the first 6,000,000,000 numbers of pi:
  • 0 occurs 599,963,005 times
  • 1 occurs 600,033,260 times
  • 2 occurs 599,999,169 times
  • 3 occurs 600,000,243 times
  • 4 occurs 599,957,439 times
  • 5 occurs 600,017,176 times
  • 6 occurs 600,016,588 times
  • 7 occurs 600,009,044 times
  • 8 occurs 599,987,038 times
  • 9 occurs 600,017,038 times

However you choose to celebrate - we wish you Happy National Pi Day from Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our SmilesForever Orthodontics Team!

New Braces and a Sparkling New "Bestie"!

February 5th, 2019

Wondering How to Get Along with Your Braces?

You've taken steps toward gaining a healthier, more confident smile by choosing orthodontic treatment. Now you're wondering how the heck you're going to get along with these life-changing sparklers over the course of your treatment. Don't worry - you and your braces will become good friends over the coming months or years. In fact, they'll become your sparkling new "bestie" by getting your relationship off to a good start!

Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells aren't only your orthodontists, they've been through treatment too! They, along with our SmilesForever Orthodontics team, have a few tips to help you avoid a rocky relationship with your braces:

  1. Remember to floss! We understand it’s difficult to floss around your braces, but it’s the best way to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems. Ask our staff for floss threaders to make the chore easier - we'll happily show you how to use them! Unhealthy gums turn red and often bleed when brushing. Just a few minutes of flossing each day will help keep your gums and teeth healthy while in braces.
  2. Avoid those hard, crunchy, sticky or chewy foods - your braces and your orthodontists will thank you! These foods can break wires, brackets and your teeth too and Dr. wells and Dr. Gilbert believe it's best to avoid them altogether. We have several boards with yummy braces-friendly recipes on our Pinterest page. Start with our Braces-Friendly School Lunches board.
  3. Try chewing foods with your back teeth, especially if you’re used to taking large bites with your front teeth. Try instead, breaking or cutting smaller pieces of food and placing them into your mouth to chew using your back teeth instead of biting into foods with your front teeth. Taking large bites of food with your front teeth can break a bracket off!
  4. Do your homework and always wear your rubber bands, headgear and other orthodontic appliances as instructed! Wearing these may seem annoying at first but that will quickly change once you get into the habit. Besides, it's proven that not complying with wearing them can increase the length of your treatment.
  5. Check out our Pinterest page Taking Care of Your Teeth and Braces and always feel free to call us with any concerns or questions - we're here to help you LOVE your braces and smile!

End-Of-The-Year-FSA-Reminder!

November 7th, 2018

Reminder To Use Your Flex Spending Accounts!

Can you believe the 2018 year is quickly coming to an end? As the calendar winds down toward 2019, we know many of our patients are anxiously keeping an eye their flexible spending balances, and trying hard not to squander any of their hard-earned dollars which has accumulated for medical and dental expenses over the past year.

That’s why Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our SmilesForever Orthodontics team would like to give those patients with Flexible Spending accounts a friendly end-of-the-year reminder that it is time to schedule a visit so that you can optimize your benefits! Whether you are currently in treatment with an active payment plan or are thinking about starting orthodontics for yourself or a family member, it isn’t too late to take advantage of available funds.

Orthodontics Are Covered

Did you know that orthodontics are covered under these FSA and Health Savings account plans? Yes, we get that question a lot and are so happy to let our patients know that the orthodontic services we offer including, orthodontic appliances, traditional braces, clear braces, diagnostic x-rays and Invisalign are all allowable expenditures under these plans. Consultations are also covered under FSA plans but you don’t need to worry about budgeting for first time consultation fees because they are always complimentary with our doctors at SmilesForever Orthodontics!

Our Friendly Staff Can Help Plan Your FSA Budget

At SmilesForever Orthodontics, we work hard to meet your needs, while in the treatment chair and when it comes to payments and insurance. Our doctors and team never want financial obstacles to keep anyone from receiving the orthodontic care they need and our treatment and insurance coordinators take pride in helping our patients budget and save! We’re here to help if you have any questions regarding planning your 2019 FSA and Health Savings open enrollment, your orthodontic insurance, your treatment and your accounts, just give us a call!

Contact SmilesForever Orthodontics Today

Our practice tends to be quite busy during the holidays when schools are closed and many adults have free time away from work. By calling any of our four locations in Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville, GA soon, we can help you budget your FSA dollars toward your treatment so that you can “use it before you lose it” and also help you in planning for your and your family’s gorgeous smiles next year!

Parents - Don't Take the Fun Out of Halloween!

October 30th, 2018

Surviving Halloween with Braces!

If you are the parent of someone with braces - or a kid at heart with braces yourself, you won't need to worry about taking the fun out of Halloween with our SmilesForever Orthodontics survival tips!

Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells would like all of our patients to enjoy this SPOOKTACULAR  holiday. Because really, all anyone wants to do on Halloween is dress up, watch a spooky movie or two, eat some yummy Halloween candy and most of all - HAVE FUN!!

In following our tips you'll make this a ghoulishly fun event!

Keeping Teeth & Braces Healthy
  1. Stay away from hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy candies. Choose soft and creamy candies instead. Examples are candies without nuts, caramel and taffy. Plain M&M's and Three Muskateer's Bars are just two braces-friendly candies!
  2. Remember to brush well after eating any candy! The sugar remaining on teeth for any length of time can cause tooth decay.
Trick or Treating With Alternative Choices to Candy

Given the choice between a fun toy or candy - consider passing up the sugar in favor of a treat that will last longer and will be more fun!

  1. If you're planning to hand out treats in the neighborhood, have some fun alternatives on hand. Necklaces, rings, stickers, glow-in-the-dark tattoos, coloring books - these all make fantastic treats and are super affordable at the dollar store. You'll soon have a line of little ninja's and ballerina's lining up to knock on your door!
  2. Many communities and churches are hosting fall festivals on Halloween. They often have fun booths and games to enjoy, which help to take the focus off the candy!
  3. Check out our Ghoulishly Delicious Treats Pinterest board for fun meals, snacks and treats. They're all braces-friendly recipes!
No Trick!

Setting a healthy Halloween habit now, will help not only help protect your child's braces, the habit will help them keep their teeth healthy long term! Your children may be more inclined to heed your warnings about the effects of sugar on teeth if they know about the continuous tug-of-war taking place inside their mouths. Colgate has a great article, What Are the Effects of Sugar on Teeth?

Helping them understand how teeth react to sugar can have a lasting impression, and you know, we want you all to have beautiful, healthy SmilesForever!

A Safe Halloween for Smiles and Trick or Treaters!

Keep your smiles and selves safe by always make sure to walk well-lit paths while out on Halloween to avoid trips and falls.

In the unfortunate event that a bracket or appliance becomes loose or broken, please call us so that we can evaluate how to help get you comfortable. Broken braces may also slow down expected treatment time if left too long. By making us aware that something needs attention, we can help keep your treatment progressing toward your perfect smile!

From all of us at SmilesForever, we wish you all a safe, healthy and fun Halloween!

Announcing Our Summer Contest

May 1st, 2018

Smiles - Sunshine - Summertime FUN!

We are SO ready for summer. Like really ready. Early ready. SO ready we're starting our SmilesForever Orthodontics Summer Contest Photo Challenge TODAY!

At your next appointment be sure to pick up one of our Summer of Smiles signs to take your summer pictures with! Feel free to drop by for a sign before then if you'd like to better your chances in the drawing - each new picture posted earns you an entry!

Dr. Gilbert, Dr. Wells and our staff can't wait to see what fun and mischief our patients get up to this summer. Have fun smiling and GOOD LUCK!

 

April is National Facial Protection Month

April 3rd, 2018

April, also known as National Facial Protection Month, is upon us, and for Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our team at SmilesForever Orthodontics, that means that it’s once again time to remind our patients to protect their pearly whites and shining faces.

We may not get back to organized sports for a little while, but even most at-home sports require caution and proper protection. Backyard soccer, gymnastics or volleyball? Driveway basketball game or pitching practice? While choosing the proper gear for your child’s sport, we’d like to remind our patient’s about the importance of adding a mouthguard to your practice and game day uniforms.

Did you know that according to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, adults, high school athletes and children have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events each year? That’s an awful lot of visits from the Tooth Fairy! Our SmilesForever team would like to encourage our patients to wear a properly fitted mouthguard and other forms of facial protection while engaging in any sporting activity. By taking this simple precaution, children and adults alike will greatly reduce their chances of traumatic facial injuries.

Are mouth guards cool?

Pro athletes are required to wear facial protection, including mouthguards!

[caption id="attachment_1442" align="aligncenter" width="214"] Photo courtesy of American Association of Orthodontists[/caption]

Patrick Corbin formerly of the Arizona Diamondbacks and now with the Washington Nationals team, has partnered with the American Association of Orthodontics to help bring awareness to the importance of wearing a mouthguard. In a recent interview with the AAO, Patrick was quoted,

“Wearing a mouth guard on the field is just as important as any other protective gear,” says Corbin. “In baseball, a line drive can come at you when you least expect it, and it’s crucial to be protected at all times.”

The Best Type of Mouthguard? The One That’s Worn!

There are many different types of mouthguards available today. Boil to fit, with straps, without straps, blocks, dual, custom shaped, and the most important for our braces wearing patients - an orthodontic mouthguard!

Why An Orthodontic Mouthguard?

It’s important that while in orthodontic treatment that our patients wear an orthodontic mouthguard. The mouthguard, while protecting the teeth and the insides of cheeks and lips from injury, should fit freely over the braces and appliances. With so much time spent at practice and during games and matches, our doctors like to stress the importance of choosing a mouthguard that will allow for the advancement of treatment and continued movement of teeth into their proper position.

Confused? Don’t get overwhelmed when trying to choose the best one for your child, we have orthodontic mouthguards for purchase in each of our four offices and we’re happy to help you choose the right mouthguard for your chosen sport!

Five Ways To Protect Your Child’s Face And Mouth This Spring

Our doctors and team have put together five simple ways to protect your child’s face and mouth this spring:

  1. Make sure you or your child wears a mouthguard for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer, boxing and lacrosse
  2. Remind him or her to wear a helmet
  3. Protective eyewear is equally as important
  4. Wearing a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin will help
  5. Make sure your child is alert, even as a spectator

We hope these tips are helpful. Drs. Gilbert and Wells will tell you protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in contact sports or activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact us at any of our four Metro Atlanta locations in Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville.

SmilesForever Orthodontics wishes you a SAFE and fun spring season, now at home and when school and team sports resume!

It's National Pi Day!

March 14th, 2018

We're so excited it's National Pi Day! No - not THAT kind of pie - we're talking about pi or π!
What is Pi?

Written as 3.14, pi is a number representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. We calculate the circumference of a circle by multiplying its diameter by pi. Pi is thought to be a special number because it is an irrational number, meaning that it can't be expressed as a simple fraction. Mathematicians, scientists and other curious people have been fascinated by pi for hundreds of years trying to determine whether there is a pattern to its digits or whether they are completely random.

Well, to be a bit more exact, the number is 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510
58209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679... we can TRY to be MORE precise but pi literally goes on forever!

Why do we celebrate National Pi Day?

National Pi Day came about in 2009 to promote mathematics. Our SmilesForever Orthodontics staff loves Pi Day because many businesses celebrate with pie. Yes - THAT pie! Pizza, fruit, cream, pumpkin, sweet potato, yummy, braces-friendly PIE!

A Yummy Local "Pi" Deal

We found out at lunch that, today only, Bojangles restaurant is offering THREE of their yummy sweet potato pies for $3.14 in celebration of National Pi Day!

Five Fun Pi Facts
  1. Albert Einstein was born on pi day in 1879.
  2. Pi is the number of times that a circle's diameter will fit around a circle's circumference.
  3. The first 31 digits of pi contain NO zeroes.
  4. Without knowing the true value of pi, it's impossible to find the circumference of a circle.
  5. In the first 6,000,000,000 numbers of pi:
  • 0 occurs 599,963,005 times
  • 1 occurs 600,033,260 times
  • 2 occurs 599,999,169 times
  • 3 occurs 600,000,243 times
  • 4 occurs 599,957,439 times
  • 5 occurs 600,017,176 times
  • 6 occurs 600,016,588 times
  • 7 occurs 600,009,044 times
  • 8 occurs 599,987,038 times
  • 9 occurs 600,017,038 times
However you choose to celebrate - we wish you Happy National Pi Day from Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our SmilesForever Orthodontics Team!

2017 Best Orthodontic Practice!

February 12th, 2018

 

It is with great honor and our heartfelt gratitude we announce SmilesForever Orthodontics has been voted Best Orthodontic Practice by our valued patients and Gwinnett Magazine readers! Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our entire SmilesForever Orthodontics Team thank you for helping us win the coveted “Best of Gwinnett Blue Ribbon” for 2017! You have voted us Best Orthodontic Practice NINE years in a row!!!

We are sincerely humbled and honored to receive this award. Our doctors and many of our staff live, work and play in Gwinnet County where we enjoy actively participating in and supporting our community. Partnering with local schools, sporting and academic teams, and community festivals, bring to focus that this is truly our home.

Being voted Best Orthodontic Practice in the largest county in the state of Georgia is quite special to us. 36 years ago, SmilesForever Orthodontics opened our doors and became part of the Gwinnett community. Today, as we celebrate our 36th anniversary, we are proudly providing orthodontic excellence with four office locations. Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells, along with every one of our SmilesForever team are committed to helping create beautiful, confident smiles. We enthusiastically participate in extensive training and continuing education to treat our patients with the utmost skill, technology, care, and compassion. We simply love bringing smiles to Gwinnett!

Thank you to Gwinnett Magazine and to all who voted for SmilesForever Orthodontics in “Best of Gwinnett”, making this notable award possible. We appreciate your support and your votes of confidence. Your votes let us know that our dedication to providing our patients the quality care and treatment are appreciated. They let us know that the families, schools and businesses we are so proud to work alongside recognize and value our services. They let us know that we are always welcome at home!

We look forward to helping our community smile for many many years to come!

A Time To Give Thanks

November 22nd, 2017

Don't you love Thanksgiving and all that it brings to this time of year? We sure do! Our team celebrates the holiday with many different traditions. Football, camping, hiking, Black Friday shopping, feasting, reflecting and sharing the day with family.

One thing we ALL have in common is wanting to take a moment to reflect on the blessings of having such wonderful patients. From the blossoming confident smiles, kind words and referrals that you bring to us throughout the year, we are grateful. Thank you for your trust and confidence in our doctor's and staff. Our patients and your smiles are what fill our days with such joy! We are truly fortunate to smile with you each day!

From everyone here at SmilesForever Orthodontics, we are so very thankful to be given the opportunity to offer all of our patients and their families the highest level of orthodontic care we can provide. We assure you that we never take for granted the trust that you have placed in our hands.

Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our staff wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! We hope it is filled with joy, love and abundant smiles!

Spooktacular News!

October 31st, 2017

Spooktacular News for our orthodontic patients! If you enjoy a treat or two on Halloween there are treats and candies that are safe to eat with braces. We even have a Pinterest board for our patients if you need some ideas here Ghoulishly Delicious Treats

At SmilesForever Orthoodntics we love Halloween!! Did you know that October is National Orthodontic Health Month? We don't think that's just a coincidence. Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells feel it's important to educate our patients and parents of the potential problems that might happen if patients celebrate Halloween without following our foods to avoid list.

Our orthodontists, along with The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) are recommending FIVE TIMELY TIPS to protect braces, and orthodontic appliances while also protecting teeth from decay.

  1. Say “Boo” to hard treats
  2. Avoid Sticky foods
  3. Brush up to avoid cavities
  4. Spooktacular News – you can eat soft chocolates, peanut butter cups, M&M's without nuts, Muskateer Bars, etc
  5. Make a commitment to avoid hard and chewy food all year round to increase your rate of success

Remember to make good choices for your braces and your teeth while in treatment. We wish you all a happy & safe Halloween!

Best of Gwinnett 2017 Voting Has Started!

July 17th, 2017

You can vote simply by clicking the button above!

We are sending out an enormous THANK YOU to all of our patients who have nominated SmilesForever Orthodontics for Best of Gwinnett 2017!

Your previous year's nominations and votes have placed us "Best" in the Best of Gwinnett County Orthodontic Practices category these past NINE years running! Our staff and orthodontists, Dr. Brad Gilbert, and Dr. Adam Wells take pride in the trust and confidence you continue to place in us to care for your families. Honestly, we don't take that lightly. Helping you to achieve beautiful, confident smiles is our utmost goal. That's why our SmilesForever doctors and staff continue to stay up-to-date on the latest and most beneficial orthodontic technologies each year.

It means the world to us that you have shown us just how much you truly appreciate our commitment to helping you achieve your BEST smiles, by nominating SmilesForever for BEST Orthodontic Practice in Gwinnett County, again this year!

We humbly ask you to cast your votes now for SmilesForever Orthodontics in the Orthodontic Practices category by clicking the button above and voting for us.

Summer Contest

June 28th, 2017

2016 Best of Gwinnett!

February 6th, 2017

SmilesForever Orthodontics has been chosen "Best" Orthodontic Practice!

As large as Gwinnett County has become, with so many options, you may wonder how you can trust that you are choosing the best businesses, service providers and health, medical and dental professionals for your families.

Each year, the readers of Gwinnett Magazine vote for their favorite businesses in a number of categories. The result of this voting is Gwinnett Magazine’s “Best of Gwinnett” awards. A list of the best places to dine, relax, work, play and get the qualified healthcare you are looking for. The 2016 votes were cast and tallied as thousands of voters logged online to share their thoughts.

The Results Are In

With your confidence and trust in us - we’ve been chosen “Best” 2016 Orthodontic Practice and have received the Best of Gwinnett award the past EIGHT years running! This is one of the awards we are most proud of! Why? Because our patients, have voted for us!

As we have for the past 30+ years, we remain committed to providing the highest quality of clinical care and personalized service. We truly enjoy getting to know each of our patients and your families. Along with beautiful, confident smiles, we love creating relationships that last multiple generations.

Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells along with our entire team THANK YOU for taking your valuable time to cast your votes, and most especially, for your continued confidence and trust in us!

Best of Gwinnett
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