Saba Orthodontics

For Dr. Shadi Saba, orthodontics is about making a positive impact in her patients’ life. She became
intrigued by the profession at a young age, under the influence of her father. Throughout high school
and college she excelled in math and science and had a special talent and interest in arts, ever since she
was 5 years old. As a teen ager she would spend hours sketching, painting and doing charcoal drawings.
Orthodontics was the career that satisfied her love of science and her ability to be creative, as well as
her desire to work with people. She received her Bachelor’s of science degree in Biology with a minor in
French from George Mason University. She then attended Medical College of VA, School of dentistry for
an additional 4 years to receive her Doctorate of Dental Surgery. After graduating Magma Cum Laude
from Dental School, she attended NYU School of dentistry to obtain her orthodontic certificate, where
she was granted an award for high academic achievements.

Dr. Saba has been the owner of Saba Orthodontics since February 2002, where the main focus is
on customer service and quality care. She has created a patient-centered practice where she builds
relationship with each patient “so that they are more like friends by the end of the treatment”. “One of
the favorite aspects of my job is the ability to build relationships with patients” says Dr. Saba. “I enjoy
seeing them on a regular basis and learning about who they are”.

For Dr. Saba, everyday is a chance to inspire her patients. “The best part of my job is being able to take
someone who isn’t proud of his or her smile and completely flipping that person around into someone
who is always smiling” she proudly explains.

Dr. Saba approaches orthodontics with the mind of an artist; “It’s like a puzzle, figuring out how to
most efficiently make the teeth fit together”. She has implemented numerous technologies that have
advanced the capabilities of her business. Saba Orthodontics utilizes state of the art orthodontic
technologies, such as Invisalign, lingual Incognito braces, self-ligating brackets, ceramic braces and
traditional metal braces for children, teens and adults to provide excellent aesthetic results. Dr. Saba
has a wide range of expertise when it comes to treating patients and using advanced technology makes
her areas of expertise even vaster. “We really excel when it comes to the difficult cases”, she claims.
Much of her success in this aspect is because she works very closely with the general dentists in the area
to coordinate difficult treatment plans in a multi-disciplinary fashion. “I don’t treat every patient in the
same way”, she adds. She devotes much of her spare time to furthering her education through reading
as well as attending conferences, continuing education courses and study clubs. Currently Dr.Saba is a
member of American Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontics, Southern Association
of Orthodontics, Virginia Dental Association, VA Association of Orthodontics, Northern VA Orthodontic
Study Club, American Board of Orthodontics. For the past decade Dr.Saba has found great success as
an orthodontist and the owner of Saba Orthodontics. “Our success is directly related to our ability to do
the right thing. I care about people. I care about what I do, and I care that I do the job in the right way.
As a result, we have a successful practice with a great team and fantastic patients” she explains.

Q. What is Wilckodontics (AOO)?

A. Wilckodontics, also known as Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics, involves a periodontal procedure combined with orthodontics to reach end results of straight teeth 3 to 4 times faster than conventional orthodontic treatment.

In the 1950s, periodontists were using corticotomy procedures to increase the rate of tooth movement. An oral corticotomy is a type of surgery where cuts are made in the jaw bone that surrounds and supports your teeth, called the alveolar bone. In the 1990s, the Drs. Wilcko, using CT scans, concluded that a marked reduction in mineralization of the Alveolar bone was the reason for the accelerated tooth movement following corticotomies. In 1995, Drs. Wilcko patented the AOO (Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics) technique.

Unlike a usual corticotomy, AOO doesn’t just cut into the bone, but decorticates it – that is, some of the bone’s external surface is removed. The bone then goes through a phase known as osteopenia, where its mineral content is temporarily decreased. The tissues of the Alveolar bone release rich deposits of calcium, and new bone begins to mineralize in about 20 to 55 days. While the bone is in this transient state, braces can move your teeth very quickly, because the bone is softer and there is less resistance to the force of the braces.

Research has shown that the results of AOO are as stable and long-lasting as conventional orthodontic braces. There seems to be more Alveolar bone present in patients who have undergone AOO, compared to before surgery, which is advantageous if your profile needs to be built up to improve your facial aesthetics.

Pros and Cons of Wilckodontics:

Pros:

• Shortened treatment time (3-4 times)
• Decreased chance of root resorption following orthodontics
• Increased Alveolar bone providing better support for your teeth and facial profile
• Less likelihood for relapse
• You can choose from metal, ceramic, or gold brackets, or even Invisalign.
• Since teeth are moving through a softened bone, there is less discomfort associated with teeth movement (following each orthodontic adjustment) compared to traditional orthodontics.

Cons:

• More expensive than conventional braces
• Being a mildly invasive surgery, it has its risks
• Expect some swelling and tenderness immediately after surgery
• Need to recover for a week and must stay away from school or work.

Dr. Saba works very closely with oral surgeons who perform the corticotomy procedure. Typically the braces are installed on all your teeth prior to your visit with the oral surgeon for the corticotomy procedure. On your follow up visit with the oral surgeon, after the removal of all the stitches he will then refer you back to Dr. Saba for the placement of arch wires to initiate tooth movement. Patients who undergo Wilckodontics procedure must visit their orthodontist every two weeks as opposed to the usual 6-8 weeks office visit frequency seen with the traditional orthodontic treatment. It is recommended that the patient takes one week off from work/school to recover from the surgery. The surgery can be done under local anesthesia, and it can take two to three hours for both upper and lower arches.

Dr. Saba believes that AOO technique can correct most orthodontic problems, except for situations where the lower jaw has overgrown the upper jaw and the chin protrudes. Dr. Saba treats both adults and adolescents with Wilckodontics as long as they have healthy periodontium. Those who have had dental bone loss, periodontal disease, root damage or root shortening are not candidates for this procedure. The same types of braces (metal, or ceramic) as well as retainers are used in AOO as in traditional orthodontics.

To find out if you are a candidate for Wilckodontics contact Saba Orthodontics or call (703) 404-SABA (7222) for your complimentary consultation!

In our society, if teeth are noticeably irregular or protruding or if there is an obvious jaw deformity, people seek surgical orthodontic treatment to improve both jaw function and facial esthetics. The more severe problems with facial deformities cannot be corrected with orthodontics alone and will require a combination of surgery and orthodontic treatment. The patient’s physical health can be affected by a dentofacial deformity in several ways. If the problem is severe enough, chewing can be impaired, with an impact on digestion and general health. Most patients maintain adequate nutrition but learn to avoid certain foods that they simply cannot handle. Despite the marvelous adaptations that are possible in speech, tooth and jaw malposition can cause speech problems.

It is more difficult to maintain good oral hygiene if the teeth are markedly protruding and irregular, and patients who resent their teeth are less motivated to do so- thus susceptibility to tooth decay and gum disease may be increased. There is some evidence that temporomandibular (TM) joint pain and TMJ disease are more likely to develop in some types of jaw deformities. The National Research Council has reported that psychosocial impact of a dentofacial deformity is usually more important than the related physical problems. This is not to say that the physical impact is unimportant- the physical effects are both real and important-but rather that an individual’s entire life adjustment and role in life can be altered by the psychosocial effects.

If facial deformity exists it is recommended that the patient starts by visiting an orthodontist for an initial consultation and exam. The orthodontist will then refer the patient to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon he/she works with routinely to have a comprehensive treatment plan. This teamwork approach between the two specialists right from the beginning is very crucial to ensure the best possible results are achieved in correcting the dental as well as the facial/jaw positions. The patient undergoes an initial period of orthodontic treatment to align the teeth so that they will fit properly after surgery is completed.

Jaw surgery is usually scheduled after the teeth have been properly aligned, which could take as little as 6-7 months to 24 months. Orthodontic appliances used to align teeth prior to surgery are left in place during the surgical procedure to aid in stabilizing the teeth and jawbones. After the completion of surgery, there is a period of follow-up orthodontic treatment to achieve final alignment of the teeth, thus complementing the new facial symmetry.

In younger patients, surgery can be avoided by early orthodontic intervention, as early as age 7, to correct protrusions and/or retrusions of the jawbone. The orthodontist can use one of several orthodontic appliances to direct the bone growth, thus eliminating the need for surgery in some patients. However, in adults, and those patients who have completed their bone growth, the improper tooth/bone relationship will have to be corrected with orthognathic surgery.

Find out more about surgical orthodontic treatment. Contact us today and we will direct and guide you specifically to what you need to improve your jaw function and facial esthetics!

Ask Dr Saba’s many peers and patients who have voted her Top Orthodontist, an honor that she humbly accepts.

Saba Orthodontics has been named by Washingtonian magazine, Northern Virginia magazine and Family magazine as the leading orthodontic office in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC.

Consumer’s Research Council of America has recognized Dr Saba for her outstanding continuing education, her history of professional performance and reputation as a leader in the orthodontic field.

Our attitude is what brings our current patients back along with their referrals of friends.  Professionalism amongst the staff and camaraderie along with respect for your time and comfort are what make each visit stand out from other orthodontic offices.
Dr Saba and her team listen to each patient’s concerns and needs, designing a treatment plan that incorporates optimum results, comfort, function and esthetics for the long term.    Our commitment also extends to providing budget arrangements that are gentle on your finances.  Most dental plans are accepted and the paperwork is handled completely by our staff.

You do not need a referral from your dentist to be seen for an initial evaluation and there is no cost to you!  On your first visit Dr Saba will complete a thorough examination.  She will address if there is an orthodontic problem and if so why? What must be done to correct it?  Will any permanent teeth need to be removed?  How long will the treatment take?  How much will the treatment cost?   In addition to these questions  Dr Saba will take the time to answer any other questions you may have.

Dr. Saba is one the few orthodontists certified in iBraces, or Incognito.  These are the lingual or hidden braces that are placed behind your teeth.  Newer technology has made them more affordable and far more comfortable than the previous generation of lingual braces.

Dr.Saba is a premier Invisalign and Invisalign Teen provider.  The state of the art Invisalign consists of a series of removable aligners that are virtually invisible, a more subtle and discreet way to straighten teeth.  Invisalign allows you to brush and floss normally to maintain healthy gums and teeth.
Invisalign Teen is the same as traditional invisalign but designed for the ever changing growing young adult.  Now teens no longer have to be self-conscious when they go to the prom, take school photos or participate in other activities they love.

Clear Braces (Ceramic) braces are made of a nearly translucent (clear) material, and are popular with young adults and adult patients, because of their cosmetic appeal.  They are also easier to clean and somewhat more comfortable.

Speed Braces (self-ligating)  brackets have many benefits, the most appreciated benefit is the reduction in treatment time.  On average the treatment is reduced by 30%, another added bonus of the system is that they require less frequent office visits.

Teeth Whitening is also available.  Custom trays are made for you and take home gel is given and used twice a day for fifteen minutes each time.  Within two weeks you will notice a much brighter smile!

To read what other patients say about our office, visit http://www.doctoroogle.com.  Contact Saba Orthodontics today for your Orthodontic care!!