Ask Dr. Brown: What are "Dentofacial Orthopedics"?

You may have noticed that Drs. Ed and Jessica Brown and our team at BFO specialize in "Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics." While most people have heard of orthodontics, many are confused by the "dentofacial orthopedics" part of the title.

Not to worry - we can explain!

You probably know that an orthodontist like Dr. Brown straightens teeth, and indeed: "ortho" comes from the Greek for "straight" or "correct," and "dontic" from the Greek for "teeth." But what about dentofacial orthopedics? "Dentofacial" is "teeth" plus "face" while "ortho" again means "straight" and "pedic" is from the Greek for "child."

Essentially, while orthodontics entails the management of tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics involves the guidance of facial growth and development, which occurs largely during childhood. In both cases, appliances are frequently used – the more familiar braces for orthodontics, and other specialized appliances like headgear and expanders depending on what facial abnormalities are present. Sometimes orthopedic treatment may precede conventional braces, but often the two are accomplished at the same time. So if your child gets braces and headgear, he's undergoing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics!

Because Dr. Brown is skilled in both areas, he is able to diagnose any misalignments in the teeth and jaw as well as the facial structure, and can devise a treatment plan that integrates both orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic treatments.

We hope that helps! Contact our office and schedule a consultation for your child. It’s never too late to get a great smile, and all of us at BFO can’t wait to help you get started.

Brown Family Orthodontics present: The importance of regular dental visits

Are you brushing teeth twice a day and flossing during your orthodontic treatment? If the answer is yes, we think that’s great! But, Dr. Brown and our team at BFO would like to remind you to visit your general dentist every six months (or as recommended) in addition to taking good care of your oral health during orthodontic treatment. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

•Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
•Detect cavities and early signs of decay
•Treat oral health problems early
•Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

Hope this helps. Give us a call at Brown Family Orthodontics if you have any questions.

Happy New Year!

Share your summer adventures with Brown Family Orthodontics!

It's almost summer here at Brown Family Orthodontics, a season full of adventures, vacations and great memories. Whether you're headed to a barbecue, an exotic destination, a camping trip, or just having fun in the backyard this summer, Dr. Brown and team want to hear about it! Share your plans and experiences on our Facebook page all summer long!

Happy travels,

The BFO team

Brown Family Orthodontics, supporting National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Did you know the month of May is observed as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged people everywhere to incorporate more activity into their lives. The president's reminder is even more significant today as kids are distracted more and more by TV, social networking and video games. Kids living an active lifestyle can - and do - improve their health, productivity and overall well being, and best of all? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these public health guidelines, which call for kids and teenagers to exercise one hour every day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At Brown Family Orthodontics, we encourage our patients to exercise or participate in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when playing sports. To learn more about how often you should exercise, we recommend you check out this series of helpful articles about kids and exercise, courtesy of our friends at KidsHealth.org.

Brown Family Orthodontics and AAO present: "How Orthodontics Changed My Life" video contest

Dr. Ed Brown would like to direct your attention to an exciting contest that our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists are currently running. The contest, “How Orthodontics Changed My Life,” is all about you, the patient - tell the AAO your story about treatment at Brown Family Orthodontics and you may just win a $2,500 scholarship!

Contest entrants should tell their stories on video, and answer the following questions while filming:

* What were you like before you had orthodontic treatment?
* How have you changed How proud are you of your new smile?
* When did you notice changes in yourself?
* What kinds of changes have you noticed?
* What does your new smile mean to you?
* What would you say to others whose smiles make them self-conscious?

There will be two winners; the contest is open to students who are age 18 who have completed active orthodontic treatment (braces must have been removed) and be in the active retention phase of treatment or have completed active retention.

The contest guidelines provide instructions to contestants on submitting their videos, which are to be submitted on DVDs or USB flash drives and accompanied by a signed release. All entries must be postmarked by July 15th.

Dr. Brown and our entire team at Brown Family Orthodontics hope you'll find time to submit your video! GOOD LUCK!!

Parents and daughters, from Brown Family Orthodontics

Recently, we came across the AAO's Twitter page, where we found a gem of an article about parenting teenage girls we thought we'd pass along to the moms who come into our office every day. The article, from our friends at momlogic, pointed to a recent survey that involved 2,000 mothers and fathers of children over the age of 18, and noted that teenage girls - specifically 14-year-olds - are the toughest to parent "due to their desire to grow up too quickly, their demands for greater freedom and peer pressure to be thin."

At Brown Family Orthodontics, we know parenting isn't always easy. But we want you to know you're not alone - millions of moms and dads are struggling - or have struggled - with their teenagers' behavior. If you feel your son or daughter is acting out, we encourage you to read "Teen Anger: Techniques to Avoid the Buildup."

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

This Earth Day, what are you up to? From Dr. Brown

At Brown Family Orthodontics, we support Earth Day, designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment and marks its 40th anniversary today.

Whether lending a helping hand to plant trees or getting out to volunteer in various projects in our community, today is your opportunity to get started in making your impact year-round. Are you making a difference today? Tell us, what are you up to? How long have you participated in helping our planet?

If you’d like to join the millions of people around the world who are making small but important changes to help sustain our ecosystem, try these helpful environmental tips, courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.

Happy Earth Day!

At Brown Family Orthodontics, a pursuit of excellence

At Brown Family Orthodontics, we make every effort to provide you with the best orthodontic treatment possible. For four decades, Brown Family Orthodontics has set the standard of excellence in orthodontic care. We have built a reputation on care, expertise and convenience. With offices in Metairie, Mandeville, Covington, and Franklinton, Brown Family Orthodontics maintains a network of convenient locations to accommodate patients and parents.

Combining a keen eye on technology, a commitment to continuing education, and a steadfast dedication to five-star patient service, Brown Family Orthodontics provides a winning smile and improved self-confidence to every patient.

There are many things that help Dr. Ed Brown achieve great results. Some of them are:

1. Using the most up to date and proven technologies available
2. Spending time and resources on continuing education to stay current and relevant
3. Training our entire team on new techniques
4. Educating our wonderful patients about the pursuit of excellence

If you or a family member has been thinking about orthodontic treatment, please give us a call. We look forward to seeing you.

Tell Drs. Brown what’s on your mind!

By now, you’re familiar with the drill: Every week, our talented staff at Brown Family Orthodontics blog about topics related to orthodontic care and your health, including innovative orthodontic treatments offered at our office. This week, we thought we’d ask our remarkable patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the exciting field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog going forward? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Drs. Brown but haven’t found the time? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

Give us your best shot, and our team will try to answer any questions you may have!

Sleep disorders and treatment options at Brown Family Orthodontics

Sleep disorders are fairly common, with around 50 to 70 million Americans being affected by some type chronic sleep disorder, and many of these progressing to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which can cause loss of sleep among many other health problems.

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 the condition causes an ongoing state of fatigue. At Brown Family Orthodontics, there are several different approaches to sleep apnea treatment, including:

• Surgery to the jaws or airway tissue to open the airway. This is typically only used in the most severe cases.
• Continuous airway pressure therapy which involves a mask and machine (CPAP machine) to keep your throat muscles and tissue open while sleeping
• Oral appliance therapy, a less intrusive method involving a customized oral device that positions your jaw in a favorable position to keep your airway open while you sleep.

If you suspect that you may suffer from a sleep disorder or sleep apnea, give us a call. Depending on your situation, treatment may involve an oral device that Drs. Brown can custom-create for you.

This March, what are you up to? From Brown Family Orthodontics

It’s almost springtime, and that means the daffodils and buttercups are on their way, the sun is warming up and the smell of freshly-cut grass is wafting across baseball fields nearby. Drs. Edward and Jessica Brown thought this would be a good time to ask: What are your plans for March?

Are you ready for spring? Are you participating in school sports? Do you have exciting plans? We’d love to know them all!

You may share your stories or plans with our team here, on our social networks or by giving us a call!

24/7 access to your account at Brown Family Orthodontics

At Brown Family Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Covington, Mandeville, Metairie and Franklinton, and serving surrounding communities.

Did you know that patients of Drs. Brown have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages! Just see what some of our patients have to say about this service!

"It was amazing for me to view my pictures on line and see what my teeth looked like prior to brace and now. What a difference." ~ Lisa L.

"Brings it into the 21st century. You don't have to bother anyone with non-emergency issues." ~ Tina D.

"I can view my account whenever possible if I can't get someone in the office, and it's accessible anywhere." ~ James S.

"More convenient the other offices that rely only on phone communication." ~ Terry K.

"Ortho Sesame is really helpful and easy to access." ~ Debra C.

You can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at Brown Family Orthodontics if you have any questions!

Facebook Fan Page for Brown Family Orthodontics!

Did you know Brown Family Orthodontics is on Facebook? Our fan page, which keeps growing each day, provides you the latest news from Drs. Brown and our office. We invite you to connect with us and be "in the loop" for all things Brown Family Orthodontics, which serves Covington, Mandeville, Metairie, Franklinton and surrounding communities.

Become a "fan" today and have a great rest of the week! From Dr. Ed Brown and the entire team at Brown Family Orthodontics!

What puts you at ease at Brown Family Orthodontics?

Drs. Brown understand not everyone enjoys visiting their orthodontist. But the team at Brown Family Orthodontics strives to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each of your visits. We’d like to know: What is it about Brown Family Orthodontics that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment or our friendly staff?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call! Happy MLK Jr. Day!

Webisodes that help you understand orthodontics, from Drs. Brown

The team at Brown Family Orthodontics would like to point you to a few important webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Brown Family Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Brown Family Orthodontics want to know: What are you up to in January?

The New Year is here, and, believe it or not, we’re only a couple months away from spring! Drs. Brown and their team at Brown Family Orthodontics want to know: What are you doing in January? Any big winter break plans? Anything exciting going on in your life?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call our office and ask how! We also hope you all had a happy and safe holiday season!

Happy Monday from the entire team Brown Family Orthodontics!

What sets Brown Family Orthodontics apart?

The team at Brown Family Orthodontics often get asked, "What's so special about your practice?" Here are a couple of reasons to choose our office and Dr. Brown for your orthodontic needs:

We have a very high success rate of completing treatment during the estimated treatment time. Drs. Brown pay particular attention to dental age and do not start a child too early. Our treatment mechanics, bracket placement, and efficient system to monitor treatment progress all combine to complete treatment during the estimated time with the best possible final results.

Our doctors also makes conscious efforts at each appointment to speak with every parent and briefly update the parent about treatment progress, hygiene, new mechanics or change in treatment plan. We are committed to keeping you informed throughout treatment, and will always make time to answer your questions.

For more information on what makes Brown Family Orthodontics stand out, please visit our "What Sets Us Apart" page on our web site.

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays from Brown Family Orthodontics!

The holiday season is upon us, and as Drs. Brown and their team at Brown Family Orthodontics reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What’s your favorite part about the holidays? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for the new year? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

--The team at Brown Family Orthodontics

Apple bombolini, a delicious (and braces friendly!) winter recipe

You have braces, and you’re probably wondering what to eat this winter. You can’t have gum, popcorn or other delicious but braces-unfriendly foods. But fear not! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have a delicious recipe that will satisfy both your sugar craving and hunger when the weather gets cold.

Apple Bombolini
Ingredients:

Rustic dough
•9 ounces cake flour (about 3 cups)
•½ cup all purpose flour
•½ cup granulated sugar
•Pinch sea salt
•1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into large pieces
•1 tablespoon vanilla
•2 tablespoon cold water

Apple sauce filling
•4 Granny Smith apples
•1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
•1 tablespoon lemon juice
•1 vanilla bean, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•1/3 cup granulated sugar
•1 tablespoon water

Diced apples:
•4 Granny Smith apples
•¼ cup sugar
•½ teaspoon vanilla
•½ lemon, juiced

Directions:
For the dough: In a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment, add the dry ingredients and mix for 5 seconds to blend. Add the butter and vanilla and mix until the butter is about the size of peas. Add the cold water and blend until the dough just comes together. Form the dough into a roughly shaped ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

Applesauce filling: Peel, core, and slice the apples. Put the apples with the rest of the ingredients into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and cook until the apples are very soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool, and refrigerate.

Diced apples: Peel, core, and cut the apples into large slices. Toss with the sugar, vanilla and lemon juice and set aside.

Assemble the bomboloni: Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Roll out to1/4-inch thick round. Cut into 6-inch rounds. Place about 1/4 cup of the Apple Sauce Filling onto the center of each round. Top with a few pieces of the Diced Apples. Pull the sides up towards the center to form a bundle, pinching the dough together towards top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before baking

Bake the bombolonis: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove the bombolonis from the refrigerator and place them on a greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Makes 5 servings.

Enjoy! From Drs. Brown and the team at Brown Family Orthodontics

Patient reviews for Brown Family Orthodontics

Brown Family Orthodontics, serving Covington, Mandeville, Matairie, Franklinton and surrounding neighborhoods, have been receiving some great patient reviews lately! Check out what our current patients are saying about Drs. Brown and their team! Have a great week!

"I feel all the doctors are very concerned about patient care. My children always get the best care when we are there for our appointments. They communicate with them on a level that they can understand and are always available to me, if I have any questions. The office staff are wonderful and polite and the office is always very cleaned and organized." ~ Alton J.

"I like the friendly associates, and the well performed work that the office provides." ~ James S.

"Friendly staff. Fast appointments. Great online service." ~ Jessica M.