Jennifer Smith was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She completed her undergraduate studies at Temple University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. She went on to complete her dental training at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating at the top of her class, with a Doctorate of Dental Medicine. During her time at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Smith received several awards and was selected to complete a research fellowship at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia in the Facial Reconstruction Center. This fellowship provided her with the opportunity to assist with the orthodontic treatment of patients with various craniofacial abnormalities and syndromes. She attributes her desire to pursue a career in orthodontics, in part, to this incredible experience.
After practicing general dentistry for several years, Dr. Smiths passion for continued learning and interest in orthodontics led her back to the University of Pennsylvania where she completed post-doctoral training in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics. She has been committed to creating beautiful smiles ever since!
Dr. Jen has spent the past five years working with the Nations leading provider of Invisalign and has treated hundreds of patients with this innovative appliance. Dr. Jen is one of the most kind-hearted and gentle people you will meet. That approach to life easily translates into the care provided to her patients.
Dr. Jen regularly attends conferences and continuing education courses to keep up to date with the latest in orthodontic technology so that she can provide the highest quality treatments for her patients.
She is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, Maryland Dental Association, Maryland State Society of Orthodontists and the Greater Washington Womens Dental Association.
At the start of your treatment, we will help you set up an account within the Dental Monitoring app on your phone. You will receive your own cheek retractors and we will guide you through the process of taking a photo or video scan. Refer to the Video Mode tutorial and the Photo Mode tutorial for extra tips. For Invisalign treatment, you will send a quick scan to our office every week. Based on the result of the scan, we can let you know if you should move on to your next set of aligners or continue with your current set. You can also send us a scan if you have a question or an issue with your treatment.
Its more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy during orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment. Watch the video below on the proper care of braces during orthodontic treatment.
What can you eat? Lets talk about what you shouldnt eat! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, youll be able to bite a cucumber again. But youll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as youre wearing braces.
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for 3 5 days. Take Tylenol or whatever you normally take for headache or discomfort. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the braces. We will supply wax to put on the braces in irritated areas to lessen discomfort.
To successfully complete orthodontic treatment, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands or other appliances as prescribed. Lack of cooperation following instructions and damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time so please follow instructions.