Northern Virginia Magazine 2008 - Barakat Orthodontics

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Hole in One child dentistry procedures tackle more than cavities Seven-year-old Maya doesn’t even have permanent teeth yet, but she has spent much of her life at the dentist. Born with a rare, lifelong condition that causes brittle bones and fragile teeth, Maya has experienced extractions, fillings, crowns, infections and fractures. She plays happily in the waiting room and looks forward to her reward sticker—and she is grinning. This is not your mama’s childhood dentistry. Area dentists for kids are highly trained specialists, able to handle it all from the usual, like fillings, fluoride and impacted wisdom teeth, to conditions like Maya’s. From too many teeth to too few, cleft palates to facial anomalies, any need has a matching set of specialists. 86 • November 2008 • www.NorthernVirginiaMagazine.com text by Tracey Edgerly Meloni istock
courtesy of tammie ferguson “Barakat made sure I understood every aspect of this treatment. I felt as if she was truly doing what was best for my daughter.” Tammie Ferguson aAshleigh Ferguson is active and bubbly, looking forward to her 12th birthday with a confident smile. “She gets many compliments about her teeth and how pretty they look,” says her mother, Tammie, of Lansdowne. But that might not have been the case without orthodontic intervention and a sound relationship with Dr. Rana Barakat, the Sterling-based orthodontist first consulted when Ashleigh was 8 years old. Early diagnosis revealed Ashleigh’s severely impacted upper canines, or “eyeteeth,” as well as a crossbite. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an initial orthodontic evaluation around age 7, when permanent first molars have erupted. Barakat determined that Ashleigh’s teeth “did not fit together properly, that she had severe crowding in her upper jaw, and she had impacted upper canines.” Ashleigh’s narrow smile and misaligned jaw presented problems, “and the upper permanent eyeteeth were positioned such that they would not erupt on their own.” At the first consultation appointment, Barakat determined that it was too early for treatment, and recommended waiting for further dental development and growth. “A year later, I re-evaluated Ashleigh, and she was ready for treatment. Ashleigh’s dental development determined the timing of treatment, and hers was more advanced than her peers,” she adds. “Dr. Barakat used X-rays, photos and models,” Ferguson says. “She used a computer-simulated program as a visual aid and explained the pros and cons of doing this treatment at a young age compared to waiting until Ashleigh was a teenager. Barakat made sure I understood every aspect of this treatment. I felt as if she was truly doing what was best for my daughter.” Barakat’s office is not only state of the art, but also fun. Parents like the distraction of computer games in the reception area as much as kids, and Barakat’s exciting contests make for early canine impactions great rewards. Barakat says Ashleigh’s treatment consists of two phases. Phase I lasted 18 months and concentrated on widening her upper jaw using a palatal expander, limited braces to manage her impacted upper teeth. “Once the expander process was complete, we referred Ashleigh for removal of her upper baby canines and exposure of her impacted upper permanent canines. This procedure lasted around 30 to 60 minutes, during which the impacted teeth were exposed, attachments were placed on the teeth, and the incision closed,” Barakat explains. “After healing, I began bringing both of her impacted canines into position, using the attachments. Once the teeth were visible, I changed the attachments to braces, and aligned the canines.” After about 18 months of treatment, Ashleigh was given a retainer to wear at night “to maintain new tooth alignment, while the remainder of her permanent teeth erupt.” The outpatient exposure procedure was done under local anesthesia. “Some patients elect to be put to sleep or given a sedative,” Barakat says. “Healing from the procedure is about two to three days, during which the patient generally sticks to a softer diet and The American stays away from Association of vigorous physical Orthodontists activity.” recommends an initial To complete orthodontic evaluation her treatment, Ashleigh will be around age 7, when the required to go permanent first molars through Phase II have erupted. in order to finetune her bite and get the final tooth alignment. “She is now in a position to have a much shorter time in full braces,” Barakat says. www.NorthernVirginiaMagazine.com • November 2008 • 87
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Northern Virginia Magazine 2008 - Barakat Orthodontics

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