A close-up ofbraces reveals just how intricate they are.
Imagine having braces put on your teeth just for the experience,not because you needed to have them. Well, Dr. Michelle Burlingame did just that while she was studying to become an orthodontist.
“I had a friend put them on for me. It was just the fair thing to do,” said Burlingame of the experience. She recalls that it wasn’t altogether terrible and that she had accomplished what she set out to do, which was to have first-hand knowledge of wearing braces so that she could understand what her patients would be experiencing.
Just over a year ago, Dr. Burlingame opened an orthodontic practice in Ballston Spa, choosing to return to family in nearby Galway instead of heading to a large city. This concept, along with her attention to patientc omfort is echoed in her practice’s goal: “An escape from the ordinary.”
She said her smaller practice (it’s just her and a receptionist) is able to offer something other than an expected dental experience, which can be overwhelming for some patients. Many orthodontists’ offices may have a larger staff and while Burlingame feels that her office will likely grow in the future, she doesn’t plan for it to get too big. Being able to provide constantone-on-one care is important to her.
When it comes to relating to children and adults who need braces, Burlingame’s own experience and focus on patient connection comes in handy. With challenges of maintaining good oral hygiene and having appliances put in place, the empathy she has helps to take some of that anxiety that can sometimes surround dental visits, away.
Burlingame also she advocates dental health throughout the community in many schools, is a member of the local Rotary Club, and is aprovider for “Smiles Change Lives” (SCL). She also goes into local schools, visiting mostly second grade students and occasionally kindergarten classes to bring some ‘hands on’ opportunities for the kids to participate in.
SCL is a national program giving affordable options too rthodontic care for those who may not be able to afford it.
“I heard about SCL through an annual meeting ofo rthodontists… The patients I have screened thus far have not been quite readyfor braces (waiting for baby teeth to fall out), so most likely I expect I will end up treating a future screening patient before them,” she said.
According to Andrea Umbreit, director of marketing and communications for SCL, the program served 750 patients in need of orthodontic care in 2011. “Our goal for this year is 900 patients,” she said.
“Nationwide we have 600 orthodontists, we reach out to them through trade shows and state or regional associations…Also, if there is a patient in need of services and there isn’t aprovider in their area, we’ll contact an orthodontist in that area. We’ve been pretty successful with that as well,” said Umbreit.
SCL was founded in 1998 by Virgina Brown, who as a child did notr eceive orthodontic care when she needed it. Instead, her sister received care first and Brown had to wait until she was in high school to be treated. As aresult, she dealt with teasing during her childhood and vowed to help children in need one day if she could.
According to Umbreit, SCL is funded through corporate sponsors,and private donations. “We also have the parents (or caregivers) pay $500 (orsome other portion) of the cost. This gives them a vested interest in the care,” she said.
Burlingame said technology has come a long way in recent years, which makes a big difference when dealing with kids.
“The wires that weuse in modern orthodontics exert very light continuous forces on the teeth. That together with modern bracket design makes orthodontic treatment a much different experience than it may have been in the past.”
Dr.Burlingame treats children and adults and is located at 220 Church Ave, Suite2.
