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Tune Up Your Smile with Limited Treatment; Minor Fixes, Major Benefits

February 20th, 2020

Some of the parents in my Practice had braces in the past (but didn’t wear a retainer) and lost the straight smile they once had. Many other adults have simply never been happy with their smile. Maybe you’ve never considered orthodontics as an adult because you can’t imagine wearing metal braces to client meetings; maybe it’s because it’s a big time and financial commitment to undergo years of braces as an adult.

Whatever boat you fall into, we have good news! My team and I don’t want any roadblocks in the way of you having a beautiful smile… or having it back again.

That’s why we’re offering TUNE UP YOUR SMILE, a Limited Treatment option to the adults of our community where my team and I will address only the elements of your smile that are most important to you. That means shorter treatment times and reduced fees.

Our Practice, Dr. Joseph Lohner’s SkylandSmiles Orthodontics, is one of the leading providers of 3M clear aligners in New Jersey, so your treatment will also be virtually undetectable.

People Won’t Notice You’re Wearing Them

Clear aligners help straighten teeth. Unlike traditional braces that you might have had as a kid, aligners are removable. You take them out briefly when you eat or brush your teeth - that means no food caught between brackets; no flashbacks to the middle school cafeteria for you. Most of the time your aligners will stay in so they can do the work of moving your teeth. The good thing is that they are virtually invisible so people won’t even notice you’re wearing them.

Sometimes the Most Minor Fix is Just What You Need

While we do offer full orthodontic treatment for adults at our Practice, we find that many just don’t want to make that commitment. Whether it’s financial or time restraints, Limited Treatment is a great option.

Together we will figure out which elements of your smile are most important to you. We’ll agree on a course of treatment to fix only those areas, and we’ll set an estimated timeline. Because of the limited nature of the adjustments we are able to improve your smile in a much shorter timeframe than for those looking for full orthodontic treatment.

You’re Not Alone

Adults are getting braces more than ever before.  Many insurance companies are expanding orthodontic coverage to include adults.  The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says that adults are getting orthodontic treatment in record numbers, and not all of them for the first time either. Not only that, patients are reporting that after treatment they feel better about themselves and their social lives. Most would recommend seeking out treatment to other adults. Major benefits!   

See an Expert

There are many services out there claiming they can mail you aligners and fix your teeth. We strongly believe that even the smallest changes to your mouth should be done under the in-person care of a trained and board-certified orthodontist, and the AAO agrees. Dr. Joseph Lohner has extensive schooling in both dentistry and orthodontics (with degrees from University of Maryland and Rutgers University,) as well as specific training in treatment with aligners and is American Board of Orthodontics certified.

Make sure you know who it is that is making changes in your mouth. What looks like a small fix could domino into major issues without a trained orthodontist looking at the full picture.

At Dr. Joseph Lohner’s SkylandSmiles Orthodontics we have treated many teens and adults with aligners. We know what we’re doing and we’ve treated cases that are both difficult (Full Treatment) and simpler (Limited Treatment). Our team strives for clinical excellence in a friendly and welcoming environment. We appreciate that you have a busy schedule and will make sure to have you in and out as quickly as possible - time is important to us! It’s one of the reasons why we offer Limited Treatment. 

Sound Like This is For You?

If you’re interested in finding out whether you’re a candidate for our TUNE UP YOUR SMILE, a Limited Treatment program, click the button below. We’d be happy to explore this option with you, free of charge.

 

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more information about our practice and to read patient reviews!

Orthodontics and Self-Esteem

October 16th, 2019

Health, beauty, and self-esteem are all things associated with a nice smile.  October is National Orthodontic Health Month and this year the American Association of Orthodontists has launched an Anti-Bullying Initiative. 

Let’s face it, bullying can be an inevitable and terrible part of growing up.  While we should focus on anti-bullying strategies, we also need to focus on our teens’ self-confidence and well-being. We know that sometimes bullies are lashing out as bravado because they lack self-confidence, or they are seeking attention that they might not be getting elsewhere.  They unleash that frustration on their peers in negative ways, damaging the victim’s self-confidence in the process.

A child’s self-confidence is precious and can be fragile, especially in the tween and teen years.  We all went through it and most of us can remember a time or two with bullies.

At Dr. Joseph Lohner’s SkylandSmiles Orthodontics, we see our job as not only creating healthy, beautiful smiles for our tween and teen patients, but also caring for their overall well-being.  Our goal is to become an active part of our patients’ support system.  

We know that our teens are super conscious about their image.  Just look at how many selfies they take, and how much time they spend liking, commenting, and sharing their friends’ photos on Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram.  That’s why when teens come to us for orthodontic treatment, we want to be sure we have options for them to ensure their confidence stays high while their smile improves. Many treatment modalities are in the modern orthodontist’s toolbox including clear aligners (such as Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, Clear Correct, 3M Clarity Aligners), traditional braces, and clear braces.  

At Dr. Joseph Lohner’s SkylandSmiles Orthodontics, we are committed to helping your teen achieve the smile they’ve always wanted.  Our friendly team is waiting to answer any questions you or your teen may have. Click below for an in-person consultation with Dr. Joseph Lohner. We can’t wait to meet you!

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more information about our practice and to read patient reviews!

Read This Before Ordering Orthodontic Treatment Online

July 17th, 2019


These days you can do almost anything with the click of a button. Order school supplies. Get a ride across town. Watch your favorite movie.  Order food delivery. It seems like every day there’s a newer and easier way to do almost everything. We’ve been programmed to accept that anything can be ordered online and delivered right to your front door. However, at Dr. Joseph Lohner’s Skyland Smiles Orthodontics, there is one thing that we believe has no easy replacement: orthodontic treatment. There is no match for a trained, experienced professional when it comes to your dental health. 

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) agrees. They recently issued a Consumer Alert listing key questions to ask about direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies. You can download a print-friendly version here.

The issue is that many direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies do not involve the in-person evaluation and/or in-person supervision of your treatment we provide at Dr. Lohner’s Skyland Smiles Orthodontics. This type of supervision is important because there is more to creating a healthy, beautiful smile than moving the visible portions of your teeth. If not done correctly any dental work can lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changes to your facial profile, and other issues.  

An orthodontist like Dr. Joseph Lohner has many tools in his arsenal to help create your beautiful smile - Invisalign is just one of them. It’s important to have a fully qualified and certified orthodontist involved when making any changes to your teeth.

The Top 8 Questions To Ask

The AAO advises that when researching orthodontic treatment (including treatment models from direct-to-consumer companies like SmileDirectClub, Candid Co., Smilelove, SnapCorrect, Orthly, etc), you should consider many key questions, some of which include:

  1. As part of your treatment, are comprehensive diagnostic records like x-rays taken before your treatment?
  2. As part of your treatment fee, do you receive any in-person visits to a dentist’s or orthodontist’s office during your treatment?
  3. Is only one treatment type offered (such as invisible aligners or a certain appliance)?
  4. What are the possible risks (financial, health, etc.) associated with your orthodontic treatment?
  5. Who is responsible for detecting any issues that may occur during your orthodontic treatment? Is it you? If it is a doctor not associated with your treatment, who pays for those check-ups?
  6. If an emergency arises, does the company have a dentist or orthodontist in your area that you can see in-person? If not, who would cover the costs associated with seeing a dentist or orthodontist in your area?
  7. If you have a dispute involving your orthodontic treatment, how is it handled?
  8. Does the treatment model comply with the dental laws in your state? To check your state’s dental laws, click https://www.aaoinfo.org/state-laws-and-regulations. Information for your state dental board can be found at https://www.aaoinfo.org/aao/state-dental-board-info.

Where You Receive Your Health Care Is A Very Important Personal Decision

Remember that orthodontic treatment is not a product or device – it is a professional, medical service. Dr. Joseph Lohner earned his dental degree at the University of Maryland and completed his orthodontic residency at Rutgers University. He has 30 years of experience providing high quality orthodontic treatment to his patients which means he has been helping people achieve their perfect smile for a long time now!

Before making any decision about orthodontic treatment, consider doing some research and having an in-person consultation with Dr. Lohner at Skyland Smiles Orthodontics. Our friendly team is waiting to answer any of your questions and start you or your child on a path to a gorgeous smile!

Click below for an in-person consultation with Dr. Joseph Lohner. We can’t wait to meet you!

 

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more information about our practice and to read patient reviews!

How To Know If Your Child Needs Orthodontics

March 22nd, 2019

There isn’t a specific age at which children should start undergoing orthodontic treatment. However at around seven years old, your child will have grown out enough permanent teeth and the jaw is developed enough to tell if there are any current issues... or any on the horizon.

There are many benefits to getting orthodontic treatment as a child, including shorter treatment time, fewer impacted permanent teeth and reduced chance of needing to remove teeth because we:

  • Guide teeth into desired positions early
  • Minimize crowding/creating room for erupting teeth
  • Guide jaw growth to achieve a more balanced facial profile and lip drape which is best treated while growth is occurring
  • Correct the results of oral habits like thumb and finger sucking

Are there any signs I should look for?

Yes, definitely! Here are some of the signs to keep in mind:

  • Early or late loss of baby teeth
  • Difficulty chewing or biting into food
  • Grinding and/or clenching of teeth
  • Mouth breathing
  •  Speech difficulties
  • Thumb or other finger sucking habit
  • Crowding, misplacement, or blocking of teeth
  • Jaw shifts or jaw noises like popping
  • Protruding teeth
  • Biting the inside of his or her cheek
  • Teeth meet abnormally or do not meet at all
  • Jaw and teeth do not appear to be proportionate to the face

Keep in mind that these signs do not guarantee that your child needs treatment, but they may indicate that an orthodontic evaluation may be a good idea.

Do some of these signs look familiar to you?

Have no fear, your child will be in good hands With Dr. Joseph Lohner! He is no stranger to the latest technology so you can be sure that he is up to date on the newest trends in orthodontics.

Think your child may need an orthodontic evaluation?

Give us a call and make an appointment for a consultation. We can be reached at (973) 729 9923 or (973) 764 2266. At Joseph Lohner Orthodontics, early treatment can help give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for more self esteem as they go through their teenage years and through adulthood.

Click below to book an appointment with Joseph Lohner Orthodontics!

Patient
Testimonials

  • “The staff went above and beyond! More than generous in working out fees. We are over the moon with treatment results! What a difference from where my daughter started. Wonderful staff and personal attention – it’s been the best experience!”

    Leslie R.

  • “Well organized, well-run office. Everyone is very nice. We like the raffles, and the magic show made it fun! Keep up the good work!”

    Jennifer C.