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

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

Why Having an Early Orthodontic Evaluation Is Important

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Kristine

Early Orthodontic Evaluation

There is an old saying that goes something like this: People will do little to prevent disease (or uncomfort) but they will do everything to cure it. Although I believe it, if I could go back to my childhood I would have certainly listened my orthodontist earlier in life and prevented years of braces and orthodontic treatments.

When I was a child I visited my dentist for check-ups and cleanings regularly, and early on he noticed that my teeth were beginning to crowd and recommended to my parents that I should do something about it. I refused. I did not want to braces. Even though I had no good excuse, I still resisted. My poor dentist had to put up with me, and he knew he would be seeing a lot more of me in years to come.

As time went by, I eventually had braces put on. Rather than wearing braces in elementary school when no one would notice or care, I would be wearing them throughout middle school and part of high school when I noticed and cared. The duration of my orthodontic treatments and braces would have only lasted a couple of years, but because I waited, I had to wear them much longer than originally planned.

Having braces and orthodontic treatments at an older age came with many discomforts. As I became more involved in sports at a competitive level, the competition became more physical. Getting bumped and hit in the mouth with basketballs and elbows was twice as painful with braces on, which is mostly my fault for not wearing my mouth guard. And getting food stuck in my teeth during lunch in high school was embarrassing and hard to deal with.

Avoid the pains of wearing braces later in life when your permanent teeth come in and your mouth has matured. Stop by Lansdowne Orthodontics for an early orthodontic evaluation for your child. They will thank you in the future!

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.

Having an Early Orthodontic Evaluation is Essential to Your Health

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Kristine

They say prevention is the best medicine. That theory holds true for orthodontic issues. Taking care of your orthodontic problems early on can save you a lot of pain and suffering.

The American Association of Orthodontists now recommends that all children get a check up with an orthodontist by the age of seven. Early orthodontist checkups provide a variety of benefits:

An orthodontic specialist can spot problems with jaw growth and incoming adult teeth while baby teeth are still present.
Early treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing in the future.
In some early treatment cases, the orthodontist may be able to achieve results that would not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
With an early evaluation and treatment, the orthodontist may be able to guide jaw growth, lower the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth, correct harmful oral habits, improve appearance, guide permanent teeth into a better position, and create an overall more pleasing arrangement of the teeth.

Leesburg and Ashburn parents can rest assured that through an early evaluation by an orthodontist they are giving their child the best chances to have a healthy, beautiful smile.

For more information on early orthodontic evaluations or to set up an appointment in the Leesburg area, contact Lansdowne Orthodontics. Our orthodontist, Dr. Navin Hukmani, will work with you to develop the right oral care for your children to keep their smile looking great for a lifetime.