Rogue Valley Teen Wins National Smile Makeover Contest
“Damon® Braces Beauty” Reports Fast, Comfortable Orthodontic Treatment

Ashland, Ore. (October 28, 2008) – 15-year-old Dana Bogdanove of Ashland has won the grand prize – a dramatic smile makeover -- in a national contest sponsored by Girls’ Life Magazine and Ormco Corp., maker of the revolutionary Damon System, which moves teeth faster and more comfortably than traditional braces.

The contest was part of Girls’ Life Magazine’s “Spoil Yourself Giveaway” and generated nearly 12,000 entries. Dana’s winning essay, explaining why she deserved a new smile, earned her the “Damon Braces Beauty” title.

Dana recently began her orthodontic treatment in Medford and is already well on her way to enjoying a new smile. “I’m amazed at how fast my teeth are moving and how comfortable the treatment with the Damon System is,” said Bogdanove. “My teeth play a huge factor in my health and how I feel about myself. I’ve always wanted a broad, brilliant smile and now I can see it happening before my eyes.”

Dr. Gary May has been an orthodontist in Medford since 1985 and is providing Dana’s treatment, which he expects to complete within 16 to 21 months. “Dana’s treatment includes correction of an overbite and overjet, along with expanding both upper and lower arches to eliminate crowding,” said Dr. May. “In my experience with traditional braces, her treatment probably would take six months longer to complete, but with the Damon System I’m able to treat patients like Dana much faster and more comfortably. I could never go back to the old appliances.”

Dr. May has used the Damon System since 2004. The Damon System is an innovative orthodontic system that delivers results up to 25 percent faster than traditional braces with fewer trips to the orthodontist.

Traditional braces require metal or elastic ligatures to hold arch wires in place and require frequent adjustments or "tightening." In contrast, the Damon System combines tie-less brackets, technologically advanced-shape memory wire and minimally invasive treatment protocols to gently and quickly move teeth to their desired positions.

The light pressure used in the Damon System stimulates broad, natural arch development, which results in a fuller smile and provides a strong foundation for long-lasting facial beauty. Treatment with the Damon System rarely requires tooth extractions and frees patients from the use of headgear, rapid palatal expanders and other invasive appliances. In addition, Damon System braces are easier to keep clean, which promotes better patient hygiene throughout treatment.The cost of treatment with the Damon System is comparable to that of traditional braces.

The Damon System is the fastest-growing orthodontic system on the market and has transformed the smiles and appearances of more than 2 million patients of all ages. The Damon System is the breakthrough technology that is changing the public's perception of orthodontics and goes beyond straight teeth to produce a beautiful, healthy smile with more comfort and in less time. The Damon System is manufactured and distributed worldwide by Ormco, a division of Sybron Dental Specialties, a leading manufacturer of a broad range of value-added products for the dental profession, including the specialty markets of orthodontics, endodontics and implantology. For more information or to find a local orthodontist who offers the Damon System, visit www.damonbraces.com or call (877) 326-6623.

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