Wayne Hester

Smiling is a universal sign of happiness and can profoundly impact our mood and those of others around us.

Here are three smile quotes to remind us of the joy and love that comes with every smile:

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight." – Phyllis Diller

"Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you." – Peace Pilgrim

"Use your smile to change the world; don't let the world change your smile." – Chinese Proverb

These quotes emphasize the importance of smiling not just as a way to express happiness but also as a means to positively influence our environment and persevere through life's challenges. A smile can really change your outlook on the worst day... Try it!

And share these quotes today with someone who may need a smile!

Ever thought about the power of a radiant smile?

It's more than just a curve that sets everything straight. A dazzling smile can do wonders for your health and life in more ways than one.

In this new year, you can decide to improve your smile and Hester & Morris Orthodontics is here to help! We're big believers in the importance of beautiful, healthy smiles. The confidence displayed by patients during Invisalign or braces treatment is inspiring.

Here are 12 compelling reasons why investing in a beautiful smile is worth it:

1. The Confidence Booster: Picture this: You're about to step into a new challenge, and you're armed with a stunning smile. That's an instant confidence booster right there, prepping you to take on the world!
2. The Attraction Magnet: Who can resist a charming smile? It's a surefire way to make you irresistible, amplifying your magnetism in both social and professional arenas.
3. The Mood Lifter: Did you know? Smiling triggers a rush of feel-good endorphins, instantly lifting your mood and zapping stress away.
4. The Communication Enhancer: A beaming smile is like a universal language of friendliness. It breaks barriers, making it more straightforward to connect and communicate with others.
5. The Success Symbol: A radiant smile is often seen as a sign of success and achievement. It's like wearing your accomplishments on your face, making you all the more appealing to potential employers or clients.
6. The Oral Health Champion: Striving for a beautiful smile means taking good care of your teeth and gums. That's a direct ticket to improved oral health and fewer dental issues in the future.
7. The Longevity Booster: Believe it or not, research suggests people who smile more often tend to live longer. So, flash that beautiful smile and add years to your life!
8. The Immunity Fortifier: Here's a fun fact: Smiling can boost your immune system by ramping up the production of antibodies and white blood cells.
9. The Natural Painkiller: Thanks to the endorphins released while smiling, it can act as a natural painkiller, easing pain and discomfort.
10. The Brain Booster: Smiling doesn't just make us feel good; it can also sharpen our minds and improve our brain function.
11. The Positive Energy Attractor: A radiant smile is a magnet for positive vibes. It can help you manifest your goals and desires by attracting the right energy.
12. The Relationship Builder: A beautiful smile can work wonders in improving your relationships. It's a universal symbol of warmth and affection, strengthening bonds with loved ones.

In a nutshell, a beautiful smile is a powerful tool with countless benefits. Investing in your oral health earns you a stunning smile and opens up a world of benefits that might surprise you.

Going to the dentist ensures that your smile stays healthy! Our orthodontic team can help you improve the way your teeth and jaws fit together, giving you that beautiful smile you've always wanted.

Let 2024 be the year you get your confidence back! Reach out to us here to start your smile journey!

Smiling has a positive impact on our well-being and others. It can brighten someone's day and bring many benefits, whether a small grin or a full-blown smile. Let's explore why a smile is important and how it can make a difference in our lives.

There are numerous reasons why smiling is important, and here are twelve of them:

1. Smiling can improve your mood and make you feel happier. When you smile, your brain releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins and serotonin.
2. Smiling can reduce stress levels. It has been shown to lower cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.
3. Smiling can help you build stronger relationships. People are naturally drawn to those who smile and are likelier to approach and engage with them.
4. Smiling can boost your immune system. When you smile, your body produces more white blood cells that help fight off illness.
5. Smiling can make you look more attractive. It's a natural way to enhance your appearance and make you appear more approachable and friendly.
6. Smiling can make you more confident. When you smile, you project positivity and confidence, which can help you feel more self-assured.
7. Smiling is contagious. When you smile, others are likelier to smile back, creating a positive feedback loop.
8. Smiling can help you appear more trustworthy. People are likelier to trust those who smile, as it conveys honesty and sincerity.
9. Smiling can improve your communication skills. Smiling can help you convey friendliness, openness, and approachability, making it easier to connect with others.
10. Smiling can help you cope with difficult situations. When you smile, you project a positive attitude, which can help you deal with stress and adversity.
11. Smiling can improve your overall well-being. Smiling can boost your mood, reduce stress, and improve your well-being.
12. Smiling is free and easy! It doesn't cost anything to smile, and it's a simple way to improve your mood and spread positivity to those around you.

Dr. Hester and Dr. Morris are orthodontists in Valdosta who help patients feel more confident about their smiles. By correcting the alignment and appearance of their teeth, orthodontists can transform a person's smile and boost their self-esteem. We've been doing this for 35 years!

Whether it's through braces, Invisalign aligners, or other orthodontic treatments, Drs. Hester and Morris have the expertise to create beautiful smiles that radiate confidence.

Patients who receive orthodontic treatment often feel more confident in social situations and are satisfied with their overall appearance. So what are you waiting for? We'd love to help you achieve the smile of your dreams!

It’s the start of another year!

A new year is a beautiful time to change your life or start something new that you’ve been putting off.

You may, like many people, be considering goals and resolutions for the new year. For some, this can include changes in their smile, and they look to their local dentist or orthodontist in Valdosta to help give them a smile they’ve always wanted.

The new year is a great time to start the journey to a new and improved smile!

Here are three reasons why we think starting orthodontics in the new year is a great way to improve your smile:

1. Improving your smile is a surefire way to boost your confidence!

It’s a fact that many Americans feel self-conscious about their smiles. What you think about your smile and teeth can affect your overall self-confidence.

But you can let go of those inhibitions and boost your confidence when you begin orthodontic treatment. Invisalign or dental braces are both options that work to align your teeth, creating a more even, pleasing-looking smile; we believe when you feel good about yourself, it reflects in how you present yourself. 

This is the greatest goal for us as orthodontists! We love to see your confidence rise and your smile become the beautiful result you always wanted.

2. Starting in the new year gives you an easy timetable to follow for your braces or Invisalign treatment.

It just makes sense to start treatment at the beginning of the new year.

Not only are most people more energized at the beginning of a new year to start on their goals and resolutions, but it can also be an easy way to determine how long your treatment time could take.

Average orthodontic treatment in our Valdosta. Georgia office is 12 months to 24 months. Every patient is different. Dr. Hester and Dr. Morris create a personalized treatment plan for you based on your unique needs and smile goals. This determines your overall treatment time.

Beginning your smile journey at the start of a new calendar year can often help you better idealize when you might complete your treatment, as well as help you remember when you started treatment.

3. The sooner you begin, the closer you are to the smile you’ve always wanted! 

Now is always the best time to begin orthodontic treatment, and at the start of a new year, why would you want to procrastinate or put it off?

 Many people are looking at their budgets and planning financially for the year in January, so go ahead and include planning for braces or your Invisalign treatment.

At Hester Morris Orthodontics, our treatment coordinating team works with each and every patient to help them achieve their smile goals by offering flexible payment options that can fit almost every budget.

Additionally, the initial consult is always at no cost to you. This is because we believe it’s essential for every patient to get the complete picture of how their smile could be improved with braces or Invisalign, and this information will help you make the best decision for your smile!

By planning to start now, you are practicing good self-care instead of putting yourself on the back burner!

Are you looking to start braces or Invisalign in 2023? You can make an appointment in our Valdosta, Georgia office by clicking on the link here or calling us at 229-245-1800.

Happy new year! May this coming year bring you fulfillment and be full of smiles!

5 Tips for Not Losing Your Retainer

Retainers are what you receive at the end of your treatment with braces or Invisalign. Think of them as extra insurance that keeps your smile straight and looking beautiful!

Unfortunately, keeping up with your retainer tends to be an issue with many of our patients. Here are some tips on how not to lose your retainer:

1. Start with good habits. Wear your retainer every night! if you’re already in the habit of wearing it consistently, you will be much less likely not to know where your retainer is.

2. Only keep your retainer in your case or your mouth. Never lay it on a bedside table or the bathroom counter because it’s very likely to be overlooked and accidentally thrown away or lost.

3. If you have a dog, keep your retainer case out of reach! It is proven that dogs are attracted to retainers, and the old excuse of my dog eating my retainer happens. Reduce their temptation by keeping your retainer case and its contents out of reach of your favorite fluffy friend.

4. If you travel, use a backup case! Sometimes when patients travel or live in multiple residences having a backup retainer case is very helpful. That way, it can never be forgotten or lost, tempting you to wrap your retainer in a napkin or leave it on the bedside table.

5. Routine, routine, routine! There is no better way to stay consistent with habits than having a routine. This is so true even when it comes to your nightly home care, including wearing your retainer! Set a timer nightly of when you want to put your retainer in to help you remember until it is automatic.

Do you have any tips for wearing your retainer consistently!? Let us know in the comments!

October is national orthodontic health month! It’s a special time of year when we spend more time educating our patients and the community about the wonderful benefits of a beautiful smile, straight teeth, and perfectly aligned jaws. 

The benefits of orthodontics are not just cosmetic. Straight teeth are much easier to clean and floss, resulting in fewer cavities and healthy gums. Jaw issues can be corrected or even prevented by orthodontic care. And as we age, our teeth tend to shift, so proper alignment of your teeth can help prevent enamel wear over time.

The idea of having well-aligned teeth is not new. As far back as the ancient Egyptians and ancient Roman times, there has been an interest in shifting teeth into new positions.

In the 1700s and 1800s, horseshoe shape devices and wires were used to help move teeth into better alignment. In the early 1900s, dentists began rapping different materials such as wood, ivory, or even gold and would wrap them with bands that would help press the teeth into position.

Using stainless steel wires, the braces we are more familiar with today gained popularity in the 1970s.

Invisible braces and aligners started to become popular in the late 1990s, as well as clear retainers to help hold teeth properly in place after completing orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontists are dentists who, in addition to their dental school training, complete extra years of schooling, specifically in moving teeth and aligning jaws.

The average number of years that an orthodontist attends school is 11.

This extra education time gives them the knowledge and expertise to properly move teeth through bone and create pleasing and well-aligned smiles.

Dr. Wayne Hester and Dr. James Gregory Morris started their careers in south Georgia as dentists and then returned for further training to become orthodontists.

Dr. Hester has treated patients in south Georgia with braces for over 30 years. And Dr. Morris is South Georgia’s number one Invisalign specialist.

Both doctors have the education and experience necessary to give patients the best smile possible. Combining advanced techniques with individualized treatment plans, the doctors ensure each person achieves the beautifully healthy, confident smile they deserve!

Check out our other blog posts and social media during October for more tips and information about national orthodontic health.

The ALMOST-RIGHT person vs. the DEFINITELY-RIGHT person…

If you had a puppy that needed grooming, would you take it to a hair salon? 

Of course not!

 You'd take your prized pooch to the groomers, an expert in caring for your pet's hair.

The same is true for your child and their smile. 

Orthodontists are dental specialists who are experts in the movement of teeth and jaws and are trained to give your child the best smile, making them the definitely-right person for orthodontic needs.

Both Dr. Hester and Morris have had over 11 years of orthodontic schooling and are experts in the care of teeth and jaws. In addition, both have a passion for orthodontics and are dedicated to providing the best orthodontic care for patients.

 With over 55 years of combined orthodontic experience, Dr. Hester and Dr. Morris are truly South Georgia’s best orthodontists!

Our team is always ready to answer any questions you may have about orthodontic care for you or your child. Contact us today to schedule your consultation. We look forward to meeting you and your family!

Trust your child's smile to a definitely-right person… an orthodontist!

Have you seen our newly revamped website???

Our Hester & Morris Team has been hard at work to keep up-to-date with the latest technology in the office AND online!

Here are a few fun features we hope that you will check out!

• New Invisalign Content!!! Including videos about life with wearing your aligners, and a whole section devoted to younger patient needs with Invisalign First.
• Smile Transformations that will wow you!
• Meet The Team -- We had a lot of fun showing off our personalities!
• Our Home Page has a lot of fun and interactive features now, too! Be sure to scroll all the way down!
• And of course, the Blog!

The docs got new photos, too! We think they look pretty great! Do you know which one is Dr. Hester and which one is Dr. Morris? You'd be surprised how often we get asked that;)

Sending us an email, requesting an appointment, or recommending us to a friend is easier than ever before. You'll also find all the patient forms available here.

We are excited about more ways for us to connect with our patients! What is your favorite feature of the new site? Leave us a comment and let us know!

You’ve probably noticed that people who have great smiles often seem to be happier than those who don’t. But what you might not realize is that orthodontics can do even more than that – it can improve your life in ways you might not even realize. For example, orthodontics can improve your self-confidence, which can have a positive impact on your relationships and your career. It can also improve your oral health, which has far-reaching health implications.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of orthodontics, though, is that it makes getting that beautiful smile much easier than it used to be. Invisalign is one of the most common forms of orthodontics, and it uses clear plastic aligners to help you straighten your teeth without any metal wires or brackets. Invisalign is a great option for people who want to get straight teeth but don’t want to wear metal braces every day. It’s also a great option for keeping your oral health in great condition because patients take aligners in and out for brushing and flossing. Parents of children also are choosing Invisalign because it means fewer trips to the orthodontist and no need for emergency visits, like so many of our patients with braces.
Our practice is fortunate to have one of the leading Invisalign providers in the state of Georgia, Dr. Greg Morris! In fact, Dr. Morris is the most experienced orthodontist in all of South Georgia when it comes to treating kids, teens, and adults with Invisalign. Of course, whether Invisalign or braces are recommended for you or your child, you can be assured that they will receive the highest quality of care with the most dedicated team. We look forward to helping you achieve the smile of your dreams!