News
"Best Orthodontist"
Over 2,400 surveys were mailed to dentist in DC, Virginia and Maryland by Washingtonian magazine. The survey asked them to name a general dentist and a specialist to whom they would refer their own family. With over 700 surverys completed and returned Dr. Garai was voted as one of the "Best Orthodontist".Doctor Oogle
Dr. Allen Garai partners with USO
Dr. Allen Garai becomes a USO partner to support the morale and well-being of American service members and their families. He is donating ten orthodontic treatment cases to children of military personal E-6 and below. The treatment consist of braces, all office visits, x-rays, retainers, and everything that would be needed for the orthodontic treatments. To learn more about this program, please contact your local USO."Best Orthodontist"
Our practice was selected by the readers of Washington Families and NOVA Living as one of the best-top orthodontic practices in the Washington D.C. area in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Dr. Garai was chosen by the Consumers Research Council of America, an independent research company that evaluates professional services, in their publication Guide to America’s Top Dentist several years standing.
Toys for Tots
Dr. Garai’s office is collecting toys for the Marine Corps Toys For Tots Campaign.
Last year we collected hundreds of toys and made the holidays a bit more enjoyable for area children.
This year we will be collecting until December 8th.
Please stop by with a new unwrapped toy and put a smile on a child’s face this holiday season.
Location:
427 Maple Avenue, W
Vienna, VA 22180
Time:
9am - 5pm
http://www.toysfortots.org/
Celebrating 10 Years
In honor of our 10th year anniversary Dr Garai and staff invited patients, colleagues and their families to the National’s baseball game on October 1st. Over 700 people got to enjoy the sunshine, hot dogs and homeruns. Dr. Garai and patient Tommy L. were honored with the Spirit Award by the National’s mascot Screech and were escorted on the field for a couple of photo ops. Thanks again to all of our patients and colleagues for helping make the past 10 years as great!
Helping Out
Hurricane Katrina Relief
Dr. Garai presented the American Red Cross with a $6000 check on October 12th. The donation was made on behalf of his patients and their families to aid the Hurrican Relief Fund.
Tsunami REACH
Dr. Garai donated his services for a full orthodontic treatment to the Asian Tsunami REACH auction held on October 2nd at the Westwood Country Club. The auction raised money for the tsunami victims through Habitat for Humanity.
Dr. Garai Featured on "A
New Me"
See Dr. Garai
on A New Me, an innovative new TV program
discussing the ins and outs of cosmetic
enhancements, every month on News Channel
8.
Introduction to Orthodontics
Adult Orthodontics
Invisible Orthodontics
Dr. Garai is featured as a top ranked
professional in the field of orthodontics
and discusses everything from interceptive
orthodontics for children to lingual
braces and orthognathic surgery for adults. Click here
to view a clip in Windows Media Player format. You can also hear Dr. Garai on WMET
1160AM.
2004-2005 Patients of the
Year
Congratulations to Marissa B. and Joey U. our 2004-2005 Patients
of the Year. We surprised Marissa and Joey at their schools
with a limo and whisked them away to Tyson’s Corner Mall
where they got to enjoy dinner at the Rainforest Café.
Dr. Garai gave each of the kids a crisp, new $100 bill for them to spend in the mall. Marissa was sweet and bought her mother a Mother’s Day gift and some lip-gloss for herself. Joey knew exactly what he wanted as he raided Foot Locker and bought himself a new pair of shoes? Congratulations again Marissa and Joey.
Dr. Garai Receives Honor
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Garai has been certified
and given the title of “Diplomate of the American Board
of Orthodontics.” The American Board of Orthodontics
is the only orthodontic specialty board recognized by the
American Dental Association.
Certification by the board is a voluntary process and involves an extensive review of the orthodontist’s basic education as well as an intensive amount of clinical expertise. Upon certification the American Board of Orthodontists awards the title of “Diplomate” which signifies a unique achievement. As of March 2004, there are only 2,026 orthodontists worldwide who have been honored with this title.
Patients of the Year 2002
NewsBody
"Patients of the year
2002-04-22
Ryan and the Staff
Ryan with his Prize
Nicki and the Staff
Nicki and Dr. Garai
CONGRATULATIONS!".
American Red Cross
On Thursday Sept 20th, 2001, our office made a donation to the American Red Cross to help the Washington and New York Crisis (The Sept, 11th Fund). This donation was made on behalf of Our staff and Patients.
Bracing the Generation Gap
By Mary Coyle
Connection newspaper interviews Dr.Garai on adult Orthodontics Reprinted from The Connection 2001-03-14
Baby Boomers are known to be a health- and image-conscious lot, spending hours at gyms and day spas, embarking on vegetarian diets, taking herbal supplements, and undergoing plastic surgery in an unwavering pursuit of eternal good health and beauty and increasingly, orthodontics become an integral component of this overall healthy lifestyle.
Space-Age Technology
The first wire used to attach braces to teeth was gold. Gold was valued for its malleability. Next came steel which needed to be adjusted frequently as patients' teeth shifted. NASA provided an unexpected boon to orthodontics with the development of ""high-tech"" nickel-titanium wires. Nickel-titanium alloys are heat activated by the patient's own body heat. ""Ideally, you want to have light, constant pressure,"" observes Dr. Allen S. Garai, a Vienna orthodontist. Titanium wires maximize this effect. These high-tech wires have shortened treatment duration and extended the length of time between visits to the orthodontist. The result is a savings of time and money to the consumer.
""There has been a greater awareness of orthodontic options since the early to mid-1970s with the advent of brackets and bonding and also, clear braces,"" said Dr. Garai, ""In the early 80s when lingual braces became available, more adults began to consider braces."" Now, many adults are considering ""clear"" braces.
Options in Therapy
Today's adults have several options in orthodontic therapy. Traditional braces are still available with stainless steel or titanium alloy wires. Concealed, or lingual braces were invented in 1979 by Dr. Craven Kurz, a Beverly Hills orthodontist. These braces are worn on the inside of the teeth rather than the outside, but employ nearly the same principles of physics that traditional braces do. Additionally, the recently patented ""Invisalign SystemTM"" uses a series of clear plastic ""aligners"" to straighten teeth. Lingual braces and the Invisalign SystemTM cost about 50 percent more than conventional braces because they are customized to the individual patient and therefore require specialized training, equipment, and instruments. There is also a significant lab cost with InvisalignTM. Further, not everybody is a candidate for lingual or Invisalign TM braces, and children cannot wear them. The good news is that insurance companies do not discriminate against the more expensive options.
About 30 percent of Dr. Garai's patients are adults. Dr. Garai attributes the high numbers to many factors, chief among them, advertising by the AAO and the manufacturer of the Invisalign TM system. Additionally, Dr. Garai's Web site (www.drgarai.com) as well as others on the Internet have spread the word about orthodontic treatment. Sometimes, patients pursue orthodontic treatment after plastic surgery. For instance, Dr. Garai said a patient may have liposuction under the chin, and then notice that orthodontic work is needed to complete the picture.
While the AAO suggests several medical benefits to orthodontics, Dr. Garai said most adults seek orthodontics for aesthetic reasons, but that there are some conditions for which orthodontics can improve bite and promote more even wearing of teeth. Cosmetic orthodontics seems gender neutral. ""There's more awareness about using orthodontics to enhance appearance in not only the female population, but in the male population as well,"" he said.
Nhu-Ha Nguyen of Vienna decided to get braces after losing one of her molars to an infection. She might have chosen to get a bridge, but as she also had an overbite and her top teeth were already wearing down her lower teeth, she opted for braces to correct her bite and close up the gap in her lower teeth left by the lost molar. ""My decision was not really for cosmetic reasons,"" she states'. ""It was more to correct my bite and to close up the gap on my lower left-hand side:"" This spring she will have spent a full year in braces and is looking toward another year to a year and a half.
'Don't worry Mom, you'll get used to it'
""When I first got my braces I felt miserable; but each of my three children had been through it and they were my best supporters.
They said 'don't worry Mom, you'll get used to it.' My kids were right. After a month or so, I got used to it, and it's working out fine now."" Nhu-Ha was concerned about maintaining good dental hygiene when she got her braces. ""I had concerns about flossing-it takes forever with braces."" An electric toothbrush and a waterpik TM have been real time savers for her. ""I wish we had known about the electric toothbrush and the waterpik TM when my kids were in braces. Brushing is less demanding with, an electric toothbrush than it is with a conventional one.""
Nhu-Ha remains philosophical: ""I definitely think this will be worth it in the end. I'm only 40; 1 want to preserve my teeth as long as I can, I still want to have -my bottom teeth when I'm 70.""
Ali Darab of Fairfax got his braces when he finished pharmacy school. His mother had wanted him to do it when he was in high school, but since his older brother was then wearing braces and was constantly complaining about them, Ali steered clear. By his mid-20s, however, his teeth had shifted so much that his dentist warned him that his bite would only worsen if he did not begin orthodontic treatment. He has been in braces for two years. ""Every time an adjustment is made, it's painful,"" he said, ""but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.""
Innovations in orthodontics over the past 20 years have decreased the relative cost, discomfort and duration of wearing braces. Many situations that were considered beyond correction 40 years ago are treated as routine therapy now. Even patients who have latex sensitivity or allergies to other orthodontic materials now have more and better treatment options. Most orthodontists offer a free initial consultation. "