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There are many reasons why people want straight teeth. Not the least of these is the fact that crooked teeth are not the most attractive feature. While a nicely aligned smile can be the part of your looks that pulls everything else together, a crooked smile can draw attention away from an otherwise striking appearance. A great smile is vital to your self-confidence, which in turn can improve your outlook on life in general.

However, the benefits of straight teeth do not end with just your appearance. Read More

Patients of all ages are self conscious when they first get their braces. It takes a few days to adjust both physically and emotionally to the look and feel of the appliances. Support and understanding from family and friends goes a long way the first few weeks to help patients adapt both physically and emotionally, especially with adolescents and teens already insecure with most aspects of their lives.Read More

The technical term for a “bad bite” is a malocclusion. There are many different types of malocclusions depending on what the exact nature of the problem. Sometimes, a poor bite only develops on one side of the mouth instead of both sides. This situation, which is commonly known as a crossbite, happens because of an asymmetry of the teeth or jaw. This lack of balance can occur when some of the teeth on one side are lost, or if they never come in at all.

In a bi-lateral crossbite, (meaning one side only), the top teeth on one side close either outside or across the bottom teeth. This happens because the lower jaw shifts from side to side when the mouth is closing in an attempt to correct for the mismatch of the upper jaw and the lower jaw. This shift creates a misalignment of the teeth.Read More

The average American diet is loaded with sugar and a disturbing amount of it is of the processed variety. This does not bode well for our overall health, but of particular concern is the effect large amounts of sugar have on teeth causing tooth decay. Our goal at the orthodontic practice of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS is to create beautiful healthy smiles that last a lifetime. It would be a shame if all that time devoted to straightening teeth goes to waste because of a sweet tooth that destroys strong healthy teeth.

In order to fight the common sugar addiction, keeping track of the foods you eat every day would be enlightening. You may be surprised at how many foods commonly considered “healthy” are dangerously loaded with sugar. Here are examples of 7 foods to avoid, as well as some suggestions to keep your sweet tooth happy and all your teeth well to preserve your beautiful smile. Read More

There are many ways you protect your teeth during your treatment with Dr. Lisa P. Howard DDS MS. You brush your teeth after meals and snacks, floss regularly, and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged by watching foods you eat and wearing a mouth guard during contact sports . But did you know about fluoride to keep your teeth sparkling and healthy during orthodontic treatment to protect against tooth decay and white marks around your braces during treatment?Read More

A glowing smile is a destination much sought after by our patients at the orthodontic practice of Lisa P. Howard DDS MS, and luckily they don’t have to make the journey on their own. With the right travel plan and a talented orthodontist conducting, braces are the ticket to perfect teeth. Thinking of braces in terms of a train ride can help to explain how they work, lessen anxiety about how braces function, and illustrate the importance of staying on the right track.

The brackets of the braces are the equivalent of the cars of a train, and the track that they follow is the archwire. Once the brackets are placed on the teeth and the archwire is properly adjusted to create a path to great teeth, all that remains for our train is fuel to move in the right direction.Read More