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orthodontist loganville

3 Ways to Prioritize Your Family’s Smiles This Year

January 16th, 2020

Prioritize your family's smiles this year with these three easy steps from the American Association of Orthodontists and SmilesForever Orthodontics.

1. Get your 7-year-old into an AAO orthodontist for his or her first checkup.

Don’t wait for a dentist’s referral. It might not come and orthodontists don’t require one. Dentists may not be evaluating the child’s bite, and by age 7, your child has enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to evaluate if a problem exists or is developing. Most orthodontists take a panoramic x-ray and photos to evaluate any concerns or potential problems with permanent teeth getting ready to break through the surface – such as extra teeth, missing teeth or teeth coming into the wrong positions.

One of three things could result from the first appointment. 1) No treatment is expected to be necessary. 2) Treatment may be needed in the future, so the child will be followed periodically while the face and jaws continue to grow. 3) There is a problem that lends itself to early treatment, and you are in the right spot to get it started!

2. Retainers – if you have one, wear it.

Set a good example for your children and make retainers part of your oral hygiene routine. Whether you’re 10, 30 or 50, it’s important to continue wearing your retainer after treatment. You brush your teeth for a lifetime, and you should wear your retainer a lifetime. Changes to the position of your teeth occur naturally throughout your life, so help make sure teeth stay put after treatment.

If your retainer no longer fits, your teeth have likely shifted, which brings us to point three.

3. Get a closer look. Set up an orthodontics evaluation to see how your smile can benefit with treatment.

SmilesForever Orthodontics offers complimentary first-visit consultations. Whether you’ve never had orthodontic treatment, or you think you need a touch up on what’s been previously done, stop in and see how doctors Brad Gilbert and Adam Wells can help to improve your smile.

What are you waiting for? Give our team a call to schedule your visit today!

Trust an AAO orthodontist.

Both Dr. Adam Wells and Dr. Brad Gilbert are members of the American Association of Orthodontists, helping patients to achieve healthy, beautiful and confident smiles at any age. Orthodontists are experts in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics – properly aligned teeth and jaws – and possess the skills and experience to give you your best smile.

Back to School With Braces

August 19th, 2019

The summer went by so fast and we’re already into a brand new school year! Getting prepared for a new year at school is exciting for kids (and parents) but, for students who may have recently gotten braces or appliances over the summer, it may feel a little stressful.

Adding changes in routine for brushing, flossing and braces-friendly foods may feel a little overwhelming in the first few days or weeks at school. Here at SmilesForever Orthodontics, we do our best to make every patient’s orthodontic experience as rewarding as possible. If you have a child who is just getting back to school with braces, here are a handful of tips we’ve put together to help make the transition smooth and stress-free!

Keep a braces kit in your purse, book bag or locker!

  • Wax - is great for poking wires and to ease braces and appliances over tender areas in the mouth.
  • Floss - proxy brushes get under the wire if food gets stuck.
  • A toothbrush!
  • Retainer Case - If you have a removable retainer or appliance, Keep that retainer case handy to store your removable retain or appliance while you eat! Remember to NEVER wrap a retainer in a napkin or store in a pocket as they are clear and hard to miss when cleaning up or washing.
  • Elastics - You’ll need to replace your rubber bands after you eat. They will need to be replaced after sports too.
  • Mouth Guard - Playing sports this school year? Remember your orthodontic mouth guard. Tip: Keep your mouth guard in your sports bag so that you will always know where it is!
  • Allow a little extra time in the mornings so that brushing and flossing around braces doesn’t make you late for the bus!

Colors. Pick a favorite color at your next braces adjustment to coordinate morning outfit choices. Need some color inspiration? Colgate has a fantastic blog article on choosing the best braces colors. Colgate Perfect Shade for Braces

Visit our Braces Friendly Pinterest Board for easy make-ahead lunch ideas. Soft foods can be especially helpful when new to braces and after adjustments. SmilesForever Braces-Friendly Lunches

Take an unopened bottle of Ibuprofen or Tylenol, along with a doctor’s note to the school nurse. The nursing staff will happily keep the over-the-counter medication on hand for the school year, just in case there is discomfort after an adjustment.

Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells know that it can typically take a few days to adjust to new braces and appliances, where the teeth may feel a little sensitive. Some patients may experience a little tenderness after an adjustment too. Our SmilesForever team and doctors want you to have the best school year - WITH BRACES! Remember to keep to the, “Nothing hard, crunchy, sticky or chewy”, rule and you’ll be off to a great start!

Orthodontic Tips for Summer Vacation

June 11th, 2019

Taking your braces and smile on summer vacation? We’ve got tips to get you prepared!

There’s nothing worse than going on vacation and realizing you’ve left something important behind. It's happened to many of us at SmilesForever Orthodontics! To help you keep your smiles and braces in good shape over the summer Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells recommend that you prepare an orthodontic travel kit to take along with you.

 What you’ll want to pack:
  • Dental Wax. In case anything becomes loose or “pokey”, wax can often be applied to ease the discomfort until you are back in town and can come in to see us.
  • Floss. You’ll want to keep your gums healthy by not breaking the daily flossing routine. Also, floss is handy to have on hand for some of our summer favorite foods like strawberries! You sure don’t want to flash your sparkly smile with seeds stuck in between your teeth and braces!
  • Toothbrush. Who wouldn’t take a toothbrush? Those who might forget to pack it! If you’re planning a vacation in advance, ask us for a travel toothbrush at your next appointment. You can add it to your travel kit and not worry if you’ve left the trusty orthodontic toothbrush home alone!
  • Homework. (AKA Rubberbands). Whether you’ve just started correcting your bite with rubberbands or are closing in on the homestretch of treatment and fine-tuning your bite with them, TAKE THEM & WEAR THEM. Not wearing rubberbands, or appliances as instructed may actually slow down your orthodontic treatment.
  • Retainer(s). Yes, you’ll need to take your retainers with you on vacation to keep your teeth from moving. Always remember to put it away safely in a retainer case when not wearing.
  • Invisalign® Aligners. Current Aligners will be in your mouth, but it’s a good idea to take your last set with you on vacation. If something happens to your current set, wear your most recent set and come see us as soon as you return.

Keep all of these items together in a separate “Braces Kit” and they will be easy to pack - and harder to leave behind!

To help keep your smile and braces in good health over vacation and the summer, remember to brush and floss daily, finish your homework (rubberbands & retainers) and avoid hard, crunchy and sticky foods.

Our SmilesForever Orthodontics team and doctors wish you a healthy and fun summer!

Summertime Smiles

May 13th, 2019

Summertime Smiles For Kids, Teens and Adults

At SmilesForever Orthodontics, we simply love helping kids and adults achieve their healthiest, most confident and beautiful smiles! With the last days of school in summer countdown, it’s the perfect time to get started on an orthodontic treatment plan for summer! Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells feel this season is a great opportunity to start improving your child’s or your own smile with braces and here’s why:

Scheduling Made Easy

Many parents worry about scheduling consultations and initial orthodontic appointments near the end of the academic season. Though we make every effort to accommodate busy schedules, we understand your concerns.

When school classes are in session, it can be a bit hectic planning appointments between work, classes, sports, homework, dance and all those extra activities that keep us busy and running around. Summer usually brings a since of calm to the school activity storm. The added benefit to slowing down is that parents schedules become less hectic too, allowing more freedom in adding the occasional orthodontic appointment to the calendar!

Time To Adjust To Wearing Braces

Getting braces before the school bell rings in the fall children, and teens can use the additional time over the summer to get used to caring for and being comfortable with their new “bling”! Some things to adapt to with new braces for children and adults can include:

  • Learning proper brushing and flossing techniques
  • Speaking clearly with a new appliance (and new retainers)
  • Eating braces-friendly meals and snacks
  • Adjusting to instrument playing
  • Playing sports with a mouth guard
  • Feeling comfortable with braces on the teeth
  • Gaining confidence not just with braces - with blossoming smiles too!

If you’re ready to start or have your child get started on their orthodontic journey toward a beautiful, confident smile, we’re happy to help! Give us a call at any of our Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch and Loganville locations or request an appointment online for your FREE consultation to meet with Dr. Wells and Dr. Gilbert! After a thorough exam, our orthodontists will let you know whether you or your child can benefit from orthodontics at this time and their recommended treatment. We look forward to seeing you soon to get you started on your BEST smiles over the summer!

Make Every Day Earth Day!

April 22nd, 2019

Earth Day is observed worldwide on April 22nd and with it brings an important reminder that our planet belongs to each and every one of us. It takes all of us equally doing our part to preserve it! As Earth Day rolls around each year, we’re reminded of the importance of being environmentally friendly but you don’t have to wait for Earth Day to start protecting the planet or look for big ways to make an impact. Every small step you take leads to a  more sustainable planet and SmilesForever Orthodontics strives to reduce our carbon footprint every day!

There are Clean Teeth and there are CLEAN Teeth

What’s the difference? Brushing and flossing help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Both are very important in maintaining good oral and dental health, in and out of braces. We can all make wiser choices regarding the products we use to maintain our sparkly teeth and healthy gums. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months. The standard toothbrush is made of a hard plastic handle and a set of soft nylon bristles which are bad for the environment. Most come in plastic packaging which greatly impacts our landfills.

While taking care of your oral hygiene you can make a difference in helping the environment by:

  • Going Natural: Choosing a toothbrush made from recycled and renewable materials.
  • Recycle your old toothbrushes. The Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program accepts old toothbrushes, used toothpaste tubes and dental floss containers as well. As these items are each made from multiple types of materials, they can't be processed by your city’s regular recycling plant.
  • Turning off the water: You’re diligently brushing, paying careful attention to technique and time - but wait! You’re in the zone and zoning out - by leaving the water running? It’s time to turn that water off while you brush!

What we’re doing:

  • We strive to limit our SmilesForever Orthodontics carbon footprint by minimizing our paper usage and keeping digital records and charts for our patients.
  • Our insurance coordinators make every effort to handle claims for our patients, using secure and HIPAA compliant protocol.
  • Our patients can receive their appointment reminders through e-mail or text messages.
  • The toothbrushes at our brushing station are made from recycled products!
  • Our ligature ties (the cute colors holding the arch wire into the brackets) and our rubber bands are BPA free!
  • We minimize radiation for our patients by providing in-house digital cephalometric and panoramic x-rays.

Take a moment to consider how you can help save our beautiful planet. If you’re concerned with making changes, rest assured that when it comes to your orthodontic treatment and care, Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our SmilesForever team are striving to make a difference with products carefully selected to ensure our practice complies with reducing our carbon footprint!

Adults and Invisalign®

March 28th, 2019

Are you an adult thinking you may be too old for braces? Have you always wanted straight teeth and a confident smile but have shied away from a mouth full of metal?

Is There A "Best" Age For Straightening Teeth?

You may be aware that the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommend an orthodontic evaluation beginning at age seven with the majority of straightening teeth during the teen years. Perhaps you have younger children or teenagers who are just getting braces or have been through their orthodontic treatment to result in their own beautiful, confident smiles.

Orthodontic treatment can be beneficial at ANY age. The AAO also states that one in four orthodontic patients are adults! Adult teeth are also able to be moved using braces or Invisalign®. Thinking braces and Invisalign® are only for children and teens shouldn’t be a deterrent to achieving the straight smile you have always wanted.

Why Choose Invisalign®?

While we offer clear porcelain brackets and tooth colored arch wires for our adult patients choosing a more discreet orthodontic process, we equally treat a large amount of adults with the Invisalign® straightening treatment option. Invisalign® clear aligner trays are made from a clear, comfortable, medical grade acrylic material that fit over the arch of your teeth, and are often undetectable. This means no bulky metal and no potentially uncomfortable comments from friends and acquaintances.

Another major advantage of Invisalign® for our adult patients is the fact that the trays are removable. Removable trays mean patients are able to brush and floss teeth as normal, maintaining their normal oral hygiene regimen throughout the entire straightening process. This also allows patients the flexibility to remove their aligners for eating as the recommended time to wear them is 22 hours per day.

Choosing An Invisalign® Provider

Adults often become confused on just who to choose as their Invisalign® provider as many dentists are now offering Invisalign® as a dental service. While it may seem easier to purchase Invisalign® through your dentist and not switch between dental and orthodontic practices, dentists often do not have extensive experience or broader understanding of orthodontic tooth movement compared to orthodontists as they have not gone through the extensive orthodontic schooling and training that orthodontists must acquire. At SmilesForever Orthodontics, we are confident that the extra years of study and experience Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells have achieved will provide a more comprehensive treatment for you. Our highly trained SmilesForever orthodontists and our orthodontic team understand the complexities of the mouth and have a thorough understanding of all orthodontic treatment, allowing us to offer the best treatment for your needs.

Is Invisalign® right for me?

Invisalign®, in part, relies on the compliance of the patient. As the aligners are removable for eating and cleaning, some patients find it hard to remember to wear them or choose only to wear them at certain times. While offering the flexibility of briefly removing them, leaving them off for extended periods of time will limit the effectiveness. As mentioned previously, it is very important to wear the aligners as instructed by the orthodontist, typically 22 hours per day to ensure optimal results.

No two mouths are the same and your mouth is uniquely yours. Invisalign® has helped thousands of patients around the world achieve the cosmetic results they were looking for. However, there are a few instances where the Invisalign® system may not achieve optimal results. For example, problems concerning bite, crowding or an over abundance of space, to name a few, may require treatment such as traditional braces. The best way to know whether you are a good candidate for Invisalign® aligners is to come in for your FREE orthodontic consultation with SmilesForever Orthodontics where Dr. Wells and Dr. Gilbert will help you to make the right decision for you.

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!

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!

School Lunch-Packing With Braces

August 21st, 2018

New Back Pack - ✓ CHECK
Pencils, Marker, Notebook, Erasers - ✓ CHECK
Toothbrush, Wax and Floss - ✓ CHECK
Braces-Friendly Lunches - Oh. Oh-no! HELP!

If your child started orthodontic treatment over the summer and will be returning to school with a sparkling new set of braces this fall, packing lunches that won’t be too difficult to chew and won’t damage their braces may be YOUR biggest back-to-school challenge.

Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our team have made it easy to navigate packing braces-friendly lunches with tips and menu ideas to make it less challenging.

So what to actually pack?

By simply remembering our number one rule avoiding foods that are hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy, your braces-wearing child will still think you’re the BEST school lunch-packer in your family! Accidents happen, but they are much easier to avoid by following this simple rule.

You'll find many resources on the Internet and Pinterest for fresh ideas. Check out our SmilesForever Pinterest board Braces-Friendly School Lunches.

There are also some great books out there for cooking braces-friendly meals. We particularly love The Braces Cookbook by Pamela Waterman and Brenda Waterman.

A Few Braces-Friendly Items To Choose From:

Any sandwiches with soft bread (cut off the crusts if necessary) or try using Pita Bread or a wrap as an alternative.

  • Peanut (or Almond) butter & banana, Peanut butter & jelly or honey (remember to only pack smooth, creamy peanut or almond butter and avoid super sticky and crunchy peanut or almond butter)
  • Soft lunch meats
  • Hummus and thinly slices cucumber
  • Tuna salad
  • Egg Salad
  • Chicken Salad (We found great braces-friendly recipe by Tracey over at The Kitchen is My Playground Traditional Southern Chicken Salad)
  • Sandwich Wraps and Pinwheels
  • Kabobs
Soft Foods
  • Cottage Cheese
  • Thin Cheese Slices
  • Mock Crab Meat
  • Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Cold Cuts
  • Cold Pasta Salads
  • Oranges
  • Kiwi
  • Star Fruit
  • Strawberries
  • Melon
  • Grapes
  • Bananas
Sweet Treats
  • Applesauce
  • Marshmallows
  • Smooth or creamy chocolate
  • Pudding
  • Muffins
  • Cupcakes
  • Yogurt (avoid yogurts that come with hard crunchy granola or toppings)
  • Jello
Adaptable Lunch Favorites
  • Soft Tacos
  • Pizza cut into manageable bites (No thick crust)
  • Apples and Carrots cut into thin slices and wedges
  • Lunchables - make your own with thinly sliced lunch meats and cheese and soft Ritz crackers

Do you get bored having the same food for every meal? So will your child! Try mixing it up a little. Add pineapple to applesauce, dried cranberries to chicken salad, sliced olives to deviled eggs or hummus. Cut lunch meat, fruit and cheeses into fun shapes!

All of us at SmilesForever Orthodontics wish you fun and healthy lunch-packing this school year, just remember the number one rule - "Nothing hard, crunchy, sticky or chewy", and you'll keep those braces sparkling and do great!

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.

As temperatures begin to warm, many spring sports are now getting underway. 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.

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!

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!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month

October 2nd, 2017

When October comes around most people typically think about Halloween, trick or treating, Fall festivals and pumpkins. Did you know that October also National Orthodontic Health Month?

The goal of National Orthodontic Health Month is to create awareness about orthodontics as it is such an essential part of your overall dental and physical health.

A lot of people think of bulky metal braces when they think of Orthodontics, but today’s braces are typically smaller and more comfortable to wear than braces of even ten years ago. At SmilesForever Orthodontics, we have many more options available including clear ceramic braces with tooth colored arch wires and clear removable braces (Invisalign).

The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to create a healthy bite — straight teeth that properly meet opposing teeth in the opposite jaw. A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak.

Also, when your teeth are not evenly spaced and straight there will be hard-to-reach areas that aren't receiving proper cleaning treatment. As a result, plaque and tartar can build up unnoticed. Over time, improper cleaning can lead to gum disease, tooth decay and even possible tooth loss. Healthy bites equal strong, beautiful and confident smiles!

Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells understand that orthodontics does take a commitment from both patients and their parents, but having braces doesn’t have to be a burden physically or financially.

Braces and even Invisalign are affordable. SmilesForever Orthodontics accepts most insurance plans & we offer interest free payment plans, offering no down payment to help you get started.

Now is the perfect time to celebrate orthodontics in your family. You can easily do this in a few ways:

  • Come in to see Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells for your complimentary consultation!
  • Avoid the treats that can play tricks on your braces and don’t scare our orthodontists! For Halloween give out healthier treats. Sugar free candy is still yummy and a fantastic alternative. Handing out braces-friendly candy means following Dr. Gilbert’s and Dr. Wells’ rule of nothing hard, crunchy, sticky or chewy!
  • Carve a braces-wearing pumpkin!
  • Make a silly scarecrow wearing braces.

If you have questions about orthodontics you are welcome to come into our office for a complimentary consultation. Simply call us or click here to request an appointment. We will be more than happy to discuss how we can assist you and your family with your orthodontic needs. Also, we have found that October is a great month to get started on a new beautiful and confident smile before the busy holiday season is upon us!

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.

Local Fireworks and Celebrations

July 4th, 2017

Still not sure where to celebrate and watch a great fireworks show tonight? The Gwinnett Daily Post has posted their fantastic local area guide to 4th of July fireworks and celebrations. SmilesForever Orthodontics is happy to share it with you here.

• Fantastic Fourth Celebration: Stone Mountain Park will host its annual Independence Day celebration throughout the weekend with the park open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the Lasershow and fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.stonemountainpark.com/Events/Fantastic-Fourth-Celebration.

• Berkeley Lake July 4 Parade: The city will hold its annual parade, with residents who want to join in with decorated cars being invited to show up at 11 a.m. at Berkeley Lake Elementary School. The parade is expected to kick off at about 11:30 a.m., with state Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners, and Mayor Lois Salter leading the way in an El Camino. Food and family-friendly activities, including face painting, will follow the parade at Berkeley Lake Chapel.

• Concert and fireworks: Lanier Islands will host a DJ from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Sunset Cove Stage, with a fireworks show on the lake set for 10 p.m.

• Star Spangled Snellville: The city’s Independence Day celebration will last from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Towne Green, with a fireworks show beginning at 9:30 p.m.Activities will include inflatables, a water slide, train rides and bungee jumps. Food will be provided by several restaurants and vendors. Ms. Senior Georgia, Kriss Johnson, will lead the National Anthem, and the Button Gwinnett Chapter Militia will fire muskets. The Stephen Lee Band and the Contagious Band will perform as well.

• Braselton Festival, Parade and Fireworks: Downtown Braselton will host live music, children’s activities, a parade and fireworks from 5 to 10 p.m. The live music featuring the Fly Betty Band will last from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Braselton Town Green. The parade will begin at 6 p.m., on Ga. Highway 53 and head through downtown. Tickets for the kids activities area include $2 for one time on each inflatable and $5 for each climb on the rock wall. Wristbands that offer unlimited climbs cost $10 for the inflatables, $8 for the rock wall and $15 for both. The fireworks will be shot off at City Hall.

• Star Spangled Fourth: The Mall of Georgia’s 15th annual Fourth of July celebration will begin at 5 p.m., and include musical performances at The Village Amphitheatre, a kid’s play area, fireworks and a showing of “The LEGO Batman Movie.” The Woody’s will begin performing at 5 p.m., and A1A The Official Jimmy Buffet Tribute Show will begin performing at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks will begin at 9:35 p.m., and the movie will begin afterwards.

• Sparkle in the Park: Lilburn’s event will last from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at City Park, 76 Main St. Balloon artists, and free family photos will be on hand until 9:30 p.m., or as long as supplies last. Tickets for food trucks, vendors and bounce houses can also be purchased. The Breakfast club will begin performing at 7:30 p.m., and the fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. Shuttle buses will be available to take attendees to and from parking areas at City Hall, Lilburn Middle School and lots at the corners of Yong and Church Streets and Poplar Street and Killian Hill.

• Independence Day with the Gwinnett Braves: The Gwinnett Braves will give away American flag rally towels to the first 5,000 fans who show up at Coolray Field for the team’s game against Norfolk, which will begin at 7:05 p.m.. Patriotic-themed jerseys will also be auctioned and the proceeds will go to Operation One Voice. There will also be a fireworks show after the game.

Whether you've decided to stay close to home with family and friends or head to a venue to watch a display of fireworks, Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our staff wish you a happy and safe 4th of July!

Summer Contest

June 28th, 2017

Start Your Summer With A Brand New Smile

May 10th, 2017

Summer is just a few short weeks away, and while for many that signals a season of fun in the sun and endless beach days, many are finding that summer is the perfect time to start on the path towards a new smile. Orthodontic treatment carries a whole host of benefits and is easier than ever before, so for this blog, we wanted to talk about all the ways a new smile can impact your life.

The Magic of a Beautiful Smile

Orthodontic treatment offers a variety of oral health improvements. A healthier smile can:

  • Improve your bite and jaw functionality
  • Protect against wear and tear on the teeth
  • Help to prevent gum disease
  • Help to prevent bone loss
  • In addition, an improved smile provides a boost to the overall appearance of the face, mouth and smile.
Let Your Confidence Shine

That being said, orthodontics is about more than just the aesthetic or functional elements of a smile. So many of our SmilesForever Orthodontics patients tell us that they feel a renewed self-confidence after completing treatment. Orthodontic treatment can give a huge boost to confidence, self-esteem, and happiness that will radiate through every aspect of your life - at school, home and at work.

Summer is a GREAT Time to Start On Your New Smile

As summer schedules tend to be a bit lighter, you may find it a little easier to start your new smile journey. Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells, along with our entire team are very passionate about what we do and helping our patients achieve their best smile! Because we’re so enthusiastic about what we do, we know that some parents are concerned with their children missing a periodic class or two, or trying to schedule around school activities on those initial appointments. With four locations to help create beautiful, confident smiles, we’re very flexible in helping to accommodate your appointment needs. Starting the path to your new smile over summer also gives you a little time to adjust to wearing braces before the start of school in the Fall.

We're Excited to See You Smile

Are you ready to take the leap this summer and start towards a brand new, healthy, and beautiful smile? We're ready to take you there - contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation. We can't wait to hear from you!

April is National Facial Protection Month!

April 10th, 2017

National Facial Protection Month focuses on spreading awareness about the importance of protecting children and adults from oral and facial injuries. Many injuries that do occur during sporting activities could have been prevented had the proper protective gear been worn.

As we return to outdoor sports and other activities, it’s a great time to remind you about the importance of taking a few precautions to preserve your teeth and be protected from dental and facial injuries. Whether at a practice, at a game, or simply enjoying some fun in the neighborhood, it's important to play it safe.

To prevent dental and facial injuries, remember these four important tips:

  1. Wear mouth guards to help prevent injuries to the teeth, mouth and jaws when you’re practicing or playing team sports, or when skating or riding a bike.
  2. Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact.
  3. Wear protective eye wear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable.
  4. Be alert even as a spectator. Alert spectators can avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks. Watch your step when climbing bleachers.

A single traumatic injury to the teeth may never heal completely, and it can create a lifetime of expensive problems.  Mouth guards are one of the least expensive pieces of protective gear available, and they can prevent or minimize dental and jaw injuries.

Game, Set, Match — SmilesForever Orthodontics has great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment!

If you do play sports Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells recommend that you wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Not only do you want to protect your investment, you'll want to protect your mouth and teeth too! Whether wearing braces or an orthodontic appliance you will need to wear a special mouth guard that will allow your treatment to progress and not be held in place with a formed mouth guard.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.

April is the perfect time to get into the mouth guard habit.  Wear one at every practice and every game.

For more information about National Facial Protection Month visit ADA.org, and for questions regarding orthodontic mouth guards please contact our office.

Orthodontic Spring Break Travel Tips

April 5th, 2017

Have Spring Fever? For many of our patients, it's official - Spring Break is here! This is quite a popular time to take a vacation, often escaping our normal routines. Are you planning to hit the beach or take a road trip to visit grandparents?

If you're planning to do any traveling, Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells want to encourage you with some helpful tips to keep up with your orthodontic and dental hygiene routine. Whether you wear traditional braces, orthodontic appliances, Invisalign or retainers, you'll want to pack more than just your toothbrush!

Invisalign Patients:
  • Always take your previous set of aligners, your current set, and your next set of aligners with you.
  • Always carry your aligners in your purse or carry-on luggage when flying.
  • Bring your toothbrush and toothpaste.
  • Only when brushing is inconvenient between meals, make sure you rinse out your mouth and aligners before reinserting into your mouth.
Braces Patients:
  • Toothbrush and paste
  • Floss and threaders
  • Orthodontic wax
  • Proxy brush
  • Rubber bands (if required)
  • Ibuprofen or Tylenol if you have had a recent adjustment

Have Gorgeous Straight Teeth? Congratulations - this means you've completed your orthodontic treatment, are in orthodontic retention and wearing retainers!

Removable Retainers:
  • Most important - remember to bring your retainers!
  • Retainer case
  • Toothbrush and paste
Bonded Retainers:
  • Toothbrush and paste
  • Floss and threaders

We hope these tips help you with your packing while making your Spring Break plans. If you have any questions or concerns while you are traveling please give SmilesForever Orthodontics a call. Wishing you all safe travels and wish you a Spring Break to smile about!

Spring Clean Your Dental Health Routine

April 3rd, 2017

Budding trees, blooming flowers and warmer weather...the signs of spring all around us are hard to miss! Many of us see these first signs of spring and take to our yards and homes in a cleaning frenzy. What else could use a little sprucing up? Your smiles! So, before you grab your mops or garden rakes, Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells would like you take a moment to think about your braces and your dental health routine. They've asked us to share a few tips to "spring clean" your dental routine so that your smile is vibrant, healthy and ready for the new season!

Replace your toothbrush

The American Dental Association recommends you replace your toothbrush (or brush head, if you use an electric toothbrush) every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed or if you have been ill. While wearing orthodontic braces and appliances, you may notice your toothbrush bristles begin to fray more frequently. When was the last time you replaced YOUR toothbrush?

Since we're on the topic of toothbrushes, here are a few additional tips from the ADA to keep your family safe and healthy:

  • Never share your toothbrush.
  • Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly with tap water after use.
  • Store toothbrushes upright, if possible so they can air dry faster after use.
  • Children's and orthodontic patient's toothbrushes may need to be replaced more often than every three months. Replace once you observe the bristles have begun to fray.

Flossing refreshed!

Do you find it tough to floss every day? You may be more likely to stick to your flossing routine if you keep things fresh and easily accessible. Consider trying a new type of dental floss to make it more interesting:

  • Super Floss: Super Floss comes in waxed, un-waxed and minty varieties. The box of floss comes pre-cut in individual strands with one stiff end made especially to work around appliances. This makes it almost effortless to floss under arch wires with for our braces-wearing patients!
  • Dental tape: Dental tape is a thin "ribbon" of floss that slides easily between teeth. Did you know that Glide, comes individually packaged too? These pre-cut strands also have a "workable" end that can be used to ease under arch wires. So easy to use!
  • Though SmilesForever Orthodontics doesn't recommend using floss picks with braces and arch wires, we do recommend using floss threaders if you are having difficulty getting used to guiding under your wires to floss. If you need floss threaders, please ask us for them at your next adjustment.

Visit your regular dentist

As you begin to check things off your spring cleaning list, don't forget to make sure your dental visit is scheduled. The ADA recommends visiting your general dentist every six months. Dr. Wells and Dr. Gilbert strongly encourage our braces-wearing patients to keep to their regular checkup and cleaning schedules. They, along with our orthodontic clinicians, will go over oral hygiene routines if they notice any gum irritation or plaque buildup at your adjustment appointments. They'll be sure to point out any hard to reach areas in need of cleaning adjustments, and make sure you know the necessary steps to keeping your teeth and gums healthy while in orthodontic treatment. We want you to have only the healthiest of smiles!

Spiffing up your dental health routine is quick and easy!

Spring is often referred to as a time for new beginnings. If your dental health routine has suffered through the winter, now is the perfect time to get things back on track with new floss options, a fresh toothbrush and visiting your regular dentist for your cleaning and checkup. These quick and easy steps can help you enjoy a healthy smile throughout the season and be ready to greet the summer with your best smile!

It's President's Day!

February 20th, 2017

Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our team are happily seeing patient's today as many of our patient's have the day off from school and work. It's not a snow day with our 70 degree Gwinnett weather today - this day is set aside each year to honor our very first President of the United States. SmilesForever Orthodontics would like to wish you all a Happy President's Day!

Have you ever wondered how "President's Day" came about or why it became a Federal as well as a national holiday? Why do we always celebrate on the third Monday of February?

Presidents Day (also referred to as President's Day) has its roots in one of the oldest American holiday observances: George Washington’s Birthday.

In 1796, the final year of George Washington’s administration, Americans chose to honor their beloved president by celebrating his birthday in all thirteen states. They did not all mark the same day, however. In the year of 1731 when Washington was born, the colonies had used a Julian calendar. According to that calendar, Washington was born on February 11, 1731. Some two decades later, however, Britain and her colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar. This new calendar moved dates 11 days forward. Thus, under the Gregorian calendar, Washington’s birthday fell on February 22.

By the early 1800s, Washington’s Birthday had become a common observance, but an official date still had not been adopted. Some towns observed February 11, while others set aside February 22 to honor America’s Founding Father. Finally, in 1879, Congress declared Washington’s Birthday a federal holiday. The legislation that made Washington’s Birthday a national holiday also stipulated that it was to be observed on February 22, the anniversary of his birth according to the calendar now in use.

Washington’s Birthday continued to be observed on February 22 throughout much of the 20th century. Then, in 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holiday Act. This act moved certain federal holidays from fixed dates to the Monday following those dates in order to create more three-day weekends. Under the Monday Holiday Act, the official observance of Washington’s Birthday was moved to the third Monday of February. The change began with the 1971 calendar and continues to this day.

So how did Washington’s Birthday come to be known as Presidents Day?

Washington shared the month of February with another notable U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln. Following Lincoln’s 1865 assassination, many chose to observe Lincoln’s birthday — February 12th — as well as Washington’s. In the years to come, a number of states made Lincoln’s birthday a state holiday. Unlike Washington’s birthday, however, Lincoln’s birthday never became a federal holiday.

Urban legend claims that at the time the observance of Washington’s Birthday was moved to the third Monday of February, then-President Richard Nixon hoped to consolidate observances of both Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays into a single federal holiday. According to legend, Nixon issued a presidential proclamation dubbing the third Monday of February “Presidents Day” in honor of all U.S. Presidents.

In fact, Nixon issued an executive order on February 11, 1971, proclaiming the third Monday of February a holiday. That order, however, referred to the holiday as nothing other than Washington’s Birthday. Claims that Nixon had changed the holiday to the more generic Presidents Day apparently stemmed from an inaccurate newspaper account.

Nonetheless, in the final decades of the 20th century, an increasing number of people embraced the term “Presidents Day.” Some states have even adopted Presidents Day as a state holiday in lieu of Washington’s Birthday. Still, the federal holiday on the third Monday of February legally remains “Washington’s Birthday” to this day.

Article first appeared on www.mydentists.info

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!

Want Straight Teeth Without Wires?

January 24th, 2017

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Are you someone who wishes you could have straight teeth and a perfect smile without traditional braces? Do you worry about having to give up your favorite foods while straightening your teeth or adding time to your brushing routine? If you aren't satisfied with your smile because of crowding, spacing problems or tooth alignment, metal and clear braces aren't the only way to get straight, gorgeous teeth.

What Is  Invisalign® And How Does It Work?

Invisalign® is a treatment system that uses a series of clear, transparent aligner trays to gradually re-position problem teeth. Invisalign® aligners are worn on top of your natural teeth. Because the trays are transparent and not visible, they are a preferred choice for orthodontics among adults. SmilesForever Orthodontics offers both traditional braces and Invisalign®. When chosen, Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells use the Invisalign® treatment option to correct several types of orthodontic problems including  spacing between teeth, crowding, to correct bites and to re-position crooked teeth.

Approximately every two weeks, you will begin wearing a new set of aligners, advancing you to the next stage of your treatment. To monitor your progress, you will also have occasional checkups with your doctor, usually only every six weeks or so. You may remove your aligners when brushing and eating. For best results and a timely outcome, you should wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, throughout your entire treatment. At each stage, you will be able to see how much closer you are to having the smile that reflects the real you.

What Benefits Does Invisalign® Offer To Adults Over Braces?

Most typical orthodontic problems are just as easily treated with Invisalign® as with traditional braces. If your orthodontist determines that more extreme problems exist, traditional braces may be a better option. Drs. Gilbert and Wells can help you choose the best treatment solution for your needs.

With Invisalign® you can achieve having straight teeth, without having to worry about brackets and arch wires. Invisalign®allows patients to have dental braces that are made of strong, clear acrylic known as aligners. They are similar to a mouth guard but are thinner and less noticeable. If you have children who have completed their orthodontic treatment at SmilesForever Orthodontics, Invisalign® aligners are very similar to the retainers that Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells prescribe at the end of orthodontic treatment.

If our orthodontists decide you are a candidate and that both treatment options will work equally well for you, consider the perks and benefits of choosing Invisalign® over traditional braces.

  • They can correct small underbites and overbites and help with spacing, crowding and alignment of crooked teeth.
  • They are removable which makes it easier for you to eat and drink everything that you love.
  • Also, since you will not have metal in your mouth you can brush and floss more easily.
  • They are transparent, making them virtually unnoticeable as your teeth are being straightened. The fact that they are so discreet makes them the preferred orthodontic treatment choice for many adults.
  • The perfect smile that you have always wanted!

Still unsure if Invisalign® is really as effective as traditional braces? Visit our webpage to see transforming before and after Invisalign smiles!

Are You Ready To Straighten Your Teeth And Transform Your Smile?

Our doctors at SmilesForever Orthodontics have created thousands of confidant, beautiful smiles over the past thirty years using Traditional Braces and Invisalign®. In our practice, a large number of adults prefer Invisalign® over traditional braces. It’s one of the reasons Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells have achieved being chosen as Preferred Invisalign® Providers. Call our convenient Duluth, Dacula, Flowery Branch or Loganville, GA offices or click here to make an appointment today for your FREE consultation to see if you are a candidate for Invisalign® treatment!

January 4th, 2017

Happy 2017! Can you believe the New Year is already upon us?

It's common for people to make New Year's Resolutions at this time of year as a way to make improvements going forward. The new year is a great time to become a "new you" by adding positive changes to your normal routine.

If you're like our staff at SmilesForever Orthodontics, you've already been busy writing up your lists of New Year's Resolutions aimed at improving your life, or the world around you. And like our staff, you may have started making yourself promises about organizing, healthy eating or exercising yourself to a new you, but have you considered improving your smile with orthodontic treatment? A new smile is an investment in the health of your teeth, gums and bones while aesthetically improving your best feature! Our orthodontists keep up with all advances in orthodontic treatment and technology, making orthodontic treatment more comfortable and progressing as quickly as your teeth will allow. With all of these advances, it's never been easier to achieve a new smile.

Orthodontic treatment is a solution for many dental problems including crooked teeth, crowding and spaces between teeth. Crooked teeth and a bad bite often lead to bone loss, jaw joint pain, headaches and extra wear on tooth enamel. Braces can help to reduce these these risks. Properly aligned teeth are much easier to brush and floss which decreases risks of developing gum disease and tooth decay. Braces aren't just for kids anymore - teeth can be moved at any age. A beautiful, confident smile not only boosts self-esteem it will last a lifetime!

Giving the gift of a new smile will quickly become the best gift you've ever given - to yourself or to a loved one! Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells offer many orthodontic treatment options including traditional metal braces and clear braces with "invisible" arch wires. Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells are also Preferred Invisalign® Providers to give you an alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment. Straightening teeth with Invisalign® is a popular choice among our adult patients. Get ready to give the best gift of the New Year and call us today or click here to schedule your FREE consultation!

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Who is Gemma Collins? TOWIE and Dancing on Ice star's age, mum, Arg and more facts

30 December 2018, 18:03 | Updated: 4 January 2019, 13:59

Gemma Collins
Gemma Collins. Picture: ITV

By Tom Eames

Gemma Collins is one the busiest reality TV stars of all time, thanks to her hilarious diva tantrums on The Only is Essex and many other shows.

The Essex girl (though, technically she's from Romford) appears in the 2019 series of Dancing on Ice, and here's all the big facts you need to know:

  1. Who is Gemma Collins?

    Gemma Collins is a reality TV personality, best known for being a cast member of the The Only Way Is Essex, joining the show in its second series back in 2011.

    She is also well known for her public battle with weight loss, and has often spoken out about it on various media outlets.

    Outside of TOWIE, she has also taken part in I'm a Celebrity, Celebrity Big Brother, Celebs Go Dating, Splash!, and Celebrity MasterChef.

    Before joining TOWIE, she worked as a used car salesperson. Her friend Amy Childs was already a cast member when she joined.

  2. Gemma Collins age: How old is she?

    Gemma Collins was born on January 31, 1981. She celebrated her 37th birthday in 2018.

  3. Who is Gemma Collins' mum?

    Gemma's mother Joan (yes, she's called Joan Collins) joined in the fifth series of TOWIE in April 2012.

  4. Gemma Collins boyfriend: Who is she dating?

    Gemma Collins and Arg in 2012
    Gemma Collins and Arg in 2012. Picture: Getty

    Gemma has had various relationships in the public eye, including with her TOWIE co-star James 'Arg' Argent.

    Their relationship ended when his ex-girlfriend Lydia Bright returned to the series.

    The couple have since reunited, and have bought a house in Italy together.

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Staff Directory List

Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
City Hall address is 2800 King Street, Smyrna Ga 30080 (not all City of Smyrna departments operate out of City Hall. Please use the search feature at the top right corner of the website to find a department or service location).

Boland, Tom

  • Departments:Administration, Community Development
  • Title:Economic Development Manager
  • Phone:(678) 631-5348
  • Email:
Return to full list >>

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Southern NV Community for (EFT) Emotionally Focused Therapy

Emotionally Focused Therapy is a model of counseling based on validated research, that focuses on helping disconnected couples restore emotional safety, connection and intimacy in their relationships. EFT is effective for couples, individuals and families. Based on attachment theory and pioneered by Dr. Sue Johnson, the need to form close bonds and connect to a close loved one is a universal human need. It can feel very painful and hopeless when we experience disconnection in our primary love relationships. Get connected with an EFT therapist today and start on the road to healing your connection and restoring intimacy to your relationship.

The Most Effective model for helping couples heal

Dr. Sue Johnson and her work with EFT has advanced what we know about the nature of romantic love and bonding in adulthood.

The Southern Nevada Community for EFT is a (501C3) non-profit community of mental health practitioners committed to creating safe and secure bonds in couples and families, and helping to create healing for emotional and relational brokenness for all who need it. This community's mission is to make training affordable for its therapists and to offer diverse learning and education classes. As a Community we are committed to standing united against messages of hatred.

Emotionally Focused Therapy, pioneered by Sue Johnson, is the most effective therapy model for healing couples in conflict & distress, rebuilding emotional security respect, and intimacy. It also helps foster loving and healthy relationships that last.

Emotionally Focused Therapy is an inclusive model of counseling, helping couples, individuals and families from all backgrounds and walks of life. SNVEFT also models diversity and inclusion by having an open door policy to all ICEEFT Certified EFT Trainers, and welcoming a diversity of training courses.

EFT Counseling is now available in the UK, Europe, Romania and many countries around the world.

EFT gives therapist's a clear road map for helping couples in distress. Research studies find that 70-75% of couples move from distress to recovery and approximately 90% show significant improvements.

Our ICEEFT Community Mission

Helping people heal their connections.


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Jilin University

Contact Information

Xiao Han
Jilin University
Jilin, China
ph: +86 13504432245

SOA Recognition Tier:

This university/college offers:

Actuarial science courses at the following levels:

  • Bachelors
  • Masters

Approved coursework for the following VEE (Validation by Educational Experience) topics:

  • Corporate Finance
  • Economics

Courses to prepare students for the following SOA actuarial exams:

  • Exam FM - Financial Mathematics
  • Exam IFM - Investment & Financial Markets
  • Exam P - Probability
  • Exam STAM - Short-Term Actuarial Mathematics

Please Note:

The SOA listing of Universities and Colleges with Actuarial Programs (UCAP) was created as a resource for students. The information provided on the UCAP list has been reviewed by the SOA, but should be verified by the student if seriously considering the program. In particular, VEE approved courses as well as the content of other university courses are subject to change from time to time.


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Statistics  Statistics

Tipster Service Total Tips Win Draw Lose Hits Rate % 7229 6223 265 735 86%
Recent Form
Latest result shown from the LEFT

Statistic and betting trend system provided by are base on the full performance of Tipster Track Records as published on their website.

Performing Tipsters in our NETWORK

Total picks: 6772

Yield: 85.88%

Total picks: 6870

Yield: 64.89%

Total picks: 5145

Yield: 166.35%


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Reviews / Comments

Overall Service Rating:

BUY THE EXACT TIPS I BET EVERYDAY If you are reading this, the chance is that you have not been winning with football betting. Losing money is never fun, but I have done that before myself and I know how you feel. Now it is time you started to win and I can help provide the secret formula you need in order to be successful. Buy the membership now and start making real money.

EUR350 per Asian Handicap Tips
EUR45 per Fixed Odd Tips
EUR650 per Correct Score Tips

Reviews / Comments

  • FIFA World Cup 2018 is the biggest championship of football and betting makes it bigger. And I am going to make bigger than ever by going to Russia and betting from stadium. I will be in Moscow for first match. My tipster will help me in betting.

    Posted on 2018-02-27 | 17:56:35
  • The best thing I can say about is it is the best tipster in the world. I don’t know how it breaks odds but it does great job every time. This tipper can break every odd and beat any bookie. I firmly believe on ability of this website.

    Posted on 2017-10-20 | 08:55:33
  • I am winning soccer bets one by one with the help of I found this tipster site while looking for a reliable tipper but I verified claims made by this site before relying on it. I was surprised to know that all the claims made by were true.

    Posted on 2017-10-05 | 09:03:40
  • is my betting partner as it provides me winning tips every time. It is the best tipster I could find on the web and also it is the most affordable tipper site. has many advantages and for this reason I rely on it.

    Posted on 2017-09-20 | 21:25:35
  • I win bets with the help of tips and I believe that no punter can win bets without any help. I found a reliable tipper in the form of Whenever I bet, I buy tip from my tipster and rest assured as it always provides satisfactory service.

    Posted on 2017-09-12 | 04:55:01
  • I know only one tipster that is and can give guarantee of reliability of this tipster website. I have never met the tipster behind the site but I believe he would be a handsome guy with in-depth knowledge on the game of football and on teams and players.

    Posted on 2017-08-16 | 13:24:28

User Reviews / Comments

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Performing Tipsters in our NETWORK

Total picks: 6772

Yield: 85.88%

Total picks: 6870

Yield: 64.89%

Total picks: 5145

Yield: 166.35%


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Connecting to LinkedIn...

Asset Surveyor

Job Title: Asset Surveyor
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Birmingham
Salary: £30,000 + Benefits
Reference: 25412
Contact Name: Daisy McLachlan
Contact Email:
Job Published: January 21, 2020 14:55

Job Description

Asset Surveyor – Birmingham - £30,000 + Benefits

We have an exceptional opportunity for an Asset Surveyor working with a Housing provider that support local communities. The organisation we are partnering with provide affordable accommodation for a mixture of customers including general needs, sheltered and supported as well as helping thousands of residents each year to make a difference to their lives.

The successful Asset Surveyor will report into the Asset Manager and be a part of a large programme including new build, responsive repairs, planned maintenance programmes, aids and adaptation and void works.

Asset Surveyor Responsibilities:

  • Providing accurate stock condition surveys to update stock condition data towards the relevant programme
  • Managing and liaising with internal and external contractors making sure the work carried out is cost viable and up to standard
  • Inspecting aspects of compliance making sure each project is aligned with company procedures and legislation

The successful Asset Surveyor must possess:

  • A valid UK driving licence with access to their own vehicle
  • HND / HNC level in Building Surveying or equivalent construction related qualification. (desirable)
  • Knowledge of surveying within a social housing environment.

In return, the successful candidate will receive a salary of £30,000 + benefits. This is an urgent requirement and we have interview availability over the coming 2 weeks. Please contact Daisy McLachlan on 02037622793 or email

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Connecting to LinkedIn...

Development Manager

Job Title: Development Manager
Location: Buckinghamshire
Salary: £56,000 per annum + Benefits Package
Reference: 25211
Contact Name: Becky Joiner
Contact Email:
Job Published: October 31, 2019 18:06

Job Description

Development Manager – £56,000 – Buckinghamshire

Social Housing Recruitment have a new and exciting opportunity for a Development Manager to work with a high performing, Housing Association in the Social Housing sector. The organisation we have partnered with are a medium sized organisation who have a clear and concise development plan of building over 500 new homes every year for rent and sale.

The successful Development Manager will need to have experience of delivering on land led schemes and experience working with JCT contracts.

This is a fantastic chance to work with an organisation who care about providing high quality homes to their customers. Our client has a strong financial rating and a passion for health and safety. If this sounds like an organisation you would love to work for then please read below.

Why is this such a great opportunity?

  • You will be part of a development team who have clear objectives and timelines in place.
  • A charity focused organisation that change people’s lives and their life chances through their development schemes.
  • Working on development plans from inception to handing over properties to tenants.

Development Manager responsibilities include:

  • Managing housing projects from inception to completion ensuring on time delivery, within budget and to a high quality.
  • Working closely with Technical Managers, Sales teams, Site Managers and Land teams to manage the delivery of the development project.
  • Monitoring and ensuring completion of schemes are within budget.
  • Carrying out risk assessments for each development project and updating the risk register accordingly whilst new risks are reported to the Head of Project Delivery.

The successful Development Manager must possess:

  • Construction related qualification at degree level or equivalent.
  • Membership of a professional body such as CIOB and an IOSH qualification.
  • Experience of delivering a development project from inception to completion whilst demonstrating a good understanding of property and contract law as well as experience in obtaining planning permission.
  • Proven ability to monitor financial performance of projects during the development process and have a good understanding of development appraisals.

In return, the successful candidate will receive a salary of £56,000. On top of this you will receive a fantastic benefits package including excellent annual leave up to 25 days which accrues with service up to 30, flexible working opportunities, pension scheme and a discretionary bonus up to 10%.

This is an urgent requirement and we have interview availability over the coming 2 weeks.

To ensure you don’t miss out on this exciting Development Manager position in Social Housing, please contact me on 01252 954 978 or to express your interest.


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In Harvey v Niland, the litigants were members of the same corporation.  Niland was also an employee of the corporation.  After leaving his employment on bad terms, he remained a member of the corporation.  Harvey sought a court order to prevent Niland from soliciting the corporation’s existing customers for his new employer and damaging the corporation’s reputation, in breach of his fiduciary duties as a member of the corporation.  The employer’s complaint succeeded on the basis of private Facebook communications between Niland and the customers, which Harvey had accessed by obtaining Niland’s username and password from another employee.

The court found that the communications were admissible as evidence, despite the fact that:

  •  they had been obtained unlawfully in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002, which criminalises the act of intentionally accessing or intercepting any data without authority or permission; and
  • Niland’s constitutional right to privacy had been infringed.

South African courts have the discretion in civil matters to admit evidence which is obtained unlawfully, taking all relevant factors into account. Deciding factors in this instance were:

Unlike in criminal matters, civil litigants have a duty to disclose all documents which are relevant to either party’s case except those which are legally privileged. No privilege could be claimed over the messages.

  • It was unlikely that Harvey could have obtained the messages through court procedures, because he would have had no other evidence to show they existed.
  • Niland had explicitly denied the conduct proved by the messages and had undertaken not to act in such a manner when threatened with legal action.

The court ultimately held that Niland could not rely on his right to privacy in circumstances where “right thinking members of society would believe … that he ought to be exposed”.

This judgement illustrates that the constitutional right to privacy is not absolute. When South Africa’s new privacy legislation, the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 is fully in force, however, the issue will have to be considered under this act as well.


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Game #2358
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 0:00
Moves: 0
Game Details

Game #2358, Generated on September 26, 2012

Played a total of 2873 times by 335 registered members. Finished by 305 users who rated the difficulty as easy.

You have not finished the game yet.

Today's Game Statistics

Yes, Fizz, this *was* an interesting game. ~ When you said that the light came on at the same time, I figured you were referring to the black 8's -- but I was still three moves off so I wasn't feeling like I had discovered "Layla's secret" at all ! smile

Thanks, Fizz and Suzan ! It took me a while but I finally got it. smile I was trying to stack when it wasn't necessary -- to my detriment !! ~ Fizz, I think when you had been away from the game for what seemed like a long time, I asked if anyone had any ideas for another term we could use in addition to a "fizzbut" and joekayak came up with "doppelganger" ... or something like that ! smile

Actually the K can preceed the 2nd red king, for what it's worth.

As far as my feeble memory can recollect, joe might have been the one who named the "doppelganger" after me but for some reason I was thinking it was Lynne who suggested a doppelganger.

10 goes straight over too. Red Ks first.

Yes, well done Layla. And Fizz.

Very interesting game today. Well done Layla.

Sorry I swear I saw 125 for you and bouncy a moment ago. Let me help illuminate things. 8 plays up straight and don't cover it.

It looks like 3 of us found Layla's secret around the same time, Susan

Invalid links

I haven't been able to get the game to work for several days! When I try to move a card, it will disappear and the next card in the stack ...

2016-05-10 17:27:24

New Servers

The numbers indicates quantity of user takes this achievements!...

2016-03-04 22:18:13

Happy Christmas, we updated game script for using on mobile devices, and also we have updating card cover!  ...

2015-12-24 21:24:18

Scores and rankings

Any estimate as to when the scoring/ranking will be operational? I miss it. ...

2015-12-03 20:34:00

Game #71

This is a very good site and I truly enjoy the time I spend each day working on the new game each morning first thing. I also go back and ...

2015-11-08 05:33:33

Please wait. The result of your game is counting now.


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Southwestern falls short to Bryan Station

Southwestern High School senior Brayden Sims scored a team-high 15 points in the Warriors' 58-56 loss to Bryan Station on Friday night at the Wigwam.

In a down-to-the-wire game on Friday night at the Wigwam, the Southwestern High School boys basketball team just came up short in a 58-56 set back to the visiting Defenders of Bryan Station.

Midway through the second quarter, the Warriors fell behind by 11 points, but went on a 10 to 2 run to open the third quarter to take their first lead since the opening of the game.

Southwestern senior Braydon Sims came out past the free throw line to sink a 16-footer to tie the game at 42-42 to end the third quarter.

The visiting Defenders raced out to take a 48-43 lead in the opening of the fourth quarter and were able to lead for most of the final period. With just over a minute left in the game, Bryan Station led 57-5.

Cole Dysinger hit a free throw, and Tanner McKee nailed a trey to close the Defenders' lead to 57-55 with 40 seconds left in the game.

The Defender came up empty after missing the front end of the bonus, giving the Warriors a chance to get back into the game with 30 seconds left. With the clock winding down to 3 seconds, Sims found McKee under the basket. McKee was fouled in the act of shooting.

McKee hit the first free throw, but missed the second after a Defender called timeout. The Warriors quickly fouled and the Defenders made one free throw and missed the second attempt. Andrew Jones got the rebound and took a long range desperation shot a the buzzer. Jones could not convert the last-second shot, as the Warriors lost their second straight game.

Andrew Smith scored back-to back baskets and Sims scored inside to start the game out to give the Warriors the early 7-4 lead. However, the Defenders hit three three-pointers in the opening quarter to run out to a 21-14 lead.

Bryan Station opened up their largest lead at 32-21 with 2:08 left in the half. Sims scored an 'old fashion' three-point play and McKee hit two free throws to pull the Warriors within six points with 1:16 left in the half. Southwestern trailed Bryan Station 35-28 at halftime.

The Warriors tighten up their defense and made big run on the Defenders to open the second half. Hunter Coffey scored on a layup, Sims scored a bucket inside and hit a free throw, Chase Eastham hit a three-pointer, and Dysinger scored on a driving four-footer to give Southwestern a 38-37 lead with 3:40 left in the third.

Bryan Station hit three more treys in the fourth to keep them a step ahead of the charging Warriors. Andrew Jones hit a trey and Hunter Coffey scored on a layup to pull the Warriors within one point at 52-51 with 3:20 left in the game. However a trey and two made free throws, gave Bryan Station a 57-51 lead with 1:08 left in the game.

Brayden Sims led the Warriors with 15 points, while Tanner McKee scored 11 points.

Southwestern (9-4) will travel to Holy Cross, on Saturday, Jan. 4, to play Lawrenceburg, IN in the Not Quite Hawaii Challenge.

STEVE CORNELIUS is the CJ Sports Editor and can be reached at Follow him on Twitter at @CJSportseditor.

Recommended for you


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Château Frontenac

Discover the Spa at Chateau Frontenac which combined, with elegance, heritage and modernity. Located in the heart of a hotel overlooking the majestic way of the Saint Lawrence River, everything is designed to maximize relaxation with comfortable treatment and manicure-pedicure cabins well equipped. Welcomed in a cozy place, warm and luxurious, you will be charmed and will have an unforgettable moment. The Spa at Chateau Frontenac also offers a range of luxurious products to enhance your beauty ritual.

1 Rue des Carrières - G1R 4P5 Québec - Canada


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snowy britain
© Getty Images
Britain will be hit by a seven-day cold snap from the weekend, with snow, frost and gale-force winds set to arrive just as the nation thought winter was finished.

The country basked in 20C temperatures at the weekend - the hottest of the year - as big crowds enjoyed the Grand National and FA Cup semi-finals and packed beaches and tourist attractions.

But the coldest winter in 31 years has a final sting in the tail.

Forecasters warned of 2C nighttime temperatures - low enough for frost - for the rest of this week, with heavy rain at the weekend and then snow through next week in northern England and Scotland. Frosts and bitter gale-force northerly winds are also expected in the north, with extreme windchill making temperatures feel as cold as -7C.

Spring Britain
© Getty Images
A change of scenery: Britons basked in spring weather at the weekend but wintry weather is set to return in the next week.
Southern England and Wales will see single-figure daytime highs with windchill again making temperatures feel closer to freezing.

A Met Office statement said: 'Rain is expected to move southwards across the country on Sunday and Monday. This will be followed by showers in northern areas, turning wintry over hills, with snow perhaps falling at low level in the far north.

'The unsettled theme is set to continue for most of the week with showers for most areas, falling as snow at times on northern hills. It will be windy at times in the north with a risk of gales. Temperatures will be rather cold in the north, with a risk of frost, and in probably in single figures in southern areas.'

Positive Weather Solutions senior forecaster Jonathan Powell said: 'It will turn decidedly cold for northern England and Scotland from the weekend and into next week, with a chilling blast of northerly air.

'Typical daytime temperatures will be pegged right back to 3C to 5C at best. But the windchill will really bite, as the northerly winds mean it will feel like -4 to -7C, during daytime and nighttime. Frosty conditions may well return will a vengeance and there is also the possibility of snowfall.

'With these sort of temperatures, even lower levels will not be safe from a covering.'

Met Office forecaster John Hammond added:

He said winds would change to a northerly direction, bringing lower temperatures of just above freezing.

'With clear skies and light winds, temperatures drop sharply towards dusk - so if you're wearing a T-shirt, you'll have to put your coat on again.' he said.

In the meantime, yesterday people were making the most of the last sign of sun for a few days, enjoying the cherry blossom on the trees at Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire.