Lansdowne-Ortho-Blog

Why the Summer is a Great Time for Braces

Kristine — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:09:35 +0000

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 and Weddings

Kristine — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:08:37 +0000

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

Kristine — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:11:53 +0000

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!

Easter and Candy – What to Avoid!

Kristine — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:03:08 +0000

For those who celebrate Easter, you know that your children are probably expecting baskets full of that brightly packaged, sugar covered candy. For months I have seen entire aisles of grocery stores become completely devoted to the Easter candy that so many of our country’s youth love. The pastel candy shells, those hollow chocolate bunnies, and the stickiness of those caramel eggs. They may taste great, but the damage it can do to your teeth or braces can land you a visit to your local orthodontist!

What Not to Eat

Most of us love candy, but when you have your braces put on for the first time, your orthodontist typically informs you of the foods you should be avoiding. This Easter, if you absolutely must eat candy, avoid biting down on hard candy. They can easily bend wires and break the metal brackets clean off of your tooth. This will land you back in the orthodontist where the bracket will be reapplied and can even lengthen the amount of time you will need to wear your braces.

Caramels and other sticky candy can also break brackets. Even more so, it can easy get between the brackets and wires which can eventually lead to cavities. Have a cavity filled while you are wearing braces is no fun.

Immediately after you eat any candy, I encourage you to brush your teeth and floss. This minimizes the risk of cavities and keeps your orthodontist happy. Also when you eat candy, it is better to eat a certain amount at once rather than eating it in small quantities throughout the day. This way, when you brush your teeth you are flushing out all of the sugar rather than leaving traces of it behind. That is, unless you want to brush your teeth every time you eat a single piece of candy.

After the Easter holiday, stop by Lansdowne Ortho for a checkup so you can avoid any complications from those sweet treats!

Springs Sports and Mouth Guards – Be Safe This Season!

Kristine — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:15:09 +0000

Spring is finally in the air and children who have been cooped up inside all winter are finally making their way to soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and basketball courts. Cold weather, or what little we had of it, seems to be a thing of the past, and this 70 degree weather is paving a beautiful path to a fantastic spring and a warm summer.

As parents begin to sign up their children for spring sports, you may also be thinking about your child’s orthodontic treatment. Braces for children can sometimes leave parents worried when it comes to physical activities such as sports. Parents worry about cut lips, damage to the orthodontic treatment or appliances that your child may have, and ultimately, your child’s safety. Well we are, too!

We want your child to have a safe and joyful time this spring, which is why we suggest mouth guards. As an orthodontist who specializes in braces for children, Lansdowne Ortho highly recommends the safety that a mouth guard provides. Mouth guards fit over your teeth and braces which ultimately keeps lips from getting cut, grinding teeth, and even helps prevent getting your braces snagged on clothing (I know, but it actually happens!).

Braces for children doesn’t have to prevent your children from enjoying the things that they love. Believe it or not, children can worry about damaging their braces just as much as parents do. This might cause them to underperform and not give their very best during practices and games. It can limit their potential! And it definitely shouldn’t mean that parents have to worry all the time about their children getting hurt. Mouth guards are a great solution to all of dental safety concerns, and purchasing one will help prevent further orthodontic treatment.

If your child plays sports, stop by Lansdowne Orthodontics so we can help you find the perfect mouth guard for the spring sports season and you will be ready for your next big game!

Adult Braces and Orthodontic Treatment

Kristine — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:24:20 +0000

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!

National Children’s Dental Health Month

Kristine — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:21:29 +0000

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!

Adult and Children’s Orthodontic Services

Kristine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:31:04 +0000

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!

Why Having an Early Orthodontic Evaluation Is Important

Kristine — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:42:44 +0000

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?

Kristine — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:25:43 +0000

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.