Wishing you a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

Memorial Day weekend, a time to remember and honor the men and women lost while serving for our country. Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of summer, and for many folks getting out of town for three days after being cooped up in the classroom or the office spells sweet, sweet relief.

What about you? What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or just hitting the great American open roads, we’d like to hear all about it!

Our entire team wishes you a happy, safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

“Am I Too Old for Braces?”

Absolutely not! Orthodontic treatment for adults is becoming more and more common. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! More adults than ever are realizing that orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, and can help improve the aesthetics and health of a smile of any age! In a society where appearance matters and can help make the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing wisely to invest in orthodontic treatment.
Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:

·         Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart, sometimes as a result of tooth decay or gum disease

·         Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw

·         A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly

Most of all though, adult patients come to our office seeking a healthier mouth and a more confident smile! Orthodontic treatment at our office can be successful at any age, and adults especially can appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.
As an adult patient, we recognize that you have different needs than our younger patients, and we will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.
If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. We understand you have a busy schedule, and will work with you to find a time that is convenient for you. Please visit our website or give our office a call to schedule your appointment today!

This summer, stay cool with a braces-friendly treat!

Summer is here! Kids and adults alike will now be spending more time outside being active and enjoying the hotter temperatures. What’s better on a hot summer day than a delicious treat that will cool you down after doing something active in the summer sun? Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have just the thing, Watermelon Sorbet! You can find the complete recipe below:

Watermelon Sorbet

Ingredients

• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 to 3 cups watermelon, diced, no seeds or rind

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the water, sugar, and lime juice on medium high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Chill this “syrup” at least 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the watermelon chunks in a food processor or blender and liquefy them. Add the chilled syrup to the watermelon puree and blend. Freeze sorbet in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve immediately.

Happy Summer! Enjoy this treat!

- Dr. Dougherty and team

When should you call Dr. Dougherty?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have put together this helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Dougherty's Sherman Oaks orthodontic office. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, please give Dr. Dougherty and team a call as soon as possible!

Ask Dr. Dougherty: What is two-phase treatment and when is it necessary?

Great question. Usually patients in orthodontic treatment at our Sherman Oaks office already have their permanent teeth, but in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. Dr. Dougherty calls this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat. Examples include an upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly, or a mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in.

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has “baby teeth.” Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly, such as a retainer. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent the patient’s permanent teeth have come in.

In order to catch early problems, Dr. Dougherty and our team recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so do our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists). To learn more about two-phase orthodontics, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dougherty, please give us a call or ask us on Facebook.

Happy Holidays!

Ask Dr. Dougherty: Any truth to those myths about orthodontics?

Dr. Harry Dougherty and our experienced staff know there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) out there these days. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts first! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists did some digging to help set the record straight, and have some great information on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment with Dr. Dougherty, feel free to give us a call at 818-986-6223 or ask us on Facebook! Have a GREAT rest of the weekend!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists - or AAO- have provided a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly Halloween recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while wearing braces.

Dr. Harry Dougherty and our staff recommend you check out the AAO's website. If you have any follow-up questions about keeping your braces in tip-top shape, please feel free to give us a call at 818-602-4782, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Dougherty during your visit!

Have a great weekend and stay safe this Halloween season!

Ask Dr. Dougherty: When should my child come in for a consultation?

Many parents here in Sherman Oaks assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Harry Dougherty for a complimentary consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Dougherty to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what Dr. Dougherty calls “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, please give us a call at 818-602-4782 to schedule a complimentary exam.