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These days you can do almost anything with the click of a button. Order school supplies. Get a ride across town. Watch your favorite movie. Schedule a grocery delivery. It seems like every day there’s a newer and easier way to do almost everything from your mobile device. We’ve been programmed to accept that anything can be ordered online and delivered right to our front door. 

 

However, at Greater Houston Orthodontics, there is one thing that we believe doesn’t have an easy online replacement: orthodontic treatment. There is no match for orthodontic treatment provided by a highly trained, experienced specialist. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) agrees. They recently issued a Consumer Alert listing key questions to ask about direct-to-consumer aligner companies. You can download a print-friendly version here.

 

The issue is that many direct-to-consumer aligner companies do not involve the in-person evaluation and/or in-person supervision of your treatment we provide at Greater Houston Orthodontics. This type of supervision is important because there is more to creating a healthy, confident smile than moving the visible portions of your teeth. If not done correctly any dental work can lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, unhealthy or uncomfortable bite modifications and even changes to your facial profile. The team of doctors at Greater Houston Orthodontics have many tools in their arsenal to help create a healthy smile – Invisalign, for example, is just one of them. It’s important to have a fully trained and experienced orthodontist involved when making any changes to your smile.

 

The Top Questions To Ask

 

The AAO advises that when researching orthodontic treatment (including treatment models from direct-to-consumer companies), you should consider many key questions, some of which include:

 

1. As part of your treatment, are comprehensive diagnostic records like x-rays taken before your treatment?
2. As part of your treatment fee, do you receive any in-person visits to a dentist’s or orthodontist’s office during your treatment?
3. Is only one treatment type offered (such as invisible aligners or a certain appliance)?
4. What are the possible risks (financial, health, etc.) associated with your orthodontic treatment?
5. Who is responsible for detecting any issues that may occur during your orthodontic treatment? Is it you? If it is a doctor not associated with your treatment, who pays for those check-ups?
6. If an emergency arises, does the company have a dentist or orthodontist in your area that you can see in-person? If not, who would cover the costs associated with seeing a dentist or orthodontist in your area?
7. If you are injured or have another dispute involving your orthodontic treatment, how is it handled (litigation, arbitration, etc.) and what rights do you have? 
8. Does the treatment model comply with the dental laws in your state? To check your state’s dental laws, click https://www.aaoinfo.org/state-laws-and-regulations. Information for your state dental board can be found at https://www.aaoinfo.org/aao/state-dental-board-info.
9. Is there a smile satisfaction guaranteed?

 

Where You Receive Your Dental Care Is A Very Important Personal Decision

 

Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami and Dr. Adam Skrypczak lead a friendly, dedicated team that works together to create a positive experience for our patients and their families that’s fun, light hearted, informative and inviting. The doctors and team use the most advanced treatments available today, including Invisalign®, Invisalign® Teen and Incognito™ Hidden Braces.

With two convenient locations, West University and Memorial, we are ready to help you start smiling. Please contact our West University or our Memorial office to schedule a complimentary consultation or click below:

 

Who doesn’t love to catch some sun rays? Well sunshine lovers, Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr and Dr. Niloufar Azami at Greater Houston Orthodontics has news for you! A little sunshine actually HELPS your teeth during orthodontic treatment! Sunshine has been found to improve mood, our immune functions, and increases vitamin D production in our bodies.

The Importance of Vitamin D

While in braces, healthy teeth and gums are of vital importance. Vitamin D helps to support oral health in two ways:

• It helps our bodies to absorb and utilize calcium

Vitamin D has several major functions. One of its major functions is moderating other vitamins and minerals – including calcium. Calcium is crucial because it fortifies our teeth and supports jaw and bone strength. Several studies have shown greater cavity risk for people who live in regions with little sunlight – sometimes as much as double the risk.Read More

Good oral hygiene is a crucial part of a person’s health. Thus, it is imperative that parents help teach their kids not only to brush their teeth twice a day but also how to do so effectively. Rather than making it a chore, try to make cleaning their teeth a fun and enjoyable experience. To help, Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr and Dr. Niloufar Azami at Greater Houston Orthodontics share some tips for teaching kids how to properly clean their teeth. Read More

Did you know that the alignment of your teeth can affect your speech? If you struggle to pronounce certain words, your teeth could be the reason why. Thankfully, orthodontics can help. Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr and Dr. Niloufar Azami at Greater Houston Orthodontics can provide orthodontic treatment to resolve common oral problems such as:

1. Lisp or Whistling

Lisps or whistles are common in children and adults and are developed due to open bites. An open bite occurs when the tongue doesn’t make a true connection with the roof of the mouth. This typically happens when pronouncing words containing the letter “s” or “z.” Patients with an open bite often pronounce these words as if they have the letters “th” instead of an “s.”

Read More

There are a lot of reasons you should be flashing those pearly whites more often – smiling is good for your health! According to Psychology Today, when you smile you activate neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness. As we close out the year, it is important to find reasons to smile and be grateful for all the lessons we’ve learned and achievements accomplished. For those who can’t find a reason to smile, Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr and Dr. Niloufar Azami at Greater Houston Orthodontics has five:Read More

The Benefits of Early Orthodontics

Every parent wants their child to be able to smile with confidence but for many that’s not the only reason to investigate orthodontics at an early age. While the average age for orthodontic treatment is around 12 years old, at Greater Houston Orthodontics we have a mission to focus on children 7 and up to follow up with the American Association of Orthodontists guidelines.  Why, you ask?

An orthodontic consult at an early age can catch future issues and adjust for them before they become problems. Some of these issues include:

Airway Obstruction: Well developed airways allow normal breathing through the nose when the mouth is closed. While this may sound trivial, nasal breathing is important because it’s now known to be vital to good health. Airway obstruction has been linked to developmental delays, sleep disorders, behavioral disturbances, and later can lead to hypertension or other heart conditions. These sound scary but the treatment is easy with early diagnosis. We all can relate to our little ones that struggle with allergies!

 Crossbites:

By age 7 most children’s permanent molars and incisors have come in. A trained eye can see early on if crowding or crossbites will be an issue as the rest of your child’s permanent teeth come in. Earlier treatment is more effective because your child’s jaw is less developed at this early age and can be guided along the right path rather than working to reverse issues at a later age.

Overcrowding:

Traditionally, orthodontists may say wait until age 11 or 12 to treat a crowding problem, but the problem isn’t going to get any better by waiting. Early treatment has been proven to correct narrow arch and create space for the teeth and tongue so it may function correctly when swallowing. Plus, early treatment can avoid the need for future tooth extraction or jaw surgery.

 The benefits of early orthodontic treatment are clear:

Early treatment can regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct any habits that can cause bad bite later on, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment. Speaking of…

 Two Phase Treatment:

• Phase 1   works with your young child to make space for their permanent teeth. Phase 2 begins once they’ve arrived. Often children who undergo Phase 1 treatment have a much shorter
• Phase 2. This makes life easier for both them and you as their schedules get busier and busier.

 Not every 7 year old will need early treatment, but if they need early treatment and it is caught early on by a trained orthodontist, it could make a big difference in the outcomes of treatment later on by taking advantage of growth and also possibly by avoiding extractions.  Knowing the importance of early orthodontics is only part of the battle. Then the question is who do you talk to? At Greater Houston Orthodontics we focus on your child’s individual needs and focus on early orthodontic treatment to avoid extractions and also to take advantage of growth!

 Contact us today for a complimentary consultation! 

Keep in mind that these signs do not guarantee that your child needs treatment, but they may indicate that an orthodontic evaluation is a prudent next step.

 Do some of these signs look familiar to you?

 Dr. Amir Davoody and Dr. Rana Mehr and Dr. Niloufar Azamilead lead a friendly, dedicated team that works together to create a positive experience for young patients and their families that’s fun, light hearted, warm and inviting. The doctors and team use the most advanced treatments available today, including Invisalign®, Invisalign® Teen and Incognito™ Hidden Braces.

With two convenient locations in West University and Memorial, we are ready to help you start smiling. Please contact our West University or our Memorial office to schedule a complimentary consultation or click below:

Once you’ve completed orthodontic treatment, you just want to enjoy your brand-new smile. However, one thing patients often worry about is having white marks on their teeth following treatment. Luckily, whether you end up with white marks on your teeth after treatment is UP TO YOU! If you take good care of your teeth during treatment, white marks can easily be avoided.

How White Marks Form on the Teeth

The white marks that appear on your teeth during/after orthodontic treatment are called orthodontic white spot lesions (WSLs). These spots are caused by plaque buildup on teeth. Removing plaque from your teeth is incredibly important because the bacteria in plaque produce an acid that begins to dissolve the mineralized surface of a tooth (and ruin the appearance of those pearly whites).Read More

Having a sensitive gag reflex is nothing to be embarrassed about. Additionally, it is not something that should deter you from seeking orthodontic treatment. Those with a sensitive gag reflex can get frustrated, but it is certainly something that can be worked with while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists, like Dr. Amir Davoody and Dr. Rana Mehr at Greater Houston Orthodontics, are trained professionals that can help care for and achieve a beautiful smile. Below are some tips to help patients with a sensitive gag reflex.Read More