Dr. Andersen prepares to take on the St. George Marathon

The big day is nearly here! As we mentioned earlier this summer, Dr. Andersen will be participating in the St. George Marathon this Saturday. This race marks Dr. Andersen's 19th year running in this marathon.

The St. George Marathon begins in the Pine Valley mountains and stretches across to Worthern Park in St. George. The marathon has been rated by Runner's World as one of the four "Marathons to Build a Vacation Around" in the World.

While Dr. Andersen has run over 30 marathons, he still has to complete extensive training for each competitive race. Last weekend, for example, he completed his last long run in Wellsville. He ended up running a bit over 22 miles, while keeping a pace of about 8:30.

Dr. Andersen always looks forward to meeting up with fellow runners and taking on the physical and mental challenges that come with running marathons. Be sure to stay tuned in the upcoming weeks as Dr. Andersen shares photos from the event! You can also watch the video below for more information about the St. George Marathon.

Breaking bad oral health habits

At Dr. W. Clark Andersen's office, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your adjustment visits with Dr. Andersen.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment, as well as preventing gum disease. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth when you are wearing braces. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Dr. Andersen if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. The use of a mechanical toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B can aid in removing plaque around braces. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our office or ask your general dentist during your next scheduled visit! Or, ask us on Facebook!

The Go-To Mom Discusses Invisalign

Our team at Dr. W. Clark Andersen's office found a great video that discusses the advantages of Invisalign. In the video, Kimberley Clayton Blaine, "The Go-To Mom," discusses the Invisalign treatment and her personal experience with Invisalign.

To determine if Invisalign is right for you, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Andersen. Have a great week!

Emergency Care with Dr. Andersen

At W Clark Andersen DDS PC, we know orthodontic emergencies are never convenient nor timely. If you are a patient of record, Dr. Andersen and our team are committed to your dental health and are more than willing to see you after hours or over the weekend. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. If you have a orthodontic emergency after regular office hours, please give us a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts to learn how you may be able to solve the problem yourself, or, if you cannot, how to contact Dr. Andersen and team.

Common issues include:
*Broken Brace
*Broken Wires
*Tie has come off of a Brace
*Loose Expander
*Poking Wire Tie
*Sharpness Felt on the Tongue Side of a Brace
*Loss of a Separator
*Initial Soreness
*Wire Poking

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you visit our office.

When should you call Dr. Andersen's office?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. W. Clark Andersen. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth


Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call as soon as possible!

Hope this helps!