At Rad Orthodontics, October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our staff at Rad Orthodontics wanted to remind Dr. Rad's patients to be careful when they bite into their treats this month. Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, bubble gum, popcorn kernels and suckers are some of the foods you should be avoiding this Halloween Season! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time!

Of course, Halloween doesn’t have to be completely treat-less. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have provided a helpful list of tips and braces-friendly recipes for the Halloween Season.

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Meet Dr. Dave!

Dr. David Rad grew up outside of Boston in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He completed his undergraduate education at Boston University, where he graduated with honors in Economics. He went on to Boston University School of Dental Medicine, where he completed his DMD, magna cum laude. He was awarded membership into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society for excellence in academic achievement. He was also awarded the Certificate of Excellence from the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology for his outstanding academic achievements in the field of Oral Pathology.

Dr. Rad went on to receive a Masters of Science Degree and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate study, both in the field of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at Boston University Dental School. He served as chief resident during his clinical residency and was trained under world-renowned orthodontist Dr. Anthony A Gianelly.

Dr. Rad practiced general dentistry and orthodontics in a private practice in Wellesley, Massachusetts before moving to the Maryland. Dr. Rad is an avid advocate of using the latest techniques and technologies in orthodontics and is incorporating them with Rad Orthodontics in order to provide the most efficient, highest quality treatment possible.

In his free time Dr. Rad enjoys soccer, tennis, squash, running and pretty much any activity involving the beach and ocean. He also is trying to learn golf, so feel free to give him some pointers.

Win TWO floor-level Wizards seats at Rad Orthodontics!

Want the chance to win TWO FLOOR LEVEL SEATS to see the Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls? You can enter to win in the following six ways:

1. Become a FAN of Rad Orthodontics on Facebook by Nov. 16

2. Refer a friend to Rad Orthodontics (1 entry)

3. Write a testimonial on Facebook (1 entry)

4. Post a video testimonial on our Facebook wall (2 entries)

5. Share your story at Rad Orthodontics on our Google, Yahoo or Bing listing (2 entries)

6. Update your Facebook status when you visit our office (1 entry)

Enter starting Friday, Oct. 1 until Dec. 16! Good Luck!

Sleep disorders and treatment options in College Park and Potomac

Are you drowsy during the day with no explanation? Do you snore loudly, or wake up breathless in the middle of the night? If so, you may be one of more than 50- to 70 million Americans affected by some form of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical problem that if left untreated can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke. It can also take a toll on your overall energy level, as sleep apnea causes an ongoing state of fatigue.

If you suspect that you or someone in your family is suffering from sleep apnea, please give us a call and we can refer you to a sleep apnea specialist here in College Park or Potomac. The specialist may recommend a "sleep study" to diagnose the precise extent of the problem, and can prescribe appropriate treatment. Depending on your situation, treatment may involve an oral device that we can custom-create for you.

September is Childhood Injury Prevention Month! From Rad Orthodontics

With fall sports beginning for a lot of our patients at Rad Orthodontics, we thought we'd remind our young athletes wearing braces to take care of both their mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) this fall.

Dr. Mehdy Rad will tell you that you should ALWAYS wear a mouth guard when playing sports, but especially this month. Why? September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month.

More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24. Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet, 70 percent say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during games and practices.

Our staff strongly encourage you to head over to the American Association of Orthodontists' website for a quick primer on the importance of mouth guards and facial protection.

We hope this helps you remember to always wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports around College Park or Potomac! We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions! Have a great weekend!

At the movies with Rad Orthodontics!

Our staff at Rad Orthodontics hope to see you at our next "Movies in the Park" on Saturday, September 18th! We will be at Berwyn Heights Sports Park for a screening of the animated movie "Up"! The Sports Park is located at 5501 Ruatan St.

Also, the following Saturday (September 25th), we will gather at The River Falls Pool Clubhouse from 7:30pm - 10:30pm to watch "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." The River Falls Pool Clubhouse is located at 7915 Horseshoe Lane in Potomac.

We hope to see your smiling faces there! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Talking retainers with Dr. Mehdy Rad

If you recently completed treatment with Dr. Mehdy Rad, we’d like to congratulate you! Again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Rad or Dr. Dave will provide—or have provided you—with retainers. After your braces come off, teeth may shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, Dr. Rad will tell you, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by our doctors and staff is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your treatment at Rad Orthodontics, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth. Also, please visit our website for a few retainer tips.