When considering orthodontic treatment in Northern Virginia for yourself or your child, it often is very confusing.  Who is the best professional to provide the best orthodontic care?  There definitely is a difference.  A cosmetic surgeon, for example, has not had the extensive training of a plastic surgeon.  An orthodontist has completed four years of dental school as well as another 2-3 years of specialty training.  An orthodontist does nothing but orthodontic treatment.  General or family dentists who “dabble” in orthodontics have not had the training or experience to provide you with the best care.  They probably will not be able to use the best supplies or techniques because it is not cost-effective for them.  Even though some dentists proclaim to be orthodontists, they are not and cannot be recognized as an orthodontist by the American Dental Association.  The choice is actually an easy one.  An orthodontist is a specialist and a general dentist is not.

Which is better?  Which is faster?

Orthodontic treatment with braces gives the orthodontist more control of the tooth position in three planes of space.  Invisalign, while clear, is slower, harder to control and does not enable the orthodontist to make fine adjustments as the treatment progresses. 

Now there’s a better alternative: orthodontic treatment with Suresmile.

While orthodontic treatment with Suresmile requires braces, the treatment time is tremendously faster, more accurate and allows the orthodontist to do the fine-tuning that takes orthodontic treatment from good to great. 

Yes, you have braces.  But, the time in them is far outweighed by the result.

The basis of Suresmile technology is virtual orthodontic treatment.  After braces are placed on the teeth, they’re scanned into our computer and a digital model of the patient’s teeth is produced.  This enables me to analyze a patient’s bite in three dimensions as well as evaluate the all-important esthetics of the teeth, allowing me to move the teeth into their best possible positions and to American Board of Orthodontics standards.

After completing the positioning of the teeth, specialized orthodontic wires are generated to make the movements happen in a timely and efficient manner. 

Suresmile will make conventional orthodontic treatment obsolete. OBC and Suresmile technology are a dynamic combination! For more information go to Suresmile.com.

The other problem with Invisalign is inconsistent wear by the patient.  Since the aligners are removable, the patient has control of the orthodontic process.  This may be fine as long as the patient is a dedicated wearer.  But, if the patient does not wear the aligner at work or when they socialize, they can limit their orthodontic progress.  In fact, if not worn as prescribed, they can actually digress.

A person who is considering orthodontic treatment must be honest with themselves as to whether their lifestyle, work or self-discipline is conducive to orthodontic treatment with removable orthodontic devices like Invisalign.  They are probably better off with fixed orthodontic braces for a more predictable and timely orthodontic treatment.

Why? Technological advances mean braces are less noticeable, painful, and time-consuming. Presenting yourself well means taking care of your entire well-being, and having a good smile is an important component.

As we get older, facial muscles begin to droop. Smile lines drop and it’s not unusual for more of your lower teeth to become visible. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear patients say middle age is the first time they've noticed how crooked their teeth were.

Is treatment for adult orthodontics any different from treatment for kids?

The answer is yes and no. Essentially, the process of moving teeth is the same. But when working with a more mature mouth, there are different considerations.

According to the American Dental Association, by age 35 three out of four adults have some form of periodontal disease. This is significant because it can damage the underlying support structures that hold teeth in place. When gums and bone become soft or weakened, teeth begin to move around in the mouth.

In general, adult corrections take slightly longer than kids' because an adult's mouth and jaw are no longer growing and problems may be more challenging. Until recently, adults often wore braces for two to three years. Now, however, the time has been decreased to between 6 and 18 months. New SureSmile and Damon System technologies have decreased treatment time and discomfort significantly.

Improving your smile is a great confidence booster at any age. It’s also an excellent strategy for avoiding health issues later in life.

That’s why you’ll see the OBC banner on local athletic fields, see staff members at theater productions and hear us talking about sponsoring local schools and events. We get to know our patients pretty well and feel downright proud to support their accomplishments. It’s pretty easy. It’s an impressive group.

We took up an important new cause one day last year.

That’s the day I learned about my brother’s cancer.

He came home from a doctor’s visit with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Yes, men can get breast cancer, too.

Did you know the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 about 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the United States?

Thankfully, his treatment has been very successful and the prognosis is he’ll continue to beat me on the tennis court for years to come.

OBC supports breast cancer awareness and research.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and part of our support is making a donation to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.