What’s so special about an Orthodontist?

"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Elchahal started out in dental school and earned a DDS (dental degree), just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Elchahal decided he wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics; which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a dental expert here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

Our 2010 Calendars Are Here!

Stop by our office and pick up your calendar. We now have "Theme Week". A theme week in our office is when you wear something to your appointment that goes along with the monthly theme. You will receive 2 points on your Smile Rewards Card for participating in our "Theme Week". Visit our website for additional information.

MONTHLY THEME WEEK
January 10th - 14th Pajama Apparel
February 8th - 12th Valentine's Day Apparel
March 8th - 12th St. Patty's Apparel
April 12th -16th Baseball Caps
May 10th - 14th Crazy Sunglasses
June 14th - 18th Flip-Flops
July 12th - 16th Patriotic Apparel
August 9th - 13th Fun Socks or Slippers
September 7th - 10th Sports Jerseys
October 27th - 29th Halloween Apparel
November 15th - 19th Food Drive
December 13th - 17th Holiday Sweaters

--Dr. Elchahal & Team

New Technology at Our Office

Dr. Elchahal recently acquired a new state-of-the-art 3D imaging system. With the new Kodak 9000 3D system technology, Dr. Elchahal can perform a wider range of diagnoses and treatments with exceptional improvement in patient care and services. The video above shows the type of 3D imagery that we are able to collect with this new Kodak 9000 3D imaging system.

It's never too late to straighten your teeth!

Many people think that if they didn't have braces in junior high, they've missed the only chance to straighten their teeth. But more and more, we see a strong trend in orthodontics: adults who realize the time is still ripe.

Consider Chicago resident Sally Borla, retired and in her 50s, didn't dream she'd ever wear braces. After treatment, she couldn't imagine why she hadn't started earlier. "I'd always related braces to young people, but I guess I'm living proof that it doesn't matter how old a person is," Borla said. "When I look in the mirror, I can hardly believe that the smile looking back at me is mine."

And because orthodontics closes up spaces between teeth or eliminates crowding, patients have found it's easier to keep them clean. Michael Smith of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, said he noticed fewer problems with tartar buildup since braces had realigned his teeth and jaws when he was in his late 20s. "I do believe my teeth will last a lot longer," said Smith, now in his 30s.

Maria Castro of Brandon, Florida, was 91 ("and a half," she'd add) when her braces came off. Castro said her smile was a source of pride until one of her teeth began to slip behind its neighbors when she was in her late 80s. When her family dentist told her that her teeth, gums and supporting bone were in good shape – and her son, an oral surgeon, concurred – she said, "Why not?"

Why not, indeed? One out of every five people in orthodontic treatment is over the age of eighteen. So if your teeth aren't as straight as you'd like, and you find yourself jealously eyeing your pre-teen's braces, give us a call at 678-894-7818.


There's no age limit on the perfect smile.

Before & After at Smiles by Elchahal

Have you ever wondered what patients look like before and after their treatment at the office of Alec N. Elchahal? Above is a snapshot of Stephen, one of Dr. Elchahal's patients. Stephen is one of many patients whose smiles (and lives) have been transformed by treatment at our office. For more proof, head over to the Before & After page on our web site!

If you're considering orthodontic, please give us a call. Enjoy your weekend!

Patient Reviews for Dr. Elchahal and his orthodontic team!

We love seeing all of the kind words that our patients have said about Dr. Elchahal and the team. We wanted to share a few with you. If you'd like to write a review for Dr. Elchahal, head to our Google local listing and share your comments!

"Your staff was always joking and laughing with me and always helpful, very personable. (Your facility) Was always clean with a touch of class. Very nice and pleasing to come for check ups. Thanks for my smile!" – Terry

"Very together! Very organized, good attitude and service! Your staff attitude is very friendly, informative, and helpful. Your facility is fun and friendly. The atmosphere makes visiting less painful. All employees were exceptional. Will gladly have my son come here for his braces!!" – Hope

"Your staff is always cheerful and patient. You have a very convenient location. All emergency issues scheduled promptly. Everyone was skilled and professional in demeanor." – Anonymous

"Great experience-staff always friendly and happy to see us! Your staff is always polite and helpful. Our insurance changed several times during treatment. The staff was always patient and accommodating with changes." – Diane

"Everyone is really knowledgeable about their job. Professional and friendly atmosphere, genuine concern for patient care. Service was always above and beyond our expectations. Very organized and appointments planned well to decrease waiting time. All the staff is exceptional!" – Sharon

Top Ten Tips for Cleaning Your Braces

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.
It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.
The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.
Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.
Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.
Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.
Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.
Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.
Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.
Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide.

Hope these tips help!

-Dr. Elchahal