Adult Braces and Orthodontic Treatment

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Kristine

Braces and orthodontic appointments are often considered something that only children and teens deal with. And while bringing your child in for an early orthodontic evaluation is absolutely a great idea to avoid future complications, most adults simply “deal” with their misaligned teeth even though they may be painful and create self-esteem issues. However, over 1 million people in America are finding that adult orthodontics has provided them with nearly invisible, permanent solutions to their over, under and cross bites.

Some of the most common reasons people avoided adult braces in the past is the appearance. Thanks to advances in adult orthodontics, adult braces have been completely transformed from the traditional braces that we remember as kids. “Invisible” braces still hold true to the traditional wire methods, which means they work twice as fast as transparent plastic pieces that can be removed daily. The brackets and wires are invisible making them aesthetically pleasing and as effective as traditional braces.

Invisalign is also another option. While people do love the convenience of this method, it does take longer for the teeth to properly shift, which means twice as many visits to the orthodontist.

Adult braces are making a huge comeback and can truly provide you with the opportunity to reclaim a healthy smile. Going without braces and having crooked teeth can cause problems with your jaw as well as gum disease and abnormal wear and tear on your teeth and enamel.

Visit Lansdowne Orthodontics today to find out how you can begin to reshape your smile through adult orthodontics. It will be a life-changing decision that will give you confidence at work, home and in social settings. Don’t let your smile be the reason why you aren’t letting your personality shine through!

Adult Braces - Adult Orthodontics

Adult and Children’s Orthodontic Services

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Kristine

It is the work of our hearts to improve our friends’ lives by transforming their smiles. When training, technology and teamwork combine with passion and commitment, the results are phenomenal.

At Lansdowne Orthodontics, we have a variety of services for adults and children.

Malocclusion Correction

A person with a malocclusion is one that has a “bad bite.” They either have an overbite or underbite, and their teeth may be crooked. As technology increases, our orthodontic services allow us to help correct these common problems with less noticeable material and less discomfort for patients than ever before. Metal braces, plastic braces, retainers and invisalign are just a few of the solutions we offer. We work closely with the child or adult to make the process as comfortable and effective as possible. As your orthodontist, we want to give you a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime.

Childrens Orthodontic Services

The best way to avoid more serious oral complications in the future is for a child to come in for an early orthodontic evaluation. By doing so, we will be able to evaluate the growth of your child’s teeth and determine whether or not they will need further orthodontic services. This can help correct a child’s orthodontic problems and limit the amount of time they may need to wear braces or corrective appliances.

Adult and children’s orthodontic services will vary with each patient, but Lansdowne Orthodontics is ready and willing to work with each individual to find the fastest and most permanent solution to your orthodontic needs. By offering orthodontic services for patients throughout Lansdowne, Leesburg, Ashburn and the surrounding Northern Virginia area, we have been helping people be proud of their smiles for years.

Stop by Lansdowne Orthodontics today and start smiling again!

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.

Life with Braces: From Morning to Night

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Kristine

Your daily life with braces is not much different from your life before braces. You’ll still be able to participate in your daily activities. You’ll find that it’s easy to take care of your braces. Here’s a quick overview on what life is like living with braces, and what foods you can and can’t eat.

Foods

Perhaps the biggest thing people talk about when they get braces is how they have to change their diet. But how drastically do people have to change their diets? When you get your braces, your orthodontist will give you a basic list of foods to avoid. The following are foods that can do damage to your braces:

Hard foods and candies.
Sticky candies and snacks.
Foods that are highly acidic.
Gum.

Hard foods have a tendency to break the brackets of the braces, while sticky foods can get caught between wires and cause discomfort. High acidity foods, such as lemons and sodas, can cause damage to the enamel on your teeth. If you eat many highly acidic foods without brushing soon afterwards, the enamel will dissolve around the brackets, leaving marks when the braces are removed. Many find that after a few weeks with braces, the new eating habits are not bothersome in the least.

Sports and Instruments

If you play contact sports, then you should consider wearing a protective mouth guard when out on the field or on the court. Your orthodontist can recommend appropriate mouth guards to wear during sports.

Musical students are pleased to know that if you happen to play a wind or brass instrument, braces won’t interfere. You may need some practice to get used to the new feeling of playing with braces, but you won’t need any special mouth pieces.

For more information on how to live with braces, visit the orthodontists at Lansdowne Orthodontics. Call us at 703-858-3600 or visit our Ashburn or Leesburg offices to schedule an appointment.