Maryland braces college park orthodontics potomac invisalign

Keeping Your Teeth Where They Belong

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:12:20 +0000

You’ve done your time, your teeth are impeccably straight, and your braces can come off! You’re free!

…Now, what’s this about a retainer?

Most of our patients who’ve spent time in braces need to wear a retainer after their braces are removed. A retainer is a small, curved piece of plastic and metal that we custom-create to fit inside your mouth. Its job is to hold your teeth in their new position.

Why Do I Need a Retainer?

Imagine you’ve built a sandcastle on the beach. You spent a lot of time on that sandcastle, and you want to protect it so you and your friends can admire your creation. How do you keep that castle from falling down? You take special precaution to build it far away from any water (or tricky big brothers) that could rush in and ruin all your hard work.

It’s the same thing with your teeth. We’ve worked together for months – years, maybe – to bring your teeth into perfect alignment, and we don’t want to see them lapse back into crookedness. So we take a special precaution to enforce their new position. And that special precaution is wearing a retainer.

When – And For How Long – Should I Wear My Retainer?Just like everyone’s teeth are different, everyone has different schedules and timelines for wearing a retainer. When we remove your braces and create your very own special retainer, we will let you know how often you need to wear it. We will also let you know how long you need to wear it. Research has shown that teeth often get progressively more crooked with age, so the longer you wear your retainer, the better a chance you have of keeping that perfect smile. The important thing is to carefully follow our instructions, because we have designed your retainer schedule based on exactly what your teeth need to stay in place.

Will It Feel Weird?

Remember back when you first got braces and your mouth felt a little different? Then once you got used to them, you forgot they were there. You learned how to talk with braces, you learned how to eat with braces, you learned how to smile with braces. You will do the same thing with a retainer, and soon you’ll forget it’s there. And because a retainer takes up less space in your mouth than braces, it’ll be even easier this time.

Will It Look Weird?

Quite the contrary: we can make retainers in many different colors and sometimes we can even put special pictures on them. You get to choose how you want it to look.

How Do I Take Care of My Retainer?

It’s easy to take care of your retainer. When you take it out to brush your teeth, simply clean it with your toothbrush and toothpaste. And when you are not wearing your retainer, be sure to keep it in its plastic case to avoid damaging it.

Are All Retainers Removable?

Sometimes we place a “bonded” or permanently fixed retainer on your lower front teeth. These teeth are the most prone to becoming crooked again, so having a retainer you can’t lose or remove often pays off in a big way. If you have a bonded retainer, make sure to brush it thoroughly and floss between the teeth it holds straight daily.

What If I Lose My Retainer?

Because a retainer can be an expensive item, it’s best to avoid losing one. The most common way that retainers are lost is during a meal. A patient removes his retainer to eat, wraps it in a napkin, and puts it on his lunch tray in the cafeteria – then promptly forgets it’s there. Where does it end up? You guessed it: in the garbage. Ew! Trust us, you don’t want to dig through cafeteria garbage. So don’t lose track of your retainer.

What If My Retainer Breaks?

If your retainer breaks or is lost, please call us immediately so we can create a replacement for you. Going without your retainer, even for a few days, can affect the alignment of your teeth.

Invisalign: As Easy as 1, 2, 3!

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:00:38 +0000

Looking to improve your smile, but eager to keep your treatment to yourself? Consider Invisalign, the invisible way to straighten teeth. The clear, custom aligners are removable, which makes for easy eating, brushing and flossing, and no disruption of your lifestyle. Over half a million people have chosen Invisalign in their quest for an amazing smile. The process is simple:

Step 1:

We’ll Create a Custom Treatment Plan for You

First we’ll take impressions of your teeth. Based on their current position and their ideal end position, we’ll create a treatment plan that maps out the movement of your teeth throughout your time in Invisalign aligners.

Step 2:

Your Unique Set of Aligners Are Created

Using precision computer mapping and design, a series of clear, removable aligners are custom-molded. We’ll provide you with your aligners and precise instructions on how long each aligner is to be worn.

Step 3:

Wear Your Aligners to Guide Your Teeth into Place

Wear each set of aligners night and day for the prescribed time period, removing them to eat, brush and floss. We’ll set regular check-ups to monitor your progress. Each case is a little different, but on average, treatment lasts about a year.

Our blog is back and better than ever!

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:17:22 +0000

The Rad Orthodontics Blog is back! Don’t forget to check out our website at www.radsmile.com! Or visit us on Facebook and Twitter!

Maryland Braces - Type of Braces

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:49:13 +0000

Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Maryland braces ceramic braces

Ceramic Braces - Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper-front teeth than on lower teeth.

Maryland Braces - Invisalign Braces

Invisible (Clear) Orthodontic Appliances
Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners to straighten you teeth. And, no one can tell you are wearing Invisalign because it’s invisible! Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. Click here to learn more Invisalign.

Maryland Lingual Braces

Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are hidden behind the teeth and are therefore “invisible” when you smile. Lingual braces are 100% customized to match the shape of your teeth and therefore the metal appliances are created uniquely for you. Lingual braces are a very reasonable option for athletes, models, actors/actresses, musicians who play wind instruments and adult professionals.

Maryland Invisalign Orthodontist - College Park and Potomac

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:24:57 +0000

Having a confident smile can change everything. And Invisalign makes the decision easy, because you can get a stunning smile without most people even noticing you’re going through treatment. So start on the right track today, and find out more about Invisalign.

What is Invisalign?

Your Invisalign treatment will consist of a series of aligners that you switch out about every two weeks. Each aligner is individually manufactured with exact calculations to gradually shift your teeth into place. And since your Invisalign system is custom-made for your teeth and your teeth only, with a plan devised by you and your dentist or orthodontist, you know you’ll end up with a smile that truly fits.

If you’re ready for a smile that transforms your appearance, Invisalign is your answer. Although there are many choices out there, no other works as effortlessly as the Invisalign system.

Invisalign is the best way to transform your smile without interfering with your day-to-day life. Check out the benefits below:

Invisalign expert in Maryland Dr. Mehdy Rad

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:36:57 +0000

Dr.Rad is a premier provider of invisalign, meaning he is in the top 5% of providers in the world!

So invisible, you’ll be the only one that knows.
No braces. Nothing to hold you back.
Proven results behind great smiles.

Maryland College Park and Potomac Orthodontist Dr. Mehdy Rad

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:45:50 +0000

Dr. Mehdy Rad DMD:

College: Boston University. BA
Dental School : Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. DMD
Residency: United States Coast Guard Airbase Ramey Puerto Rico.
Residency: Boston Medical Center . Acquired Certificate in Advanced Graduate study in Advanced Esthetic General Dentistry. Received Award for Clinical Excellence.
Orthodontic Specialty Training: Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Awarded Certificate in Advanced Graduate study in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Chief Resident

Dr. Rad is very current on the latest continuing education and has a very extensive list of continuing education courses that have been attended.

Professional Affiliations:
Dr. Mehdy Rad DMD is a current member of:
- American Dental Association
- American Association of Orthodontists
- Maryland Society of Orthodontists
- Mid-Atlantic Society of Orthodontists
- Southern Maryland Dental Society
- Washington Iranian Dental Club

Technologies:

Dr.Rad is certified in Invisalign and Dr. Rad is one of very few orthodontists in the country to be certified by Lingualcare, a revolutionary system of braces from Germany that go behind your teeth so they are invisible to the rest of the world. Adults love all of the invisible and comfortable options.

For the treatment of children age 7 and older, Dr. Rad specializes in the analysis and treatment of facial growth and dental development. Many severe problems can be caught and treated early before the problem becomes more severe later in life.

Maryland Orthodontist Dr. Mehdy Rad

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:49:11 +0000

Dr. Mehdy Rad DMD:

College: Boston University. BA
Dental School : Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. DMD
Residency: United States Coast Guard Airbase Ramey Puerto Rico.
Residency: Boston Medical Center . Acquired Certificate in Advanced Graduate study in Advanced Esthetic General Dentistry. Received Award for Clinical Excellence.
Orthodontic Specialty Training: Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Awarded Certificate in Advanced Graduate study in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Chief Resident

Dr. Rad is very current on the latest continuing education and has a very extensive list of continuing education courses that have been attended.

Technologies: