Why the Summer is a Great Time for Braces

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Kristine

Can you believe it’s already May? Children in school are counting down the days until that final bell rings signaling the end of school and the beginning of summer. I have no doubt in my mind that their imaginations are running wild with all of the activities that summer holds. The summer is not only a much-needed break from school, but it is also a great time to consider braces for your children.

“Summer is supposed to be fun! Why braces now?”

Great question. Receiving orthodontic treatment in the summer has many pros to it. At a young age, braces for children can take some getting used to. The first couple of weeks can be somewhat uncomfortable as teeth begin to shift into the correct position. This can make it difficult for children to focus in class and may also require a change from their normal lunchtime meal. With all of the new adjustments, it may be difficult for children with braces to do their very best during school months.

On the other end of that, if your child receives orthodontic treatment during the summer they will be able to get used to their new braces in a comfortable environment: their home. Meals will be easier to prepare and parents or guardians will be able to help their child cope with adjustments during the first couple of weeks. Children will become comfortable with the physical appearance and less self-conscious. They will also have the knowledge and skills to clean their braces properly as the summer months allow them the time to learn.

Braces for children are a wonderful and often necessary thing. Having them applied at a young age will make your children very grateful when they are older. Call Lansdowne Orthodontics today to talk about braces for your children and other orthodontic treatments!

Braces for Children

Braces and Weddings

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Kristine

One of my best friends is getting married in one week and I honored to be in the wedding party. I have almost no responsibilities, but all of the privileges that come with being in a wedding. I do have to go about buying the outfit and look presentable when the big day finally arrives, but other than that, I am on my own. I do want the photos to look great and I have found myself prepping for them by taking care of my teeth. Does that seem a little strange?

When you think about being in front of hundreds of people and being immortalized in photos of one of the most important days of someone’s life, you want to look good. Having received orthodontic care as a teen, I am happy with the results, and happy that I went through with it so many years ago. Others might not have had the opportunity as a child, but adult braces are back and are more subtle and unnoticeable than ever before.

Adult braces, especially traditional metal bands, are highly effective and work much faster than invisalign. New metal braces are almost invisible as technology continues to advance allowing adults to continue their normal work and personal lives without interruption.
Whether you’re in college, an adult, or have children, receiving orthodontic care and having braces put on as early as possible will give you the photos you can be proud of on your big day. Receiving adult braces or other orthodontic care early on will give you a smile full of confidence that you will carry with you throughout all of life’s biggest moments.

Call Lansdowne Ortho today to schedule an appointment!

Celebrities and Adult Braces

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Kristine

Probably a huge reason many adults don’t take the step to get adult braces is simply the look. Many adults feel that braces may be visually distracting or inconvenient, and some may even feel like they will have them on for the rest of their life! But that’s simply not true. As your orthodontist may tell you, wearing metal adult braces can often be a quick process. You may even have to wear them for less than a year. To me, one year with adult braces is worth a lifetime of straight teeth and a smile I can be proud of showing.

But rest assured, many have worn adult braces in our country and lived to tell the tale. In fact, did you know that many celebrities also sat in the orthodontist chair at one point? Did you know that they were adults when they did?

Check out some of the images below to see adult braces being worn by some of the biggest names in Hollywood. If these celebrities can visit an orthodontist, so can you! After all, they make their money by being in front of millions of people every year.

Photo: Manny Ceneta Stringer / Getty Images

Gwen Stefani - Photo: Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

Danny Glover - Photo: Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Stop by Lansdowne Orthodontics and you will be on your way to that Hollywood smile you have always wanted!

National Children’s Dental Health Month

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Kristine

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and what better way for an orthodontist to celebrate than to educate readers about the importance and history of modern braces for children. It seems like everyone these days has had some sort of corrective dentistry done, whether it was braces, invisalign, headgear, etc. That being said, braces for children are becoming more common and allow parents the ability to help their child correctly align their teeth at a very early age. This prevents them from having to visit their orthodontist to get their braces adjusted when they become an adult.

Braces have been around longer than you may have guessed, and although their certainly were no orthodontists at the time, it’s funny to see how people corrected their teeth in the ancient times. Proof of the earliest existence of dental braces were found in ancient tombs dating back to 2000 B.C. Romans and other cultures were known to wear metal wires and other various materials wrapped around their teeth. Centuries later, books were published on dental braces and methods for aligning teeth. Some of the earliest orthodontists from the 1700s used iron braces!

Fortunately dental braces for children and adults alike have made incredible advances in the comfort and material used today. Orthodontists are able to apply braces for children that are virtually unnoticeable, cause less discomfort than ever before, and work at a much faster pace than the braces used in ancient times.

Lansdowne Orthodontics is ready and able to provide braces for children and adults who are looking for a permanent solution to their misaligned teeth. And don’t forget to celebrate this National Children’s Dental Health Month by educating your children on the importance of dental health and maintaining exquisite oral hygiene!

National Children's Dental Health Month

When is the right time to ask about orthodontics?

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Kristine

There is a general recommendation by the Association of Orthodontists to have your child seen by an Orthodontist by age seven. While the majority of children at this age do not need any Orthodontic treatment, there is a significant percentage that do need early interceptive orthodontic treatment.

The key word here is “interceptive,” meaning that orthodontic treatment at this early age is intercepting a problem that left untreated would require more extensive treatment later or not be able to be treated with orthodontics alone.

Here are some of the problems that would be best corrected early (before all the adult teeth are in place.)

Severe crowding of the teeth. Your child has lost some baby teeth and the adult teeth that are coming in are sideways, up to high, behind other teeth or maybe not coming in at all. Instead of removing baby and adult teeth, your child can have early treatment that will make room for all the adult teeth and therefore save them from any extractions of baby and adult teeth.
A crossbite. This is when the lower jaw shifts to one side. You may notice that your child chews funny or that when they are biting down their face appears slightly off center. A crossbite is usually a problem with the growth of the upper jaw and is best corrected before age 10.
An underbite. The lower jaw bites in front of the upper jaw. This type of bite problem is caused by a growth problem in the upper jaw and is best corrected during a child’s active growth phase. This type of problem in particular, if not treated early will often result in jaw surgery as a young adult.
A thumb or finger sucking habit, severe tongue thrust or other oral habits. Most children, who suck their thumbs and/or fingers for a prolonged period of time, will cause some deformation of the shape of the upper jaw. This alteration in the shape of the upper jaw can cause crowding problems, airway problems and bite problems. A simple, fixed appliance is generally used to correct this persistent habit.
Severe mouth breathing, grinding of the teeth, or airway issues. All these are related to your child’s jaw growth and development. Again a growth problem that is best corrected early while your child is still growing.
Severe overbites. Depending on the severity of your child’s overbite, this can be corrected early with the use of removable retainers. With excellent cooperation, these removable retainers will often eliminate the need for more extensive orthodontic work later.

If your child has any of the above problems, you do not need a referral from your family dentist. You can call an Orthodontist directly and make an appointment for a consultation. Even if you are not sure, a free consultation with Dr. Hukmani will give you an overview of your child’s current growth and development and give you valuable insight into any future orthodontic needs that your child may have.