Braces
Crooked teeth or a misaligned bite can impact the look and function of your smile.
Fortunately, Dr. Sooyeon Ahn specializes in orthodontics and can use braces to straighten even the most severe cases of misalignment.
Learn how the team at Han & Ahn in McLean, VA, can transform your smile with this trusted orthodontic solution.
How Braces Work A Brief Overview
Orthodontics refers to the treatment of irregularities in the teeth and jaws — and braces are one of the most well-known solutions in the field. Braces use brackets, wires, and bands to gently guide your teeth into proper alignment over time. Our orthodontist, Dr. Ahn, will periodically adjust the braces to ensure the right amount of pressure is being applied to each tooth and the treatment is coming along as intended.
Your total treatment time will depend on the severity of your misalignment. When you visit us to explore this orthodontic option, Dr. Ahn can consult you on how long you can expect to wear them.
Explore the Benefits of Braces
Braces — and orthodontics at large — can offer several benefits, including:
Improved Oral Health
Overlapping or crowded teeth can make it challenging to brush and floss effectively. Straightening your teeth makes it easier to maintain a good oral health routine.
A Uniform Smile
From picture days to company presentations and everything in between, tooth misalignment can make you dread the times you’d want to smile wide. Braces can transform your self-confidence.
Pain Relief
A misaligned bite can cause pain and result in temporomandibular joint disorder. Addressing misalignment can ease or prevent headaches and other forms of discomfort.
Do You Feel Misalignment Is Holding Your Smile Back? Our McLean, VA, Dentists Are Here for You
Bite or misalignment issues can put your oral health at risk and cause you to hide your smile — that’s where we step in. Our Ivy League–trained dentists have experience helping patients just like you achieve their goals with braces and other solutions at our dental office in McLean, VA.
Whether you’re new to the area or are simply looking for a new dentistry or orthodontics provider for you and your family, we’re here to help. To request a consultation, get in touch with us today.
(703) 356-7001
What Patients Are Saying About Our Dentistry Practice in McLean, VA
Cyndi
McLean, VA
2023
Both Dr. Han and Dr. Ahn have provided honest and transparent feedback about what would work best for me and I have felt like I was in good hands each time...I can’t say enough good things about this team, and I’m so grateful to y’all for helping me finally learn to love my smile.
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SAIEF MUSTAFA
McLean, VA
2023
The entire office very professional, great and helpful. Everyone treats me with awesome respect and explains all situations that is going to be done to me in simple terms.
View on GoogleTypes of Braces We Offer At Our Mclean, VA, Practice
Our orthodontist provides both traditional and clear ceramic braces.
Traditional metal braces use brackets made of medical-grade stainless steel and offer incredible durability. When it comes to orthodontics that can address severe misalignment, these types of braces are among the most reliable and cost-effective solutions.
These braces use clear or tooth-colored brackets — made from a special transparent ceramic — attached to the surface of your teeth with metal or tooth-colored wires and rubber bands. Clear braces are less noticeable than their all-metal counterparts.
Comparing Braces and Invisalign
Unlike years ago, orthodontics is no longer limited to braces: our practice also offers Invisalign®. While many patients love the idea of a more discreet orthodontic solution, Invisalign is not suitable for everyone. Your orthodontist will discuss the pros and cons of each treatment option and which solution is best for your smile. Here are some distinct advantages of getting braces at our practice:
Treat Severe Misalignment
Invisalign is designed to address mild to moderate misalignment; more complex cases are best treated with braces, as they can exert the pressure on the teeth necessary to achieve a straight, symmetrical smile.
Minimized Responsibility
Invisalign requires you to wear clear aligners at least 22 hours a day, and refrain from eating and drinking when wearing them. While there are some do’s and don’ts for braces, they are relatively hands-off; you never need to worry about losing them or forgetting to put them back in after meals.
Are You a Good Candidate for Braces?
Braces are a suitable treatment for both adults and younger patients. However, they are most often recommended to teenagers, whose teeth have fully developed but whose bones are still malleable enough to allow for realignment of the teeth.
In some cases, early intervention for orthodontics may be required for even younger patients with severe bite and alignment issues. Typically, we can determine if a child is going to have an overbite, underbite, or crowded teeth by their seventh birthday. Because the roof of the mouth is still developing, we can also use expanders to make more room for teeth, if necessary. If these more severe problems are not corrected during childhood, teens and adults may require a longer treatment timeline or even tooth extractions later in life.
A Closer Look at This Orthodontic Treatment Process
Caring for Your Braces
In addition to visiting us for regular orthodontic checkups, you can care for your teeth and braces at home. Dr. Ahn will give you more detailed instructions, but you should expect the following:
Brush Regularly
Clean your teeth thoroughly with a brush and toothpaste after each meal to ensure food debris doesn’t get trapped in your braces and cause bacteria to grow.
Floss Once Daily
Floss between each tooth once per day to maintain good oral health during your orthodontic treatment. You may consider investing in a floss threader or water flosser to make things easier.
Steer Clear of Certain Foods
Hard or sticky candies, chewing gum, nuts, corn on the cob, popcorn, and even ice can damage your brackets and wires or become lodged in between your teeth.
Keep an Eye Out for Damage
Be mindful of the condition of your braces. If you notice something amiss or experience discomfort, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with our orthodontist as soon as possible.
More High Praise For Our McLean, VA, Dentistry Practice
Abdulrahman
McLean, VA
2023
Great dentist and staff! Always a pleasure when I have to see them...Thanks for all your help and time with me and my family’s needs.
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Kira Sayarath
McLean, VA
2023
I stumbled upon Dr. Ahn when I was looking for a new orthodontist...She’s very thorough, and patient...Overall, she has just been so wonderful and not only is she a great doctor, she’s also very kind and compassionate.
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