Blog

At the orthodontic office of Dr. Lisa P. Howard DDS MS, some teens and adults opt for Invisalign, the “braceless” alternative to traditional braces to straighten teeth. What would you do if something happened to your Invisalign aligners while you were out of town? What if an aligner breaks, is left behind at a restaurant while eating, or you lost your purse or luggage with your aligners inside? Here are some tips for Invisalign patients on what to do if you are out of town and something happens to your aligners!Read More

Halloween was also known as All Hallows’ Eve in some circles. It goes as far back as about 2,000 years to a pre-Christian Celtic festival held around Nov. 1 called Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”), which means “summer’s end” in the Gaelic language.

Halloween costumes and the tradition of “dressing up” may go back to a time when people would disguise themselves and go door-to-door, asking for food. Early costumes were usually disguises, often woven out of straw and there were times when people wore costumes to perform in plays or skits to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve.

Trick-or-treating didn’t start in the United States until World War II. However, Halloween was as much a time for festivities and games as it was for playing tricks or asking for treats. Apples are associated with Halloween, both as a treat and in the game of bobbing for apples, a game that since the colonial era in America was used for fortune-telling.

Halloween is a fun time of year for kids of all ages… but for orthodontic patients it can be a “nightmare” waiting to happen if braces are being damaged from eating the wrong treats. Watch this video put out a few years ago by the American Association of Orthodontists with additional “Halloween Brace Tips” for consumers that still very much apply today!Read More

Oral piercings of the tongue, lips, and cheeks are growing in popularity and acceptance, and are considered a way to express ones personality in an art form like tattoos. However, did you know the human bite can be more “toxic” than an animal bite? Keeping this in mind, imagine what could happen to your mouth with oral piercings that collect additional food and debris (that breed bacteria and germs) while banging against your teeth over 1500 times a day when you swallow…Read More

Do you know why we celebrate Labor Day? Labor Day is a federal holiday in the USA and has been since June 28, 1894 when congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a national holiday. The purpose of Labor Day is to honor laborers of all kinds and the “workingman” and now working woman and their achievements. Yes, this also includes orthodontists and orthodontic team members at the orthodontic office of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS.Read More

Orthodontic treatment…what is the timing and what are the warning signs? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that parents understand the early warning signs of an orthodontic problem and recommends kids be evaluated by an orthodontist by age 7 – 8. Early evaluation provides both timely detection of problems and a greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Well timed intervention guides growth and development, preventing serious problems later. When orthodontic intervention is not necessary, an orthodontist can carefully monitor growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal.

There are many different types malocclusions or bite problems that require orthodontic treatment at the orthodontic office of Dr. Lisa P. Howard DDS MS. Below is a list of the most common orthodontic treatment problems seen today in children, teens and adults.

Contact our office in Scarborough ME to schedule a complimentary consultation to determine how we can help you with your orthodontic needs. It is not necessary to have a referral from you general dentist to take advantage of this complimentary service we provide to all our patients. We are here to serve you and help you to have the smile you have always wanted and deserved.Read More