How important is your smile? From Rad Orthoodontics

At Rad Orthodontics we want to give you and your family the best orthodontic care for the best smiles.

And speaking of smiles, in a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there are choosing teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

At Rad Orthodontics, we want you to experience life with a beautiful, healthy, confident smile. Please contact our practice at (301) 637-6476 to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Rad.

Get to know your braces!

Should you need to call Rad Orthodontics in case you sustain any damage to your braces, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.



Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

--Dr. Rad

When should you call Rad Orthodontics?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have put together this helpful list that outlines when you should call Rad Orthodontics, conveniently located in College Park and Potomac & serving the greater Washington DC area. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, please give us a call as soon as possible!

Lastly, we'd like to wish Dr. Rad a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love your smile? Tell the world about it!

At Rad Orthodontics, we want to give you and your family the best orthodontic care for the best smiles. It is our goal at Rad Orthodontics to provide patients with a positive orthodontic experience that is comfortable, effective, and most of all, fun! Drs. Mehdy and David Rad focuses on making sure that his patients have a positive, rewarding, fun experience that leaves them smiling for years to come.

Whether you've visited Drs. Rad for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office is faring! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Drs. Rad create more beautiful smiles for people in Potomac, College Park, Washington DC and surrounding communities.

You may write your review here.

Thanks, and enjoy your weekend!