The Temporomandibular Joint, the jaw joint, is unique.

It is designed entirely different than any other joint in the human body.

Because of its bilateral uniqueness, there are many things that can go wrong with the joint.

These include, but are not limited to, derangement (parts out of position or malfunctioning), displaced disk, arthritis, foreign bodies, ligament tears, bursitis, and many other conditions.

Malocclusion may cause or contribute to Myo-Facial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome or Temporomandibular Joint Derangement.

There are many treatment modalities, ranging from exercises, temperature change therapy, muscle relaxants, biofeedback, an occlusal orthotic (night guard), arthroscopic surgery, joint replacement surgery, and others.

Orthodontic care is a service, not a commodity.

Like snowflakes, no two malocclusions are alike.

Think about your best friend in middle school.

At some point in time, you may have been as much as a foot different in height.

And just because both of you needed braces, your treatment was probably slightly different because your problems were slightly different.

We call that ANALOGOUS but not HOMOLOGOUS (Thank you Dr. James Ackerman), similar but not identical.

Get the best Clear Aligners almost invisible so no one can notice your teeth.

Appoint your time for best teeth clear aligners treatment in Fort Washington.

To correct malocclusion, a growing number of patients and doctors prefer clear aligners to traditional wires and brackets, due to advantages such as:Nearly-invisible appliancesNo dietary restrictionsNo obstructions to flossing or brushingControlled single-tooth movementRemote monitoring options 

The Standard of Care is that all children have their 1st Orthodontic Examination no later than their 7th birthday.

This examination is free and allows the Orthodontist to determine the presence or (hopefully) absence of developmental anomalies and/or malocclusion (bad bite).

The Orthodontist can then determine the advisability of early treatment, observation until later, or no treatment at all.

For example, children with a narrow upper jaw would benefit from early jaw development with a Haas Expansion Appliance to widen the upper jaw to match the lower, improve the airway, eliminate lower jaw shift, improve occlusion (reducing time and cost of braces), and reducing the risk of impaction of the permanent canines.

Corrective Orthodontic Care allows us to improve both dental and skeletal relationships in growing children, tweens and teens.

But once Dento-Facial Growth has ceased, the Orthodontist needs to team with an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon to rearrange the skeletal components.

This patient’s lower jaw protruded far in front of her upper jaw.

Her lower jaw had to be surgically set back so that her teeth could be properly aligned for best function, esthetics, and stability. 

Fort Washington Orthodontics Mr. Arnold J. Malerman, DDS is a true Philadelphian, having lived, studied, and worked in the Philadelphia area almost all his life.

He was born in Feltonville, raised in West Oak Lane and Abington, and he graduated from Abington High School in 1961. ln 2009 he was honored to be selected as a member of the Abington High School Hall of Fame in the field of Science.

Dr. Malerman attended Penn State Ogontz for his first two years of college, transferred to Temple University for his junior year, and received early acceptance into the Temple University School of Dentistry, graduating in 1968 with the honor of having been selected to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society.

He was also a member of the John Coleman Society of Oral Medicine and President of the James R. Cameron Oral Surgery Society.

Dr. Malerman served from 1968 to 1970 as a Captain in the United States Air Force as a General Dental Officer in the 809th Medical Group.

He was honored to receive the National Defense Medal, the USAF Outstanding Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and a Certificate of Commendation from the Strategic Air Command.

Retainers do one thing, and one thing only.

They hold your teeth in their new positions to help achieve stability.

They are worn 24/7 to start, then, depending on your compliance, I will be able to shorten the number of hours per day that are required.

They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.

The 3 most common types, however, are the plastic tray-type retainer (Essex), the wire and plastic retainer (Hawley), and a wire bonded to the insides of your teeth (Bonded 3-3).

We provide advanced, personalized best early orthodontic treatment in Fort Washington.

For best prognosis, appropriate treatment timing is exquisitely important.

Sometimes Mother Nature gets a little mixed up.

Instead of teeth and jaws growing in an orderly fashion, there are some bumps and curves in the road.

In that case, I have to step in to reestablish normal growth patterns for our patients.

Growth is a complex symphony of musical instruments, each playing the correct notes at the correct time to allow for delightful harmony.

Here an anterior crossbite (top tooth behind the bottom tooth) was corrected in just 3 months to allow normal jaw growth and function. 

Get the best Orthodontics treatment for braces, metal and clear service at our office in Fort Washington.

Clear appliances are more aesthetic, metal appliance are smaller and more comfortable.http://fortwashingtonortho.com/braces-metal-and-clear/