Why Should I Smile?

There are plenty of reasons to smile. But there are times when you just don't feel like smiling. Maybe the burdens of the world have gotten you down. So, you read all of my posts telling you to smile, and you ask yourself: Why??

I have a simple answer: Because smiling will make you feel better. When you smile, even if you do not feel like smiling, you will feel better once you do. And when you are feeling better, you will make better decisions. You will also be open to opportunities and other people will want to be with you. Smiling, even when you don't feel like it, can literally change your life!

So let me conclude with this: The next time you want to frown, mope around and feel sorry for yourself, STOP! Try smiling instead. Not because you are happy, but because you want to be!

Once you've read this, do me a favor. Add something to the comments section letting me know if you have made yourself happy by smiling. Therefore, others will know that this technique really works! And most importantly: SMILE!!

Post your thoughts here:

Make A Difference Day

Make A Difference Day is Saturday, October 22. As I'm sure you are aware, I am a huge proponent of making a difference, with my gift of 56 sets of braces to underserved individuals in Metro-Detroit. Now you may not be in a position to make as large of a gift as I made. But I'm sure there is something you can give to the less fortunate of our community.

I have always found giving to be beneficial. When you give, it warms your heart. You are reminded how blessed you are. And that encourages you to do more great things. Whenever you give, God always seems to give you in excess to what you have given.

And gifting is not the only way one makes a difference. Taking pride in you work makes a difference, as I am blessed in the compliments I receive from my patients on how their beautiful smile made a difference in their life.

So my challenge to you is this: Use October 22 as the day you BEGIN to make a difference in this world. What a blessing it will be!!

Share with us what you are working on for Make a Difference day, Saturday, October 22.

Post your story in the comments here:

You Need the Edge

 

In this world, you need the edge. When you are competing for a job, you need the edge. When you are trying to land a huge contract, you need the edge. When you are attracting a new relationship, you need the edge. When you are seeking friends, you need the edge.

What is the edge? The edge is that little extra something that sets you apart from all the others. It can be knowledge. It can be charisma. It can be who you associate with. Or it could simply be a beautiful smile. When you smile, people trust your knowledge. When you smile, people see your personality. When you smile, people feel your warmth. So use that smile in all of your life activities. You will be amazed where that smile will take you.

So use that smile. And use that smile often. It will improve your life; trust me! And one more thing: If you feel your smile needs that extra edge, give my office a call!

If you would like to share with me an experience where a beautiful smile enhanced you life, I would love to hear from you!

Post your comments here:

Trust

On my blog we have discussed many reasons to smile. You would think that I've covered them all, but I have not even scratched the surface. Today, I want to talk about building trust. Trust is important getting a new job, closing business deals, attracting a new romantic relationship and many other interpersonal relationships. I'm sure you agree with me on that. But the question that then gets asked is this: How do I quickly build trust with another. That answer is simple. With a confident SMILE!

It may sound simplistic, but a confident smile will build confidence with another quicker than anything you can actually say. Look the person square in the eyes and smile. You will be surprised at the results you get with the confident smile. One of the best ways to have a confident smile is to have straight teeth. When you have a beautiful smile and a straight set of teeth, you know you are going to show them.

So are you ready? My office offers in-house financing, and of course, the first consultation is free. So don't delay. After all, how much in life are you losing by not having that confident smile?

Autumn Snacks

We are now at a time of year that is known for unhealthy snacks. Carmel apples, popcorn and candy make dentists cringe. It is a known fact that sugar causes tooth decay. Furthermore, most candy is detrimental to orthodontic treatment. I'm sure we explained to you what foods you need to limit and avoid when you have braces, but just to recap, let's discuss them again. Avoid these: caramel, crunchy peanut butter, gooey chocolate bars, hard candy and nuts, Starbursts or taffy, gummy bears (and their gummy friends), gum and popcorn. Also, you need to limit soda and sugary drinks, and be sure to eat corn chips one corn chip at a time. And that is for starters. All the many candies that are not on the list can also be harmful if eaten in excess, because the sugar build up between the braces and teeth can be detrimental.

Even if you don't have braces, excessive sugar is dangerous, especially for children. Along with the obvious tooth decay, excessive sugar can promote obesity, hyperactivity and lack of concentration in school. Because of this, I have listed some suggestions for the Autumn season.

1. Limit sweets. You and your children do not have to eat all of the candy, dessert and unhealthy snacks offered to you. As a family talk about selecting favorites and discarding the rest. You many think this sounds wasteful, but this is not nutritious food I am asking you to discard. It's basically toxins.
   
2. Seek fun, family activities that do not revolve around sweets. There are many other activities your children can participate in that do not include the constant barrage of candy.
   
3. Visit an apple orchard and then make healthy desserts with the apples. Not only does this promote healthy eating, but provides an afternoon of family fun.
   

The season of harvest is phenomenal. But I have seen the results of poor eating habits. And if you (or your child) are having braces, you are investing in your smile. Maintain that investment with healthy eating.

Celebrities and Braces

I have discussed the benefits of braces in previous posts. Braces improve your smile, which leads to higher income and better health. Today, let me talk to you about celebrities who have used braces to improve their appearance and, therefore, their lives.

Many celebrities have worn braces. Monica, Dakota Fanning, Drew Barrymore, Estelle, Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie, Dwight Howard, as well as and Serena and Venus Williams all wore braces. Chelsea Clinton, just before her wedding last year, thanked her parents for having her wear braces as a child. As adults, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Cruise, Danny Glover, Barbara Walters, Chris Rock and Diana Ross all wore braces as an investment in their smile and themselves. Nicolas Cage wore a lower brace while receiving a Writer's Guild award in 2003, Cindy Crawford wore braces while filming a Pepsi commercial and Katy Perry wore braces in her video to her latest hit, "Last Friday Night". All of these individuals invested in their smile and, therefore, themselves. They knew that when the world saw them in braces, they would be portrayed as individuals who were willing to make a small sacrifice for a better life.

Why not make the same investment that all of these people made, and see where it takes you. Call my office today at (248) 569-8770 for your free consultation, and see what doors a health smile opens for you.

Smiling Will Make You Look Younger

Smiling will actually make you look younger! Does it sound hard to believe? Well there is truth behind that statement. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making us look younger. It is the equivalent to a face lift, without the surgery. Furthermore, when you smile, you look more attractive, and that will make people believe you are younger as well, because many people equate attractiveness with youth. But there is even more. Smiling not only affects how you look, it affects how you feel! And if you feel good, you take on less stress, and as well, will look younger. Smiling, therefore, is more important than ever.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you realize how much value I place in your smile. And it's simple: the quality of your smile is in direct relation to the quality of your life. That makes investing in your smile a wise choice. So take the first step to making that choice by calling my office at (248) 569-8770. You are not just investing in your smile. You are investing in the quality of your life.

Giving Is A Blessing

It's been a lot of fun at the office lately. The first recipients of the Smiling In Metro Detroit Campaign have been in the office, and I am excited. The joy on their faces as they begin to truly realize their dream of a beautiful smile coming to reality is priceless. People often complimented me for what I am giving, but I honestly feel that I am the one truly being blessed by being able to give back to Metro Detroit. I have always believed in families helping families, and now I'm to have my family able to help these families. It will be even more of an honor when we all see their beautiful smiles at the conclusion of their treatment, and then later on when we hear of their success stories, whether it be new jobs, promotions, new relationships or a host of other infinite possibilities that these smiles will bring them.

Being afforded the opportunity to give to others is such a blessing, so now I want to challenge my readers: What in your profession can you give to the community? What product or service can you provided to underprivileged people of your area? And, especially if you are a dental professional, what can you give to the less fortunate? This is not a competition to see how much each professional is giving. It is a challenge to look in your heart, determine what you can afford to give, and help your fellow humankind. It has been such a blessing to me. I am sure it will be a blessing to you.

More About Summerfest

Summerfest is only a few days away. As I have mentioned before, it should be a fun event with food, entertainment and children's activities. We will have potato sack races tug of war, hula hoop, rock climbing, a mechanical bull, Thomas the Train and karaoke. Also music from the gospel singer Lexi, whose songs of faith will move you. In the past, we have been visited by Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh and football Hall of Fame star Reggie McKenzie, as well as many others.

In addition to performances by Lexi, we will have dancing by the Little Scholars of Detroit, poet Vaquita Turner will speak and karaoke. This event is a great chance to just be together as a family and enjoy the smiles, laughter, and good times of summer. Do you remember your favorite summer activities as a child? The sights, smells, sounds of summer are like nothing else. While you are at Summerfest be sure to say hi to me, my staff, and our families. This is going to be a great memory for all of us.

So make plans to attend this event on August 27, 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm at God's Graceland Park on the grounds of Greater Grace Church, 23500 West Seven Mile Road in Detroit. My wife and I look forward to seeing you there.

Summerfest 2011

Summerfest is almost here and I am excited!! This is the time that I and my staff get out of the office and mingle with our patients, other dental professionals and the community for a social event. We have food, entertainment, activities for the kids and prizes, and it is always a good time. And this year it will be even more fun because I am excited about the 56 sets of braces we are giving away to people in need in Metro Detroit. The event is not until the end of August, but I wish it was tomorrow because I am looking forward to meeting all of you!!

While we are discussing Summerfest, I would like to mention this: If you are considering braces for yourself, a child or grandchild, please come and join us. This is a great way to meet me and my staff in an informal setting. You will be able to see firsthand how we get along and interact. We are like a family, and when you join us, you will see that. I would love to have you experience the warmth we show to each other and our patients and families. And, if you know of someone considering braces, why not invite them to come to this event.

So mark your calendars for Saturday, August 27, 2011. The event will be from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm at God's Graceland Park, which is on the grounds of Greater Grace Temple at 23500 W. Seven Mile Road in Detroit. Feel free to RSVP on our Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/qvBlZY. I look forward to seeing you there.

Adult Braces

Few people question the decision to get braces for their children. However, when adults consider the idea of getting braces for themselves, they many times decide against it. Why is that? Probably the top answer sited is money, followed by the fact that they think they will feel silly wearing braces. Let's look at each of these answers.

First of all: money. And yes, there is a financial cost to braces. But you need to consider this: Braces are a financial investment. Similar to an investment purchase. If you invest money in the stock market, you hope to receive more than you investment. If you invest money in real estate, you hope the value increases. And we both know that investments in stocks and real estate have not always yielded returns. But investing in yourself and your smile will yield a return. A huge return! You will smile more often, your smile will be a beautiful smile, and as I have mentioned before, THAT will earn you more money!! It will help you get a job, help you earn a promotion, and help you close business deals. Does any other investment have the potential to yield such a high financial return.

The second objection is fear of what others will think if you are wearing braces, if you will feel self-conscious. My opinion is this. Whenever I see someone taking steps to improve their life, I am always impressed. Getting braces is no different. People will see that you are investing in yourself and improving yourself. And they will be impressed. How much more impressive is a smile with braces than a smile with crooked teeth? And, in a few months, there will be even more improvement because you will have no braces and a FABULOUS smile. I personally think that sounds exciting.

If you are an adult and have considered investing in your smile, call my office today. The first consultation is free. All you will be investing is your time. So why not find out how you can improve your smile, your income, your life. Call my office today: (248) 569-8770. You will be glad you did!!

Do you want to lower your blood pressure?

I know a very simple way to lower your blood pressure and keep your blood pressure low. Smiling!! It is proven that smiling can actually lower your blood pressure. You don't believe me? Then try this. Connect yourself to a blood pressure monitor. Take your blood pressure. After you have your reading, smile for five minutes. That's right! Sit there and smile. Your mind will naturally take you to a happy place. That's ok, in fact, it's preferred. After the five minutes, take your blood pressure again, and notice that it is lower.

Now that you know that it works, look for situations that make you smile. Find reasons to laugh. Even if the events of the day are not going your way, make light of them. And also take time to lose control with your friends, joking, laughing, having fun and living life. You will enjoy it. And it will lower your blood pressure, which we all know will reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and other illnesses. And if you don't like your smile, you need to call my office. You will only smile if you like your smile. And you have too much to lose not to smile.

Adding Years to Your Life

Do you think you don't need to invest in braces? Consider this: smiling leads to better health! Studies show that smiling will reduce your blood pressure, relieve stress and boost longevity. And who does not want to live longer? And live more enjoyably? Now you may think this a bold statement. But consider this: If your immune system is strengthened by smiling, you are going to prevent many illnesses that can turn fatal, such as cancer. Stress has been known to increase symptoms of diabetes, increase blood pressure which leads to heart disease, and increase your risk of stroke. These are diseases that can prove fatal as well. And they all are reduced by the simple act of smiling. Furthermore, smiling is contagious. So if you smile, the people around you smile as well, which is increasing everyone's health. There really is no downside to smiling.

Or is there? I know many people do not smile because they are not happy with their smile. And that is where braces become important. Braces really do not cost as much as you may think, and if they may add years to your life, would not the investment be incredibly worth the cost? There is no charge for a consultation. If you are not comfortable with your smile, you owe it to yourself to call my office and discuss your options. So call today. Your life may be extended because of it!!

Eagan Orthodontics Awards 56 Sets of Braces to celebrate 56 Years

 

This summer, I am awarding 56 sets of braces to nine non-profit associations to distribute to people in need in the metropolitan Detroit area. This is my way of saying thank you to the community for supporting my practice, Eagan Orthodontics for over 56 years. As you are probably aware, Eagan Orthodontics is committed to the metro Detroit community and to community involvement. Because of this commitment, I will award these braces. Each agency awarded will create their own criteria to award the free sets of braces. Since we have been blessed by this community, we wish to return the blessing to the community by helping those in need.

My father, Dr. John P. Eagan, started Eagan Orthodontics in 1955 as the first African American orthodontist in Michigan. Since then, Eagan Orthodontics has been creating beautiful smiles while embracing the community that has made us successful. I have been creating smiles since the age of ten, when I first began assisting my dad. My wife Catherine and I are compassionate about the Metro Detroit community, and therefore are excited about the opportunity to provide these 56 sets of braces. The non-profits will each set the criteria for the braces, and my office will change lives, one smile at a time.

Perhaps the greatest blessing we will receive is being a blessing to others within our local communities. I challenge fellow medical professionals to share your gifts with other charities in need. As always, the health and well-being of the Detroit community is paramount to Eagan Orthodontics.

Money, Money, Money, Money

OK. Let's first dispel the myth that money is the root of all evil. This is a statement that has been misquoted for centuries. On the contrary, money is important and we were created to live a life of abundance. So now that we are good with the idea of enjoying abundance, let's talk about how that smile will bring money into your life.

As I have previously discussed, a beautiful healthy smile is imperative for a job interview. But what if you are satisfied with your current job? Is a fantastic smile still important? You bet it is! If you are in sales and marketing, you need the smile to close the deal. And let's face it: no matter what your job is, you are in the profession of sales and marketing. If nothing more, you need to sell and market yourself! This is true whether you are competing for a promotion, maintaining rapport with your clients, attempting to persuade someone to a point of view, or just keeping on the good side of the boss. So, in your profession as well as in life, you need to smile and smile often. Because smiling will truly bring you MORE money!! And if you are not confident in your smile, you need to call my office.

The Power of the Smile Day is TODAY

I hope you all had a chance to hear my interview on 107.5 WGPR this morning. As I mentioned to Mason, today is The Power of the Smile Day. If you did not get a chance to listen, I mentioned (as I have in previous blog posts) that a smile really is an investment in you. Being able to show all of your inside beauty by displaying your full smile instead of covering your mouth in embarrassment is the key to getting the job you want, meeting that special someone and having a fuller life. And as I discussed with Mason, braces make an excellent graduation gift for graduates, a gift that will give that special child or grandchild an asset that will benefit her/him for the rest of her/his life.

As most of you know, my father started Eagan Orthodontics 56 years ago, and from age 10 I have utilized my God given gift to create beautiful smiles. I hope you enjoyed listening this morning. I cannot state enough how your SMILE is POWERFUL. So use it today! Smile at everyone, even people you don't know, watch them smile in return, and see what a difference today makes!

Love is in the Air

It's Spring, love is in the air, and you're thinking about meeting that special someone. You're fun, you have your style and you go to all the right places. But it just hasn't happened for you yet. So you ask yourself, what is missing? I'm a nice person. I'm fun. I think I'm attractive. And besides, looks aren't everything. And that is correct, they're not. But we know that they play a role. And the one thing you can change about your looks is your smile! Imagine walking up to that right person and being able to flash the perfect smile. Wouldn't that get you so much further?

If you're ready to meet that someone special or to super charge your current romance, it's time to make sure your smile is the best one possible. Your smile can light up a room when that special someone spots you and I can make sure you're ready for that spectacular moment.

Investing in your smile truly is investing in yourself, in so many ways! Make that decision to call my office and invest today! And let me know in the comments how you have used your smile to attract that special one.

The Confidence is in the SMILE!

What is the first thing people notice about you when they meet you? It's your smile!! A nice, big smile demonstrates confidence. And when you have confidence, people respond to you positively. Job interviews, promotion requests, relationships, unexpected discounts and many other requests will go your way when you demonstrate confidence. I'm sure you've seen interactions where one person is displaying an abundance of confidence and people are giving him or her everything he/she is requesting. And let's face it. We like people with self-confidence. It's nice to be around people with self-confidence. And everyone wants to please the person with self-confidence.

So how do you gain that self-confidence? Well, there are many things you can do to boost your self-confidence. But most importantly, you need that smile! That confident smile that says that you own the situation, the event, and the world! And the way you can give that big, full smile is with straight teeth.

I love my job, because every day I provide people with more than just straight teeth. I give them a smile that gives them confidence. This confidence helps them to achieve everything they want in life.

Do you have the smile that gives you confidence? Do your children have the confident smile that he or she will need to be a top achiever in life? If not, call my office today.

Tell us your stories of using confidence to achieve your goals. Click comments below.

That Smile Could Land You the Job

Are you looking for employment? Every job hunting book tells you that you need to smile and smile often during the interview. But why? Simple! Everyone loves a great smile! Are you dropping in on an employer unannounced to inquire about job opportunities? Flashing that smile will make your visit appear less intrusive. Did you land the interview? You need to set yourself apart from all the other interviewees. And know this: people make decisions emotionally more than intellectually. So your best foot forward may not be all of the knowledge you display, but the feelings from your warm, friendly smile. So you need to enter with a smile, display that smile often during your interview, and leave with a smile.

Which leads to my next point: Do you have a smile that you are proud to display? If not, then investing in braces is truly an investment WITH financial return. And where else can you invest a few thousand dollars and have it return hundreds of thousands, maybe even a million dollars!! Braces are an investment in you, the best asset you have!

Now that you are ready to make that investment, call my office today. And please, share in the comments your success stories of how flashing that smile landed you the job!

The Benefits of Smiling

Smile! It's good for you! In fact, there are many benefits to smiling.
Smiling displays confidence! This confidence is what helps people get jobs, close business deals and attract relationships. It is a fact that people with higher self-confidence are more successful and have a higher income. That's the major reason of smiling often.

However, there are other reasons to smile as well. The health benefits of smiling include stress relief, a healthier immune system, lower blood pressure and a host of other benefits that boost longevity. In essence, smiling can extend your life. And give you a healthier, happier life.

Which leads to my next point: It's more difficult to display a confident, healthy and happy smile without beautiful, straight, healthy teeth. That is where an investment in your smile is an investment in your life. I have dedicated my life to giving people like you a beautiful, confident and healthy smile. And with utilizing Damon Braces, the latest technology in teeth straightening, I can give you that confidence in less time and at a lower cost than you might expect.

So let's recap. The many benefits of smiling are:

1. Confidence
   
2. Gain employment
   
3. Close business deals
   
4. Attract relationships
   
5. Make More Money
   
6. Stress relief
   
7. Healthier immune system
   
8. Lower blood pressure
   
9. Boost longevity
   
10. Healthy, happy life
    
11. Upward mobility
    
12. Enhanced love life
    
13. Makes you look younger
    

Are you ready to make that investment in yourself or your child? If so, call my office today.

I'd like to hear your stories of how you have used your smile to achieve something in life. Also, I know there are more benefits than what I have listed. Please click "comments" below and share.

Damon Braces—The Cutting Edge of Braces

 

My father, Dr. John P. Eagan, started Eagan Orthodontics in 1955 as the first African American orthodontist in Michigan. Since then, Eagan Orthodontics has been creating beautiful smiles while embracing the community that has made us successful. I have been creating smiles since the age of ten, when I first began assisting my dad. I have always strived to be on the cutting edge when it comes to orthodontic technology. That is why I proudly use Damon Braces.

Damon Braces have many advantages over traditional braces. First and foremost is that Damon Braces do not require the removal of healthy teeth. Many traditional methods require teeth to be removed to "make room" for the other teeth to be shifted. The Damon method does not utilize tooth extraction, which is less abrasive and allows for a fuller, healthier smile.

Damon utilizes a passive, movable system that does not require rubber bands or metal ties. This requires less effort on the part of the braces to straighten teeth and also is much more comfortable on the patient. In addition, less treatment time is required.

The third advantage of the Damon system is that the teeth move faster and require fewer adjustments. When less treatment time and fewer visits to the orthodontist are required, the charges for treatment are lower.

Those are the general benefits. But how specifically will Damon Braces benefit you or your child? Simple! Damon Braces remain on the teeth for a shorter period of time and need fewer adjustments. Fewer trips to the clinic saves you time, gas and teeth.

Saving gas is the most obvious. At $4.00 per gallon, families need to save gas to survive

Saving time is valuable as well. Today, more than ever, children have busy social schedules. With sports, concerts and other activities, the last thing they need is to plan time at the orthodontist. With Damon Braces, they will spend less time here.

And finally, Damon braces save teeth. Utilizing all the teeth in a patients smile only makes sense. This will give the patient the biggest, fullest healthiest smile.

In short, Damon Braces truly are the cutting edge of teeth straightening technology. That is why I exclusively use the Damon system to create beautiful smiles!

Do you have a success story with Eagan Orthodontics? I'd love to hear it! Please click "comments" and share!