Blog

At the orthodontic offices of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS, we are midway into the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. When was the last time you stopped to simply experience and appreciate what your life has to offer and how much you take for granted on a regular basis?

Take a few moments to be grateful for the simple things in life like running water, electricity to light our way and charge our digital lives. Don’t forget to also appreciate everything that keeps us warm? When was the last time you stopped to appreciate a day when your body was functioning properly and your health was good? Take away any one of these things we take for granted and our comfort level will be affected immediately.

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Have you ever noticed a clicking or popping sound in your jaw when chewing or speaking? The orthodontists at the offices of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS want you to know this happens to everyone from time to time. However, if it happens frequently and is combined with other symptoms such as jaw pain, locking of your jaws, reduced ability to open and close the mouth, ear pain, or difficulty chewing, you may have a condition known as TMD or TMJ disorder. Watch the video below to find out more about TMJ dysfunction.

Orthodontics is a special field of dentistry that concerns itself with the study and treatment of irregular bites. An abnormal bite can be the result of uneven teeth, a jaw that is out of proportion or misaligned, or both. Depending on the situation, crooked teeth can be brought into alignment with orthodontic treatment. If you notice your jaw popping a bit too often and you think the alignment of your teeth or jaw is to blame, contact Dr. Lisa P. Howard DDS MS before you have the painful problem of full-blown TMD causing a lifetime of discomfort and unnecessary dental treatment and expense.

Orthodontist Lisa P. Howard DDS MS specializes in the movement of teeth and correction of adverse jaw growth problems. Evaluating and diagnosing each individual patient’s dental development, presents a slightly different challenge for an orthodontist. There are many factors at work and different approaches that can be used.

In severe situations, permanent tooth removals may be required to create the necessary space for others. However, no one enjoys having their teeth extracted and we try to avoid this option whenever possible. Fortunately, there is another way. By using a child’s natural growth spurts, a savvy orthodontist can avoid the need for tooth extractions if he evaluates a patient at an early age.Read More

Halloween is a fun time of year for kids of all ages… but can be a “nightmare” for an orthodontic practice if patients are damaging appliances eating the wrong treats.

At the orthodontic practice of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS we love Halloween!! However, we also are proactive educating parents and patients of the potential hazards that can occur if orthodontic patients don’t watch what they eat.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month. We support the American Association of Orthodontics in their efforts to make patients aware of foods they need to avoid, especially with Halloween goodies.

Patients still can enjoy treats… just orthodontic friendly treats. Click here to download a Do’s and Don’ts Treat List offered by the AAO. As a reminder, print it off and post in on your refrigerator for all to see.

Follow the list and save candy you can eat and give away treats that will harm your braces. A few sweets can be OK occasionally, whether wearing braces or not, as long as you brush and floss after eating.

The team at Lisa P. Howard DDS MS orthodontic practice wants everyone to enjoy the holiday. However, we also want you to protect the investment you and your family has made in helping us create a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.

Click here to find Brace Friendly Recipes offered by the AAO.

Click Here for Tips for Trick – or -Treaters.

Do you think we are being unreasonable asking patients to give up treats that damage their braces? Please leave your comments below. Now is the time to vent.

In today’s digital world, you can buy almost anything you want on the Internet. This includes finding the do it yourself information that goes along with it. Everyone wants to save money every way they can. However, some people are learning the hard way that doing it yourself isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when straightening your teeth at home.

Tina Hicks lost her retainers and the space between her two front teeth started to open up again over time. Rather than call her orthodontist to fix the problem, she searched online for “do it yourself orthodontics” that would save her money. As expected, YouTube came to the rescue with thousands of videos on the topic using such easy to find items like dental floss, rubber bands, and paper clips.

The AAO Website has put out a consumer Alert! Read it below.

”The American Association of Orthodontists is urging consumers to beware of Internet videos and websites which encourage people to try and straighten their own teeth. Moving teeth is a medical procedure and needs personal supervision by an orthodontist. Please be wary of any suggestions to move teeth with rubber bands, dental floss, or other objects ordered on the Internet. Moving teeth without a thorough examination of the overall health of the teeth and gums could result in the permanent loss of teeth, which may result in expensive and lifelong dental problems. Orthodontists receive two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school and are specialists in straightening teeth and aligning the bite.”

One of the most dangerous quick fixes is “gap bands” used to close space between teeth that you can easily buy online. Teeth in the front of your mouth are shaped like upside down ice cream cones. As the space closes, the rubber bands work their way up the teeth and actually pulls the teeth out of the bone. This can lead to irreversible damage causing expensive dental procedures to repair the problem and even loss of teeth.

At the orthodontic practice of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS we urge you to think twice before using “do it yourself” orthodontic gimmicks to straighten your teeth. If cost is an issue, we will be happy to work with you on a payment plan to fit your monthly budget. Your first visit is complimentary so you have nothing to lose allowing us to help you determine the best treatment options available to correct your problem.

Our goal is to make orthodontics affordable for everyone looking to improve their smile and overall dental health. Moving teeth affects your dental health over a lifetime. This is forever… you only have one set of teeth so make sure you make the best choice when moving teeth.

Contact our office to answer any questions you have or to schedule a complimentary initial exam.

We have all heard the saying “patience is a virtue.” However, as human beings… we want, what we want, when we want it. Unfortunately, most things worth having do not come easily without time and effort and when it comes to a successful orthodontic result, you can’t rush “Mother Nature.”

Understanding the physiology of the human body explains why gentle forces are used to move teeth. (read more about tooth movement). When braces put pressure on teeth, it causes cells known as osteoclasts to break down the bone in the path of the tooth movement, similar to a ship moving through sand. At the same time, other cells called osteoblasts are at work on the other side of the tooth. Their job is to make new bone to fill in the space left behind the teeth, like sand filling in behind the ship as it moves, changing direction. Read More