Kurt Kavanaugh Orthodontics

Today we celebrate MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. This federal holiday honors Martin Luther King Jr. and his tireless fight for civil rights in America. Let’s all keep the dream alive!

The weekend is just around the corner!

Goodbye 2021 we will certainly never forget you!

Why not put all that leftover turkey to use on a cool winter’s night! INGREDIENTS Seasoning mix:... 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon dried oregano teaspoon crushed red peppers 3 oz tomato paste (half a can) 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic 2 tablespoons water Seasoning mix: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 2 medium bell peppers, diced 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt divided 24 oz cooked white turkey meat, skinless, shredded or diced (5 cups) 2 (15 oz cans) petite diced tomatoes, undrained (if using regular diced tomatoes, give them an extra chop) 2 bay leaves teaspoon black pepper 1 cup water Directions: In a small bowl, with a fork, mix together the seasoning ingredients to create a paste. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes. Add the onion, bell peppers, and teaspoon kosher salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the seasoning mixture (use a small spatula to scrape it off the bowl) and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Stir in the turkey meat until well-coated in the spices. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, the remaining salt, and the black pepper. Add enough water to bring the chili to a thick stew consistency, about 1 cup. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Dr. Kurt and the staff at Kurt Kavanaugh Orthodontics wish you and yours a blessed day! May the gift of family, love and laughter fill your homes today and throughout the holiday season!

Be sure to leave milk out for Santa not soda! People who drink 3 or more sugary sodas daily have 62% more dental decay, fillings, and tooth loss! Not to mention what it can do to your teeth if you are in braces. As you are thinking ahead to New Year resolutions, please consider cutting out or at least cutting back on sodas!

Over the next couple of weeks, you are going to be tempted with all sorts of holiday treats! If you are wearing braces, we hope your holidays won’t include a visit to our office with a broken bracket. Be cautious with all the same things you should avoid throughout the year sticky foods, hard and crunchy foods, foods that can stain your teeth (or clear brackets). And if you are the lucky one to get the turkey leg, be sure to cut the meat off the bone rather than biting into it! Ho Ho .. Ho .. enjoy the smart foods you know are healthy for your braces!

Someone is always watching for your beautiful smile!

Since today is NATIONAL CUPCAKE DAY, we thought you should try something fun get crafty with your cupcake! Ingredients: your favorite cupcake recipe... vanilla buttercream marshmallows black edible food marker orange edible food marker M&M's Milk Chocolate Minis 5 drops of super black gel paste food coloring Instructions: 1. Using a black edible food marker draw dots on your marshmallows to signify the snowman's eyes and mouth. 2. Using the orange edible food marker draw an orange carrot nose onto your marshmallows. 3. Using a knife or icing spatula frost your cupcake flat with vanilla buttercream. 4. Gently press your snowman's marshmallow head onto the cupcake. 5. Gently press three M&M's Milk Chocolate Minis in a vertical row below the marshmallow head; these are your snowman's buttons. 6. Color buttercream with 5 parts super black food coloring. 7. Using a disposable pastry bag and a no.3 round decorating tip, or the corner of a plastic baggie snipped off, pipe stick arms onto your Melting Snowman Cupcakes. Eat & Enjoy!

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children get their first check-up with an Orthodontist no later than age 7. An examination, as permanent teeth take the place of baby teeth and as the face and jaws are growing, will determine if a problem exists or if one is developing. Only a few orthodontic problems need correction while a child has baby teeth. If a problem is detected, chances are a wait-and-see approach will be taken. In that case, the child would go into an observation phase and their growth and development would be periodically checked and monitored. We’ll watch them grow!

Orthodontics is far more than just a cosmetic investment. While correcting your bite, orthodontics also alleviates an array of health problems, including: Difficulty speaking Breathing issues Problems chewing and swallowing... When it comes to your mouth, orthodontic treatment is pretty and practical. See more

When cotton candy was first created by a dentist, it was referred to as Fairy Floss! So, be sure you floss today in honor of National Fairy Floss Day!

With Invisalign technology most people will not even know you are in treatment. Set up an appointment soon to see if this invisible option is right for you!

Turn those extra flex spending dollars into a SMILE! Call us right away to get your orthodontic treatment started in time to use your flex spending money in 2021.

Guess what today is! It's Dr. Kurt's Birthday! Help us in celebrating his birthday by sending him a birthday wish! "Happy Birthday Dr. Kurt"!

Today we would like to wish Ann a Happy Birthday! Ann is one of our front desk receptionist! Hope she has a terrific day enjoying it with her family!

When you’ve been sick and start feeling better, the first thing you should do is get a new toothbrush PLEASE! Nasty germs that could re-infect you can hide in your old toothbrush no matter how carefully you clean it, so out with the old and in with the new!

Wishing a Happy Birthday to Amy, our Patient Accounts Manager. Hoping she has a wonderful birthday with family and friends!

National First Responders Day became a national holiday in 2017. The resolution was passed to honor the firefighters, police officers, EMTs and all those who are first on the scene in stressful situations. We owe them so much!

Happy National Pumpkin Day! Whether you are decorating a pumpkin, eating pumpkin pie or drinking a pumpkin latte, have a great day celebrating all things pumpkin!

Happy Birthday Autumn! Hope you have a wonderful day enjoying your special day!

Did you know that October is also National Cookie Month? So, that combined with Halloween made it necessary for us to share this easy, yummy and spooky recipe! PEANUT BUTTER SPIDER COOKIES INGREDIENTS:... 1 tube (16.5 ounces) refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough (or your favorite homemade peanut butter cookies) 20-24 miniature Reese's peanut butter cups 1 cup milk chocolate chips Optional: candy eyeballs, shortening or vegetable oil INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Prepare the cookies according to package directions. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to slightly cool. 2. Unwrap the peanut butter cups and then gently press in the center of the cookies. Let harden. 3. In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips, and about a half-teaspoon of vegetable oil or shortening (if desired; makes it a little easier to work with!) 4. Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds stirring in between each burst for 10 seconds until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a plastic bag and cut off the very tip of the bag. 5. Pipe "spider legs" onto the cookie starting from the Reese's cup going outwards. 6. If desired, pipe a little melted chocolate on the back of the edible eye candies and press into the Reese's cup.

Happy Boss’s Day to Dr. Kurt! Today is Boss’s Day and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate the great Orthodontist we work for!

Just because you'll need to put some more thought into this year's spooky celebrations, doesn't mean they need to be any less fun. Here are a few of our favorite (safe) ideas for Halloween 2020. Host a Zoom Halloween Party: If you can't physically attend a Halloween party this year, don't forgo celebrating. Get a group of friends together and plan a time for you all to dress up, catch up, and enjoy. Costumes mandatory!... Watch a Spooky Movie: There's certainly no shortage of Halloween movies. From family friendly classics (Hocus Pocus, Casper) to horror flicks (Halloween, Silence of the Lambs), there's something for everyone. Swap your popcorn for Candy Corn and let the movie marathon begin. Have Some Spooky Family Fun in the Kitchen: Who says Halloween is all about the candy? This is the perfect time to get creative with cooking and baking. Craft a Halloween Playlist: There are more Halloween-themed tunes than you'd expect. There's the age-old classic "The Monster Mash," along with more modern interpretations like "Heads Will Roll" and "She Wolf." So, build a playlist curated to your tastes and let the Halloween home dance party begin. Decorate Themed Face Masks: There is perhaps no more "2020" Halloween activity than decorating a face mask. Start with a classic white fabric mask and use markers, paint, beads, etc. Some ideas include animal faces, creepy grins, or a pumpkin pattern. Get creative! Add this to your zoom party and make it a contest with a prize for the best mask. Distribute Candy at a Distance: If you think you’ll have trick-or-treaters, leave a bowl of candy at the end of your driveway, with a bottle of hand sanitizer (and a sign suggesting they use it). Wave to kids in cute costumes from your front stoop.

Happy Columbus Day! Traveling on the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria in 1492, Christopher Columbus and his crew traveled from Spain to see if the world was flat and to discover new worlds. They did - America was found! Thank you for your courage Christopher Columbus!

The correct answer is: Please avoid the Rye Chips, Square Pretzels and Circle Pretzels when eating Chex Mix while in braces.

Go pink this month for Breast Cancer Awareness. We support the efforts of all those involved in research and prevention. Wear pink this month as much as possible to help bring awareness to this important cause. We are BRACED FOR A CURE!

It’s our month to celebrate and we’re starting today! The month of October is National Orthodontic Health Month. We feel very blessed to work in this wonderful profession and we send a special thank you to all the patients we have had the opportunity to make SMILE since we’ve been in business. Please help us celebrate by telling your friends or family, who could benefit from orthodontic treatment, to come in for an evaluation and be sure they tell us that you sent them. Happy NOHM!

The best part of waking up is coffee in your cup! Happy National Coffee Day to all you caffeine lovers out there. If you happen to be in clear ceramic brackets, be cautious as coffee can stain those. Limit yourself to one cup and brush immediately afterwards!

Yes elastic wear or lack of it, when prescribed, influences your treatment time! Elastics should be worn exactly as the doctor prescribes. If you forget to wear them do not double up the next day that won’t make your teeth move any faster and it could make your mouth very sore. Follow the doctor’s instructions and we’ll get the movement we need to help you reach your deband date on time! Remember that you can always drop by our office during business hours if you need additional elastics.