Our Blog

Patient Question: How long does orthodontic treatment take?

February 16th, 2012

Your smile is totally unique, so the time you’ll need to spend undergoing orthodontic treatment will also be unique. Generally, orthodontic treatment will take about two years, and this is for good reason. During this time, your teeth will slowly move into their desired positions, leaving you with a great smile with as little discomfort as possible. Rushing treatment can result in a less than perfect smile with a greater chance of tooth movement after your treatment is complete. At Dr. Alec Elchahal’s office, we don’t want to waste your time with treatment that won’t retain your smile for the rest of your life.

Of course, treatment time will vary depending on your specific situation. Very minor tooth movement may only take a few months to correct, while serious malocclusion (poor bite) may need more than two years to correct. Only Dr. Elchahal will be able to accurately estimate the time your treatment will take. But trust us—it’ll all be worth it in the end!

Has your child or teen visited our office for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help him or her begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

February 9th, 2012

Each February for the past 62 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. New options for braces such as Invisalign Teen, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Alec N. Elchahal is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

February “Surviving Braces” Recipe- Classic Meatloaf

February 2nd, 2012


We have made it through the first month of 2012, and we have a feeling that it’s going to be a great year! Today we at Dr. Alec Elchahal’s office wanted to share with you our February “Surviving Braces” Recipe! We were digging through our cookbooks, and found this great classic — Meatloaf!

Classic Meatloaf

1 ¼ tsp salt
1 egg
1 ½ pounds ground beef
1 dash ground black pepper
1 cup soft bread crumbs
½ cup milk
½ cup steak sauce or tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8 ½ by 4 ½ inch loaf pan.

In a bowl, combine ground beef, salt, egg, black pepper and bread crumbs. Pour in the milk, 3 tblsp of the steak or tomato sauce and onion,

Place the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and shape into a loaf. Brush the top with remaining sauce.

Bake 1 hour or until done. Allow to stand 5 minutes before slicing.

Let us know what you think about this classic recipe! Enjoy!

Thanks to Invisalign, you can have a perfect smile without metal wires or brackets!

January 25th, 2012

At Dr. Alec Elchahal’s office, we know image is everything. For many people, the thought of having metal brackets and wires attached to their teeth for two or more years may be more than enough to delay orthodontic treatment.

If you’ve been considering straightening your teeth but are apprehensive about metal wires and brackets getting in the way of your smile, Invisalign treatment at Dr. Elchahal’s office may be a great solution. Invisalign, which straightens teeth through a series of clear, custom-fit removable aligners, does so in a way that is discreet and hardly noticeable.

If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment at our office, please give us a call to schedule a consultation with Drs. Elchahal and Moore.