home_page-locator2-370wThe American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has launched a new updated version of its consumer website, mylifemysmile.org.

The site attracts about 300,000 visitors per year and is publicized via a national AAO Consumer Awareness Program advertising on cable television and online outlets, as well as via social media and an ongoing public relations campaign—currently “What Makes Me Smile, a selfie collection showcasing orthodontic patients.

Historically, the site has emphasized the advanced education and specialty qualifications of orthodontists. The updated site continues this emphasis with a new design that is compatible with mobile devices.

Mylifemysmile.org now includes several new features, including a graphic addressing the differences between an orthodontist and a general dentist.

Participants in the “What Makes Me Smile” campaign upload a selfie—a photograph taken by the subject—often with a handheld digital camera or camera phone. When a patient/former patient’s selfie is posted on mylifemysmile.org, the orthodontist’s name, city, and state accompany the patient’s image. Everyone who visits mylifemysmile.org will have a chance to see the doctor’s great work on the patient’s smile.

Additional features of the new mylifemysmile.org include:

  • “Understanding Your Options,” which provides information about braces, clear aligners, archwires, elastics, retainers, headgear, and other devices (mouthguards and sleep apnea devices). Visitors are advised to “See your orthodontic specialist for the treatment option that is best for your individual needs.”
  • Features that were included on the former version of mylifemysmile.org, including the orthodontic locator, patient testimonial videos, the AAO Adult (Patients) Hall of Fame, downloadable patient information brochures, and the “Ask an Orthodontist” interactive feature, which provides responses to visitor questions from an AAO member panel.