Trusted Dentists Providing First-Class Orthodontics

Understanding the Importance of a Straighter Smile

Crooked teeth often leave patients feeling self-conscious about their smile, but the effects are often more than cosmetic. In many cases, misaligned teeth can lead to serious health concerns. If you are unable to properly brush or floss, bacteria and plaque can accumulate in hard-to-reach areas. While not immediately dangerous, plaque can eventually lead to cavities, inflamed gums, and an increased risk of gum disease and tooth loss. By straightening your smile, orthodontic treatment at our McLean office can allow you greater access so that you can better care for your smile and avoid the need for restorative procedures in the future. 

How Do I Know if I Need Orthodontic Treatment?

While crooked or crowded teeth are the most common reason for orthodontic care, we treat a wide range of issues related to alignment. Dr. Ahn can help patients with deep bites, open bites, missing laterals, overbites, underbites, and posterior cross-bites. Some of the more obvious signs of these conditions include:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty biting
• Difficulty speaking
• Protruding teeth
• Facial imbalance
• Grinding or clenching teeth

Because problems with your bite can have long-term, painful effects, we particularly specialize in early prevention orthodontics. Through detecting potentially harmful jaw issues in younger patients, Dr. Ahn can lower the risk of oral damage. Our team strives to create more space for the teeth, lessen the need for permanent tooth extractions at a later time, and correct potential issues with jaw growth and emerging teeth.

What Can I Expect at My Appointment?

During your initial consultation at our McLean office, Dr. Ahn will evaluate your smile and bite and ask about your goals in order to determine which treatment is best for you. From there, you can plan your orthodontic treatment together so that the timeline works for your schedule.  

No matter your age, a straighter smile can boost confidence and support healthier teeth.

Patients should keep in mind that the same treatment does not work for everyone. A teenager with severely misaligned teeth may be a better candidate for traditional braces, whereas an older patient with less severe crowding may find that Invisalign works best for them. Consequently, the specifics of your treatment will hinge on your individual health and cosmetic needs. In most cases, however, orthodontic treatment focuses on gradual, long-term adjustments. You will come in every few weeks to adjust your braces or receive the next set of alignment trays.