Orthodontist Reston, VA - Stang Family Orthodontics

SO Services

Dr. Stang's extensive experience spans the treatment of children, adolescents and adults, so no matter if you are 7 or 77, we have just the treatment for you! At Stang Family Orthodontics, we specialize in state-of-the-art orthodontics. Our family orthodontic services include:

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Actual SO patient

InvisalignClear aligners that incrementally move teeth
Invisalign TeenClear aligners that incrementally move teeth
Acceledent / Speed BracesOrthodontic device that speeds up teeth movement
Laser OrthodonticsAccelerate treatment and contour your gums
Clear Braces Clear braces that blend in with your teeth
Conventional BracesTried and true method - metal and ceramic options
WildSmiles Braces Shaped braces that allow you to express yourself
Self-ligating Braces / Damon BracesBraces that don’t require the need for elastics.
Lingual BracesBraces placed behind your teeth (incognito braces)
Cleft Lip / Palate Treatment Dr. Stang has specialized training w/ cleft lip patients
Jaw SurgeryCorrective surgery to better align your teeth and bite
Difficult Interdisciplinary / Surgical CasesCases requiring high level treatment planning
Temporary Anchorage DevicesImplanted mini-devices proven to speed treatment
Early Prevention / Phase I TreatmentEarly correction of developmental problems
Palatal Expander Appliance to widen the top jaw for a better bite fit

SO Patient Instructions

Life with Braces Retainer wear Emergency care

Life with Braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Eating with Braces

Don’t worry, you’ll be eating popcorn and snacking on chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.  

Foods to avoid with braces:

  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
  • Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Foods you CAN eat with braces:

  • Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
  • Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
  • Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
  • Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
  • Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
  • Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
  • Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
  • Treats — ice cream without nuts, chocolate, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Soreness Caused from Braces and Appliances

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater). If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.

Loose Wires and Bands

The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you. You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.

Take Care of Your Appliances

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.

Playing Sports with Braces

Game, Set, Match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection. In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.  

Retainer wear

  • Wear your retainer at all times, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
  • Take your retainer out when eating, and always put it back in its case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
  • Clean the retainer thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of brushing.
  • When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should ALWAYS be in its case. Pets love to chew on them!
  • Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to it faster.
  • Retainers are breakable, so treat yours with care. If your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately.
  • If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, or you believe it needs adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust it yourself.
  • Always bring your retainer to your appointments.
  • Retainer replacements are expensive, but with proper care they will last for years!
  • Remove your retainer when you go swimming.
  • Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins. NEVER EVER wrap your retainer in a napkin!!!

 

Emergency care

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment. If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.

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    Creating a Foundation for a Lifetime of Beautiful Smiles / Phase One

    The beginning of your child’s journey to healthy, gorgeous teeth starts with Phase One! Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop and recognizing early developmental issues including a jaw discrepancy, crowded front teeth, etc. can prevent the need to extract permanent teeth later. That’s why, during Phase One, we focus on developing the jaw in to accommodate all of the permanent teeth and to improve the way that the upper and lower jaws fit together.

    • Planning now, saves smiles for the future! Children benefit tremendously from early-phase treatment. By ensuring that your child receives early treatment, you may be preventing the need for removal of permanent teeth or the need for surgical procedures to realign the jaws later on in their life. Your child will thank you!
    • We’ll make records to help determine your unique treatment. Creating and maintaining good orthodontic records is extremely important in determining the necessary components of each person’s course of treatment including the type of appliances that will need to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. During your child’s initial consultation, Dr. Stang will take records to determine if early treatment is necessary. These orthodontic records will include models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs.
  • 2

    Taking Steps to Create and Maintain Your Smile / Phase Two

    Now that we have achieved a foundation for a beautiful smile by completing Phase One, we begin Phase Two where we shift our focus from the jaw to the teeth. Our goal in Phase Two is to ensure that every tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth so that your teeth can properly function At the beginning of the first phase, orthodontic records were made, a diagnosis and treatment plan was established, and corrections were made based on your unique treatment plan to realign the teeth and jaw. Phase 2 begins when all permanent teeth have erupted, and usually requires braces on all the teeth for an average of 24 month with retainers being worn after the completion of this phase to ensure you retain your beautiful smile!

  • 1

    Creating a Foundation for a Lifetime of Beautiful Smiles / Phase One

    The beginning of your child’s journey to healthy, gorgeous teeth starts with Phase One! Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop and recognizing early developmental issues including a jaw discrepancy, crowded front teeth, etc. can prevent the need to extract permanent teeth later. That’s why, during Phase One, we focus on developing the jaw in to accommodate all of the permanent teeth and to improve the way that the upper and lower jaws fit together.

    • Planning now, saves smiles for the future! Children benefit tremendously from early-phase treatment. By ensuring that your child receives early treatment, you may be preventing the need for removal of permanent teeth or the need for surgical procedures to realign the jaws later on in their life. Your child will thank you!
    • We’ll make records to help determine your unique treatment. Creating and maintaining good orthodontic records is extremely important in determining the necessary components of each person’s course of treatment including the type of appliances that will need to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. During your child’s initial consultation, Dr. Stang will take records to determine if early treatment is necessary. These orthodontic records will include models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs.
  • 2

    Taking Steps to Create and Maintain Your Smile / Phase Two

    Now that we have achieved a foundation for a beautiful smile by completing Phase One, we begin Phase Two where we shift our focus from the jaw to the teeth. Our goal in Phase Two is to ensure that every tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth so that your teeth can properly function At the beginning of the first phase, orthodontic records were made, a diagnosis and treatment plan was established, and corrections were made based on your unique treatment plan to realign the teeth and jaw. Phase 2 begins when all permanent teeth have erupted, and usually requires braces on all the teeth for an average of 24 month with retainers being worn after the completion of this phase to ensure you retain your beautiful smile!