Fun facts with Dr. Hallman!

At Hallman Orthodontics, we know people love fun facts - LOVE THEM. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Hallman Orthodontics thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

10 helpful Facebook tips for parents, from Hallman Orthodontics

At Hallman Orthodontics, we embrace all forms of technology, and would like the parents of our wonderful patients to do so as well. We know that parents tend to sign up for Facebook accounts and ‘friend’ their kids, often as a way to keep a close eye on their online activities. Last fall, parenting expert Vicki Courtney wrote a helpful post on the things parents should and shouldn’t do while surfing through their kids’ Facebook profiles. Dr. Hallman and our team at Hallman Orthodontics thought you might benefit from reading Vicki’s interesting piece.

Here are Vicki's “Top Ten Facebook No-Nos for Parents,” designed specifically for those moms and dads who aren’t sure whether they’ve crossed the line in monitoring their kids’ presence online.

We hope you find this article informational. Please let us know what you think and have a great week!

Ask Dr. Hallman: What, exactly, is malocclusion?

Malocclusion, or what Dr. Hallman calls “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and, yes, even your appearance.

Although most people experience some form of malocclusion, it is generally is not severe enough to require corrective measures. If your malocclusion is serious enough, however, treatment at Hallman Orthodontics may be necessary to correct the issue. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of your malocclusion. The goal of your treatment is to move your teeth into the proper position and correct any misalignment in the jaw. If overcrowding is causing the problem, Chevy Chase orthodontist Dr. Hallman may need to remove one or more teeth as part of treatment.

At Hallman Orthodontics, we use the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

Dr. Linda Hallman talks facial protection

April, also known as National Facial Protection Month, is upon us, and for Dr. Hallman and our staff at Hallman Orthodontics that only means one thing: it’s once again time to remind our dear patients to protect their faces and pearly whites. Above is a helpful video with helpful tips from our friends at the AAO about staying safe on the ball field this spring. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

That's why we're doing our part to spread the word on facial injuries!

We hope the above video helps. If you have any further questions about any of the tips offered in the video, please contact our staff at Hallman Orthodontics, and we’ll try to answer any question you may have. And remember to have fun and stay safe!

Beware, it's April Fools' Day! From Hallman Orthodontics

April 1st is traditionally known as April Fools' Day. Dr. Hallman would like if you shared a great story about a trick you played, or someone else played on you, on this silliest of days.

Feel free to post them here or on our Facebook page, and have a great rest of the week!