Our Blog

Time.

There really does not seem to be enough of it these days and, with all due respect to the fathers who come through my office door (and there are a lot of them!), balancing work from home and school from home is taking the harshest toll on mothers.

Consider this telling statistic: in December 2020, the American economy lost a net 140,000 jobs. Men actually gained 16,000 jobs, but women lost 156,000. Last fall, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, and founder of the LeanIn.Org, Sheryl Sandberg urged companies to be more flexible – or risk losing their top female talent.

I hear the stress in the voices of the mothers who come into my office, whether they hold jobs outside of being wife and parent or not. This crisis has taken a toll.

The medical community can make things just a tiny bit easier by embracing digital technologies that allow us to check in and follow up with our patients virtually.

Both of my offices use Dental Monitoring by DentalMind, for example. With the app on iOS and Android, patients capture their treatment progress, communicate them to my office, and receive any necessary instructions or changes directly from me. This technology allows me and my patients to maintain consistent contact between appointments in a safe, seamless, and time-saving way.

I also offer virtual consults. Patients take a few snaps of their smiles and, based on these photos alone, I can come up with a preliminary treatment plan. We will meet face to face as a next step, but there is no reason not to use technology to get things started.

Digital technologies also are super convenient in a pinch.

A couple of weeks ago, my front desk fielded a call from a mom in Middleburg, Va. who was supposed to bring her teenage son in that day for an in-person consult. Even under normal circumstances, Middleburg is quite a drive to the Washington, D.C. area and, on this particular day, everyone was just running behind.

I could hear the relief in mom’s voice when I told her the consult could be done digitally. After all, why do we carry around high-resolution cameras and computers in our purses if we can’t use them to save ourselves a few minutes? I hope that mom was reassured, too, that if she chose our office for her son, many of our follow-ups could be completed from her own living room.

Smartphones also can be incredibly helpful when assessing emergency situations with your dentist or orthodontist. A friend of mine who is a pediatric dentist evaluated a young patient on a Friday night who fallen (err, jumped) off a couch and landed on a set of drums. (Ouch!) Teeth were broken, but the dentist also clearly could see that stiches were needed. While mom still was not happy with the stage dive, at least her dentist-by-iPhone gave her a clear path forward and at least some reassurance.

Telehealth not only saves time, it saves money. According to an April 2020 article in U.S. News & World Report, for medical visits, “The national median cost for a video-based virtual visit is $50, compared to $85 for low-severity treatment at a doctor’s office, $130 for an urgent care facility visit, and $740 for an emergency room visit.”

One more benefit?

Telehealth also is good for the environment. When researchers from the University of California at Davis studied the use of telehealth in the Golden State, they found “telemedicine utilization saved the air almost 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, 50 metric tons of carbon monoxide, 3.7 metric tons of nitrogen oxides and 5.5 metric tons of volatile organic compounds.”

Digital health: good for the planet … easy on your schedule.

So, take an easy breath next time you’re worried about making time for your appointment. Give us a call, and we’ll determine if we can do it virtually instead.

Valentine’s Day is the holiday to celebrate all the treasured relationships in your life. It’s a time to honor love in all shapes and forms with cards, social gatherings, and sometimes even binge eating of sweets.

It's hard to look the other way when grocery stores and pharmacies are invaded with goodies connected to the Valentine’s Day theme, and especially if you’re on the receiving end of some of these sweets. We get it. In fact, we’re all for it!

However, we also support a cavity-free smile. So in the interest of your dental and general health, and because we think it’s genuinely tasty, we recommend an alternative to the Valentine treats you may be accustomed to: dark chocolate.

Yes, Healthy Chocolate Exists

Studies have shown that dark chocolate is high in flavonoids, an ingredient found in the cocoa beans used to make chocolate. Flavonoids can help protect the body against toxins, reduce blood pressure, and improve blood flow to the heart and brain.

By opting for dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate, you get to reap these benefits! Pretty sweet, right? Just make sure to stick to high-quality dark chocolates that have undergone minimal processing.

Dark Chocolate, AKA Protector of Teeth

Not only does dark chocolate provide some nice benefits for your overall health, it also helps protect your teeth against cavities! According to the Texas A&M Health Science Center, dark chocolate contains high amounts of tannins, another ingredient present in cocoa beans.

Tannins can actually help prevent cavities by interfering with the bacteria that causes them. Think of them as scarecrows for bacteria. They don’t always prevail, but isn’t it nice to have them there?

Smooth Never Sticky

Unlike many popular candies, dark chocolate is less likely to stick in the crevices of your teeth. Chewy, gooey sweets are more likely to hang around in your mouth for longer periods of time, which means they raise the odds of your harboring cavity-creating bacteria.

While some dark chocolates have additives like caramel or marshmallow, it’s best to opt for the plain varieties, which are just as delicious. If you’re feeling festive, though, a dark chocolate with caramel is still better than a milk chocolate with caramel, so that’s the way to go!

While dark chocolate has some pretty sweet benefits, the most important thing to remember (whether you go the dark chocolate route or not), is that moderation is key. That being said, we hope you have fun satisfying your sweet tooth and shopping for treats for your friends and loved ones. Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Bethesda Orthodontics!

Our team at Bethesda Orthodontics knows that there are many ways you can protect your pearly whites throughout your orthodontic treatment. If you follow the rules and brush your teeth twice a day, floss often, and protect your appliances from damage, you should have a successful treatment.

But did you know there’s another way to keep your teeth sparkling and healthy during your time wearing braces?

Fluoride, the mineral that helps you prevent cavities and tooth decay, can also help keep your teeth strong. Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Depending on your oral health or our recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six, or 12 months. We may also prescribe a fluoride product such as a mouthwash, gel, or antibacterial rinse for at-home treatment to keep your teeth happy in between visits.

If you have any other questions about fluoride or your treatment, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Braces aren’t just for kids. Many grownups are taking advantage of orthodontic treatment and having their teeth straightened at a later age.

Sometimes, patients include adults who already had braces in the past, but their teeth shifted over time once they stopped wearing their retainers. In other cases, adults who have never had braces are tired of having crooked teeth and ready to invest in a beautiful smile.

Whatever the case may be, if you’re looking to straighten your teeth with braces, we would love to help you with this process. Having a dazzling smile can increase your confidence in all areas of your life!

Depending on what you’re willing to spend and how quickly you would like to complete the process, you have various options for getting braces. We all know what traditional metal braces look like. This is a less-expensive route for individuals who have severely crooked or displaced teeth. However, many adults avoid option because the braces are noticeable or distracting in a professional atmosphere.

For people concerned about aesthetics, clear ceramic braces may be a preferable option. This type can still fix extremely crooked teeth or jaw alignment issues. It may be slightly more expensive than traditional metal braces. Patients who choose this treatment route need to be careful not to stain the clear adhesives by drinking too much coffee, red wine, soda, or other beverages that can discolor teeth.

Another great option for adults who don’t want to have visible braces is a clear aligner treatment known as Invisalign®. This popular option differs from traditional braces by featuring a series of clear aligners that are each custom-made for your teeth.

The entire process can take anywhere from three to 18 months to straighten your teeth completely. This may not be the best choice for patients who have an overcrowded mouth or extreme bite issues. Invisalign is often the most expensive option, but it’s great if you’re concerned about your appearance while your teeth are being straightened.

If you’ve been thinking about straightening your teeth with the help of braces, don’t hesitate to contact our Bethesda office to set up a consultation. From there, we'll figure out the best course of treatment, depending on your budget and overall needs.

Adult braces can be a great way to boost your confidence and finally give you the smile you’ve always wanted.