Imagine taking your beautiful daughter to see an orthodontist because she doesn’t like the little gap between her front teeth. You’ve check out her teeth yourself and while there are admittedly a few uneven ones, things don’t look that bad. Surprisingly the doctor announces that her treatment will be much longer than you expected and several thousand dollars more. How could such seemingly “simple” treatment take so long?

Having examined more than 10,000 patients over the past 10 years, I know that I’ve surprised more than a few parents with treatment estimates longer than they expected. I can imagine the thoughts that run through the minds of parents that don’t know me very well: Is he just trying to make more money? Is he being too picky? She’s only got a little space for heaven’s sake! Understanding my three primary objectives for your children will help you understand why quality treatment takes as long as it does. My goals are to give your child a smile that is 1) attractive, 2) healthy, and 3) stable.

First, while most parents do want a healthy smile, the main reason they seek care for their children is that they want them to look great. Straight teeth, no spacing or overlapping, and no overbite are standard expectations. There is a misconception however that all doctors with a license will produce the same results. A lot of what I do with braces is artwork and not all orthodontists are artists. Being able to visualize how a patient’s smile should look at the end of treatment and then coordinate all of the variables that go into achieving that outcome is complex. Some orthodontists choose treatment plans simply because they like using a certain device that makes their job easier. Others shy away from removing teeth because it makes treatment harder to sell and it takes a little longer. Achieving a great result does take a little more time than just doing an average job.

Second, a healthy smile is one where the jaws are coordinated, the bite comes together evenly so that there is less enamel wear, the teeth nicely aligned so they can be easily brushed and flossed, the incisors are positioned so that the lips close completely and naturally, and the roots of the teeth are anchored in healthy gums and bone. Treatment that addresses only the appearance of the front teeth may ignore the bite, the face, and the health of supporting tissues. It is possible to create a smile that looks good but is actually unhealthy. An experienced clinician will look past the alignment of the front teeth to address underlying factors that determine if the smile is healthy.

Last but not least, quality orthodontic care leaves your child with a result that will be stable after the braces come off. What a shame it is when braces are removed and the teeth are allowed to move back to where they were before. While orthodontic retainers are necessary in all patients, producing a stable outcome actually begins with the original diagnosis. Even though expanding the arches with straight wires is the quickest and easiest route to straight front teeth, doing so when there is not enough supporting gum tissue or bone is not only unhealthy, it is unstable. While aligning only the top front teeth may be in vogue right now (i.e. Six Month Smiles), it may not produce a “set” of teeth that work together and support each other. Even trained orthodontists who do not fully correct an existing overbite may be leaving the teeth in an unstable position. Long term stability is probably the most commonly ignored aspect of orthodontic treatment.

So when your orthodontist tells you that your little girl’s “simple” treatment may take 18+ months, you can now keep all three of these objectives in mind. You will undoubtedly be happy with the improved appearance of the teeth in the first six to nine months. At that point however, your mindset should shift to the other two objectives, making the smile healthy and stable. A good orthodontist will keep his eye on all three objectives for you. If you are on board with him throughout treatment, your children will also be more likely to be patient until the job is done right. An extra few months is not a big sacrifice for a smile that she’ll have for a lifetime!

Call us today, 734-261-8860, to set up your complimentary consulation to see what treatment is recommended for you! We offer a wide variety of products from traditional braces to Invisalign to hidden braces that go behind the teeth (Incognito System). We service Livonia, MI and all surrounding areas. Call today!!

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Live in Livonia, MI or the surrounding Metro Detroit area? Interested in Braces? Invisalign? Hidden Orthodontics?

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National Children’s Dental Health Month began as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio on Feb. 3, 1941. The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on Feb. 8, 1949. This single day observance became a week-long event in 1955, and in 1981 the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month.

To celebrate NCDHM, our office offers the local schools a complimentary dental health presentations to students of all ages! *This program is offered the entire school year, however February is a time that most educators take advantage of the great opportunity!*

The Masri Orthodontics Oral Hygiene Education Program offers area schools, grades K-5, a 30 minute volunteer program that provides information about the anatomy, function, and care of the teeth, gums and mouth.

All curriculum is age appropriate to appeal to each grade level and provides an interactive, hands-on experience for students.  Each child is given a Masri Orthodontics ‘smile bag’ which includes the necessary tools to care for their teeth at home.

A Redford Union Schools 3^rd Grade Teacher and Mom of three Masri patients, Sarah Daoust said, “They did a great job getting the information across to the students, and the smile bags were fantastic! For some families it can be difficult to provide items as simple as a toothbrush or toothpaste.”

“We really feel that as a family oriented practice we have an obligation to help our community, especially during tough times,” said Dr. Masri. “We know both parents and teachers are having to dip in to personal funds to provide materials and supplies for their students and it’s that type of dedication we hope to help.”

If you are a teacher in Livonia or the surrounding area, please call us today to take advantage of this wonderful program! We are scheduling presentations continuously and can accommodate any number of students as well as any age! Mention this program to your child’s teacher if you think it is something they would be interested in!  We can also adapt this program to clubs and organizations throughout the area, as well, including but not limited to Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Homeschoolers, etc.

 TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, is a condition characterized by jaw tension and pain. Typically caused by either teeth grinding or jaw clenching, this condition can cause headaches and lockjaw. TMJ is often confused with an earache because of the location of the joint, and severe cases can inhibit talking, chewing and swallowing. Botox injections are used off-label to treat TMJ and have shown promising results.

A Botox treatment for TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint) is a simple procedure where the injections block nerve impulses to actually weaken or paralyze the affected jaw muscles, putting an almost immediate end to patients troubles. TMJ Botox side effects are minimal as it is a non-surgical and non-invasive procedure.

Since this is a non-surgical treatment, TMJ Botox® side effects are infrequent, minimal and temporary. The most common reported TMJ Botox® side effects are headaches, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, temporary eye-lid droop, and nausea. Less commonly reported side effects of TMJ Botox® are pain, redness at spot of injection, and muscle weakness. These symptoms are thought to be connected with the Botox® injection and occur within the first week.

It is highly likely that the patient can return to normal activities immediately. However, to minimize TMJ Botox side effects patients should not rub or massage the area injected with Botox® and remain upright for many hours. Physical activity should also be limited for a time.

The cost of the Botox® TMJ treatment will vary based on where you live and receive treatment and the severity of your condition (and therefore, how many Botox injections are needed). Botox® treatment is usually charged on a per-visit basis.

If you suffer from TMJ or jaw tension and are tired of solutions that arent really solutions at all, contact your Dr. Masri to get a TMJ consultation today!

Although Botox® is not offered at Masri Orthodontics quite yet, Dr. Masri can consult you on your TMJ condition and refer you to a solution that will best fit your case. Visit Masri Orthodontics to get your complimentary consultation or 2nd opinion regarding TMJ.  Call Masri Orthodontics in Livonia, MI at 734-261-8860 or fill out this contact form.