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

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

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!

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.