Am I Too Old for Braces?

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 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!

St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts!

Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig's office wants to know: Will you be wearing your green this Saturday? Whether Irish or not, millions of people around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with toasts, parades and “the wearing of the green.” Here are some fun facts about St. Patty’s Day we know you will enjoy:
• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17th because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.
• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which simply means “shoemaker.”
• Some American towns have Irish names. They include: Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio and Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia
• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed in Ireland. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.
• St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in America in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.
If you have something special planned for St. Patrick’s Day, let us know by posting a comment on our Facebook page.

Valentine’s Day and your Teeth

Valentine’s Day is here and there is a lot of candy making the rounds this week. It’s once again time to remind all our patients to be extra careful when choosing those candies and treats!

All those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats are known to damage teeth, as well as braces! Did you know sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities! Sour and fruity candy, such as Starburst and Skittles, are the worst for your teeth since these candies have a low pH value, which is known to ruin enamel.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends softer treats, such as soft chocolate or peanut butter cups, or melt-in-your-mouth foods. Those who indulge should make sure they brush and floss between teeth, around brackets and at the gum line. If damage occurs, please call us as soon as possible.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at the office Drs. Simon, Haerian, and Ludwig!

The benefits of a beautiful smile

Our team knows that having an attractive smile puts a spring in your step—or two—as well as increases your self-confidence, no matter if you’re 14 or in your late forties. Smiling not only makes people happy and puts them in a good mood, doing it often can even help you live longer, according to previous studies!

If you’ve been hiding your smile because you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment at the office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how quickly and efficiently today’s most advanced correction techniques can straighten your smile!

Don’t hide your smile any longer—give us a call today to schedule yours or your child’s orthodontic consultation.

Make 2012 the year to improve your oral health

Many folks in consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2012? Our team recommends that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health. After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

-Your friends at the office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig

Giving thanks this holiday season

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season here, Drs. Simon, Haerian, Ludwig and our entire team wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, this holiday season.

As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality orthodontic care that we have given you.

We hope that this holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Getting the Bite Right

In the United States, we take for granted the experienced dental personnel available. However, for the mother of two of our patients who grow up in China, this wasn’t the norm. There was only one dentist and no orthodontist in her rural village. When her upper cuspids (canine/eye teeth) erupted above her other teeth because of lack of space, the dentist came up with a solution. He removed both her cuspids so it would “look better.”

After her daughters went through orthodontic treatment at our office, she asked if there was any solution to her own dental dilemma. By removing two vital teeth on top, her dentists unknowingly created a Class III bite for her. The top arch is designed to fit over the lower, but since her lower arch was larger than her upper, her top teeth fit inside her lower. A Class III bite makes it difficult to eat and can cause problems with the tempomandibular joint (TMJ).

She did not want any teeth removed on the lower or implants on the upper so our doctors developed a treatment plan involving braces and diligent use of elastics. She wore her elastics faithfully and was able to get an amazing correction for a very difficult case. Now mom can eat her food without effort and, as a bonus, has a smile just as engaging as her two daughters.

Do we have your current contact info?

Happy holidays from all of us at the office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, and Ludwig! As you probably know, you can always connect with Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig and our team on our Facebook page, but we also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

Please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you. Thank you!
- The team at the office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, and Ludwig

Happy Thanksgiving!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season knocking at our door, our entire team at the office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality orthodontic care that we have given you.

We hope that this Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Vote Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Lugwig for the Best of Toledo 2011

We are going for the "Triple Crown!" Please go vote for us for Best Orthodontists at Toledocitypaper.com, thanks for making US smile!

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here at the office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig, a time when all across the country, the leaves begin to change colors and the air becomes crisp.

Today we wanted to ask you, our wonderful patients, "How are you spending your time this fall?" Our team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment. We are interested in learning about what makes your community “yours.”

Feel free to post your responses on our Facebook page, or give us a call!

Side Effects of Orthodontic Treatment

When an adult decides to have orthodontic treatment there is usually more to the story than the desire to have straight teeth. In Pamela’s case, it was medically necessary to provide a functional bite. She had undergone orthognathic surgery ten years prior to address the problem but now she could not chew on the left side because the teeth no longer touched.

After her initial exam, our doctors met with Dr. Lark, her dentist, to discuss possible ways to correct her occlusion. Since getting the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in a comfortable position was crucial to the case, it was imperative that Pamela, her husband, her orthodontists, and her dentist who specializes in TMJ treatment be all on the same page. Our orthodontists worked closely with Dr. Lark to achieve the best occlusion possible for Pam. She wore upper and lower braces for three years as we re-evaluated and repositioned brackets for two years until everyone concerned with her case was satisfied with the result.

Pam’s teeth now come together in a comfortable occlusion on both sides. She can once again chew her food easily and effortlessly. And she is quite pleased with the known side effects of the orthodontic treatment she experienced – a perfect smile!

Halloween Tips from Drs. Simon, Haerian, and Ludwig

Halloween can be a scary time for your teeth. The American Association of Orthodontists offers these tips to keep your teeth safe from decay during the Halloween Season:

• Don't get into a sticky situation....avoid sticky or chewy candy and snacks. These include hard or chewy candies, caramel, licorice, taffy, bubblegum, (even the sugarless kind) and jelly beans.

• Good alternatives for people with braces include soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties.

• If you eat sweets, do so in moderation. Don't be tempted to grab another handful from the bowl filled with treats. Parents may want to limit the time during which children eat from the Halloween bowl.

• Regular brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season, when teeth may receive more exposure to sugary foods that can cause cavities. People with braces should be especially conscientious about brushing and flossing often.

If you have any other questions about how to keep your teeth and braces safe from sugary foods, call our office. Have a safe and enjoyable Halloween!

Trick or Treat!

-Drs. Simon, Haerian, Ludwig and staff

5 Tips to Avoid Plaque

At the offices of Drs. Eugene Simon, André Haerian, and Jennifer Ludwig, we know nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth during orthodontic treatment, courtesy of WebMD.

Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to visit the dentist is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your general dentist at least twice a year or as recommended by your dentist, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth while wearing braces.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick up that candy bar, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be during your orthodontic treatment with Drs. Simon, Haerian, and Ludwig. If you have any questions, visit our website’s oral hygiene page, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

A Confident Smile

With Meghan’s mouth being so crowded, her Mom harbored serious doubts that correction could be made without extractions -- especially when she knew there was a cuspid stuck somewhere in the palate that would need to enter the mix!

At Meghan’s initial exam at our office, however, Mom was encouraged by Dr. Haerian’s foresight, confidence and with the way he attacked the issue head on. After two months of braces, exposure of the cuspid by Dr. Carroll, and seeing the game plan in action mom began to buy into Dr. Haerian’s vision for Meghan. Now mom is totally sold as Meghan’s smile reflects that beautiful possibility Dr. Haerian envisioned three years before.

LATEST FALL FASHION!

Jenny came in for her orthodontic appointment this week at the office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig and we just had to take her photo.

Her black “Bling” t-shirt looked perfect with her black skirt, black pumps, and cream colored blazer. It made our day to see someone stepping out in style on their journey to a great smile!

The Amazing MARA

John’s mom was devastated when the first orthodontist they visited said they would need to wait until John’s growth was complete and then do braces along with orthognathic surgery to correct his severe overbite. Upset at the thought of waiting six years before treatment could begin, she sought a second opinion. She was elated to hear Dr. Jennifer Ludwig’s idea of using a MARA/Hyrax (an appliance for correcting overbites along with a palate expander) to get the job done while he was still growing.

It took three years but John just celebrated his 16th birthday with a perfect smile. Not only did John avoid surgery, his results were nothing short of phenomenal!

If you are considering orthodontic treatment in Toledo, Sylvania, Maumee (Ohio), Lambertville or Southfield (Michigan), give us a call!

A Good Fit

At the orthodontic office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig, we’re all about a good fit. After all, having teeth lined up properly so they fit together perfectly is what we do best. Jennifer’s mom, however, mentioned at her daughter’s post ortho consult that it was our office that proved to be a good fit for her family. She had a consult originally scheduled at another orthodontic office, but after being treated rudely after a scheduling error, she decided to look elsewhere. She then gave our office a try, and we turned out to be a perfect fit for her and her children.

Having three children go through orthodontics gave mom ample time to get to know the staff and doctors. Her children were always treated in a pleasant and patient manner which she appreciated. She also gave our office kudos for doing something important for people by enhancing their sense of well-being.

Mom was concerned more with function of the teeth rather than aesthetics. She knew that the tight contact her daughter experienced before orthodontics could lead to jaw problems later on in life. To her, the beautiful smile that resulted after fixing the problem was just an added bonus. (That’s why our why our website is called “perfectbraces.com” and not “goodenoughbraces.com")

If you are considering orthodontic treatment, give our office a call to schedule your initial consultation.

Reasons to Embrace Summer Treatment

Summertime . . . and the living is easy . . . which makes it the perfect time to go to perfectbraces.com to schedule an initial orthodontic exam with Drs. Eugene Simon, Andre Haerian, & Jennifer Ludwig.

What a perfect time to get started with orthodontic treatment while there’s less demand from school and sport commitments. It also allows the perfect time period to adjust to being braced before being immersed into a brand new school year. And as an added bonus, you can spend the rest of the summer shimmering instead of simmering!

Go to perfectbraces.com now to book the best vacation ever – the journey to a perfect smile . . .

You're Never Too Old to Treat Yourself to a New Smile!

Did you know one in every five orthodontic patients is an adult? We’re living longer and technology is improving, making orthodontic treatment an appealing and safe option for patients of all ages. As the trend toward treatment later in life grows, we’re seeing braces on parents as well as children – and even adult celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Gwen Stefani and Nicholas Cage have shown off their braces. It’s never too late to look and feel your best with Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig.

Can Braces Work for Adults?

People of all ages can benefit from orthodontic treatment with Drs. Eugene Simon, Jennifer Ludwig, and André Haerian. The physical process for moving teeth is the same, young or old, which means it’s never too late to address issues such as an overbite or underbite, crooked or crowded teeth, or jaw disorders.

How Do I Get Started?

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, we’ll make a consultation appointment with you. During this meeting we will perform a general assessment of your oral health, discuss options for treatment, and answer any questions you may have. We will also discuss matters of cost and insurance. The next step is an orthodontic records appointment in which we take x-rays, photos, and an impression of your teeth. This information drives your unique treatment plan.

What Are the Benefits?

Straightening your teeth can improve your smile, your self-esteem, and your dental health. Technologically advanced new treatments make it easier to identify the option that best fits your lifestyle. Modern techniques and materials have made braces and aligners more effective, comfortable and unobtrusive than ever.

If you think you might benefit from orthodontic treatment, give the office of Drs. Simon, Haerian, & Ludwig a call, so we may set up a consultation to determine what type of treatment best meets your needs.