Blog

Here at the orthodontic office of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS, our team believes in the simple power of gratitude. What better time of the year to express our gratitude than Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving brings to mind different thoughts to different people.

To most, it brings visions of a family Thanksgiving feast with roast turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing with yummy gravy, cranberries, squash, and of course…pumpkin pie! To a student away at school, it may mean coming home to be with those they miss and possibly some much needed down time from the daily rigors of school and studying. Then again for others…are you ready for some football… a day off from work… or a long weekend?Read More

We can see that 2017 is quickly winding down and we will soon be welcoming the New Year. As a courtesy to all our patients, this is a reminder to review your Flexible Spending or Health Savings Account (FSA or FLEX) balances to make sure you don’t lose any of your benefits socked away this year. Fall is also the time of year when companies offering programs have open enrollment where employees can apply for their benefits in 2018.Read More

You have all heard about the damage that sugar and certain “sticky” candies can do to your teeth and your braces when undergoing orthodontic treatment. Well, our Team at the orthodontic office of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS wants to remind all of our patients and future patients about the dangers one more time. We know Halloween is supposed to be a fun time of year for kids of all ages… but it can turn into a “nightmare” of damaged braces for kids and parents if the wrong types of treats are consumed. Not only the discomfort involved as a result of broken wires and brackets but also the inconvenience of coming office for an extra visit with your busy school and/or work schedules.

Here at the orthodontic office of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS, we love Halloween but we also have a responsibility to increase the awareness of potential damage certain candies can cause if patients are not careful about which treats to eat. Click here to download a Do’s and Don’ts Treat List offered by the American Association of Orthodontists. As a reminder, print it off and post in on your refrigerator for all to see.Read More

Why trust orthodontists…If you are having a problem with your bones or muscles you trust an orthopedist. For a skin, hair, or nail condition you trust a dermatologist. A cardiologist specializes in heart issues or you consult with a neurologist for frequent headaches or back issues related to the nervous system. When straightening teeth and correcting jaw problems, your smile is treated best in the hands of orthodontists. Orthodontists are also known as Orthodontic Specialists.

“Specialist” has a double meaning in the health profession. It refers to the individual practitioner’s education and verifies they have limited their practice to one specialty, unlike a general dentist or general physician which can treat all areas of dentistry or medicine. Read More

Are We Addicting Another Generation of Smokers With E-Cigarettes And Smokeless Tobacco?

Years of educating kids on the risks of tobacco products are at risk on multiple fronts according to top medical groups in the US which include both smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes. At the orthodontic office of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS we are concerned that kids today have the misconception that they are harmless when compared to smoking cigarettes.

The American Heart Association Speaks Out on E-Cigarettes

The American Heart Association recently released its policy recommendations on the use of “e-cigarettes” and the need for the same regulation as tobacco products. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association recently stated: “Over the last 50 years, 20 million Americans died because of tobacco. We are fiercely committed to preventing the tobacco industry from addicting another generation of smokers. Recent studies raise concerns that e-cigarettes may be a gateway to traditional tobacco products for the nation’s youth, and could renormalize smoking in our society. These disturbing developments have helped convince the association that e-cigarettes need to be strongly regulated, thoroughly researched and closely monitored.” Read More